#5 Hockey Heads to #12/11 Colgate Saturday for Big Non-Conference Showdown
MERRIMACK COLLEGE HOCKEY
Game #14 at #12/11 Colgate University, Saturday, December 10, 2011, 7 p.m., Starr Rink / Listen / Follow / Game Notes (.pdf)
Tonight's Matchup: Merrimack takes on its third nationally-ranked opponent of the season and its first ECAC opponent since Harvard in November of 2010.
Lifetime vs. Colgate: Merrimack is 8-7-0 lifetime against the Raiders. The teams have not met since November of 2001 and not at Colgate since November of 1996.
Merrimack Concludes 2011 Conference Schedule with 5-2 Win over UVM
After dropping a pair of games to Providence, Merrimack bounced back to defeat UVM 5-2 Wednesday at Lawler Arena. The third line of Justin Mansfield-Carter Madsen-Jeff Velleca led the way combining for eight points and a +10 rating.
Velleca, Mansfield, Ellis Have Career Days in Win
Senior Jeff Velleca tallied his first career two goal, two assist and four point game; Justin Mansfield had his first career multi-goal and point game, while Brendan Ellis added a career-high four assists from the blue line in the victory over UVM.
UVM Sweep
With the win, Merrimack completed its first-ever season-sweep of the Catamounts. The Warriors, winners of five of their last six against UVM at Lawler, have captured the last three season-series from the Catamounts.
Smallest School Reached the Top
Merrimack, the smallest school in Div. I hockey with 2,074 students, ascended to the top of the polls for the first time on November 21 and held that spot for two weeks.
First Team Unbeaten Entering December in over 15 Years
Merrimack was the nation's last remaining undefeated team and the first team to enter December without a loss since the 1992-93 Maine team that went 42-1-2.
Cannata Among Nation's Best
With a goals-against average of 1.83 and a save percentage of .933, Joe Cannata is 2nd in HEA and 7th nationally in both categories.
Among Hockey East Leaders in Defense, Special Teams
Merrimack is 1st in defense and 2nd on the power play and penalty kill in HEA. They are 3rd nationally in combined special teams.
There's No Place Like Home
With a 5-1-1 record at home this year, Merrimack is 13-1-1 at Lawler in its last 15 dating back to last year and is 31-6-3 at home since the start of the 2009-10 season. The Warriors lost on home ice on 12/3 for the first time since 1/21/11 (Lowell - 316 days ago).
Defense Second in the Country
Merrimack's defense is 2nd in the country, allowing just 1.69 goals per game. The Dec. 3 loss to Providence is the only game this season in which the Warriors allowed more than two goals. Offensively, the blueliners have combined for 6 goals and 36 points.
Non-Conference Success
The Warriors are 12-0 in their last 12 non-conference home games, 9-0-1 in their last ten non-conference games, and 22-6-3 in their last 31.
Sellout Streak Snapped
Merrimack's 11-game home sellout streak that began on Feb. 12 against New Hampshire ended on Dec. 7 against Vermont.
Toomey Takes Control on Offense
Freshman Connor Toomey had the game-winner against BU and UAH and now has five goals in his last five games.
Freshmen Lead the Way in Win over Huntsville
Freshmen scored each of Merrimack's first four goals and combined for eight points in the 6-0 win over UAH. Quinn Gould and Clayton Jardine each notched their first career goal, assist and multi-point game, while Connor Toomey scored twice. After not receiving a point from a freshman in the first eight games, the newcomers combined to score six of the next seven goals.
Brodhag, Toomey Lead MC to OT Comeback Win over #16 BU
At Agganis Arena on 11/11/11 with Joe Cannata pulled for the extra attacker, Brandon Brodhag tied the game with 1:56 left to play and Connor Toomey won it 22 seconds into overtime to give the Warriors the come-from-behind 3-2 win over Boston University.
Two Straight Over the Terriers
The 3-2 OT win at BU on Nov. 11 marked the first time Merrimack has beaten the Terriers in two straight games in 95 all-time meetings. Merrimack is 2-0-2 in the last four games with BU.
Heywood, Stollery, Eliis Anchoring Merrimack's Defense
Karl Stollery is tied for third on the team with 10 points and leads the Warriors with a +10, while Heywood and Ellis are tied for the team lead in assists with eight. Playing major minutes nightly, Stollery is tied for sixth in HEA in defenseman scoring while Heywood and Ellis are tied for eighth.
First-Ever Regular Season Win at Agganis Snaps BU's OT Streak
The win at BU marked Merrimack's first-ever regular season win at Agganis and snapped BU's 9-year streak of not losing a regular season HEA game in OT.
Sudden Death Success
Merrimack is now 6-1-5 in the extra frame in its last 12 regular season OT games, which dates back to the beginning of last season. They have won their last two games at Matthews Arena, both of which went to overtime.
Shots, Shots, Shots
Merrimack has outshot its opponent in nine of 13 games this season.
Power Play Full of Power
The power play, 2nd in HEA and 15th nationally, has scored at least a goal in nine of 10 wins. Mike Collins is tied for 2nd in HEA in power play goals.
Stollery Climbing Merrimack Record Books
With 72 career points, Karl Stollery ranks 15th in school history in scoring among defensemen and eighth among Merrimack's Division I blueliners.
Flanigan's Shorthanded OT Goal Gives MC Season Series over NU
Ryan Flanigan scored short-handed 1:57 into OT to give Merrimack the 3-2 win and the season series over NU. The Warriors trailed 2-0 but tied it behind two power play goals from Collins and outstanding penalty killing.
Flanigan's Career-High 15-Game Point Streak Snapped
Ryan Flanigan, who leads the team in goals, points, and shots, and has points in 10 of 13 games this year, had his point-scoring streak snapped at 15 games (11/11). After registering 21 points in his first 72 career games, he has 41 points in his last 36 games.
Collins Finding the Net
After leading HEA in scoring among rookies last year, Mike Collins is back at it, ranked tied for 2nd on the team with five goals, four on the power play.
100 for Madsen, Sheen
Carter Madsen played in his 100th career game at BU, while Elliott Sheen reached the milestone against Huntsville.
First-Ever Weekend Sweep in Vermont
Merrimack swept Vermont in Burlington for the first time ever. The Warriors are 7-0-2 against UVM over the last three seasons.
Flanigan-Madsen-Sheen Line Dominates in UVM Sweep
The senior line of Ryan Flanigan, Carter Madsen, and Elliott Sheen led the way against the Catamounts, combining for six points and a +9 rating in the weekend sweep at Vermont.
Marotta Earns Shutout, POTW Honors in First Start
In his first career start, Sam Marotta, the HEA Defensive Player of the Week (10/24), made 25 saves for his first career shutout and added an assist.
Warriors Conclude Homecoming with 5-0 Win over 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.
Todd and Flanigan Lead MC 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 has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Stewart is in his third season at Merrimack.
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.
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 fourth in the league this year with two game-winners.
Quick Glance at an Historical 2010-11
Last season, 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.
Strong Combined Special Teams
After tying for first in 2009-10, Merrimack finished last year ranked 6th nationally and 2nd in HEA in combined special teams.
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.
Strong on Opening Night
Merrimack is 7-2-2 in its last 11 home openers.
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.
Merrimack and WBIN Team Up
Merrimack and WBIN-TV have reached an agreement to broadcast five hockey games live from Lawler Rink during the 2011-12 season in high definition. Merrimack's five-game agreement with WBIN marks the first time in school history that the College has inked its own television package.
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.
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 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.
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.
