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Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

MC Alumni said:
Merrimack can no longer use its size/facilities as an excuse for recruiting. The new locker room is incredible, and the weightroom/athletic training facilities have been some of the best in new england for a few years now. Here's a tour of everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-nPAxGH4qs

While Lawler certainly isn't up to the same standard as other HEA venues, its a great place to play. We've been bad for a number of years now, yet still every game is pretty much sold out... and when we're playing well, it can be one of the toughest places to play in the country. So for people who see the Lawler/the campus/the facilities as a recruiting crutch, I actually see the opposite. I was at both Northeastern games last weekend and quite honestly, what does Northeastern have that Merrimack can't compete with? I'm sick of the narrative that we don't have the resources because its not true anymore. Those days are gone.

Collegiate athletics come down to 2 things; recruiting and motivation... and those ultimately fall on the coaching staff. While I genuinely appreciate Dennehy for taking us to the top from 2011-2013, I have to question whether his heart is still here. Its no secret that he wanted the UMass job..and if we continue the way we are, i'd say his chances of a new contract in 2018 are slim. I'll be interested to see how we come back against BU after getting beaten in all facets by Northeastern. We've actually played really well at times this season, so hopefully we can sneak our way into that 8th spot and get a home playoff series.. but not going to count on it.
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Very cool video, hadn't seen it yet. Gotta love Babcock's accent!

(Welcome to the forum BTW, the more the merrier)
 
RENCEB said:
Please tell me you're saying this with your tongue firmly planted in your cheek. You seriously think that Merrimack has recruiting advantages over PC? You DO remember that your Friars were National Champs just 2 years ago?
Merrimack had a couple of very strong years when an unknown recruit from France feel through everyone's radar (Stephane Da Costa) and Joe Canatta decided he'd rather start than be a backup at some other school. They reached the HE Finals against BC, and made the NCAA's, but unfortunately, that seems to be an aberration.
NUHusky raised some very valid points. I agree there have been too many players that have started strong as Freshman, but plateaued quickly or even regressed. Of recent vintage, Bates (who either left or was dismissed, not sure which), Bly, Gould, Singleton. Now you're seeing it with Tibbetts and Hennig. I still think Seney is their best offensive threat, but when he gets paired with a center who has 1 point in 14 games, you're certainly not giving him any help.
LeBlanc has been a bust. He was a big fish in a very small pond (Winthrop High to D1? Seriously?). Shows you what a crap shoot the NHL Draft is.
Their Powerplay is abysmal. I think that is partly system and in big part NO finishers.
They're NOT going to be in the Top 4, but 6-7-8th is not being unrealistic.
So maybe it is time to consider the coaching. 12 years is a LONG time, and maybe things are getting stale. By all accounts, Mark is a top notch guy, but this isn't an "everybody get a trophy" level. Results matter.
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No I am not...PC's building is 50 percent full on a lucky night when BC or BU isn't in town while Merrimack seems packed every time I have been there.

Plus the whole suburb vs city thing can be a positive for some kids
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

boblav1 said:
Commentary from the Mack Report site.
http://www.themackreport.com/news/commentary-merrimack-has-a-reason-to-play-angry/
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Mea Culpa. This is what happens when I neglect my meds. I begin to sound like Adam Jones (Boston sports talk radio host who could find negativity in Mother Teresa).

As a longtime member of the "Loyal Order of Benders", I have NO standing to calling out D-1 Players (and I'm betting that's the case for a lot of us on an anonymous message board).

Drew Vogler. 180. What's that? 180 is roughly the number of goalies in D-1 hockey. That's a pretty elite fraternity. I can't imagine standing in front of a 90 mph slapshot in an opposing rink with a couple thousand people screaming at me. Kudos for being able to do it, and to do it at this level.

Chris LeBlanc. You've had a tough run. Injuries have caused a lot of fits and starts throughout your career, but you've done the tough work to rehab and come back (I have a little experience with physical therapy, and it can be brutal). You're a D-1 hockey player who's been drafted by the NHL. Just think how many kids have played Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee's, Bantams, Midgets, High School hockey etc, and never get to the D-1 level. It's a pretty steep pyramid.

So nothing but positivity from me from now on (unless, of course the negativity is making you guys angry and making you play better; if that's the case, I'll be a @#$%&)

Let's go Warriors!
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

Out-freaking-standing!!!! And nothing fluky about it. Survived the 1st (Seney with a snipe wrister)and then really took it to BU in the 2nd and third. Terriers were flatter than a Romanian gymnast (I think I stole that one :p ). Seney with another goal and Mike Babcock (whose Dad was there) with 2 including the back breaker shortie in the 3rd. Delia was very very solid.
I believe it is the 1st time MC has ever swept BU in the season series.
Warriors played with confidence, were opportunistic, and really limited grade A chances for BU. Just a terrific effort all around.
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

unbelievable week!

Different game to Tuesday, but pretty much the same formula. We were outplayed 1st period (I think we were outshot 16-4), but slowly frustrated them and seized control. All the "analysts" saying we slowed them down at Lawler because of the smaller ice surface, but yesterday showed it made no difference.. again BU couldn't get through the neutral zone.

We totally dominated physically. Hope their injured player is alright - seemed like it could be a serious injury.. but my god was that a huge hit.

Love the game plan from Dennehy and the players executed to perfection. Stick with and believe in the process and this team can go far. You gotta believe! What a series.
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

2 against UConn this weekend. Really need 3 points to have a chance at catching the Huskies for a shot at 1st round home ice (and that'd give you the tiebreaker). Delia is in a zone right now, perhaps the top goalie in the country for the month of January. UConn doesn't get much ink on USCHO, but Thompson and Letunov are terrific players. These teams tied twice last year.
Let's see if some of the positive energy from the BU sweep carries over.
 
Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

Dennehy said it best in the pre/post audio this week.. if beating the #1 doesn't give you confidence, I don't know what else I can tell to give you confidence. (And I think that was before the second game!)
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

RENCEB said:
2 against UConn this weekend. Really need 3 points to have a chance at catching the Huskies for a shot at 1st round home ice (and that'd give you the tiebreaker).
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Critical points this weekend. I think 3 is do-able....split at a minimum (don't ever really expect to win on the road). Maine and UMASS upcoming.. 3 points would give us a genuine shot at home ice.. where we've never lost a playoff series.
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

MC Alumni said:
Critical points this weekend. I think 3 is do-able....split at a minimum (don't ever really expect to win on the road). Maine and UMASS upcoming.. 3 points would give us a genuine shot at home ice.. where we've never lost a playoff series.
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interesting
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

Another tie, who saw that coming. Soooo close to grabbing the win. Thought MC carried most of the play. UConn did a good job on the fore-check, certainly made it difficult for the Warriors to exit their own zone. Terrific tic-tac-toe passing on the Kolquist's powerplay goal.
Down to beautiful Hartford for the rematch.
Really like watching Tage Thompson skate. Will he have success as a pro, or is he Jimmy Hayes 2.0?
 
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Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

Thompson a hell of a player, he undressed our D a couple of times tonight. Nichols very impressive in net as well.

Critical away game for the Saturday matinee, would hate to see us lose as it would probably put a nail in the home ice race for us.
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

It's like deja vu all over again!! Good job my the Warriors being down by 2 halfway through the 3rd and coming back to tie.
 
Re: Merrimack College Warriors 2016-17

Funny How USCHO.com Staff Writers recognize only the accomplishments of the bigger named schools... Delia grabbed the HE Defensive Player of the month for January

http://www.uscho.com/2017/02/03/nor...sitys-clayton-keller-bag-monthly-hca-laurels/

Northeastern’s Dylan Sikura posted 15 points last month to lead all NCAA players in that category (photo: Melissa Wade).

Northeastern junior forward Dylan Sikura has been named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Division I Player of the Month for January, while the National Rookie of the Month for January is Boston University’s Clayton Keller.

Sikura helped the Huskies end the first month of 2017 on a five-game unbeaten streak and leading the nation over the month with a total of 15 points. He scored six goals and chipped in with nine assists in his team’s eight outings. He paced the NCAA in multiple offensive categories, including points per game (1.88) and power-play assists (5) and points (8). He also led all of Hockey East with three power-play tallies, two game-winning goals and one hat trick. His three-goal outing came on Jan. 27 at Massachusetts-Lowell when he recorded a natural hat trick, completing the feat with just 16.2 seconds left to lift the Huskies to a 4-3 victory over the River Hawks. He ended the month riding a five-game multi-point streak, helping his team to a 4-0-1 record to close the month.

Sikura has factored in on each of the Huskies’ last five game-winning goals, scoring three and setting up the decisive tally in two other contests. He ended the month riding a five-game point streak, racking up 13 points on five goals and eight assists to propel him into a tie for the NCAA overall scoring lead with 44 points on the season. He currently leads the NCAA in power-play assists (17) and points (25).

The Aurora, Ont., native was named the Warrior Hockey East Player of the Week in consecutive weeks to close the month of January after racking up six points (four goals, two assists) across the final two weekends. On Feb. 2, Sikura was named Warrior Hockey East Player of the Month for his efforts.

Clayton Keller (BU - 19) The Boston University Terriers defeated the visiting Yale University Bulldogs 5-2 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. (Melissa Wade)
BU’s Clayton Keller celebrates a goal as the Terriers defeated Yale on Dec. 13, 2016, at the Agganis Arena in Boston (photo: Melissa Wade).

Last month, Keller paced all Division I freshmen with two game-winning goals and 39 shots on goal in just eight games, helping his team to a 7-2-0 record and the top ranking in the NCAA. Keller ranked second among all first-year skaters in the NCAA with 11 points, five goals, and six assists, while also making his presence known on special teams units, scoring one power-play marker, adding three assists with the man advantage and also scoring a short-handed tally.

Keller led all Hockey East freshmen in nearly every offensive category during January. His five goals, six assists, 11 points, 0.62 goals per game, 1.38 points per game, four power-play points, and one short-handed goal were all tops in the conference among rookies.

The native of Swansea, Ill., also extended his point streak to 13 games with at least one point in each January contest, including three multi-point outings. He has now recorded at least a point in all but two of the games in which he has appeared for the Terriers, despite missing seven games due to injury and one outing while he was with the U.S. National Junior Team, helping Team USA to a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.



Read more: http://www.uscho.com/2017/02/03/nor...keller-bag-monthly-hca-laurels/#ixzz4XltPFcfr
 
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