#13 Hockey Hosts Northeastern Friday (7:30 pm) and Connecticut Saturday (7 pm) for Homecoming
MERRIMACK COLLEGE HOCKEY
Game #3 vs. Northeastern, Friday, October 21, 2011, 7:30 p.m. / Tickets / Watch / Follow / Game Notes (.pdf) / Fireworks & Trolley Info
Game #4 vs. Connecticut, Saturday, October 22, 2011, 7 p.m. / Tickets / Watch / Follow / Game Notes (.pdf) / Complete Homecoming Schedule
Friday's Matchup: Merrimack opens Homecoming Weekend against Hockey East rival Northeastern Friday. While the Warriors have lost just five times at home since the start of the 2009-10 season, two of those losses have been to the Huskies.
Lifetime vs. NU: Merrimack is 34-47-9 lifetime. They won the season series 2-1 last year.
Last Season vs. Northeastern (Merrimack won series 2-1):
Despite the Warriors losing at home to Northeastern 2-1, Merrimack won both games at Matthews, with Joe Cucci capping his hat trick with an OT goal in the decisive game.
Saturday's Matchup: Merrimack concludes its three-game homestand and Homecoming Weekend against the University of Connecticut.
Lifetime vs. UConn: Merrimack is 22-1 lifetime against the Huskies. The teams have met in each of the last three seasons, with Merrimack winning all three meetings.
Last Season vs. Connecticut (MC, W, 7-1, 10/16/10): Merrimack opened the renovated Lawler Arena with a 7-1 win as 14 different Warriors picked up points in the win.
Merrimack Wins Home Opener over Army
Energized by a sellout crowd, Merrimack defeated Army 3-2 behind multi-point efforts from Rhett Bly and John Heffernan. Ryan Flanigan and Karl Stollery also scored in the win as the Warriors outshot Army 40-21, including 19-2 in the second period.
Sellout Streak Hits Six
Merrimack has sold out six straight at Lawler Arena dating back to Feb. 12, 2011.
Brodhag-Bly-Heffernan Led the Way
The line of Brandon Brodhag, Rhett Bly and John Heffernan led the way in the win over Army, combining for 5 points and the game-winner. For Bly, it was his first career two assist and two point game, while Heffernan tallied his second multi-point game.
It's a Husky Weekend
Merrimack welcomes the Northeastern Huskies and the UConn Huskies for Homecoming.
Aiming for 3-0 Start
Merrimack has not been 3-0 since 2007-08 when they beat Niagara and Bemidji St. (twice).
Todd's Consecutive Games Played Streak Snapped at 40
Jesse Todd missed the Army game with an injury, ending his consecutive games played streak at 40.
Warriors Own the Army
Merrimack has won all 13 meetings with Army since becoming a Division I school and all 11 lifetime in North Andover.
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 has won nine straight at Lawler dating back to last year and is 27-5-2 at home since the start of the 2009-10 season.
Non-Conference Success
The Warriors are now 10-0 in their last 10 non-conference home games, 7-0- 1 in their last eight, and 20-6-3 in their last 29.
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 2010-11
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 43 straight games, has 44 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.
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.
Four Freshmen Debut
Three freshmen, Dan Kolomatis, Connor Toomey and Kyle Singleton, debuted at Maine. Singleton tied for the team lead with four shots, while Kolomatis saw time on the first power play unit, pairing with Stollery. Clayton Jardine took the ice against Army, firing five shots.
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 2010-11 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).
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.
Warriors Feature Talented Freshman Class
Forwards Josh Myers and Connor Toomey headline Merrimack's nine-member freshman class. 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.
Merrimack Reached Garden for First Time Since 1998
Merrimack reached the TD Garden for the first time since 1998. The Warriors swept Maine 2-0 and beat UNH 4-1 in the semis.
Merrimack Hosted HEA 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.
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.
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 candidates 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. beginning December 17 against Union. 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 sophomore 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.
