UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

[Riverhawkfanjv]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Back when the opposing goalie could actually hear you when you heckled him because there were a whole 500 fans in the arena

2365 for student attendance

I remember when it was 23... SNIFF... I'm going to cry...

ok, maybe not

[Patman]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Back when the opposing goalie could actually hear you when you heckled him because there were a whole 500 fans in the arena

what do you mean when? If I go he'll hear me, just gotta pick your moments.

[Riverhawkfanjv]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

I'm guessing a lot more students stay on campus throughout the weekend than a few years ago. It's amazing how quickly things changed.

[Patman]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Well, hell, I expected 5-2, but not for us. Totally opposite the start last year. Feels like we won a playoff game.

[bottomdweller]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Honestly, I don't think the song affected the atmosphere in the arena after the goals. It's not like people aren't going to cheer when the team scores. And I do not like the song, but it didn't kill any atmosphere.

[Patman]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Honestly, I don't think the song affected the atmosphere in the arena after the goals. It's not like people aren't going to cheer when the team scores. And I do not like the song, but it didn't kill any atmosphere.

listening on the radio, i think nobody cared about it for better or for worse

[Patronick]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Focusing on the game, because I think we've had our say on the non-hockey related shenanigans:

- I thought Boyle looked like a goalie who hadn't played a meaningful game in over a year during the 1st period. It was ugly. I know how spoiled we were with Hellebyuck and Carr, but Boyle's rebound control was non existent. He put three of the first five shots back into the slot, and the first one ended up in the net (even though there was a blatant goaltender interference missed on that play for those of you who DVR'ed the game).

- On the other hand, I thought Boyle was great in the third period. He was seeing pucks better. He started swallowing them up or making sure he kicked them way out if he couldn't. He made some really nice saves to keep it a one goal lead.

- Kamrass was the best player on the ice.

- Any word on Chapie's status?

- Zink struggled IMO, especially on the PP. That wasn't a good look for him.

- Kappla started to make some quizzical errors around midway through the second. Part of me wonders if he got his bell rung at some point, because he was playing solid defense and making good, quick decisions with the puck in the first period.

- Zink and Kappla were the pairing on the ice for both goals against.

- I don't have the numbers, but according to Bob during the ride home, Gambardella and Maniccia slaughtered at the dot.

- The physical play was great to see. It doesn't look like it's going to take any length of time for the freshman to buy into the system. Everyone was finishing their checks and putting bodies in front of pucks.

- The Smith/Louria goal was a beauty. I like CJ Smith's game a lot.

- The breakout slumped in the second period, but for the most part I was really impressed with how well Lowell moved the puck out of the zone. There were one or two passes where it looked like they got caught being too fancy, but for the first game of the season (and considering how Lowell has struggled at times over the past couple of years with the breakout) I thought the passing was superb.

- The forecheck was relentless as always. It's a chicken/egg debate whether it was more BC's sloppy passing or Lowell's aggression, but it was great to see the 'Hawks buzzing.

Great crowd. Great atmosphere. Loved seeing the students four sections deep and the overflow standing at every vantage point in the rink. The anthem pick up was awesome, and going by some of the players tweets it was just as amazing down on the ice.

Time to get ready for the Q and hopefully build off a successful first weekend.

[leswp1]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

The anthem thing was so cool that I was thinking it would be a tradition they should continue. Would love if that happened every time!! (did feel bad for the poor woman who was supposed have her moment)

[riverchief1]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

The anthem thing was so cool that I was thinking it would be a tradition they should continue. Would love if that happened every time!! (did feel bad for the poor woman who was supposed have her moment)

That's how traditions are created, organically and not forced like the whole fight song thing. They're really trying too hard to cram that thing down the fans throats between the words being up on the screen to announcing it will be played and sung coming up at the end the game, really bad. Lots of people snickering and making comments too. You can tell a lot of the band hate it too.

It was really cool how the students just picked up the singing of the anthem and it just spread. Great way to start the season.

Game plan is to score a lot and keep the puck away from Boyle as much as possible. Even when he made those few saves in the third, he still doesn't ooze confidence out there. NHL scout next to us the whole game said later on he sees no way Boyle stays in net, is a mess, and pointed right down the UML bench and said Olli Kälkäjä is who should be in there. Boyle's basically insurance if the other two go down.

Much more fun than last year's home opener.

[Fishhawk]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

[QUOTE=Patronick;6013417]Focusing on the game, because I think we've had our say on the non-hockey related shenanigans.......

Hi Folks, been lurking but this is my first post back since April.

Great recap Patronick. What an awesome night! So cool when a game not only lives up to the hype but exceeds expectations. Wanted to add that I thought Campbell might have had as big an impact as Kamrass. Played big, fast, smart and won a sh*tload of faceoffs. Gambardella had a hell of a game too, he's freaking great when he has the puck behind the opposing net. Mcgrath made some monster hits totally clocking a couple guys who had 35 lbs on him. He left hurt late in the game, looked like he was clutching his wrist in a lot of pain. Anyone hear anything on his status?

[ScottK]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

- I don't have the numbers, but according to Bob during the ride home, Gambardella and Maniccia slaughtered at the dot.

UMass Lowell Faceoffs
## Players W L
17 Maniccia, Chris 11 8
5 Gambardella, Joe 9 3
8 Campbell, Evan 7 7
23 Fallon, Michael 6 7
10 McGrath, Ryan 2 1
24 Colantone, Michael 2 2
18 White, A.J. 1 0
15 Louria, Michael 0 2
27 Kamrass, Zack 0 1
Totals 38 31

[boblav1]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

He put three of the first five shots back into the slot, and the first one ended up in the net (even though there was a blatant goaltender interference missed on that play for those of you who DVR'ed the game).

I'm amazed they didn't even review that goal.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a...lnan%2BAlt.gif

Game highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM7WPvRQwOI

- The physical play was great to see.

The Suter hit on Sanford was a beauty. Hopefully Sanford is ok.

What did they do to the scoreboard? I feel like I need glasses now.

A great way to start the season, impressive turnout by the students.

[UML '92]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Great start last night. This team seems to have more upside potential than most of us thought. hopefully Chapie and McGrath will be back on the ice soon. Boyle looked shaky (really shaky) most of the game, but it was his first real action in over a year. Playing BC in front of a packed house and televised audience is not an easy spot, and he did succeed on the scoreboard. If he can get us through the fall semester while either Smith or Olli get acclimated, he will have done his job.

Great job by the student section last night. Whatever atmosphere was lost with the playing of the "fight" song after a goal (I feel like singing "ding ding ding goes the trolley, ring ring ring goes the bell" whenever I hear it), the students really had it going all night long. If they can bring something even close to that every night, our home ice advantage totally improves.

[bottomdweller]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

Overall it was a solid game for Lowell. They showed up for about 37.5 minutes and were able to skate away with the win. I thought the officiating was pretty good, I think one blatant missed call for each team (Lowell with a high hit/interference in the 3rd) and then the hit that knocked McGrath out of the game for BC.

Kapla made a bad play on the 2nd BC goal; tried to do too much in too little space. I thought the freshman looked good. No cringe worthy plays that I can remember. Hopefully they keep it up against the Q.

[HawkUnderground]

Re: UMass Lowell 2014-2015 Season: The March to March

I forgot to dvr the game does nesn ever replay'em?