October 15, 2012

ATHLETIC REPUBLIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK #10 DALTON SPEELMAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE (Junior Forward; San Jose, Calif.) Speelman netted four points (2g,2a) on the weekend, including a pair of third period goals, an assist and six shots on goal to lift UNH to a 5-3 win on Friday night against St. Cloud State. He finished the weekend with nine shots on goal and a +2 plus/minus rating. PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK #15 KEVIN ROY, NORTHEASTERN (Freshman Forward; Lac-Beauport, Que.) Roy tallied both game-winning goals for Northeastern, including a power play strike and an assist against Merrimack. He recorded seven shots on goal in the two league games and a +2 rating. HEA CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK #32 JON GILLIES, PROVIDENCE (Freshman Goaltender; South Portland, Maine) Gillies recorded a .936 save percentage in a weekend split with Sacred Heart and BU. He posted a 1.80 GAA and 44 saves in 99:57 minutes of work. He notched 14 saves in his first collegiate victory on Friday vs. Sacred Heart and he stop 30 shots in the 4-2 loss at BU on Saturday. HEA CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK #37 BRODY HOFFMAN, VERMONT (Freshman Goaltender; Wilkie, Sask.) Hoffman made 38 saves in his collegiate debut in the 1-1 tie against No. 6 UMass Lowell on Friday night at the Tsongas Center, including 29 saves in the first two periods. HOCKEY EAST TEAM OF THE WEEK NORTHEASTERN HUSKIES The Huskies opened their schedule with two home league wins against Merrimack on Wednesday night and No. 2 Boston College on Saturday night. They scored seven goals in the two games and scored five of those goals in the first period.

Athletic Republic Player of the Week Dalton Speelman of New Hampshire ARMY ROTC THREE STARS AWARD At the conclusion of each Hockey East game, the " Army ROTC Three Stars of The Game" are selected. Here are the 2012-13 season leaders to date: Rk. Name Cl. Pos. School 1. Kevin Roy Fr. F NU 2. Brody Hoffman Fr. G UVM   Cason Hohmann So F BU 3. Doug Carr Jr. G UML   Chris Rawlings Sr. G NU   Ryan Ruikka Sr. D BU   Vinny Saponari Sr. F NU

HOCKEY EAST WEEKLY TOP PERFORMERS

Ryan Belonger, NU (Fr., F, Green Bay, Wis.) On a two-game point streak with an assist against Merrimack and NU's first tally against Boston College.

Doug Carr, UML (Jr., G, Hanover, Mass.) Stopped 28 of 29 shots in UMass Lowell's 1-1 draw in the season-opener against Vermont Friday night.

Paul de Jersey, PC (Fr., F, West Vancouver, B.C.) Registered three points (2g,1a) on the weekend, including two points (1g,1a) vs. Sacred Heart.

Casey DeSmith, UNH (So., G, Rochester, N.H.) He stopped 47-of-52 shots (2.49 GAA, .904 save%) and a pair of wins this weekend.

Joey Diamond, Maine (Sr., F, Long Beach, N.Y.) Scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Maine's 4-3 win over Army Saturday.

Branden Gracel, UMass (Jr., F, Calgary, Alta.) Recorded two points (1g, 1a), including the game winner in UMass' season-opening win over UConn.

Connor Hardowa, UNH (Sr., D, Edmonton, Alta.) Had four assists in two games helping the Wildcats to a weekend sweep of St. Cloud State.

Cason Hohmann, BU (So., F, Arlington, Texas) Recorded the game-winner vs. PC and had two assists for a career-high three points in the 4-2 victory.

Josh Holmstrom, UML (Jr., F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) Scored UMass Lowell's lone goal in Friday night's 1-1 draw with Vermont.

Ben Hutton, Maine (Fr., D, Prescott, Ont.) Picked up the primary assist in Maine's 4-3 win over Army in the 2012 Ice Breaker consolation game.

Joseph Manno, NU (So., F, Montreal, Quebec) Scored a goal against Merrimack and logged an assist against Boston College.

Mark Jankowski, PC (Fr., F, St. Catherines, Ont.) Netted a pair of goals in his collegiate debut against Sacred Heart.

Colin Markison, UVM (So., F, Princeton, N.J.) Scored Vermont's only goal in the third period of a 1-1 tie with No. 6 UMass Lowell.

Ross Mauermann, PC (So., F, Janesville, Wis.) Recorded four points (2g,2a) on the weekend in two games vs. Sacred Heart and at BU.

Matt O'Connor, BU (Fr., G, Toronto, Ont.) Made 26 saves in his collegiate debut to lift BU past Providence, 4-2, on Saturday.

Michael Paliotta, UVM (So., D, Westport, Conn.) Picked up an assist in the season opener at UMass-Lowell.

Evan Rodrigues, BU (So., F, Etobicoke, Ont.) Assisted on the game-tying and game-winning goals in the Terriers' 4-2 victory over Providence

Colton Saucerman, NU (Fr., D, Colorado Springs, Colo.) Scored a point in each game, including an assist vs. Merrimack and a goal vs. BC.

Dan Sullivan, Maine (Jr., G, York, Pa.) Made 33 saves in 1-0 loss to Notre Dame in the 2012 Ice Breaker Tournament.

Rasmus Tirronen, MC (So., G, Espoo, Finland) Stopped 30 shots in his collegiate debut on Wednesday at Northeastern.

Trevor van Riemsdyk, UNH (So., D, Middletown, N.J.) He posted a goal and an assist on Friday and followed that up with a goal on Saturday night.

Matt White, UVM (Jr., F, Pittsburgh, Pa.) Had the primary assist on Vermont's goal at UMass Lowell on Friday.

CAREER FIRSTS/MILESTONES/WHO's HOT

Matt Grzelcyk, BU (Charlestown, Mass.) Recorded his first collegiate point with an assist on Saturday's game-winner vs. Providence

Connor Hardowa, UNH (EDMONTON, ALTA.) Posted a career-high three assists on Friday night

Justin Hussar, MERRIMACK (Lancaster, N.Y.) Netted first career point with an assist Wednesday at NU

Ben Hutton, MAINE (Prescott, Ont.) Recorded his first career assist Saturday against Army

Matt Lane, BU (Rochester, N.Y.) Tallied his first collegiate point with an assist on Saturday vs. Providence

Will Merchant, MAINE (Eagan, Minn.) Picked up his first career point with an assist vs. Army

Merrimack's Sophomore Class Has tallied five of six goals this season

Chris Rawlings, NU (North Delta , B.C.) Will start his 100th career game at BC on Saturday

Adam Shemansky, PC (Robbinsville, N.J.) Played in his 100th career game on Saturday night

Devin Shore, MAINE (Fr., F, Ajax, Ont.) Tallied his first career helper against Army on Saturday

Dalton Speelman, UNH (SAN JOSE, CALIF.) Posted a career-high three points on Friday night against St. Cloud State

Dick Umile, UNH (Melrose, Mass.) Captured his 500th career win with a 5-3 win vs. St. Cloud State on Friday night

TEAM NOTES

Boston College: Boston College lost its season-opening game to Northeastern, 3-1…The Eagles fell to 13-6 in season-opening games under coach Jerry York. The loss snapped the program's win streak at 19 games dating back to a 4-3 home win over New Hampshire on Jan. 27, 2012. It also marked the first time since that date that goaltender Parker Milner had surrendered more than two goals…The loss also snapped a five-game win streak against Northeastern and marked the first Huskies' victory over the Eagles since Feb. 19, 2011…Senior goaltender Parker Milner suffered just his 10th defeat in 57 career games…Saturday's game marked the collegiate debuts of four freshmen; defensemen Teddy Doherty, Michael Matheson and Colin Sullivan and forward Brendan Silk…Senior captain Pat Mullane's assist on Steven Whitney's first-period goal marked his 97th career point. The Wallingford, Conn., native has 26 goals and 71 assists in 125 career games. Whitney's power-play goal extended his goal-scoring streak to three games dating into last season. The senior forward scored once in the team's NCAA semifinal victory over Minnesota and twice against Ferris State in the national championship game.

Boston University: For the first time in 43 years, the Terriers entered a season with none of their goaltenders having played in a collegiate game…That BU squad in 1969-70 featured Tim Regan, Dan Brady and Stefen Brueckner in goal…Following their triumph over Providence on Saturday, the Terriers are 15-4-0 against the Friars since the start of the 2006-07 season…BU has now won its last three season openers…The Terriers have gone 111 straight games without being shut out – the longest current streak in the nation…Only four players on this year's BU roster have scored more than four career goals…BU, which had the best road record in the nation last year (11-4-1), returns to action on Saturday when it travels to face UNH.

Maine: Maine picked up its first victory of the season with a 4-3 win over Army in the 2012 Ice Breaker consolation game…Maine recorded 54 shots on goal in the game…The Black Bears dropped the Ice Breaker opener to Notre Dame 1-0…Maine scored three goals in the span of 2:27 in the second period on Saturday night against Army…Stu Higgins (Troy, Mich.) recorded his first career two-point game in the win…Rookie goalie Matt Morris (Ridgewood, N.J.) made his collegiate debut on Saturday night in goal and earned his first career win. He stopped 21 shots in the game…Maine has held its opponents scoreless on eight power play chances this season…The Black Bears have used seven rookies in their first three games…Four of the seven have tallied at least one point… Every Maine player recorded at least one shot on goal on Saturday night…The Black Bears return home to host St. Lawrence for a pair of games this weekend.

Massachusetts: UMass captured the first win of John Micheletto's head coaching career on Friday night, a 4-1 win over Connecticut in front of a crowd of 7,123 at the Mullins Center – the highest attendance for a home opener in program history and 17th largest crowd all-time at the Mullins Center.

UMass-Lowell: UMass Lowell's attendance of 6,711 in Friday night's game with Vermont marked the largest ever crowd for a home-opening game as well as the third-largest figure in the Tsongas Center's history… UMass Lowell's No. 6 ranking is its highest-ever before playing a game…The River Hawks visit the University of Denver, Friday night and Colorado College Saturday, where coach Norm Bazin spent eight seasons (2000-08).

Merrimack: Merrimack opened conference play with a 4-2 loss to Northeastern Wednesday night at Matthews Arena…It snapped a threegame winning streak at Matthews Arena dating back to 2010…The Warriors surrendered three early goals only to rally back with two second- period tallies, but an empty netter sealed their fate…Sophomore Quinn Gould (Fort McMurray, Alta.) and Justin Mansfield (Arlington, Mass.) scored Merrimack's goals…Five of Merrimack's six goals this season have been scored by the sophomore class…Just one senior, John Heffernan (Scituate, Mass.) was in uniform. Heffernan has three assists in two games…Three freshmen made their collegiate debut, with Justin Hussar (Lancaster, N.Y.) picking his first career assist on Mansfield's power play goal…Merrimack heads to Alaska for the Gold Rush Classic this weekend. Returning to Alaska for the first time since 2006, the Warriors will take on Fairbanks Friday and Anchorage Saturday to conclude their season-opening four-game road trip…After missing last year due to eligibility, Rasmus Tirronen (Espoo, Finland) made his debut in net, stopping 30 shots in the loss…Merrimack's season-opening win over #5 Union marked the 90th in Mark Dennehy's career…It also marked the first time the Warriors defeated a top-five opponent on the road in Dennehy's career at Merrimack.

New Hampshire: UNH opened the 2012-13 regular season with a 5-3 win over St. Cloud State. The win marked career win 500 for Head Coach Dick Umile. Umile became the 12th Division I coach all time with 500 wins and is one of just six active coaches with 500 career wins. Additionally, he became just the eighth coach in Division I history to win 500 games at one program... With UNH's two wins, it's the first time since 2008-09 the team started the season 2-0...Connor Hardowa had four assists in two games helping the Wildcats to a weekend sweep of St. Cloud State. He registered a career-high three assists on Friday night and followed that up with an assist on Saturday night. He posted a team-high +5 rating for the weekend and anchored a defense that was stingy all weekend... UNH scored three even-strength, one power play and one short handed goal in a 5-3 win.

Northeastern: Northeastern has started this season 2-0. The last time the Huskies won their first two games of the season was the 1999- 2000 ledger. NU defeated both Bowling Green and Massachusetts by 4-1 scores on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22, 1999, respectively...The Huskies stopped Boston College's 19-game winning streak dating back to last season with tonight's 3-1 triumph. Dating back to last season, Northeastern now owns the longest winning streak in the country (3-0)...The last time Northeastern defeated Boston College was on Feb. 19, 2011. The Huskies topped BC, 2-1, at Matthews Arena in front of a sold out crowd. Northeastern's victory over the Eagles tonight also marks the last time NU knocked off the No. 1 ranked team in the country...This is the third time in the last five years Northeastern has defeated Boston College as the No. 1-ranked team in the country at Matthews Arena. NU defeated BC on Oct. 18, 2008 (4-3) and Feb. 19, 2011 (2-1) in similar situations to tonight's win...Saturday's sellout against Boston College marks the fifth-consecutive capacity crowd at Matthews Arena when the Eagles pay a visit...Northeastern owns the most home victories over Boston College since the start of the 2008-09 season. The Huskies have defeated the Eagles on five occasions, including Oct. 18, 2008 (4-3), March 6, 2009 (2-1 OT), Feb. 19, 2010 (3-2), Feb. 19, 2011 (2-1) and Oct. 13, 2012 (3-1)...Northeastern's last three wins have all been against ranked opponents: Boston College (No. 1), Merrimack (No. 19) and Boston University (No. 4)...Northeastern has never trailed at this point this season.

Providence College: With their 8-2 win over Sacred Heart, Providence scored eight for the first time since posting an 8-2 win at Bowling Green on Oct. 23, 2009...The Friars moved to 4-0 all-time versus the Pioneers and have outscored Sacred Heart 28-7 in the four meetings...Mark Jankowski (2g), Steven McParland (1a), Kyle Murphy (1g), Paul de Jersey (1g, 1a), Noel Acciari (1a) and John Gilmour (2a) all made their Providence debuts against Sacred Heart and notched their first career points. Goaltender Jon Gillies (14 saves in 40:00 mins. to earn the win) and Kevin Rooney also played their first collegiate games against Sacred Heart. At BU, Brandon Tanev played in his first career game, meaning PC saw eight players make their collegiate debuts, while senior captain Kyle Muphy made his Friar debut, over the weekend... Providence is now 38-23-1 (.621) all-time in season openers, including four consecutive season-opening victories...With a goal and two assists versus Sacred Heart, sophomore Ross Mauermann set a career high for points in a game with three (1g,2a).

Vermont: Six players made their Catamount debuts on Friday night against No. 6 UMass Lowell...Dating back to last season, UVM has played eight of its last 10 games against teams ranked in the national Top-10…Vermont began the regular season nine days earlier than it did last year and played its first Hockey East game 16 days earlier than in 2011-12…The Catamounts return eight of their top 10 scorers for the 2012-13 season…UVM only allowed one shot on two UMass Lowell power plays...From the beginning of last season, UMass Lowell is 20-1-1 when leading after two periods and the loss and tie have both come against Vermont …The Catamounts played in five overtime games last season and went 2-2-1 in those contests…Colin Markison has two goals in four career games against the River Hawks…Friday night marked the 35th all-time meeting in the series, but just the second time the teams have met in a season opener…UVM is idle next weekend before traveling to Merrimack for a two-game series on Oct. 26 and 27 at Lawler Arena.