Western New England University (WNEU) Hockey will begin it's season in an exhibition game this Saturday, October 20 at 7:00 PM at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, MA. Their opponent will be UMass Dartmouth.
WNEU plays in the D3 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) that is emerging as one of the best in the nation. Last season the CCC had 4 teams nationally ranked...Salve Regina, University of New England, Nichols, and Endicott College. Salve Regina lost in the National Championship Game in double overtime to St. Norbert. In addition, Curry College finished with a very respectable 17-8-1 record. Rumors are that 2 additional strong teams will join the CCC next season.
Head Coach Greg Heffernan will be entering his 11th season and has added Patrick Tabb as his Assistant Coach. Tabb is the former Coach and Owner of the Springfield Pics in the tough USPHL Premier Junior Hockey League. He will bring a strong coaching background and help with recruiting through his wide spread contacts at the Junior Hockey and college levels. In addition, WNEU has a new Director of Athletics, Matthew LaBranche, appointed in July 2018. He will instill a spirit of winning across all sports. From 2000 to 2013 he coached Baseball at WNEU and won over 70% of his games, taking WNEU to the College World Series in 2011. Greg Heffernan is a well respected Coach, and along with Patrick Tabb, improved recruiting, and a new Athletic Director, look for steady improvement. You can almost "feel" it happening!
Leading the team this year will be senior forward and Joe Concannon Award finalist, Matt O'Dea. The Award is given to the best New England D3 American born hockey player. Last season it went to Colin Larkin of UMass Boston. Matt led WNEU last season with 32 points in 28 games with a +10 +/- rating.
WNEU Leader, Matt O'Dea
The home games will be played at the Olympia Ice Center where there is convenient parking, and comfortable seating. Over the last 2 years the Ice Center has placed new LED lighting in all 3 rinks, improved the team locker room facilities and will be adding a Strength and Conditioning Center. Here again, for those who love hockey there is an opportunity right here in Western Mass to see some of the best D3 Hockey in the nation. Get out there and support WNEU and our local hockey teams!
See you at the games!
Alfredo DiLascia
Image News Service
Sports News
Springfield / Chicopee MA
No comments:
Post a Comment