#7 Hockey Hosts Northeastern Friday to Kick Off Home-and-Home Weekend
MERRIMACK COLLEGE HOCKEY
Game #7 vs. Northeastern, Friday, November 4, 2011, 7 p.m., Lawler Arena / Tickets / Watch / Follow / Game Notes (.pdf)
Game #8 at Northeastern, Saturday, November 5, 2011, 7 p.m., Matthews Arena / Listen / Follow / Game Notes (.pdf)
Tonight's Matchup: Off to its best start since 1987-88 following a perfect October, Merrimack concludes its season-series this weekend with Northeastern.
Lifetime vs. NU: Winners of three of the last four, Merrimack is 35-47-9 lifetime.
This Season vs. NU (MC leads series 1-0-0): Kyle Bigos and Ryan Flanigan each had a goal and an assist as Merrimack downed NU 4-1 in front of a sold out crowd at Lawler.
Merrimack Concludes Perfect October with #7 Ranking
The only undefeated team in Hockey East, Merrimack concluded a perfect October, earning a #7 ranking in both weekly polls. The Warriors are off to their best start since 1987-88, which predates their time in Hockey East.
One of Two Undefeated Teams Left Nationally
Only Colorado College (4-0) and Merrimack (6-0) are without a loss or tie nationally.
Flanigan Earns HEA Co-Player of the Week; Point-Scoring Streak Reaches 13
After picking up three points in the UVM weekend, Ryan Flanigan was named the Hockey East Co-Player of the Week. Flanigan leads or co-leads the team in goals, assists, points, plus/minus, and shots, has points in every game this year and points in 13 straight dating back to last season. He played in his 100th game on Friday.
Cannata Named HEA Defensive Player of the Month
Joe Cannata earned HEA Defensive Player of the Month honors for October. Cannata leads Hockey East goalies in goals-against-average (1.40) and save percentage (.938).
First-Ever Weekend Sweep in Vermont
Merrimack swept Vermont in Burlington for the first time ever. The Warriors are 6-0-2 against UVM over the last three seasons.
Bigos Records Big Weekend
Kyle Bigos has emerged as a force on the blueline. The junior is tied for the team lead with four assists after a three-assist weekend. He leads all MC defenders with five points.
Flanigan-Madsen-Sheen Line Dominates in Weekend Sweep
The senior line of Ryan Flanigan, Carter Madsen, and Elliott Sheen led the way against Vermont, combining for six points and a +9 rating in two games.
Defenders Shine on Defense and Offense
The Warriors' defense has allowed only seven goals in six games this season. Perhaps more impressive is that Merrimack's defense has combined for six goals and 17 points.
Sellout Streak Hits Eight
Merrimack has sold out eight straight at Lawler Arena dating back to Feb. 12, 2011.
There's No Place Like Home
Merrimack has won 11 straight at Lawler dating back to last year and is 29-5-2 at home since the start of the 2009-10 season.
Nationally Team Statistics Leader
Nationally, Merrimack is first in team defense, tied for sixth on power play, tied for ninth on penalty kill and eleventh in goals for. Within Hockey East, they rank first in defense and power play, third in goals for, and second on the penalty kill.
Power Play Clicking
The Merrimack power play leads HEA and has scored at least a goal in every game this season.
Marotta Earns Shutout, Player of the Week Honors in First Start
In his first career start, Sam Marotta made 25 saves for his first career shutout. Marotta, the HEA Defensive Player of the Week, added an assist.
Warriors Conclude Homecoming with 5-0 Blanking of UConn
Behind multi-point efforts from Elliott Sheen, Jeff Velleca and Brendan Ellis, three power-play goals, and a shutout from Marotta, Merrimack blanked UConn 5-0 to stay perfect.
75 for Dennehy
Merrimack's win over UConn was the 75th for head coach Mark Dennehy.
Todd and Flanigan Lead Warriors to 4-1 Win in Vermont
Jess Todd notched a career-high three points, including the game-winner, and Ryan Flanigan added a goal and an assist to propel the Warriors to a 4-1 win over Vermont on October 28.
Stewart Promoted to Associate Head Coach
Glenn Stewart was promoted to Associate Head Coach this week. Stewart is in his third season at Merrimack.
Non-Conference Success
The Warriors are 11-0 in their last 11 non-conference home games, 8-0-1 in their last nine non-conference games, and 21-6-3 in their last 30.
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.
Brodhag-Bly-Heffernan Led the Way Against Army
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.
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 rules violations.
Three Straight over the Black Bears
Merrimack has defeated Maine in 3 straight meetings for the first time ever.
Todd Remains Clutch
After ranking second in Hockey East with six game-winners last season, Jesse Todd is tied for the league lead this year with two game-winners.
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 player in New England, Cannata has 47 career wins, tops in school history.
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.
Seven Freshmen Debut
While seven of Merrimack's newcomers have debuted, incredibly none has registered a point yet, despite combining for 25 shots.
Flanigan Topped HEA 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.
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.
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 defenders. 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.
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 four 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
The Warriors 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.
