University of Massachusets Athletics
Coach Toot Cahoon's Hockey East Teleconference Transcript
December 01, 2009 | Hockey
Dec. 1, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Head Hockey Coach Don Cahoon took part in Hockey East's Teleconference on Tuesday morning. Cahoon discussed his team's performance up to this point in the season, and previewed this weekend's matchups with nationally ranked Boston College and UMass-Lowell. Cahoon also talked about the Minutemen's consistency and the leadership of his captains. The Mass Attack will return home Friday to host No. 15 Boston College for Operation 8K at the Mullins Center at 7 PM.
Cahoon On Season To Date:
We're happy that we've been able to execute enough to win a large majority of our games. If you had told me we would be 9-3 after 12 games, I would have been ecstatic. The three losses, no coach gets over them too soon, but you need to move on. I think slow starts have played a roll in each of those downturns. We have plenty of work to do in order to continue and improve our game, including addressing the slow starts. The play of James Marcou, Casey Wellman, and Will Ortiz has been truly exceptional. These guys have figured into the scoring on a really consistent basis. With Braun and Nolet being the senior defensemen, I was really concerned with if they would be back heading into this season. Nolet has already completed his pre-med major with a 4.0, and is just taking courses that will add to that. Braun was such a highly regarded defensemen last year that we weren't sure if San Jose would try to sign him after the season. Having those two back have given us a really steady pair.
Cahoon On The Upcoming Weekend Vs. Boston College and UMass Lowell: The difficulty is going to be how both games will be very different ones. The preparation for the two games makes it all the more difficult. Boston College plays Boston University, obviously a very big game for them, on Saturday night and UMass Lowell has New Hampshire on Friday night, so they are faced with the same difficulties. We will focus primarily on BC, and keep our eyes on their strengths, and try and exploit their weaknesses. They are a very fine team and we are going to have our hands full.
Cahoon On Team's Offense Output:
When we put Wellman and Marcou together, we knew there was some chemistry there. Marcou is such a playmaker that we needed to give him someone that could really shoot the puck and score. Wellman has showed he can do it with 11 goals so far. What has improved is that they are now getting points not only on the power-play but during even strength as well.
Cahoon On Consistency During The Season:
When we went up to Vermont ... we could have been up or down by three, as it certainly wasn't what I had in mind. I thought we played really well as we got a big save from Dainton on a break away that gave us the cushion. We really cranked it up a bit. Going back to this past Saturday at Quinnipiac, we found ourselves down three goals and it was a real credit to our guys how they climbed back in it to take the eventual lead. We have to play the entire game at this level in order to be successful.
Cahoon On Leadership Of Team Captains:
Let me say upfront, that Brett Watson is our best defensive forward and one of the best in the country. He hasn't scored a goal in a year and a half and I wouldn't trade him for anybody. He helps our team defensively and is great away from the puck. It's easy to put a C on his shirt; he puts the effort in and deserves it. He's a 3.95 student out of the Isenberg School. Everyone listens to him and he only speaks when he has something intelligent to say.
Braun leads by example in competition and practice. I have two guys wearing C's that everyone respects. With Martin Nolet (assistant captain), he's a great student athlete and does everything you want. James Marcou (assistant captain) is also just one of the great players in college hockey right now.
Cahoon On Home Crowds:
We've had a couple of 7,000 crowds and 8,000 against Boston University ... and we'll have a big one for Boston College this Friday. Our students get into the games for free and it's a great atmosphere. It's really wonderful to have both the students and the community at our games.
It's great how the entire Pioneer Valley has taken an interest here. Our hockey program has really taken everybody's interest, and it's just great for college hockey and Hockey East.