#13 Hockey Hosts Army in the Home Opener Saturday at 7 p.m.
MERRIMACK HOCKEY
Game #2 vs. Army, Saturday, October 15, 2011, 7 p.m., Lawler Arena
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Tonight's Matchup: Ranked 13th in the country, Merrimack looks to improve to 2-0 when it hosts Army in the home opener Saturday night at Lawler Arena.
Lifetime vs. Army: Merrimack holds a 20-15-1 lifetime mark against Army but is 10-0 all-time at home. The Warriors have won all 12 meetings since becoming a Division I program.
Last Season vs. Army:
(12/30/10 @ Army, MC W 2-1 OT): Jesse Todd scored in overtime to give the Warriors the 2-1 win in West Point. Ryan Flanigan also scored while Joe Cannata made 29 saves.
Merrimack Opens Season with Rare Road Win at Maine
Behind goals from Jeff Velleca and Jesse Todd and 22 saves from Joe Cannata, the Warriors opened the season with a victory, defeating #16/15 Maine 2-1 in Orono.
Just How Rare Was It?
The win at Maine snapped a 22-game winless streak (0-20-2) in Orono and was just the sixth win lifetime in Maine, two of which were Maine forfeits due to NCAA violations.
Three Straight over the Black Bears
Merrimack has defeated Maine in three straight meetings for the first time ever.
Todd Remains Clutch
After ranking second in Hockey East with six game-winners last season, Jesse Todd's shorthanded tally was the game-winner at Maine.
Penalty Kill Strong in Opener
Merrimack's penalty kill was a perfect 9-for-9 in the win at Maine, killing two separate 3-on-5 situations totaling 1:35 in penalty kill time.
There's No Place Like Home
Merrimack was dominant at home in 2010-11, posting a 14-2-1 record, including eight straight wins to end the year. Lawler was sold out ten times, including the final seven games of the year. Merrimack is 26-5-2 at home since the start of 2009-10.
Non-Conference Success
The Warriors concluded non-conference play 6-0-1 in the 2010-11 regular season and are 9-0 in their last nine non-conference home games and 19-6-3 in their last 28 non-conference games.
Merrimack Earns Preseason National Ranking for First Time
The Warriors, after being ranked for 16 straight weeks in 2010-11, are ranked in the USCHO Preseason Poll for the first time in school history, ranking No. 15. Prior to last season, Merrimack had never been ranked nationally.
Quick Glance at an Historical Year
Last season was a magical one for the Warriors. Merrimack won a Division I school-record 25 games, reached its first-ever Hockey East Championship and was selected to its first NCAA Tournament since 1988.
Cannata Looks to Finish Strong
After starting all 39 games in 2010-11 and winning a Division I school-record 25 games, Joe Cannata returns for his senior season. A semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award, presented each year to the top American-born college hockey player in New England, Cannata, who has started 42 straight games, has 43 career wins, tops in school history.
Flanigan-Madsen-Sheen Line Returns for Senior Season
Arguably the most consistent line last season, seniors Ryan Flanigan, Carter Madsen and Elliott Sheen return after combining for 75 points last year, including 25 in the playoffs. Flanigan led all Hockey East players in playoff scoring, while Madsen potted a hat trick in game two against Maine. Sheen tallied the game-winner in game one against Maine and had two goals against UNH in the semifinal.
For Openers
Merrimack improved to 7-2-2 in its last 11 openers.
Strong Combined Special Teams
After tying for first in 2009-10, Merrimack finished last season ranked sixth nationally and second in HEA in combined special teams. The Warriors are second nationally in combined special teams through one weekend.
Three Freshmen Debut
Three freshmen, Dan Kolomatis, Connor Toomey and Kyle Singleton, debuted at Maine last week. Singleton tied for the team lead with four shots, while Kolomatis saw time on the first power play unit, pairing with Stollery.
Flanigan Topped Hockey East Players in Postseason Scoring
Ryan Flanigan led all HEA players with 6 goals, 11 points in the postseason. Flanigan finished last season on fire with 14 points in his final seven games.
Stollery, Cannata Named to Preseason HEWBA Team
Stollery and Cannata were among six players named to the Hockey East Writers and Broadcasters Association All-Hockey East preseason squad. Merrimack tied with Maine for the most selections with two, with BU and BC receiving one selection each.
64% of Offense Returns
While Merrimack loses its top three scorers from last season (Da Costa, Barton, Cucci), 64% of its offense returns, including all players ranked from 4-14 on the team in scoring. Jesse Todd, who led the Warriors with 17 goals and was second in the league with six game-winners, is back for his senior season.
Sophomores Look to Avoid Slump
Merrimack's freshman class had a huge impact last season led by 14 goals and 30 points from Mike Collins, who topped all Hockey East rookies in scoring. Jordan Heywood, now an assistant captain, had 16 points and was a +24, tops among HEA defensemen and rookies. Also contributing were Brendan Ellis (16 points), Shawn Bates (10 points) and Rhett Bly (8 points).
Talented Freshman Class Set to Debut
Merrimack's nine-member freshman class is set to debut, headlined by forwards Josh Myers and Connor Toomey. Other forwards include Justin Mansfield, Clayton Jardine, Kyle Singleton and Quinn Gould, while Mike Wills and Dan Kolomatis headline the defensemen. Finnish goaltender Rasmus Tirronen rounds out the squad. Singleton and Gould, along with Brendan Ellis, played for former Merrimack associate head coach Darren Yopyk at Westside of the BCHL.
Carr Joins Coaching Staff
Curtis Carr, formerly the head coach and GM of Youngstown (USHL), joined the Merrimack coaching staff in July. Carr replaces Phil Roy, who left for a position as assistant head coach at his alma mater Clarkson.
Merrimack Reached Garden in 2011 for First Time Since 1998
Merrimack reached the TD Garden for the first time since 1998. The Warriors swept Maine 2-0 at Lawler Arena and beat UNH 4-1 in the semis.
Merrimack Hosted Hockey East Quarterfinal for 2nd Time Ever
For the second time in school history and first time since 1997, Merrimack hosted a playoff series at Lawler and won its first-ever home playoff game.
Division I Hockey East Record 25 Wins, 35 HEA Points
Merrimack set a Division I HEA school record for wins with 25 and for points with 35 in 2010-11.
Nine Straight on the Road is a School Record
Merrimack won nine straight road games from 11/30/10 to 2/18/11, most in program history.
Sudden Death Success
Merrimack went 4-1-4 in OT last season, losing only to Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament. Before losing to Notre Dame, the Warriors won four straight OT games, something they had never before done.
Ranking the Warriors' 11-Goal Night
The 11 goals scored against UMass on Feb. 5, 2011 are the most for a Merrimack team since it defeated BC 11-5 on Feb. 15, 1997 and are the most scored in any Division I college hockey game since Union had 11 on Feb. 5, 2010. It's also the most goals MC ever scored against UMass, and is the first time a HEA team reached double digits in goals since UNH had 10 against MC on Jan. 5, 2002.
MC Posts Best Month since Joining HEA with UVM Sweep
The Warriors went 7-1 in January 2011 with their first-ever weekend sweep of Vermont. The seven wins are the most in a month since MC joined HEA.
2010-11 Season-Series Triumphs over BU and BC
Merrimack captured the regular season series over both BU and BC for the 1st time in program history.
Stingy Defense
The Warriors allowed just 12 shots (one in the 3rd) against Lowell on Nov. 20, 2010, its fewest shots allowed in a game since Jan. 3, 2004 when Princeton managed just eleven.
Points Against #1 and #2
The Warriors earned points against the two top-ranked teams in the country last season. They tied #1 BU twice and defeated #2 BC on October 30.
Strong on Opening Night
Merrimack is 7-2-2 in its last 11 home openers.
NHL Draftees
For the first time since 2002, Merrimack had two players selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Kyle Bigos was picked in the fourth round (99th overall) by Edmonton, while Joe Cannata was picked in the sixth round (173rd overall) by Vancouver.
Merrimack in 40+ Save Performances
Incredibly, over the last three seasons, Merrimack is 4-1-2 when its goaltender stops 40 or more shots. Joe Cannata stopped 40+ shots in the 2009-10 season with his 42-save shutout effort at UMass. He stopped 40+ shots in the 2008-09 season when he recorded 44 saves at Army.
Flanigan Named a Lowe's Senior Class Candidate
Ryan Flanigan is one of 20 candidate for the Lowe's Senior Class award. The finalists will be named in February.
Merrimack and WBIN Team Up
Merrimack and WBIN-TV have reached an agreement to broadcast three hockey games live from Lawler Rink during the 2011-12 season. The first televised game is December 17 against Union; the other games are January 14 against Maine and January 29 against Providence. Merrimack's three game agreement with WBIN marks the first time in school history that the College has inked its own television package.
2011-12 Captains
Senior defenseman Karl Stollery will serve as this year's captain, while senior forward Ryan Flanigan and senior defensman Jordan Heywood will be the alternate captains.
Merrimack Ranked Fifth in HEA Preseason Poll
The Warriors were ranked fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, its highest HEA preseason ranking ever.
Rank Team (1st place votes) Pts
1. Boston College (7) 88
2. Boston University (3) 83
3. New Hampshire 72
4. Maine 64
5. Merrimack 61
6. Vermont 44
7. Massachusetts 42
8. Northeastern 33
9. UMass Lowell 27
10. Providence 26
Ranked Fourth in HEBWA Preseason Poll
They earned the #4 preseason ranking in the Hockey East Broadcast and Writers Media poll.
Rank Team (1st place votes) Pts
1. Boston University (16) 184
2. Boston College (2) 169
3. New Hampshire (1) 141
4. Merrimack 133
5. Maine 126
6. Vermont 88
7. Northeastern 71
8. Massachusetts 64
9. Providence 37
10. UMass Lowell 32
Machnik Honored with Concannon Award
Merrimack radio broadcaster Mike Machnik was named the 2011 winner of the Hockey East Concannon Media Award. Machnik is the first recipient of the award with a Merrimack connection.
Where Are They Now
Five Warriors from last year's senior class continue to play professional hockey. Stephane Da Costa scored his first NHL goal on October 8 against Toronto with Ottawa. Adam Ross, Joe Cucci and Chris Barton will play in the ECHL this season while Francois Ouimet is playing in Europe.
