Men's Ice Hockey Opens 2013-14 with Exhibition vs. McGill Sunday (5pm)
WARRIORS BATTLE McGILL IN EXHIBITION OPENER SUNDAY AT LAWLER RINK
Links: Live Stats | Tickets ($5 Tickets Available!) | Watch | Listen (Free) | Game Notes (.pdf) | Follow (@MC_Athletics)
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team officially opens up the 2013-14 campaign with an exhibition bout against McGill University on Sunday afternoon at Lawler Rink. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m.
The Basics
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013 | 5 p.m.
Records: Merrimack (0-0) | McGill (2-2)
Location: Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass.
POSTGAME SKATE FOLLOW
Following the conclusion of Sunday's contest, Merrimack will host a special postgame skate sponsored by Fuddruckers. Fans (who bring their own skates!) will have the opportunity to join the Warriors on the ice for pictures and autographs at the conclusion of the contest. Snacks and drinks will be provided by Fuddruckers, as well.
Recapping 2012-13
Merrimack posted its first non-winning season in three years after finishing 15-17-6 overall at the end of the 2012-13 campaign. The Warriors, however, did finish 13-11-3 in Hockey East play and caught fire in the second half. At one point in mid-February, Merrimack sat atop the league standings, the latest into a season that the Warriors were in first place in the program's Division I history.
But that hot streak would cool off in the form of Merrimack going just 1-7 over its final eight games before suffering a sweep against Boston University in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. Still, by season's end, Merrimack finished three points out of a three-way tie for third place, four back of second and five behind eventual league champion UMass Lowell.
Lifetime vs. McGill
Merrimack and McGill have met just twice in all-time history, with the most recent meeting coming in 2008. The Warriors and Redmen have split both previous showdowns, with Merrimack winning the opener (3-1) back on Oct. 13, 1995, and McGill taking the most recent meeting (Oct. 4, 2008) by a 2-1 margin.
Merrimack Picked Seventh in Hockey East Preseason Poll
Merrimack was picked to finish seventh out of 11 teams in the 2013 Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll. The order of finish: UMass Lowell, Boston College (T-1); New Hampshire, Notre Dame (T-3); Providence (5); Boston University (6); MERRIMACK (7); Maine (8); Vermont (9); Massachusetts (10); Northeastern (11)
The Warriors:
- After going 4-2-1 in February last year to surge toward the top of the Hockey East standings, Merrimack closed out the year 1-5 en route to dropping its Hockey East Quarterfinal series against Boston University, 2-0
- Posted their first non-winning season in three years after finishing 15-17-6 overall
- Finished three points out of a three-way tie for third place, four back of second and five behind eventual league champion UMass Lowell
- Return all of their top-10 scorers from a year ago highlighted by senior Mike Collins (Boston, Mass.), who was named a first-team all-conference forward and Second-Team All-American
- Are garnering votes in both national polls to start the season
The Redmen:
- Enter 2-2 overall and last posted a victory on Sept. 28 in a bout against the UQTR Patriotes, 5-1
- Are a member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country
- Are coached by Kelly Nobes, who enters his fourth season behind the bench in 2013-14
- Went 21-18 a year ago after advancing to the CIS gold medal game in 2011-12, where McGill captured the University Cup for its first-ever national championship in men's ice hockey
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