NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team will look to get back on track when it takes a brief pause from its league schedule with a non-conference matchup against Bentley University on Friday night at Lawler Rink. Puck drop 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.
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, nachos, candy bars and drinks from the concession stand.
- SCOUT NIGHT: Admission for all Boys/Girls Scouts is just $10 Friday! All Scouts receive a FREE Merrimack Scout Patch (while supplies last). For special group rates, call 978-837-3441!
- MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS APPRECIATION NIGHT: Tickets for Military, EMS and First Responder personnel are just $10 with valid ID.
Inside the Series
- While a common opponent on all of Merrimack's Division II sport schedules, Merrimack and Bentley have only met on five previous occasions in men's ice hockey.
- The last showdown occurred just over two years ago in Watertown, when Merrimack remained unbeaten against the Falcons in a 5-1 victory at the J.A.R.
- The last time the Falcons made the short trek up to Lawler Rink was in November of 2013, when the Warriors held off the Falcons in a 3-1 win on home ice.
- That game bridged a nearly 30-year gap in the all-time series, which Merrimack leads by a 5-0-0 margin. The Warriors won all three of those meetings in the 1980s, including the only other previous game played in North Andover on Dec. 10, 1981 (5-2).
- Merrimack also boasts road wins back when Bentley played games on campus, one on Dec. 7, 1982 (4-1) and the last on Feb. 18, 1985 (5-3).
'Mack Facts
- Merrimack's 1-6-2 start to a season is its worst since starting 1-7-1 in the 1994-95 campaign. The Warriors would go 1-8-2 before winning their second game that year.
- Merrimack has now been held to two goals or fewer in seven of nine games this season and is winless (0-6-1) when scoring fewer than three goals.
- Sophomore Johnathan Kovacevic netted his first goal of the season on Friday, while junior Michael Babcock and senior Alfred Larsson posted their first assists of the year.
- Kovacevic is riding a season-high three-game point streak, while classmate Sami Tavernier moved into a tie for the team lead in goal-scoring after lighting the lamp last Saturday against BC. He and senior Jace Hennig each have three goals.
- Merrimack has not allowed a power play goal in each of its two games last weekend.
The Beat on Bentley
- Bentley has played exclusively against Atlantic Hockey members through eight games, as the Falcons have gone 1-4-3 so far to start the 2017-18 campaign.
- Last weekend, Bentley skated to a 3-3 tie before dropping a 4-3 decision in a two-game road series at Niagara. The Falcons' lone win was on Oct. 27 against Mercyhurst.
- The Falcons were picked eighth in the Atlantic Hockey Preseason Poll.
- Sophomore Jonathan Desbiens, a forward, leads the Falcons with a team-high five goals and eight points.
- Senior Kyle Schmidt, who has 96 career points, is right behind him with seven points, while junior defenseman Tanner Jago has dished a team-high five assists.
- Senior Jayson Argue has started all but one game for Bentley in net; he is 1-3-3 with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
- Bentley ranks 51st nationally in scoring offense (2.25) and 44th in scoring defense (3.25); their power play ranks 21st (22.5) and penalty kill ranks 44th (76.2).
- Ryan Soderquist, a 2000 Bentley alum, is in his 16th season coaching his alma mater. He started the year with a 200-276-67 all-time mark.
Up Next
Merrimack wraps up a five-game November slate with a home-and-home series with Providence next weekend. The series starts at Schneider Arena on Friday at 7:15 p.m.
