UMass Lowell 2022-2023: Valley Steamroller Edition

[boblav1]

UMass Lowell hockey team to begin season this weekend in Alaska (lowellsun.com)

Hockey East Unveils 2023-24 NESN Schedule - Hockey East Association (hockeyeastonline.com)

[ScottK]

NHL camps open over the next few days, and while not everyone has released their training camp roster yet, it looks like there are 9 former RiverHawks in NHL Camps:


Seth Barton - New York Rangers
Carl Berglund - Edmonton
Matt Brown - Philadelphia
Lucas Condotta - Montreal
Joe Gambardella - New Jersey
Gustavs Davis-Grigals - Nashville
Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg
Andre Lee - Los Angeles
Chad Ruhwedel - Pittsburgh

[Patman]

I'll have to read the report and this is not to excuse any action but given something else I read recently and the general tenor of college athletics I get the feeling soccer programs try to get away with a lot hairier things than some of the other college sports owing a lot to international recruiting. This isn't to blame recruiting internationals as such but that often seems to be the nexus.

Two year probation is going to suck but only if something else happens

[ScottK]

What the hell's been going on in our athletic department? I don't know if this only impacts soccer, or all programs, but a two-year probation? I know this happened a while back (and I had no idea), but with this news coming after the news about Harring, this just isn't a good look.

Reading the NCAA report on it, it looks like the soccer coach just didn't care about NCAA rules and wouldn't cooperate with the investigation. Since Lowell self-reported and came up with the penalties on their own, the NCAA accepted it.

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2023/9/13/...uct-rules.aspx

[UMLFan]

What the hell's been going on in our athletic department? I don't know if this only impacts soccer, or all programs, but a two-year probation? I know this happened a while back (and I had no idea), but with this news coming after the news about Harring, this just isn't a good look.

[chiefs11]

Just enjoy the sport best I can tell ya

[UMLFan]

In all honesty, are any of us surprised that the pre-season polls show Lowell is expected to be in the bottom half?

This doesn't imply that's where I think they'll end up, but anyone can look at the talent level on the roster, the incoming recruits and see we're not anywhere close to the top teams. We have the coaching, which is great, but at some point, you still need talent.

[boblav1]

The Hawks picked 7th by the coaches.

Boston University Picked to Top Hockey East Men's League - Hockey East Association (hockeyeastonline.com)Boston University Picked to Top Hockey East Men's League - Hockey East Association (hockeyeastonline.com)

[UMLFan]

I don't understand why Henry Welsch has been overlooked for a few years now. He led this team to a 1-0 loss on the road (and a fluke goal at that) in the 2021 Hockey East championship game, and his numbers have actually been pretty good.

Career numbers:
Welsch: 34 GP 13-15-2 3SO 2.44/.904 (7th/8th in program history)
Pavicich: 27 GP 9-11-4 2SO 2.66/.921

Hockey East Career numbers:
Welsch: 24 GP 9-11-1 2SO 2.15/.919 (3rd/4th in program history)
Pavicich: 18 GP 4-9-2 0SO 3.22/.900

Why does everyone just assume that Pavicich is going to be the #1 goalie?

Honestly, I was wondering the same thing when I saw McMahon's tweet. This is why I keep saying I'm not concerned about that part of the game, it's scoring that scares me.

[ScottK]

I don't understand why Henry Welsch has been overlooked for a few years now. He led this team to a 1-0 loss on the road (and a fluke goal at that) in the 2021 Hockey East championship game, and his numbers have actually been pretty good.

Career numbers:
Welsch: 34 GP 13-15-2 3SO 2.44/.904 (7th/8th in program history)
Pavicich: 27 GP 9-11-4 2SO 2.66/.921

Hockey East Career numbers:
Welsch: 24 GP 9-11-1 2SO 2.15/.919 (3rd/4th in program history)
Pavicich: 18 GP 4-9-2 0SO 3.22/.900

Why does everyone just assume that Pavicich is going to be the #1 goalie?

[UMLFan]

I didn't realize we picked up a goalie in the portal. Kind of depressing to see is snap up what looks like a good goalie and still get slotted so low... on the other hand if we have a couple of surprises that can only mean upward movement.

All I want is a good start up in Alaska. Screwing up is allowed as long as the effort looks good. First weekend of the season and all that, but performing like they did last year at home is unacceptable.

edit: Time to spin up a new thread? Maybe a permathread with no season year attached?

edit #2: I looked up the McMahon tweet.

.... and apparently uscho doesn't allow links to twitter... so much for that

The worry going into the season is still going to be scoring goals. Pavicich might be a good pick up, I don't know ... but who's going to find the net?

McMahon has Pavicich as his preseason All Hockey East Goalie. He has Lowell 8th, which is worse than the rest of the Writers who participated in the poll.

[Patman]

I didn't realize we picked up a goalie in the portal. Kind of depressing to see is snap up what looks like a good goalie and still get slotted so low... on the other hand if we have a couple of surprises that can only mean upward movement.

All I want is a good start up in Alaska. Screwing up is allowed as long as the effort looks good. First weekend of the season and all that, but performing like they did last year at home is unacceptable.

edit: Time to spin up a new thread? Maybe a permathread with no season year attached?

edit #2: I looked up the McMahon tweet.

.... and apparently uscho doesn't allow links to twitter... so much for that

[chiefs11]

McMahons is much different

[ScottK]

Mike Machnik @MikeMachnikCHN
2023-24 Hockey East Writers and Broadcasters Association Media Poll.

1. BU (11) 156
2. BC (2) 135
Merrimack (2) 135
4. Connecticut 102
5. Providence 92
6. Northeastern 86
7. Massachusetts-Lowell 83
8. Massachusetts 79
9. Maine 74
10. New Hampshire 26
11. Vermont 22

Preseason All-Hockey East Team

F Cutter Gauthier (So., BC)
F Justin Hryckowian (Jr., NU)
F Alex Jefferies (Sr., MC)
D Lane Hutson (So., BU-unan)
D Scott Morrow (Jr., UMass)
G Victor Ostman (Sr., Maine)

The coaches poll comes out tomorrow. Hockey East media day seems to get earlier and earlier every year.

[boblav1]

Mike Machnik @MikeMachnikCHN
2023-24 Hockey East Writers and Broadcasters Association Media Poll.

1. BU (11) 156
2. BC (2) 135
Merrimack (2) 135
4. Connecticut 102
5. Providence 92
6. Northeastern 86
7. Massachusetts-Lowell 83
8. Massachusetts 79
9. Maine 74
10. New Hampshire 26
11. Vermont 22

Preseason All-Hockey East Team

F Cutter Gauthier (So., BC)
F Justin Hryckowian (Jr., NU)
F Alex Jefferies (Sr., MC)
D Lane Hutson (So., BU-unan)
D Scott Morrow (Jr., UMass)
G Victor Ostman (Sr., Maine)