NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team opens Hockey East play when it takes on the University of Massachusetts in a home-and-home series. The weekend opens on Friday at the Mullins Center before the Warriors play just their home game of the season on Saturday night. Puck drop each game is 7 p.m.
PARKING AND SECURITY ADVISORY
Due to enhanced security regulations in place on campus, fans are encouraged to arrive to Lawler Rink
EARLY Saturday night. 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.
Please note the following parking restrictions for Saturday night's game:
- Lot F (MAC) is reserved for hockey season ticket holders
- Lot G (Deegan/Fenton Road) is reserved for reserved parking.
- For those who are planning on attending the football game Saturday, please note that Cullen Avenue/Route 125 South Entrance will be closed 11:30 a.m. Saturday and will reopen at 5 p.m. Saturday evening.
Click here to view campus map.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
- FAMILY PACK SPECIALS: Enjoy discounted pricing of $13.50/ticket (NOTE: minimum of four tickets must be purchased)! Each ticket includes a seat to the game, a hot dog, drink, and chips from the concession stand
- Halloween Candy Toss throughout the game
- Wear your costume and receive $5 off admission! (Must purchase ticket on day of the game in order to receive discount!)
- Macktober Fest: Beginning at 4:00 p.m. outside of Lawler Rink, enjoy Macktober Fest, featuring food trucks, live music, and a cash bar!
Inside the Series
- In a series that dates back to the 1969-70 campaign, UMass is one of just three teams in Hockey East that the Warriors boast an all-time winning record against.
- In that span, Merrimack owns a 40-38-7 mark over the Minutemen, and since the 2009-10 season, the Warriors have gone 11-5-2 against UMass.
- Much of that success stems from the team's 22-11-6 record on home ice against UMass, as the Warriors have only gone 18-27-1 at the Mullins Center. They have, however, won their last two meetings on the road against UMass.
- Last year, Merrimack split the series; opposite of what has been the norm, the Warriors lost at home, 3-1, before winning on the road, 3-0. The home loss marked the first time in over eight years that the Warriors lost at Lawler to the Minutemen. They had been 9-0-2 in 11 home games against UMass dating back to March 8, 2008.
'Mack Facts
- Senior defenseman Jared Kolquist finished last weekend with five points on two goals and three helpers; he now leads the team in scoring with six points (2g, 4a).
- Kolquist and sophomore Johnathan Kovacevic (Grimsby, Ontario) each had at least one point in both games this weekend, becoming the first two players to mount scoring streaks on the young season.
- One night after going 4-for-6 on the man advantage, Merrimack's power play was 0-for-4 on Saturday, while Minnesota Duluth finished last weekend 5-for-10.
- Merrimack has allowed at least one power play goal in three straight games.
- Merrimack surrendered seven goals in a game for the first time since a 7-2 loss at Notre Dame on Jan. 15, 2016.
Minutemen Matchup
- UMass is off to a 3-3-0 start on the season but was swept at home in a two-game set against Ohio State last weekend, losing 3-1 and 3-0.
- Freshmen John Leonard and Oliver Chau pace the UMass offense; Leonard is tied for first in the conference in rookie scoring and ninth in overall scoring (3-4--7), while Chau ranks tied for sixth in rookie scoring.
- Eighteen total players have at least one point and 10 different players have recorded a goal to highlight a balanced attack for the Minutemen.
- Freshman Matt Murray has started three of the last four games for UMass and four total; he owns a 2.27 GAA and .913 SV% and is 2-2-0 in those starts. Ryan Wischow started the other two games and is 1-1-0 with a 4.02 GAA and .855 SV%.
- The Minutemen rank 33rd nationally in scoring offense (2.67) and 28th in scoring defense (3.00); their power play ranks 44th (11.5) and penalty kill ranks 13th (86.7).
- Greg Carvel is in his second season behind the bench at UMass and started the year with a 91-111-20 all-time coaching record (5-29-2 at UMass).
Up Next
Merrimack continues league play next weekend with a home-and-home series against Boston College. Puck drop each night is set for 7 p.m.
