Last week they started with a win vs. a good Army team in an exhibition pre-season game. Last night they began their regular season at the Mullins Center against a tough Boston University Team. It started off as a real battle, with BU scoring first about half way through the first period. Then UMass Captain, Artie Potter, scored on a one timer from the front left side of the net to tie it up at 1-1. You could see the emotion as Potter, who is normally strong, but calm and cool in his play, raised a knee and pumped his fist on his score. Latter in the period he almost scored again on a breakaway but the puck "tinged" off the post.
About 10 penalties were called in the first period alone, a few of them double penalties against UMass creating a 5 on 3 situation, but the UMass penalty kill was excellent. They are fun to watch, a scrappy and a physical team. They meet their opponents head on when they attempt to bring the puck up ice, and will go after a skater and knock the puck away, demonstrating good defense by both offensive, as well as defensive players. UMass has a good mix of experience and new talent with 12 new, and impressive, freshmen players. In watching them play you would never know they are freshmen.
#11 UMass Senior Captain Cam Fisher
One Tough "Cookie" Out There on the Ice!
About 10 penalties were called in the first period alone, a few of them double penalties against UMass creating a 5 on 3 situation, but the UMass penalty kill was excellent. They are fun to watch, a scrappy and a physical team. They meet their opponents head on when they attempt to bring the puck up ice, and will go after a skater and knock the puck away, demonstrating good defense by both offensive, as well as defensive players. UMass has a good mix of experience and new talent with 12 new, and impressive, freshmen players. In watching them play you would never know they are freshmen.
The game stayed even for awhile but then UMass pulled away with an impressive 7-2 win with the scoring spread over several players. As UMass pulled ahead BU got frustrated and several fights broke out. I guess they call it "chippy", I always get a kick out of that. I call if fighting!
Their next game will be another test as they play away at Boston College on next Friday, October 5.
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Speaking of UMass, their D1 Hockey East Team will open up next Saturday at 8:00 PM, at the Mullins Center in an exhibition game vs. the Royal Military College of Canada. Those Canadian teams are ALWAYS tough, so it should be a good game. There is a lot of excitement around UMass this season since last season's excellent freshmen class now have a year under their belt. Combine this with a very good recruiting class and upper classmen, it should be a very good team. There is no question that hockey is back at the Mullins Center! Attend some games, you will enjoy it...great hockey and the Mullins Center is a great and comfortable place to watch a game.
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East Longmeadow's Frank Vatrano scored his first pre-season goal Thursday night for the NHL Florida Panthers. Looking forward to the start of the NHL regular season next week!
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Mike Finnegan is the new Director of Hockey Operations at American International College (AIC), still another Western Mass D1 Hockey Team. They play their home games at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, also an excellent and comfortable place to watch a game. Convenient parking is right across the street. Below is the link for their season tickets, which they are selling for the first time in program history.
AIC is also a building team, with good recruiting and improvement that is evident with Coach Eric Lang and his staff. UMass Amherst plays AIC at the Mass Mutual Center on January 5th, by the way.
Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service
Sports News
Springfield / Chicopee MA
