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University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Hockey To Recognize Makar And Keenan With Banner Weekend
November 05, 2019 | Hockey
The Minutemen will raise a Hobey Baker Award banner Dec. 6; raise No. 4 to the rafters in honor of program’s all-time leading scorer on Dec. 7.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey will recognize two of the program's all-time greats when the squad hosts Maine on December 6-7, raising a Hobey Baker Award banner in honor of 2019 winner Cale Makar before the Friday contest against the Black Bears and, the following night, will honor the jersey of the program's all-time leading scorer, two-time All-American Pat Keenan.
Keenan's No. 4 will be the first jersey honor in the history of the UMass hockey program, joining the Mullins rafters alongside men's basketball's George "Trigger" Burke (#32), Marcus Camby (#21), Julius Erving (#32), Lou Roe (#15) and Al Skinner (#30).
"Our weekend series versus Maine in early December is going to be fantastic! Our fans will enjoy two great hockey games against a strong Hockey East rival and will also witness the recognition of two of the greatest players to ever wear the UMass jersey," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "That weekend will also serve as our Hockey Alumni Weekend, providing a tremendous opportunity for many former players to return to campus and reunite as one hockey family. Recognizing Pat Keenan from the great teams of the 1970's and Cale Makar from recent team success will serve as a great bridge for all former UMass hockey players. All past and current players and coaches have great pride in our hockey program and these two deserve special recognition for their contributions to UMass hockey."
Currently a standout rookie defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche, Makar was named the winner of the 2019 Hobey Baker Award, the first-ever winner from UMass this past April after helping elevate Massachusetts hockey to unprecedented success in 2018-19 with the program's first-ever Frozen Four appearance.
He finished his collegiate career with 70 points on 21 goals and 49 assists over 75 career contests and as the record holder for career plus-minus at +41, signing with the Colorado Avalanche at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign.
Chosen as the Hockey East Player of the Year by unanimous selection, Makar, a native of Calgary, Alberta, also received the Leonard Fowle Award as New England Player of the Year and the Bob Monahan Award (New England's Best Defenseman) in addition to being named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star, a New England All-Star and a 2018-19 CCM/AHA Hockey First Team All-American.
Makar was at the center of a historic run for Massachusetts hockey in 2018-19, including program records in wins, conference wins and the team's first-ever Hockey East Regular Season Championship.
The first defenseman in history to lead Hockey East in overall scoring with 49 points in 40 games, Makar finished the year eighth in the nation in points per-game (1.20), sixth in assists per-game (0.80), third in defenseman scoring and second in plus-minus (+32). He was voted the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Ice Hockey Northeast Regional after leading UMass to a Northeast Regional Championship with a goal, an assist and a +3 rating in 4-0 shutouts of Harvard and Notre Dame. In the national semifinal, Makar logged his 33rd assist of the season and helped the Minutemen earn a spot in the NCAA Championship game for the first time in program history.
Makar broke UMass' single-season records for points by a defenseman and assists by a defenseman in 2018-19, marks previously held by UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck. He is second in program history for single-season assists, as well as second in plus-minus and fifth for single-season points.
Makar totaled 30 points in 24 Hockey East games on eight goals and 22 assists, ranking second in points per-game (1.25) and first in plus-minus (+21). He was recognized as Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week two times in 2018-19, Player of the Week five times and was the Hockey East Player of the Month twice.
The 2018-19 Massachusetts alternate captain guided the Minutemen to their first No. 1 ranking in school history in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls, and the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. His 16 tallies in 2018-19 bolstered UMass' highest goals total (151) in the program's Hockey East era. Nationally, the Minutemen ranked third in scoring offense (3.68), tied for seventh in scoring defense (2.02), third in scoring margin (1.66), first in power play percentage (28.5) and fifth in penalty kill (86.9).
Makar was named No. 1 on ESPN's list of Top 50 NHL Drafted Prospects in March 2019. As a freshman in 2017-18, Makar was a Hockey East Third-Team All-Star and an All-Rookie Team honoree and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he was one of Canada's three Players of the Tournament and a World Junior Media All-Star Team selection.
The only two-time All-American in program history, Keenan played three seasons at UMass under coach Jack Canniff from 1970-73. He helped lead UMass to the 1972 ECAC Division II title, as the squad finished with a then-school-record 19-7 overall mark.
Keenan still ranks as the all-time leading scorer in school history with 180 points. He also holds school records for goals scored (105) and ranks fourth in assists (75), which he accomplished in just three seasons since freshmen were not eligible for varsity competition during that era.
Keenan also holds the top-three single-season marks for points and goals (65 points, 43 goals in 1972-73, 59 points and 28 goals in 1971-72 and 56 points and 34 goals in 1970-71). He also still holds the UMass single-game record for points (nine) and goals (seven). After completing his career at UMass, Keenan went on to play one season for the Cape Cod Cubs of the North American Hockey League. He was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
Tickets for Dec. 6 and 7, and all remaining UMass hockey games are available now by calling the UMass Athletics Ticket Office at 866-UMASS-TIX, through the UMass Athletics Ticket Central page or by visiting the Mullins Center Box Office (200 Commonwealth Ave., Amherst, MA 01003).
Keenan's No. 4 will be the first jersey honor in the history of the UMass hockey program, joining the Mullins rafters alongside men's basketball's George "Trigger" Burke (#32), Marcus Camby (#21), Julius Erving (#32), Lou Roe (#15) and Al Skinner (#30).
"Our weekend series versus Maine in early December is going to be fantastic! Our fans will enjoy two great hockey games against a strong Hockey East rival and will also witness the recognition of two of the greatest players to ever wear the UMass jersey," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "That weekend will also serve as our Hockey Alumni Weekend, providing a tremendous opportunity for many former players to return to campus and reunite as one hockey family. Recognizing Pat Keenan from the great teams of the 1970's and Cale Makar from recent team success will serve as a great bridge for all former UMass hockey players. All past and current players and coaches have great pride in our hockey program and these two deserve special recognition for their contributions to UMass hockey."
Currently a standout rookie defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche, Makar was named the winner of the 2019 Hobey Baker Award, the first-ever winner from UMass this past April after helping elevate Massachusetts hockey to unprecedented success in 2018-19 with the program's first-ever Frozen Four appearance.
He finished his collegiate career with 70 points on 21 goals and 49 assists over 75 career contests and as the record holder for career plus-minus at +41, signing with the Colorado Avalanche at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign.
Chosen as the Hockey East Player of the Year by unanimous selection, Makar, a native of Calgary, Alberta, also received the Leonard Fowle Award as New England Player of the Year and the Bob Monahan Award (New England's Best Defenseman) in addition to being named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star, a New England All-Star and a 2018-19 CCM/AHA Hockey First Team All-American.
Makar was at the center of a historic run for Massachusetts hockey in 2018-19, including program records in wins, conference wins and the team's first-ever Hockey East Regular Season Championship.
The first defenseman in history to lead Hockey East in overall scoring with 49 points in 40 games, Makar finished the year eighth in the nation in points per-game (1.20), sixth in assists per-game (0.80), third in defenseman scoring and second in plus-minus (+32). He was voted the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Ice Hockey Northeast Regional after leading UMass to a Northeast Regional Championship with a goal, an assist and a +3 rating in 4-0 shutouts of Harvard and Notre Dame. In the national semifinal, Makar logged his 33rd assist of the season and helped the Minutemen earn a spot in the NCAA Championship game for the first time in program history.
Makar broke UMass' single-season records for points by a defenseman and assists by a defenseman in 2018-19, marks previously held by UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck. He is second in program history for single-season assists, as well as second in plus-minus and fifth for single-season points.
Makar totaled 30 points in 24 Hockey East games on eight goals and 22 assists, ranking second in points per-game (1.25) and first in plus-minus (+21). He was recognized as Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week two times in 2018-19, Player of the Week five times and was the Hockey East Player of the Month twice.
The 2018-19 Massachusetts alternate captain guided the Minutemen to their first No. 1 ranking in school history in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls, and the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. His 16 tallies in 2018-19 bolstered UMass' highest goals total (151) in the program's Hockey East era. Nationally, the Minutemen ranked third in scoring offense (3.68), tied for seventh in scoring defense (2.02), third in scoring margin (1.66), first in power play percentage (28.5) and fifth in penalty kill (86.9).
Makar was named No. 1 on ESPN's list of Top 50 NHL Drafted Prospects in March 2019. As a freshman in 2017-18, Makar was a Hockey East Third-Team All-Star and an All-Rookie Team honoree and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he was one of Canada's three Players of the Tournament and a World Junior Media All-Star Team selection.
The only two-time All-American in program history, Keenan played three seasons at UMass under coach Jack Canniff from 1970-73. He helped lead UMass to the 1972 ECAC Division II title, as the squad finished with a then-school-record 19-7 overall mark.
Keenan still ranks as the all-time leading scorer in school history with 180 points. He also holds school records for goals scored (105) and ranks fourth in assists (75), which he accomplished in just three seasons since freshmen were not eligible for varsity competition during that era.
Keenan also holds the top-three single-season marks for points and goals (65 points, 43 goals in 1972-73, 59 points and 28 goals in 1971-72 and 56 points and 34 goals in 1970-71). He also still holds the UMass single-game record for points (nine) and goals (seven). After completing his career at UMass, Keenan went on to play one season for the Cape Cod Cubs of the North American Hockey League. He was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
Tickets for Dec. 6 and 7, and all remaining UMass hockey games are available now by calling the UMass Athletics Ticket Office at 866-UMASS-TIX, through the UMass Athletics Ticket Central page or by visiting the Mullins Center Box Office (200 Commonwealth Ave., Amherst, MA 01003).
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