University of Massachusets Athletics
Season Opener On Friday For Hockey
October 11, 2006 | Hockey
Oct. 11, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - The Mass Attack opens the 2006-07 season this weekend with a pair of nonconference games against the Sacred Heart Pioneers and the Clarkson Golden Knights. This will be the only time fans will have a chance to see the Minutemen at the Mullins Center in the month of October, as they face a bye weekend before heading to New Hampshire and Maine to open up the conference slate. UMass returns home on Nov. 3 when it hosts Providence.
The games will mark the third time UMass has competed against both programs, as well as the third-consecutive season that the Minutemen have faced the Golden Knights on opening weekend. UMass is 2-0-0 against both teams all-time.
UMass defeated the University of New Brunswick by the score of 4-2 in an exhibition game last Friday night at the Mullins Center practice rink. The Minutemen were especially strong on special teams during the course of the game, scoring two power play goals and killing off 12 penalties.
Overall, shots were 41-23 in favor of Massachusetts. New Brunswick was 0-12 on the power play, while UMass' PP was a respectable 2-6 on the night. The Minutemen doubled up on UNB's penalties, going 14-28 overall. Rookie Dan Meyers made eight saves in the first period, and Jon Quick cleaned up with 31 in the final 40 minutes. David Leaderer, Cory Quirk, Kevin Maresco and Brett Watson lit the lamp in the contest.
The Pioneers held a season-opening exhibition last Friday, earning a 3-3 OT tie against Ottawa. SHU had a two-goal lead thanks to tallies by Eric Giosa and David Grimson before Ottawa tied it back up in the first. Jason Smith and Stefan Drew each saw time in net for Sacred Heart. The game was even across the board: shots were 33 apiece, both teams took 10 penalties for 20 minutes, and the Pioneers scored twice on the power play (Ottawa once).
Clarkson has already played twice in the young season, defeating Niagara 7-3 and RIT 4-2. Nine players already have goals under their belts, including two apiece for David Cayer and Dan Tuttle. David Leggio has been in net for both "W's". Prior to Saturday's game at the Mullins Center, the Golden Knights will face Providence.
FOR STARTERS
UMass is 36-36-0 all-time in season openers, dating back to 1908. In the Modern Era (1993-present), UMass is 4-9-0, but have fared better (3-3-0) under current Head Coach Don Cahoon. At the Mullins Center, the Minutemen are 3-2-0 in season-opening games.
Massachusetts has opened seasons against Atlantic Hockey teams (current conference configurations) twice (vs. Army 10/27/95; vs. Connecticut 10/9/03) and have won both games by the score of 6-3.
HOCKEY EAST OPENER IN TWO WEEKS
League play gets underway in two short weeks for the Minutemen. Hockey East play starts on Thursday, Oct. 28 in Durham, N.H. when UMass takes on New Hampshire, and the road trip closes with a Saturday contest at Maine. Conference play at the Mullins Center begins on Nov. 3 when UMass plays host to the Providence Friars.
