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Merrimack '23-'24: Greater Expectations

Getting thumped by a 2 win Yale team is a really bad loss. Well it certainly appears that last year's trip to the NCAA tournament was due to all of the graduate portal transfers who are now long gone. Jeffries was 1st Team Hockey East last year? He has not taken that next level jump. The grad students who stayed haven't made an impact. I expected more from the goalies, that they might at least steal a game or 2.
I get losing to BU, and Maine this year, but there are so many other games where they haven't gotten it done.

Let's see what they're made of after the break. I'm not terribly optimistic.
 
Great to get 2 "non-conference" wins coming out of the break, although a 3-2 squeaker over winless Stonehill does not exactly inspire confidence. Still without Mike Brown and Chase Stevenson, although getting Ivan Zvilak back on defense is a plus. Holy Cross tonight who've been very good against HE this year.
 
3 in a row with a W over Holy Cross. Certainly looks like Zach Borgiel stole this one. Outshot 44-27, crushed (again) at the faceoff circle (31-43) yet they managed to eke out the win with a Jefferies goal in OT.
Is there anyone on this team that can win a faceoff? Every game they get absolutely dominated, and it is biting them.
Back to the HE grind at the flagship this Friday.
 
Well the slide to the bottom of the standings didn't take long. Losers of 5 of 6 since they returned to HE play after the break, Warriors now in 10th place, only 1point ahead of UML who have a game in hand. Didn't expect that they'd take any points from BC, but getting swept by NU was really disappointing. Was at the game last night, and without Jefferies, their offense suffers mightily. Very few grade A chances.
Got crushed again at the dot. Justin Hryckowian was an insane 20-5. for NU.
I thought goaltending would be a strength, but right now Mack has given up the most goals in HE play. Getting wrung up for 12 in a weekend series with BC didn't help.
Injuries have been a killer. Jefferies has missed a ton of games and continues to be out. Same with Chase Stevenson. Mike Brown, one of their top returning defensemen has missed basically the entire season.
9 games left, and I'm not sure they can manage enough (any?) point to stay out of the cellar. Really discouraging after last year.
 
Another embarrassing loss. Look, I get it, BU is one of the best teams in the country. This game was reminiscent of the days when Merrimack was a DII program playing BU. Too skilled, too big, too fast. Merrimack had players that looked like absolute benders, guys who were falling on their ass when there was no BU player in the area!
Let's see if they show up against UNH tomorrow night.
 
RENCEB said:
Another embarrassing loss. Look, I get it, BU is one of the best teams in the country. This game was reminiscent of the days when Merrimack was a DII program playing BU. Too skilled, too big, too fast. Merrimack had players that looked like absolute benders, guys who were falling on their *** when there was no BU player in the area!
Let's see if they show up against UNH tomorrow night.
Click to expand...

The bigger question is will UNH show up...
 
HockeyRef said:
The bigger question is will UNH show up...
Click to expand...

Based on the highlights, I think you know the answer.
Pleasantly surprised by Merrimack's level of play. Seemed to have a jump that's been missing for a while. A lot of great chances, but still a lack of finishing.
Terrific goal by Jefferies. Boy, nice to have him back on the ice (but please coach, get him out of the face off circle! 1-12 last night and under 40% for the season)
2 at UVM next weekend. Catamounts are a tough out. Warriors need some points to stay out of 11th.
 
Disappointing split at UVM. Good effort on Friday, but not so much on Saturday. Poor defense and a couple of soft goals is not a winning combination.
In 10th place just 2 points ahead of UML, but the Riverhawks have 2 games in hand. Merrimack pretty much locked into 10th or 11th (2 with PC and 1 with BC remaining). Last year's 2nd place finish feels like a long time ago.
 
Really disappointing to see that Matt Copponi and Mike Brown have entered the portal, along with Borgiel, Arvedson and O'Brien. Brown had a strong '22-'23 season, but missed all of the most recent season with an injury. Copponi was one of Mack's best offense players over the past couple of seasons. If you're a decent player for a bad team, you try to move on. Given the NIL and portal, the "haves" and "have nots" are only going to get further apart. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that my alma mater is one of the "have nots".
 
RENCEB: If you're a decent player for a bad team, you try to move on. Given the NIL and portal, the "haves" and "have nots" are only going to get further apart. [/QUOTE]

Yes, it'll only get worse.

I'm all for the guys having autonomy, but the portal will destroy any hope of smaller programs having the occasional shot at a Natty.
 
Steven Bacovsky is in the portal. Will be interesting to see what next season's goalie situation ends up being
 
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