University of Massachusets Athletics
Next Up For Minutemen: No. 5 Vermont
November 18, 2005 | Hockey
Nov. 18, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. -
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UMass will face Vermont for the first time as a Hockey East foe on Tuesday in Burlington, continuing the November rivalry with new league flair. The series shifts to Amherst in February, with back-to-back games on the 17th and 18th.
The Minutemen are coming off a split last weekend, being shutout 2-0 by Northeastern before rebounding with their first league win over No. 14 Boston University. Massachusetts was propelled by captain Stephen Werner's two goals and assist as well as the stellar play of rookie goalie Jon Quick. The win over BU was only the fifth in the all-time history of Massachusetts Hockey, which includes three wins under current head coach Don Cahoon. The four goals scored is a season high at the Mullins Center, and the `W' was the first over a ranked opponent since 10/22/04 over then-No. 15 UMass Lowell.
No. 5 Vermont has made a pretty strong statement in its first months under the Hockey East banner, opening the season with an impressive seven-straight wins. The Catamounts had lost two of their last three to ranked teams: 2-4 at then-No. 19/rv Boston University and 1-2 vs. then-No. 8/9 Boston College, before last weekend's 3-0 blanking of Merrimack. Between those losses, UVM beat league-leading Providence 6-2 at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
QUICKLY ADDING UP
The honors for freshman goaltender Jon Quick are starting to roll in. After backstopping UMass to its first league win over No. 14 BU, he was named the Hockey East Pure Hockey Defensive Player of the Week as well as the UMass/Dinn Bros. Athlete of the Week for the week of Nov. 14. Quick was also named the Hockey East Superskills Co-Rookie of the Week on Nov. 7 for his 49-save performance against Providence on 11/4.
FOR STARTERS
Massachusetts is 9-23-4 all-time against Vermont, dating back to Feb. 25, 1927, a 2-1 win for UMass (then Massachusetts Agricultural College) on the road. In the Modern Era (1993-present) the Catamounts hold a 3-6-2 edge in the series. However, the Minutemen hold a 3-2-1 mark under current UMass head coach Don Cahoon.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
Things don't get any easier for the Minutemen. Five of their next six games, including Tuesday's match with Vermont, are against top-10 teams: UVM (No. 8/9), Colorado College (No. 3), Denver (No. 11/12) and a pair against Boston College (No. 6/5). Par for the course, as six of HEA's 10 teams are ranked or receiving votes in the national polls.
UMASS ON THE ALL-TIME CHARTS
Senior captain Stephen Werner currently sits in the No. 9 spot on UMass' top-20 all-time scorers list with 98 career points. Both co-captain Marvin Degon and Werner, as well as classmate Jamie Solon have played in over 100 career games: 119 for Degon, 116 for Werner, 111 for Solon. Goalie Gabe Winer is closing on the century mark for career games. He currently has played in 98.
CLOSING OUT NOVEMBER: COLORADO COLLEGE AND DENVER
After Tuesday's contest, the Minutemen have three days before the weekend series versus Colorado College and Denver at the Mullins Center. Massachusetts faced the WCHA teams last year on the road: losses by the score of 1-3 and 1-6. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 3 in the country, while the two-time defending National champion Pioneers are No. 11/12.
