HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES
Merrimack dueled #5 Massachusetts in a pair of overtime tilts, earning three of six points in Hockey East play. Mac Welsher had three points (1g, 2a) including two assists in Friday’s 3-2 overtime setback before he netted the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory. Taylor Makar was the overtime hero for the Minutemen in their 3-2 triumph.
#9 Boston University and #18 UMass Lowell split a pair of one-goal games in a weekend series of top-ranked Hockey East programs. On Friday, UMass Lowell was powered by rookie Scout Truman, who scored both goals in a 2-1 win. The next night, Terrier freshman Lane Hutson scored the tying goal with 2:09 left in regulation before netting the unassisted overtime winner to deliver a 2-1 overtime win.
#13 Providence took five of six points from New Hampshire in league play, propelled by two game-opening goals from Craig Needham. Jaroslav Chmelar also scored twice, including the game-winning goal in the third period on Saturday. The freshman leads all Hockey East rookies with four goals this season.
#10 UConn earned a 5-1 win over Boston College on Thursday to move to 7-1-1 on the year. Ryan Tverberg scored two goals and assisted on another for the Huskies.
#17/16 Northeastern earned four of six points at Maine. The Black Bears fought back Friday night to earn a 2-2 tie off a power-play and a shorthanded goal before earning the extra point with a shootout victory. The next night, Aidan McDonough scored twice and Devon Levi made 35 saves in a 4-1 bounce-back win.
Vermont went 1-0-1 at Colgate last weekend and is currently riding a three-game unbeaten streak. Gabe Carriere made 76 saves on 78 shots he faced and the Catamount goaltender has stopped 101 of the 104 shots he’s seen.
Hockey East currently boasts a 24-11-3 record against non-conference opponents,
including a 17-4-1 mark in home arenas.
HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Tverberg - UConn
Ryan Tverberg (Jr., F; Richmond Hill, Ont.) in the lone game for UConn
this past week, Tverberg scored two goals and assisted on another for
three total points to help UConn take down Boston College Thursday evening at home.
PRO AMBITIONS CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Lane Hutson -
Boston University
Scout Truman - UMass Lowell
Lane Hutson (Fr., D; North Barrington, Ill.) proved the hero on Saturday night, as he scored the tying goal with 2:09 remaining in regulation before securing the overtime winner with a brilliant unassisted effort. It was Hutson’s first multi-goal game as a Terrier and he is now second on the squad in goals (3), assists (5) and points (8).
Scout Truman (Fr., F; Lethbridge,
Ont.) scored a pair of goals in
Friday’s 2-1 win over #9 Boston
University at the Tsongas Center,
his first career two-point performance. He added a team-best
two blocks and finished with a
plus-one rating. He currently ranks
28th in the conference in scoring
with five points.
HOCKEY EAST DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Taige Harding - Providence
Taige Harding (So., D; St. Albert, Alta.) recorded two assists over the
weekend as Providence earned five of six points over UNH in league play.
The sophomore posted a league-best plus-five rating over two games and
blocked two shots.
STOP IT GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Gabe Carriere - Vermont
Gabe Carriere (Jr., G; Ottawa, Ont.) made 76 saves on 78 shots he faced
as Vermont extended its unbeaten streak to three games with a 1-0-1 weekend at Colgate. In his last four games Carriere has stopped 101 of the 104
shots he’s faced, good for a .971 save percentage.
HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS
Luke Tuch, BU (Jr., F; Baldwinsville, N.Y.) Scored his third goal of the season Friday night at #18 UMass Lowell.
Drew Commesso, BU (Jr., G; Norwell, Mass.) Making his first start since Oct. 14, Commesso made 29 saves in the Terriers’ 2-1 win over UMass Lowell on Saturday night. Commesso made a crucial save in overtime on a breakaway chance to set the stage for the eventual game-winner.
Jake Percival, UConn (Fr., F; Avon, Conn.) Set up one goal in Thursday’s 5-1 victory over Boston College.
Roman Kinal, UConn (Sr., D; Waterford, Mich.) Was a key player in the Huskies win over Boston College, assisting on two goals, including the game-tying goal en route to a 5-1 victory. In addition to having two assists, Kinal blocked two shots.
Logan Terness, UConn (So., G; Burnaby, B.C.) Made 33 saves in a 5-1 triumph over Boston College Thursday night.
Killian Kiecker-Olson, Maine (Fr., F; Andover, Minn.) Scored a power play and converted in the shootout during Maine’s Friday night 2-2 tie and shootout victory over #15/#17 Northeastern. Both were the first of his career.
Luke Antonacci, Maine (Fr., D; Princeton, N.J.) The rookie blueliner blocked seven shots over two games against #15/#17 Northeastern, helping the Black Bears take two points in league play. The Huskies scored five goals over the weekend and Antonacci finished the two-game set with a minus-one rating.
Victor Ostman, Maine (Jr., G; Danderyd, Sweden) Recorded 34 total saves on the weekend. He posted 26 during Friday night’s 2-2 draw and shootout win, including being perfect in the shootout. Ostman then came in to Saturday’s game in relief and saved all eight shots he faced on 33:40 of work.
Mac Welsher, MC (Sr., F; Gross Pointe Farms, Mich.) Had three points (1g, 2a) in last weekend’s two-game set against #5 Massachusetts, in which the Warriors earned three of six league points. His output included two assists in Friday’s 3-2 overtime setback and the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win.
Trevor Griebel, MC (Fr., F; Tampa, Fla.) Scored his first collegiate goal against Massachusetts on Friday in an eventual 3-2 overtime loss.
Slava Demin, MC (Gr., D; Santa Clara, Calif.) Recorded the primary assist on Ben Brar’s game-winning overtime goal against Massachusetts on Saturday.
Hugo Ollas, MC (So., G; Linkoping, Sweden) Made 34 saves on 38 shots last weekend in a split series against #5 Massachusetts, including 18 in his win against Massachusetts on Saturday. He also recorded the secondary assist on the game-winning overtime goal.
Scout Truman, UML (Fr., F; Lethbridge, Ont.) Scored a pair of goals in Friday’s 2-1 win over #9 Boston University at the Tsongas Center, his first career two-point performance. He added a team-best two blocks and finished with a plus-one rating. He currently ranks 28th in the conference in scoring with five points.
Henry Welsch, UML (Jr., G; Lakeville, Minn.) Stopped 32 shots and allowed just one goal against BU in his appearance between the pipes Friday night in a 2-1 win. He extended UMass Lowell’s win-streak to three games and moved to a 3-2-0 mark on the season. He currently ranks eighth in the conference in save percentage (.938) and GAA (2.01).
Craig Needham, PC (Sr., F; Medford, Mass.) Opened the scoring for the Friars in both games against UNH this weekend, notching his first two goals of the season. He also posted a plus-two rating and five shots on goal en route to help- ing the Friars to earn five points in league play.
Jaroslav Chmelar, PC (Fr., F; Nove Mesto nad Matuji, Czech Republic) Scored twice against UNH on Saturday, including the game-winning goal in the third period and finished the weekend with a plus-two rating. The freshman leads all Hockey East rookies with four goals this season.
