UMASS-NewMass 2022-2023

[kahunak]

Tough weekend against Merrimack. Merrimack sure has UMASS' number- always tough games. This weekend is not any easier against Providence- should be an interesting couple of games.

Former BU recruit Jack Musa decommitted and looks to head to Amherst.

https://madcapshockey.com/news/2022/...HEoBCLtLt_Vx9g

[RossiRules]

Well BU is awesome again and NU and UMass seem to be playing like it's 2006

[kahunak]

What a tough couple of weeks for the Minutemen. I think they are about what I expected....the rest of Hockey East is much better than last year and what I expected. BU put a serious hurt on them and they didn't exactly dominate UNH. How they gave up so many goals to BU is confusing- bad play or weak goalies? I wonder if the reason Carvy got rid of his assistants is that they really didn't recruit the type of players he wants. We'll see how the rest of they year plays out though I think they will be a much better team at the end of the year. Right now they are middle to bottom of HE. I think Carvy needs to figure out a few things.

[Jack Hanson]

Yup. Evidence so far suggests that this is a lower tier HE team. They’ll improve but could be a case of wait till next year.

in the meantime I’ll enjoy watching Merrimack and UConn having breakout years. I realize rooting for UConn is verboten but the Mike’s hoops dot com yahoos can bite me.

[kahunak]

Keeping my fingers crossed for the Friendship Four- opening game against a tough Lowell team. Good (Irish) luck to the Minutemen!

[Jack Hanson]

1-0-1 is okay, especially considering that except for the first period of the Lowell game and the 3 on 3 OT of the Quinnipiac game they were outplayed.

Faceoffs were bad both games although the TV guys somehow had the notion that the Minutemen dominated the Lowell game. No way. Seemed to lose every important one all weekend.

[kahunak]

Good weekend against a solid Lowell team and a very good Q. If the pipe shot by Morrow in OT had gone in, they could have won both games. Seems like UMASS is still trying to figure out who they are. Their defensive style is because 1) that is how they play and have been successful at it 2) the goaltending is suspect and they are trying to help there 3) they have little offensive power and this is the style that works....or a host of other reasons. They are about where I thought they would be. Still hard to figure them out though. I thought Morrow and Ufko would be scoring lots of goals but that is not happening. The freshmen are getting lots of playing time so that will help at the end of the year. Very happy with the 1-0-1 for the weekend. Hope there are more Ws on the horizon. Go UMASS!

[Jack Hanson]

I caught OT and the shoot out in real time. The Minutemen are very good at 3 on 3, even if the end result doesn’t often show that.

As for shoot-outs? They suck. Morrow in particular has to take them more seriously and stop trying to find some trick shot that actually works. I think he’s regressed overall actually. Ufko has definitely caught up to him.

This team is looking at a 6 to 8th place finish in HE. Which doesn’t rule out a deeper run later on, because they are not that far off. Kenny C is definitely in contention for Newcomer of the Year, although the BU kid is probably the leader, by a healthy margin, at this point.

[kahunak]

No easy games in HE this year it seems. Same results as the Q game. Not sure what the deal with Morrow is- thought he'd have a real breakout year and score lots of goals. Not happening. UMASS needs some more goal scorers. The seniors don't seem to be as good as I expected nor is Mercuri. The freshmen are getting lots of playing time so that will help at the end of the year. Ufko and Connors are studs. Still not sure how they rate-middle of the pack right now.

[Jack Hanson]

Congratulations to Ufko and Connors for making the Junior roster, although hate to lose them for a few weeks.

[kahunak]

UMASS needs to start winning some games. Tough schedule so far but they need some solid wins. Carvy sounds upbeat but nothing is better than a few Ws.

[Jack Hanson]

Up 3-0 to a lower tier ECAC team and lose 6-3. Says it all about a lower tier HE team. The good news is the underclassmen are way better than the upper. As long as we keep them around another year.

[Jack Hanson]

I taped the Fenway game but it’s hard to watch when you know the outcome. I did get through the first period and the Minutemen didn’t look bad. The early first BC goal looked soft but otherwise I can see why Carvel thinks they’re close. But too late, this season is a rebuild.

If they can hold on to all the underclassmen and get another good incoming group in I’ll be psyched about next year. There won’t be much lost with these Seniors and Grad transfers other than Lebster. The rest? Meh, mediocre even if a couple have had brief moments of glory. If we’re going to lose any younger guys, make one of them Lucas Mercuri.

[RossiRules]

Well with the students away the Agganis seems really dead for this game and had no issue getting a ticket..however *** this is least competitive I have seen UMASS in over a decade. I was at the earlier season games and you guys look deflated.

[Jack Hanson]

Losing Barr and DiMichiel hurt. Matt Lindsay came and quickly left, so not sure what is going on with the coaching staff.