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Merrimack '21-'22: Can't a guy get a thread around here?

R

RENCEB

Well-known member
Well this may be a thread for only a couple of us, but given their good start, the Warriors should generate a little bit of discussion. I was really unsure how the season would unfold after they lost their top 3 defensemen (Carlisle and Uens going pro, Vinnel transferring) and the loss of Walsh to NU via the portal. Borek brought in some very good players through the portal, Jefferies has made a big step up and Welsher has been terrific. Getting excellent play in net from Ollas (wow, he is huge) and Borgiel (absolutely love his compete level). No more "Merri-hack" as they seem much more disciplined.
I was not a big fan of the Scotty Borek hire a few years ago, but perhaps I owe a mea culpa. He has them in the mix.
 
Build a real arena, then we'll talk. If Lowell could do it, so can Merrimack; my suggestion is on the UNH thread.
 
I’m a UMass alumnus, but keep posting because I’m listening. I rarely post but read regularly. I have a soft spot for Merrimack. Among other reasons Thom Lawler the younger was a HS classmate. (Austin Prep ‘77).
 
Maybe they could justify a new facility shared with the hoops program now that they're D-1 and having some decent success in the NEC? Unfortunately not tournament eligible for another year or so.

I got to the UNH game at the Lawler and it was enjoyable, although I don't know what they're thinking blocking off all the entrances except down by the church. Makes getting in and out a nightmare.
 
Chuck Murray said:
Build a real arena, then we'll talk...
Click to expand...
So if they don't have plans to build a new arena, you won't post here? Don't tease me like that.;)
Lawler Rink is becoming less and less "Whitt South" for a few years now. Yes, I agree, the renovations over the past few years have been the proverbial lipstick on a pig. I'd love to see them do something like what Sacred Heart is doing.

https://www.sacredheart.edu/sacred-heart-life/fitness-recreation--sports/martire-family-arena/
 
Jack Hanson said:
I’m a UMass alumnus, but keep posting because I’m listening. I rarely post but read regularly. I have a soft spot for Merrimack. Among other reasons Thom Lawler the younger was a HS classmate. (Austin Prep ‘77).
Click to expand...
So also classmates with Dr. Tom Carr (I knew Tom's parents)! Those AP teams were very good. Interested in how they fare moving out of the MIAA and into the realm of private school athletics.
Thom Lawler Sr. was the coach while I was at Merrimack and Mrs. Lawler worked in the athletic office (what a really nice lady).
 
RENCEB said:
So also classmates with Dr. Tom Carr (I knew Tom's parents)! Those AP teams were very good. Interested in how they fare moving out of the MIAA and into the realm of private school athletics.
Thom Lawler Sr. was the coach while I was at Merrimack and Mrs. Lawler worked in the athletic office (what a really nice lady).
Click to expand...

Yup, I remember Tom. I wasn’t really close to any of the hockey players but the class was only about 120 strong back then. I saw from the alumni pubs that he (Carr) recently retired to Hawaii.

So were you from Burlington? Carr was there IIRC. I moved from there to Billerica just ahead of HS. Many great players from both. The Billerica / AP games were epic.

I saw that AP left MIAA. Definitely curious to see how that works out. But I barely recognize the school as the one I attended anymore it’s grown tremendously.
 
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What's with the 4PM Friday game today?

EDIT: Veteran's Day I guess. I don't get it off, but my kid does.

There are some strange game times coming up, however.
 
Yuppie Scum said:
What's with the 4PM Friday game today?

EDIT: Veteran's Day I guess. I don't get it off, but my kid does.

There are some strange game times coming up, however.
Click to expand...

Strange it’s not on tv. NESN and NESN plus are both showing replays of Red Sox and bruins games. Does anyone know why they are showing so many fewer games this year? Does it have to do with the ESPN+ deal?
 
Good to get the home sweep over Maine. Nice weekend for Matt Copponi. GWG on Friday afternoon and 2 more on the power play on Saturday night. He had a breakaway chance for a hat trick but couldn't finish. Ollas was terrific in net in the 1st game, getting the shutout. Saturday night, Bogiel left a lot of rebounds, and Maine scored 3 "greasy" goals, all scrums around the crease where they were able to cash in.
6-1-0 and in second place with only 11 goals given up. Keep it going.
 
6th straight win, another shutout for Ollas and another goal for Copponi (he's scored Merrimack's 1st goal in 3 consecutive games now). Copponi has 6 goals on the season, 3 of them on the power play. Next up: Holy Cross at home on Tuesday night.
 
Jack Hanson said:
So were you from Burlington? Carr was there IIRC. I moved from there to Billerica just ahead of HS. Many great players from both. The Billerica / AP games were epic.

I saw that AP left MIAA. Definitely curious to see how that works out. But I barely recognize the school as the one I attended anymore it’s grown tremendously.
Click to expand...
Not from Burlington, but I've always followed MA high school hockey. I remember both Burlington and AP being terrific teams back then (Jeff Cowles, Matt Shramek, Doug Ellis, Tony Visone, Steve Sheldon).
 
7 wins in a row after the 5-1 drubbing of Holy Cross. Another goal for Matt Copponi (7th of the season) and another win for Scott Borgiel (5-0-0 on the season with a 1.6 GAA and .934 SV%). Admittedly, schedule has been very favorable so far. Tuesday night starts a difficult stretch of 4 league games (home and away with UConn, at UMass and at PC). UConn has been very impressive. They're in 1st place, but with 4 more games played than Merrimack, and the Huskies are 11th in the pairwise. Their goaltending is terrific, and their offense is excellent. Will be a very tough matchup.
 
Just a comment about the size of the crowd at Lawlor (don't call me Volpe) Arena Tuesday night. Definitely due to Merrimack's great start, but it was impressive for a Tuesday night, in what is usually a dull building. The big crowd saw a great game. It looked like UConn weathered the 1st period storm, and then got their legs and fought back. Another goal or two by the Warriors in the 1st and things could have been much different. Hopefully we get another good crowd in CT and another action-packed game Friday night.
 
CT Husky said:
Just a comment about the size of the crowd at Lawlor (don't call me Volpe) Arena Tuesday night. Definitely due to Merrimack's great start, but it was impressive for a Tuesday night, in what is usually a dull building. The big crowd saw a great game. It looked like UConn weathered the 1st period storm, and then got their legs and fought back. Another goal or two by the Warriors in the 1st and things could have been much different. Hopefully we get another good crowd in CT and another action-packed game Friday night.
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Warriors have been getting really good crowds this year. Very pleasantly surprised that Merrimack put up 7 on the Huskies last night (1 ENG). Great to get the split. Warriors up to 7th in the pairwise (UConn is 10th). Borgeil remains undefeated at 6-0-0 and 3-0-0 in HE play. A couple of very tough road games coming up against UMass and PC.
 
RENCEB said:
Warriors have been getting really good crowds this year. Very pleasantly surprised that Merrimack put up 7 on the Huskies last night (1 ENG). Great to get the split. Warriors up to 7th in the pairwise (UConn is 10th). Borgeil remains undefeated at 6-0-0 and 3-0-0 in HE play. A couple of very tough road games coming up against UMass and PC.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that seems to be an unfortunate trend with UConn hockey, they have 3 losses in regulation this year and they've given up a combined 18 goals in those 3 games.

Good start for both clubs will make for an interesting finish in HE!
 
2-1 win to take the season series from UMass. MC always plays the Minutemen tough. Another terrific game in net for Hugo Ollas (HE GAA at 1.42) and another goal and assist for Matt Copponi. Warriors are up to 5th in the pairwise! 9-1-0 in their last 10. HUGE game at PC on Saturday night. PC is undefeated in HE, however they have 5 ties. Keep it going Warriors!
 
Congratulations. Merrimack has been on the wrong side of some close ones vs my Minutemen in recent years.

Nice to see that Demin landed in a good place. Third time the charm.
 
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