HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES
#12 Providence won big to begin their 2021-22 campaign, toppling Army West Point, 7-0, on Saturday. Jaxon Stauber (Plymouth, Minn.) stopped all 24 shots he faced in 56:51 of action to earn Hockey East Goaltender of the Week, while rookie forward Guillaume Richard (Cap-Sante, Que.) tallied a goal and two assists to go along with a plus-four rating in his collegiate debut.
UMass Lowell traveled west to Arizona State for a two-game set, earning a weekend split in the desert. The River Hawks were led by freshman Matt Crasa (South Setauket, N.Y.) with four points (3g, 1a) to earn Hockey East Player of the Week. In UMass Lowell’s season opener, the freshman tallied his first collegiate goal to help get the River Hawks on the board against the Sun Devils. On Sunday, Crasa continued his scoring run, leading the team to a 4-2 victory with a pair of goals and an assist.
UConn defeated in-state rival Sacred Heart, 6-3, ending a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1) against the Pioneers. Vladislav Firstov (Yarolsavl, Russia) scored twice for the Huskies in the win, while Darion Hanson, UConn (East Bethel, Minn.) stopped 31 shots in his UConn debut in net.
Northeastern earned a 4-0 win over Bentley on Saturday, vaulting into the
national rankings at #18 yesterday. Sophomore Devon Levi (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.) made his highly anticipated collegiate debut, stopping
all 29 shots he faced in his first ever start for the Huskies. Levi missed the
entire 2020-21 NCAA season after starring for Team Canada at the World
Junior Championship and then dealing with injuries for the remainder of
the year.
HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matt Crasa - UMass Lowell
Matt Crasa (Fr., F; South Setauket, N.Y.) led the River Hawks opening weekend with four points (3g, 1a) in a weekend road split at Arizona State. In UMass Lowell’s season opener, the freshman tallied his first collegiate goal to help get the River Hawks on the board against the Sun Devils. On Sunday, Crasa continued his scoring run, leading the team to a 4-2 victory with a pair of goals and an assist. One of his two goals Sunday night came on the power play and his first collegiate assist was on Brian Chamber’s power play goal. Crasa was also credited with the game-winner Sunday night and finished with a plus-two rating.
PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Devon Levi - Northeastern
Devon Levi (So., G; Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.) made his highly anticipated collegiate debut on Saturday, stopping all 29 shots he faced in his first ever start for the Huskies. He backboned his team to a 4-0 shutout win over Bentley. Levi missed the entire 2020-21 NCAA season after starring with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship and then dealing with injuries for the remainder of the year.
HOCKEY EAST DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Jayden Struble - Northeastern
Jayden Struble (Gr., D; Toronto, Ont.) began his 2021-22 campaign strongly, scoring one goal and adding two assists in the Huskies 4-0 season-opening win over Bentley on Saturday.
HOCKEY EAST GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Jaxson Stauber - Providence
Jaxson Stauber (Jr, G; Plymouth, Minn.) stopped all 24 shots he faced in 56:51 of action to boost the Friars to a season-opening 7-0 win over Army West Point.
HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS
Jack McBain, BC (Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario) McBain had a goal and two assists on Saturday in a 4-1 exhibition victory over defending Atlantic Hockey champion AIC, leading the team with 5 shots on goal, and scoring a game-winning goal.
Vladislav Firstov, UConn (Jr., F; Yaroslavl, Russia) Firstov matched his career-high scoring two goals to lead the Huskies to a 6-3 season opening win over Sacred Heart at home, snapping a seven-game winless streak against the Pioneers. Firstov had UConn’;s first goal of the game, and the season, just 1:05 into the first period. He gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead in the second period.
Darion Hanson, UConn (Gr., G; East Bethel, Minnesota) Hanson stopped 31 shots in his UConn debut to grab his first victory and lead the Huskies to a 6-3 win over SHU at home. Hanson stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third period as the Husky offense tacked on three goals to break a 3-3 tie and grab their first win on the season. Hanson also picked up his first career assist, getting the second helper on Firstov’s second goal of the game.
Owen Savory, UML (Sr., G; Cambridge, Ont.) Made 24 stops and allowed just two goals against Arizona State on Oct. 3 to help secure a 4-2 victory against the Sun Devils.
Aidan McDonough, NU (Jr., F; Milton, Mass.) Had two goals in the Huskies’ season-opening 4-0 win over Bentley.
Guillaume Richard, PC (Fr., D; Cap-Sante, Que.) Tallied a goal and two assists to go along with a plus-four rating in his collegiate debut during the Friars’ 7-0 win over Army West Point.
Cory Babichuk, UVM (So., D; Edmonton, Alta.) Had a shorthanded goal and an assist in the final four minutes of action as UVM came from behind to defeat Mercyhurst, 4-2. Babichuk’s shorthanded tally proved to be the game-winner.
