North Andover, MA-- The Merrimack Men's Hockey team looks to bounce back from a road sweep to Maine and snap a three game skid, as well as build some playoff momentum as they sit eighth in the Hockey East standings as they face the last place Vermont Catamounts who are on a five game losing streak entering the weekend. The team will celebrate it's alumni day in the second game of the set on February 28.
Despite getting his point streak and goal streak snapped at 13 and seven, Merrimack College forward
Justin Gill scored his 14th goal against Maine this weekend, which is the most for a Warriors forward since
Ben Brar,
Alex Jefferies and
Matt Copponi all hit that number in 2022-23. Gill's three point weekend also propelled him to 30 points in total, which is the most for a Warrior since
Matt Copponi did it in 2023-24. In the conference, Gill sits as the top point getting freshman and in fifth place overall.
Sophomore captain
Caelan Fitzpatrick scored in both games against Maine last weekend continuing his strong second half of the season, with 14 of his 19 points coming after the holiday break, and notching seven points in his last six games (4 goals, 3 assists) Fitzpatrick sits on nine goals and 10 assists in the scoring table and if he reaches double digits, the Warriors will have at least four players with ten goals or more for the first time since 2021-22.
Despite only three games remaining in the season, Merrimack's final position in the standings is far from decided as they can finish anywhere between 4th and 11th place and these final games could also be a playoff preview as both Vermont and UMass Lowell combine for a 58 percent chance as of writing to face the Warriors in the opening round on Wednesday March 11. The Warriors have hosted a playoff game at Lawler in three of the last four seasons.
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