NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team will open its home slate with a matchup against 10th-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday night at Lawler Rink. Puck drop against the Badgers, who are making their first-ever trip to North Andover, is 7 p.m.
PARKING AND SECURITY ADVISORY
With Homecoming Weekend festivities in full force Thursday through Saturda
y, fans are encouraged to arrive to Lawler Rink EARLY Saturday night due to extensive parking restrictions and enhanced security regulations. The Lawler Rink security staff reserves the right to check ALL bags and ask guests to leave inappropriate or prohibited items in their car or outside of the gates. All guests are subject to search.
- Lot F (MAC) and G (Deegan/Fenton Road) are reserved parking lots only.
- Lots E (Rogers), H (Sakowich), and J (Monican/Apartments) will open approximately one hour after the conclusion of Saturday's football game.
- For those who are planning on attending earlier Homecoming Weekend events on Saturday, please note that Cullen Avenue/Route 125 South Entrance will be closed at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and will reopen following the football game.
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Inside the Series
- Merrimack and Wisconsin will meet for only the fourth time this weekend; the only other previous showdown between the Warriors and Badgers occurred last fall in Madison, as well as in January of 2010.
- Last November, Merrimack and Wisconsin split a weekend series at the Kohl Center, with Wisconsin taking the opener by a 3-2 margin before the Warriors returned the favor with a 2-0 shutout victory the following night, their only win in the series.
- The only other game was played in 2010 as part of that year's Badger Hockey Showdown, and Merrimack fought valiantly before falling in overtime, 5-4, that game.
'Mack Facts
- Merrimack opened the season with a loss and a tie at Colgate last weekend on the road. The Warriors outshot the Raiders by 20 (39-19) on Friday but were only able to pot one goal before skating to a 2-2 tie on Saturday.
- Seven different skaters recorded at one point last weekend, and three different players lit the lamp over the course of the two-game set.
- Four players made their collegiate debuts last weekend; sophomore forward Cole McBride played both nights, while freshmen forwards Jackson Bales and Laine McKay, as well as rookie defenseman Evan Bell played one game apiece.
- Merrimack finished the weekend 1-for-12 on the power play (8.3%) while its penalty kill was excellent in fending off 9-of-10 chances (90.0).
Scouting the Badgers
- Wisconsin's season is already three games old after playing Michigan Tech on Oct. 1 (3-2 win) before a split with Ohio State last weekend in its first two B1G games.
- The Badgers will play at Boston College on Friday night before making their first-ever trip to Lawler Rink on Saturday.
- Wisconsin finished last season 20-15-1 overall, a 12-win improvement from the previous season, and advanced to the BIG Tournament title game.
- While last year's lead scorer, Luke Kunin, was lost to the pro ranks, sophomore Trent Frederic is back after a 33-point rookie campaign. Overall, Wisconsin returns four of its top six scorers back from last season.
- The Badgers welcomed graduate student transfer Kyle Hayton, who was one of the top goaltenders in the ECAC at Saint Lawrence before his arrival in Madison, to man the net this season. Hayton is 2-1-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .891 SV% so far.
- The Badgers rank 20th nationally in scoring offense (2.67) and 22nd in defense (2.33), while its power play is ranked 24th (14.3) and its penalty kill 21st (86.7).
- Wisconsin alum Tony Granato is in his second season coaching the Badgers.
Up Next
Next weekend, the Warriors will head to Duluth, Minnesota, for the first time in nearly 17 years to take on last year's national runner-up, the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. Puck drop each night is set for 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
