University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Hockey Prepares For Mariucci Classic
December 27, 1999 | Hockey
Dec. 27, 1999
MINUTEMEN RETURN TO ACTION: This week?s action will be the first for the Minutemen after a sixteen-day layoff. The appearance in the Mariucci Classic is also UMass? first at the event and second major holiday tournament. UMass? first holiday tournament appearance since restarting the hockey program in 1993 was at the 1996 Rensselaer Invitational, where the Minutemen took a third place finish.
UMASS VS. THE TOURNAMENT FIELD: UMass has met only one school in this year?s Mariucci Classic field in the past. While the Minutemen have never faced first round opponent Northern Michigan or host Minnesota, the Minutemen have faced possible second round opponent Harvard five times before. The Crimson hold a 5-0-0 edge in previous meetings with the Minutemen, including a 3-1 win in Amherst last season.
TURNER ON STREAK: Junior Jeff Turner (Saginaw, Mich.) is on a career-high eight-game scoring streak with with his three point weekend vs. Notre Dame. Turner?s previous high was a six-game streak, which was set in January-February of last season. During his current streak, Turner has posted 14 points (7g, 7a) and is +7 over that span. Turner also leads the team in plus-minus for the season with a +8 and has moved into the team lead in scoring with his 18 points (7g, 11a).
GOAL SCORING INCREASES: Over the past eight games, the Minutemen have showed marked improvement in the scoring column. While UMass averaged 1.33 goals per game over the first six games, the team has averaged 3.63 goals per game over the past six contests. UMass also had not scored three goals in a game in the first six games, but has scored at least three in seven of the past eight contests.
OFFENSIVE CHANCES UP: While the Minutemen struggled somewhat in the goal scoring to start the season, it has not been for lack of effort. Even with the defensive style of play the Minutemen utilize, UMass has averaged 30.6 shots per game, the fourth best in Hockey East. Comparing against last season, the Minutemen averaged 22.4 shots per game through the first 14 games and 23.9 for the season. UMass also holds a +2.2 shots/game differential vs. its opponents through the first 14 contests, compared to a -8.9 after 14 games last season and -8.5 for the 1998-99 campaign.
BLANCHARD SECOND IN SCORING: Senior forward Jeff Blanchard (Stouffville, Ont.) is among the UMass leaders in scoring yet again this season. To date, Blanchard has had a balanced attack with 16 points on five goals and 11 assists. Blanchard had a three-game multiple-point scoring streak broken vs. Boston University where he had eight points (1g, 7a) over that span. Blanchard has at least one point in 10 of UMass? 14 games this year and is one of just two players on the team averaging over a point per game.
HELANEN IS ONE OF THE BEST: Junior Markus Helanen (Vanta?, Finland) has once again established himself as Minutemen?s top goalie and one of the top ones in Hockey East. An honorable mention All-Hockey East pick and two-time Hockey East Goaltender of the Month last season, Helanen posted a UMass single-season record 885 saves and recorded 10 of UMass? 12 wins. Helanen is also second among returnees in the league in save percentage with a .898 mark last year. Helanen has gotten off to a solid start this season, posting his second career shutout vs. Army and holding a 2.68 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage ? both career bests ? after 11 appearances.
MINUTEMEN AMONG LEADERS: Three Minutemen currently rank among Hockey East?s leaders in several categories. Jeff Turner is currently tied for fifth in scoring in Hockey East with 18 points. Turner is also tied for 10th in the league in goals and tied for sixth in game-winning goals (2). Blanchard is 11th in the league scoring race with 15 points, while both Turner and Blanchard are tied for sixth in the league in assists (11) and first in the league in shorthanded goals. The duo is also tied for second nationally in shorthanded goals. Markus Helanen is third in total saves (276), and eighth in both save percentage (.908) and goals-against average (2.68).
DEFENSE DOES IT: The UMass defense has been particularly strong over the early part of the season. Entering this week?s action, the Minutemen have allowed just 2.93 goals per game and have allow more than four goals in a game just once (five, including one empty-net goal, vs. Notre Dame), while holding opponents to two or less goals five times. Part of the strong defense has the fact that the Minutemen have taken the fewest penalties in Hockey East (7.3 pen/game, 15.9 min./game) and have kept opposing power play attempts down as a result.
SODERHOLM SOLID DEFENSIVELY: After putting forth a very strong rookie season, sophomore defenseman Toni S?derholm (Helsinki, Finland) has kept it up in his sophomore campaign. S?derholm leads defensemen with a +7 plus/minus ratio and leads blue-liners in scoring with seven points (2g, 5a). S?derholm scored his first goal of the year ? and first career power play goal ? in UMass? 4-3 overtime loss to No. 10 BU on Saturday and followed that with a goal in the next game vs. Notre Dame on Dec. 10.
SHORTHANDED SUCCESS: The UMass penalty kill has been particularly adept at scoring this season, picking up eight shorthanded goals ??including an incredible seven in the past eight games with one in each of the past six games. Senior Jeff Blanchard and junior Jeff Turner have led the charge on the shorthand with three apiece, while R.J. Gates (Plainville, Conn.) and Ray Geever (Hanson, Mass.) each have one. The Minutemen lead Hockey East in shorthanded goals, and are tied for the national lead with first round opponent Northern Michigan.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE YET: The Minutemen will be facing perhaps their toughest Division I schedule to date with 11 games vs. ?99 NCAA participants, and 18 games vs. teams either ranked or also receiving votes in the current U.S. College Hockey Online poll.
CRUMB OFF TO STRONG START: One of the early front-runners for the Minutemen?s most improved player would have to be sophomore forward Jedd Crumb (Winnipeg, Man.) who has five goals in 13 games this season after scoring just two all last season. Crumb has also been one of the most dangerous Minutemen around the net, creating several high-quality scoring chances in the past few games, including a shot that went off the top crossbar vs. UMass Lowell in a 2-2 overtime tie. Crumb is tied for fourth on the team in scoring with seven points.
STILL YOUNG: While UMass had one of the youngest teams in the country last year, the Minutemen still have a young group, although slightly more experienced this season. With just four seniors, the bulk of the team is in the sophomore (nine players) and junior (nine players) classes. The defense, which has been one of the best in Hockey East, is even younger, with two freshmen ? Samuli Jalkanen (Helsinki, Finland) and Kelly Sickavish (N. Vancouver, B.C.) ? and one sophomore ? Luke Duplessis (Framingham, Mass.) ? in his first collegiate season, appearing in a combined 36 games out of a possible 42 (86%).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Northern Michigan enters Wednesday?s contest with a 13-4-1 overall mark and a 9-2-1 record in the CCHA. The Wildcats have been led offensively by Roger Trudeau with 22 points (13g, 9a). Other top scorers have been Chris Gobert, Bryan Phillips, and Tyson Holly with 16 points apiece. Dan Ragusett has seen a majority of time in the NMU goal, posting a 1.65 gaa, a .921 save percentage, and a 9-2-0 record in 11 appearances. Duane Hoey has also been solid for the Wildcats with a 2.51 gaa, a .884 save percentage, and a 4-2-1 overall record in eight games. UMass and NMU have faced no common opponents this season.
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON: Harvard enters the tournament with a 6-5-1 overall mark and a 5-3-1 record in ECAC games. Steve Moore has led the Crimson in scoring with 11 points (3g, 8a) and is followed closely by Dominic Moore and Brett Nowak with 10 points each. J.R. Prestifilippo has seen the most action in net, posting a .917 save percentage and a 2.26 gaa along with a 3-5-1 record in nine appearances, while Oliver Jonas has a .893 save percentage and a 2.99 gaa along with a 3-0-0 record in three appearances. UMass and Harvard have had six common opponents (Vermont, Colgate, BU, Union, BC, Northeastern). UMass has a 1-5-1 record in seven games against those teams, while Harvard posted a 3-3 record in six games against the common opponents. Harvard will also be without the services of freshman forward Jeff Taffe for the tournament, as he is playing with the U.S. World Junior team.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS: Minnesota enters the tournament with a 6-10-2 record and a 4-6-2 mark in the WCHA. John Pohl has led the Golden Gophers offensively with 21 points (8g, 13a), followed closely by Erik Westrum with 20 points (13g, 7a). Other top scorers are Nate Miller with 12 points and Dylan Mills with 10 points. Adam Hauser has appeared in all but one game in goal for Minnesota, posting a .909 save percentage and a 3.02 gaa with a 6-9-2 overall record in 17 appearances. Pete Samargia has been his backup and holds a .811 save percentage and a 4.03 gaa with a 0-1-0 record in three games. Minnesota and UMass have one common opponent ? Boston College. UMass lost their lone decision to the Eagles, while Minnesota split a weekend series with BC.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: The Minutemen, like their Hockey East brethren, are enjoying a successful season against non-conference opponents. UMass is currently 4-2-1 (.643) against out-of-league foes, with both loss? coming on the road. Hockey East is 41-21-1 (.659) against other leagues this year, including a 10-4-0 (.714) mark against the CCHA, a 9-4-0 (.692) record against the WCHA, and a 14-12-1 (.537) advantage over ECAC teams.
HEAD COACH JOE MALLEN: Joe Mallen is in his seventh season at the helm of the Minuteman hockey program and tenth year as a collegiate head coach. In his tenure at UMass, he sports a 70-132-14 record. During his first year (1993-94), Mallen guided UMass to a school-record 20 wins. Over the past five-plus seasons in Hockey East, Mallen has brought his team to a highly competitive level, winning season series with Merrimack, UMass Lowell, Providence, and Northeastern over that span, and defeating every league team at least once. Mallen began his head coaching career at UMass-Boston (1979-85), where he brought the Beacons from the club level to a successful Division II program. In his five years at UMass-Boston, he compiled an 80-46-2 (.633) mark and captured the 1982 ECAC Division III Championship. Mallen has an overall career record of 150-178-16 as a collegiate head coach.
SLAPSHOTS: UMass has not lost to an unranked team at home since Dec. 5, 1998 in a 3-2 decision vs. Boston University, a stretch of eight games?Wednesday?s matchup is of the top two shorthanded teams in the country. Both Northern Michigan and UMass have scored eight shorthanded goals this season?In addition to Jeff Blanchard?s school record 109 consecutive games played, junior Kris Wallis also has a 77-game consecutive games played streak?Sophomore Martin Miljko will return to the UMass line-up this week after missing the last three games with a sprained knee?The Minutemen have two Minnesotans on their roster, who will both be returning home for their first time as collegians ? junior forward Nick Stephens (Roseville) and sophomore goaltender Mike Johnson (Excelsior).