UMass Lowell 2021-2022: Which way are we going?

[Patman]

Any tips on gameday parking? I was on the 3rd floor of the parking garage on Friday and it took me a while to get out.

I usually get in around 6 since I don't think anybody gathers pre-game anymore... and it doesn't matter so much as I only get to a game every other year at this point. But yeah, if I get into Lowell around 6 usually i'm trying to park on the street near where beerworks used to be. It says metered parking but it only goes to like 6 or 7 and while it mentions something about event parking lately neither the app nor the meter seemed to care about event parking. Missing that notini lot, but those are some beautiful rec fields. If I had to get in there closer to game time to be honest at this point i'd have no clue.

 

[Middle Street]

Any tips on gameday parking? I was on the 3rd floor of the parking garage on Friday and it took me a while to get out.

I also park on the street. I usually arrive early enough to get a spot on Arcand Drive, but those probably are the first to fill up. I've had no trouble getting a metered spot on either Father Morrissette Blvd or Merrimack St (past city hall) closer to puck drop. The closer to the start of the game, the farther you will end up walking. Personally, I'd rather walk a little in the cold than sit in lot traffic.

 

[UMLFan]

I also park on the street. I usually arrive early enough to get a spot on Arcand Drive, but those probably are the first to fill up. I've had no trouble getting a metered spot on either Father Morrissette Blvd or Merrimack St (past city hall) closer to puck drop. The closer to the start of the game, the farther you will end up walking. Personally, I'd rather walk a little in the cold than sit in lot traffic.

I agree with this. Father Morrissette usually has spaces even up to game time, as there are actually quite a lot along that street. I despise parking in the garage. Or the other option, is to park downtown and grab dinner and walk over (which of course requires a walk back, but that's still quicker than the garage).

 

[hobeydog]

Thanks to all. I won't make the same rookie mistake next game. Quick question... I'm trying to get a feel for Merrimack hockey. Have they, are they and will they be competitive in HE? I'm new to the area and simply don't know.

 

[UMLFan]

Thanks to all. I won't make the same rookie mistake next game. Quick question... I'm trying to get a feel for Merrimack hockey. Have they, are they and will they be competitive in HE? I'm new to the area and simply don't know.

They're always competitive (as in, don't take the points for granted), but they just can't put it together. They get a bunch of talented big guys that do wind up sniffing the NHL, but the campus, the arena, ... whatever, just doesn't get the recruits they need to build.

On another note ... 6 points up for grabs against a second-to-last UVM this weekend. We've done pretty well up there the past few years, but it's always been competitive. If Lowell wants to compete for home-ice, they need at least a win and a tie. At least.

Man, I miss the jcarter days when he'd trash talk Lowell hockey and then humbly suck his tail on the way home after they lost again.

 

[hobeydog]

Good information. Thank you.

 

[bottomdweller]

They're always competitive (as in, don't take the points for granted), but they just can't put it together. They get a bunch of talented big guys that do wind up sniffing the NHL, but the campus, the arena, ... whatever, just doesn't get the recruits they need to build.

On another note ... 6 points up for grabs against a second-to-last UVM this weekend. We've done pretty well up there the past few years, but it's always been competitive. If Lowell wants to compete for home-ice, they need at least a win and a tie. At least.

Man, I miss the jcarter days when he'd trash talk Lowell hockey and then humbly suck his tail on the way home after they lost again.

Speaking of Merrimack - since they took a point away from Amherst Wednesday night, if Lowell can get 2 regulation wins this weekend, they'll enter the break first in Hockey East. Now who thought that was going to be a possibility, especially looking at their first half schedule.

 

[boblav1]

Speaking of Merrimack - since they took a point away from Amherst Wednesday night, if Lowell can get 2 regulation wins this weekend, they'll enter the break first in Hockey East. Now who thought that was going to be a possibility, especially looking at their first half schedule.

A good win tonight. One more to go before the break. I hope Condotta is ok. I couldn't tell by the video if he remained on the bench.

 

[boblav1]

Lucas Condotta out of the lineup tonight.

 

[boblav1]

A great job by the Hawks on the weekend sweep and finishing the first half at 10-3-3 (8-2-1). Time to take care of business in the classroom and enjoy the holidays.

 

[UMLFan]

Now who thought that was going to be a possibility, especially looking at their first half schedule.

I was thinking about that Saturday night when I looked at the standings.

Interestingly, we have 13 games left in Hockey East play, and still have two against last place Maine (both at home), home and home against 8th place team Merrimack, 2 away and one home against 9th place UNH. So more than half the games are against teams in the bottom half currently. Because of how the schedule has already played out, we only have one left against BC (road) and UMass (home) and two against NU and PC (one home, one away).

Should be an interesting second half of the year if they can keep this up. If they can actually find some offense, this team could be a threat.

 

[Patman]

don't know what to expect. But, the 3 biggest questions to me are:

1. Can the goaltending get better? If the team save % is hovering around .900 again it will be a LONG season. If it's back up over .910-.915, we've got a chance to make some noise.
2. How much offense will the blueline provide? On defense, I think we're OK, but we need some of these guys to chip in offensively. Meehan and Korencik are the guys I think can do that.
3. Who will step up on offense? Lee, Stefanson, Condotta, Sodergren will all get their points. I need to see guys like Kaiser, Chambers, Knobluach and Latta step up. I have no idea what to expect from any of the freshmen.

Welp, at the christmas break. Any thoughts? Hate to single you out scott but you did provide a nice little list of three things.

 

[UMLFan]

Welp, at the christmas break. Any thoughts? Hate to single you out scott but you did provide a nice little list of three things.

My thought on Scott keys for this season. The team save % is 93.3 (I think that will come down a bit eventually unless Savory continues to have a magical season). On the defensive side, Meehan already has more points (in fewer games) than last year. Korencik hasn't put up a lot, but Austin has 8 assists. Regarding the offense ... that's the only place that we really haven't succeeded. Lee and Bergland have been good (and consistent), but Stefanson, Condotta and Sodergren have a combined 10-14-24, I'd like to see those numbers be higher. Crasa has been a standout on the offensive side, pretty much the only freshman forward playing consistently. Of the players Scott wanted to see more offense from, none of them have provided much this year. Transfer Brushett has been helpful though.

Offense is a major concern to me going into the second half of the season.

 

[UMLFan]

I had not known that Coach Bazin signed a five year extension prior to this season.

 

[Middle Street]

I had not known that Coach Bazin signed a five year extension prior to this season.

Same here. I just saw that tweet from Barry Scanlon. I had overheard someone in my section say Norm got a raise and was making ~800k a year now, but I didn't take it seriously having not seen any news online.

 

[ScottK]

The grass isn't always greener elsewhere. Some updates on our old faces in new places:

Anthony Baxter (Rensselaer)
In 18 games, he has 1 goal and 7 assists to go along with 14 PIM. He has blocked 12 shots this season. His +3 rating is 2nd best on the team. The 7 assists is 5th best on the team. He had 2 assists against LIU on 11/19. On December 4 against Princeton, he had the game-winning goal and added 2 assists in a 4-1 win, setting a new career best with a 3-point game.

Chase Blackmun (Notre Lame)
In 17 games, he has just 6 assists and 6 PIM, and is a -1 on the season. He's blocked 9 shots this season.

Matt Brown (Boston University)
In 9 games, he has 2 goals (1 on the power play) and 2 assists, to go with a -3 rating. He has won just 39 out of 81 faceoffs (48.2%) and has been credited with 2 blocked shots. In Hockey East play, he has 2 goals (1 on the power play) and 1 assist in 6 games to go along with a -4 rating.

Cale List (Norwich - D3)
In 8 games, he has 1 goal and 5 assists to go along with 8 PIM and a +1 rating. The 5 assists is tied for 5th on the team. His one goal did come on the power play.

Derek Osik (Long Island)
In 6 games, he has 2 assists and 4 PIM. His +4 rating is the best on the team.

Nolan Sawchuk (St. Thomas)
In 20 games, he has 1 goal and 2 assists along with 8 PIM. His -16 rating is 2nd worst on the team. His 26 blocked shots is 2nd best on the team. The 3 points matches his totals in Lowell in both 2019-20 and 2020-21.

 

[boblav1]

Offense is a major concern to me going into the second half of the season.

I agree about the offense. I would like to see Zack Kaiser start putting the puck into the net.

I just hope everyone comes back healthy and they can avoid any Covid issues. BC and UConn had to postpone games in the past couple of weeks. More and more pro teams are being impacted. Cornell just closed down their campus.

 

[Middle Street]

Let's also hope we're allowed to continue to go to the home games in person.

 

[UMLFan]

The grass isn't always greener elsewhere. Some updates on our old faces in new places:

Anthony Baxter (Rensselaer)
In 18 games, he has 1 goal and 7 assists to go along with 14 PIM. He has blocked 12 shots this season. His +3 rating is 2nd best on the team. The 7 assists is 5th best on the team. He had 2 assists against LIU on 11/19. On December 4 against Princeton, he had the game-winning goal and added 2 assists in a 4-1 win, setting a new career best with a 3-point game.

Chase Blackmun (Notre Lame)
In 17 games, he has just 6 assists and 6 PIM, and is a -1 on the season. He's blocked 9 shots this season.

Matt Brown (Boston University)
In 9 games, he has 2 goals (1 on the power play) and 2 assists, to go with a -3 rating. He has won just 39 out of 81 faceoffs (48.2%) and has been credited with 2 blocked shots. In Hockey East play, he has 2 goals (1 on the power play) and 1 assist in 6 games to go along with a -4 rating.

Cale List (Norwich - D3)
In 8 games, he has 1 goal and 5 assists to go along with 8 PIM and a +1 rating. The 5 assists is tied for 5th on the team. His one goal did come on the power play.

Derek Osik (Long Island)
In 6 games, he has 2 assists and 4 PIM. His +4 rating is the best on the team.

Nolan Sawchuk (St. Thomas)
In 20 games, he has 1 goal and 2 assists along with 8 PIM. His -16 rating is 2nd worst on the team. His 26 blocked shots is 2nd best on the team. The 3 points matches his totals in Lowell in both 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Good stuff here. On the "grass isn't always greener" comment, not all these guys chose to leave for team purposes I'm guessing. Baxter was a grad student and maybe RPI had more of what he was looking for in regards to his future. List and Osik weren't going to play here anyway.

 

[boblav1]

Barry Scanlon @Scanlon65 Dec 17
Sophomore forward Matt Kinash in process of transferring from UMass Lowell due to a lack of playing time. Edmonton native played in two games as a freshman, none this season. Coach Norm Bazin calls him a "great kid."