University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Hockey Opens Season With Exhibition Game Saturday
September 28, 2009 | Hockey
Sept. 28, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass Hockey team will open up the 2009-10 season on Saturday with an exhibition match against the University of New Brunswick. This will be the second straight season that the Mass Attack and the Varsity Reds have squared off in a pre-season tilt. The Minutemen handled New Brunswick last season with a 6-0 victory. Saturday's game will be held at the Mullins Center Practice Rink with the puck scheduled to drop at 6 PM.
The Minutemen return six of their top ten scorers from last season, led by All-American James Marcou (Kings Park, N.Y.). Marcou finished the 2008-09 season with 15 goals and 32 assists, which ranked fourth among all Hockey East scorers. Complementing Marcou will be sophomore Casey Wellman (Brentwood, Calif.), who finished last season with 11 goals and 22 assists, ranking tops in the conference amongst all rookie scorers.
Anchoring the defense will be seniors Justin Braun (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and Martin Nolet (Quebec City, Quebec). Braun will be UMass' co-captain this season along with teammate Brett Watson (Media, Pa.). Braun ended last season with seven goals and 16 assists, which ranked seventh among Hockey East Defenseman. Nolet completed the 2008-09 season with two goals and nine assists, and was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team for the third straight season. He was also named to the Hockey East Academic All-Star Team, which compiles the top grade point averages by position.
The Varsity Reds are currently 5-0-0 on the young season, with their most recent wins coming against McGill last weekend. Last season, New Brunswick captured the CIS Championship, and has also won 10 Atlantic Conference Championships in its history. The Varsity Reds have 16 players returning from last year's championship team.
The Minutemen kick off their regular season schedule with three straight home games, beginning next Thursday, October 8, against Rensselaer at 7 PM at the Mullins Center.
