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UMass
- Thread starter DLG
- Start date
Jack Hanson
Member
There were two of us here last season. I’ve been lurking this season without posting anything.
It was a successful season, and I was getting excited about next season since only four were graduating. And then a few decided to unwisely leave early.
The top of that list is Suniev. He’s not ready. The out-of-control kid everyone saw versus Western Michigan is talented. But he also led the team in penalties , nearly twice as many minutes as second place (Mercuri) despite playing in 5 less games. I would have liked to see him return, but I see he’s listed on the Calgary roster tonight, and the Flames still have a shot at the playoffs. So maybe he knows what he’s doing.
Kenny Connors underachieved in his 3 years, I was surprised to see him leave early, he could have really put it together in his final year.
I have mixed feelings about Dans (I still can’t spell his last name without looking it up). He is the closest to NHL ready as we have, and the hapless Bruins need all the help they can get so there is an opportunity there. But another year in HEA and a chance to work on his Boston accent would have been helpful in the long run.
The others we lost were not surprising, but will be missed. Can’t blame O’Hara. And Mercuri was gone no matter what. These two are the biggest losses and will be hard to replace.
At the risk of sounding like UNH’s own “Old Blevins”, I’ll blather on for a couple more paragraphs.
If Hrabal sticks around for one more year, that will be huge. And getting another year closer to a degree seems important to him and his family. So I think we’ll get that third year.
The defense should be a strength next season, which is great news for the Carvel system. They are losing a couple, but the top four are back, and one of last year’s top recruits in Charle Lieberman didn’t even suit up. He’s big, 6-5, and should make an impact next year.
It’s cocktail hour, time to wrap it up. A quick shout out to Ryan Leonard for his first NHL goal. An empty netter but he looked good using his body to give himself room. Unlike some of those yahoos who are at every Mullins game I go to, I’ll always root for an Amherst native.
It was a successful season, and I was getting excited about next season since only four were graduating. And then a few decided to unwisely leave early.
The top of that list is Suniev. He’s not ready. The out-of-control kid everyone saw versus Western Michigan is talented. But he also led the team in penalties , nearly twice as many minutes as second place (Mercuri) despite playing in 5 less games. I would have liked to see him return, but I see he’s listed on the Calgary roster tonight, and the Flames still have a shot at the playoffs. So maybe he knows what he’s doing.
Kenny Connors underachieved in his 3 years, I was surprised to see him leave early, he could have really put it together in his final year.
I have mixed feelings about Dans (I still can’t spell his last name without looking it up). He is the closest to NHL ready as we have, and the hapless Bruins need all the help they can get so there is an opportunity there. But another year in HEA and a chance to work on his Boston accent would have been helpful in the long run.
The others we lost were not surprising, but will be missed. Can’t blame O’Hara. And Mercuri was gone no matter what. These two are the biggest losses and will be hard to replace.
At the risk of sounding like UNH’s own “Old Blevins”, I’ll blather on for a couple more paragraphs.
If Hrabal sticks around for one more year, that will be huge. And getting another year closer to a degree seems important to him and his family. So I think we’ll get that third year.
The defense should be a strength next season, which is great news for the Carvel system. They are losing a couple, but the top four are back, and one of last year’s top recruits in Charle Lieberman didn’t even suit up. He’s big, 6-5, and should make an impact next year.
It’s cocktail hour, time to wrap it up. A quick shout out to Ryan Leonard for his first NHL goal. An empty netter but he looked good using his body to give himself room. Unlike some of those yahoos who are at every Mullins game I go to, I’ll always root for an Amherst native.
Strange season. I sort of gave up on them about half way through the season. They looked like a .500 team then they got hot! Congrats to the Minutemen for getting to the post-season and winning a game. Thought they had a chance in the next round but a tough penalty Suniev killed them. Carvy seems to be building something special in Amherst. UMASS is losing a lot to the pros- hope he has some good recruits coming in.
Also congrats to O'Hara- just saw he made 1st team All American. Who saw that coming??
Best to UMASS for 25-26!!!!
Also congrats to O'Hara- just saw he made 1st team All American. Who saw that coming??
Best to UMASS for 25-26!!!!
Congrats to Western Michigan! Glad to see another school raise the trophy for the first time. UMASS has had a tough draw the last two years. First losing to eventual champ Denver in double OT and now WM 2-1. I guess there are no easy draws. BC had four All- Americans and didn't get out of the second round.
Jack Hanson
Member
Pretty good article in the UMass student paper today about the NIL era and the move to the MAC. About halfway through it gets around to the men’s hockey program and provides numbers I haven’t seen in print anywhere else.
The revenue-sharing era of college athletics is on the clock. How will UMass handle it?
Open any social media app, search up “portal” or “NIL” (name, image and likeness) and there will be a host of opinions lampooning today’s college sports landscape, with comparisons often being made to the Wild West. The last half-decade in the industry has been defined by uncertainty...
dailycollegian.com
Jack Hanson
Member
Time to take a look at UMass-Flagship. Between graduation and early defections to the pros and/or portal Carvel had 11 roster spots to fill. He seems to put a premium on size, this years team is even larger than last seasons.
There are 8 incoming freshmen, 3 players coming in from the transfer portal, and a red-shirted freshman returning from a season-ending injury during the preseason.
The freshmen are:
Elias Zimmerman, a 6-6 forward from Sweden
umassathletics.com
Vaclav Nestrasil, the crown jewel of the recruiting class. He is a 6-6 forward. He is only the second Minuteman to be drafted in the first round of the NHL draft. Late, 25th, only Makar was picked earlier. He's from Czechia, probably a Harbel connection in there
umassathletics.com
Justin Kerr, a 6-5 forward from MN
umassathletics.com
A.J. Lacroix, a 6-0 forward from NJ
umassathletics.com
Jack Galanek, 6-0 forward from MA
umassathletics.com
Lukas Klecka, a 5-11 forward from Slovakia. Played with current Slovakian Daniel Jencko:
umassathletics.com
Landon Nycz, a 6-2 defenseman from Detroit. Landon is still only 17, will turn 18 at the start of the season. He's apparently a very heavy player and Carvel is expecting him to contribute right way
umassathletics.com
Cole Hanrahan, a 5-10 defenseman from MA
umassathletics.com
Carvel filled out the roster with 3 players from the portal.
Matthew Wilde, a 6-2 forward coming to us from RIT. Scored alot in the AHA, we'll see if it translates to HEA.
umassathletics.com
Owen Mhlenbachler, another 6-2 forward. Joining the teaam after two seasons at Wisconsin.
https://umassathletics.com/news/202...ity-of-massachusetts-hockey-squad-for-2025-26
And last, Mikey DeAngelo, a 5-11 forward who played one season at Michigan State.
umassathletics.com
Finally, Charlie Lieberman is a 6-5 defenseman who was red shirted last year during the preseason.
There are 8 incoming freshmen, 3 players coming in from the transfer portal, and a red-shirted freshman returning from a season-ending injury during the preseason.
The freshmen are:
Elias Zimmerman, a 6-6 forward from Sweden
Zimmerman Completes Massachusetts Hockey's Incoming Class - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 6-6, 216-pound forward Elias Zimmerman to the squad for the upcoming 2025-26 season, head coach...
Vaclav Nestrasil, the crown jewel of the recruiting class. He is a 6-6 forward. He is only the second Minuteman to be drafted in the first round of the NHL draft. Late, 25th, only Makar was picked earlier. He's from Czechia, probably a Harbel connection in there
Massachusetts Hockey Adds Vaclav Nestrasil To Incoming Freshman Class - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 6-6, 185-pound forward Vaclav Nestrasil to its roster for the upcoming season, head coach Greg ...
Justin Kerr, a 6-5 forward from MN
Kerr Joins Massachusetts Hockey's Incoming Freshman Class - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – Justin Kerr, a 6-5, 205-pound forward from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, will join University of Massachusetts hockey as a freshman for the 2025-...
A.J. Lacroix, a 6-0 forward from NJ
A.J. Lacroix Set To Join Massachusetts Hockey For 2025-26 Season - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – A.J. Lacroix, a 6-0, 194-pound forward from Livingston, New Jersey, will join University of Massachusetts hockey for the 2025-26 season, hea...
Jack Galanek, 6-0 forward from MA
Massachusetts Hockey Announces Jack Galanek As First Member Of Incoming Freshman Class - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 6-0, 177-pound forward Jack Galanek to its incoming freshman class for 2025-26, head coach Greg...
Lukas Klecka, a 5-11 forward from Slovakia. Played with current Slovakian Daniel Jencko:
Massachusetts Hockey Adds Klecka To 2025-26 Roster - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 5-11, 179-pound forward Lukas Klecka to its roster for the 2025-26 season, head coach Greg Carv...
Landon Nycz, a 6-2 defenseman from Detroit. Landon is still only 17, will turn 18 at the start of the season. He's apparently a very heavy player and Carvel is expecting him to contribute right way
Massachusetts Hockey Adds Nycz To Its Defensive Corps - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey will welcome 6-2, 201-pound defenseman Landon Nycz its roster for the upcoming season, head coach Greg Ca...
Cole Hanrahan, a 5-10 defenseman from MA
Hanrahan Joins Massachusetts Hockey's Incoming Class - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 5-10, 187-pound defenseman Coleson Hanrahan to its roster for the 2025-26 season, head coach Gr...
Carvel filled out the roster with 3 players from the portal.
Matthew Wilde, a 6-2 forward coming to us from RIT. Scored alot in the AHA, we'll see if it translates to HEA.
Matthew Wilde Joins Massachusetts Hockey As Latest Roster Addition For 2025-26 - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 6-2, 205-pound forward Matthew Wilde to its roster for the 2025-26 season, head coach Greg Carv...
Owen Mhlenbachler, another 6-2 forward. Joining the teaam after two seasons at Wisconsin.
https://umassathletics.com/news/202...ity-of-massachusetts-hockey-squad-for-2025-26
And last, Mikey DeAngelo, a 5-11 forward who played one season at Michigan State.
University Of Massachusetts Hockey Adds Transfer Mikey DeAngelo - University of Massachusetts Athletics
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 5-11, 179-pound forward Mikey DeAngelo to its roster out of the transfer portal, head coach Gre...
Finally, Charlie Lieberman is a 6-5 defenseman who was red shirted last year during the preseason.