University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
#7/8 Providence
Series With #7/8 Providence Next Up For #12 Massachusetts Hockey
November 04, 2021 | Hockey
Friday's contest at the Mullins Center will air on NESN, Saturday's road matchup to air on NESN+.
| University of Massachusetts Hockey Game Notes | |
| Games 7-8 | #12Â Massachusetts Minutemen (4-2-0, 2-0-0 HE) vs. #7/8 Providence Friars (6-3-0, 3-1-0 HE) |
| Dates | Times | Friday, November 5, 2021 - 7 p.m. Saturday, November 6, 2021 - 7 p.m. |
| Locations | Friday: Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center - 8,096) Saturday: Providence, R.I. (Schneider Arena - 3,030) |
| Series History | Providence leads 49-31-8 |
| Live Statistics | Friday:Â Sidearm Saturday:Â Sidearm |
| Watch Live | Friday: NESN | College Sports Live (Outside NESN coverage area) | CBS Sports App Saturday: NESN+ | College Sports Live  (Outside NESN coverage area) | CBS Sports App |
| Listen (Radio) | WHMP FM 101.5, AM 1400/1240 |
| Listen (Online) | WHMP Streaming Player |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Providence |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Providence |
| @UMassHockey | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Hockey | UMass Athletics | |
| Tickets | Friday Saturday |
LAST TIME OUT
- UMass swept its opening weekend of Hockey East play for its third and fourth straight wins, a pair of one-goal thrillers against Merrimack, winning 2-1 in North Andover last Friday on a "buzzer beater" from Colin Felix and outlasting the Warriors, 5-4 in overtime at the Mullins Center on Saturday.
- On Friday night, senior Bobby Trivigno opened the scoring 9:06 into the first period as sophomore Josh Lopina found him at the back post with a feed across the slot. Felix picked up an assist on the play, as well.
- At the 4:13 mark of the final stanza, Logan Drevitch tied things up at 1-1 for Merrimack, poking a wrap-around attempt past Matt Murray from Zach Vinnell and Ben Brar.
- With the potential of overtime looming, Anthony Del Gaizo found Felix pinching in at the point and Felix sent a shot home through traffic with just 4.7 seconds left for the game winner.
- UMass and Merrimack finished even in shots at 29 apiece, while the Minutemen were 0-for-4 on the power play but a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
- Murray finished the night with 28 saves and his counterpart, Zachary Borgiel, made 27 stops for the Warriors.
- On Saturday at the Mullins Center freshman Scott Morrow hammered home his first career goal 1:59 into overtime to give the 5-4 win over Merrimack.
- Merrimack led 2-0 through a period of play until UMass halved its deficit at the 3:59 mark of the second period with senior Garrett Wait cleaning up a loose puck from Trivigno and junior Reed Lebster on the power play to bring the Minutemen within one.
- Wait then added his second of the night on a similar play 16:36 into the frame, sliding a puck under Borgiel for the equalizer with junior Matthew Kessel and Trivigno picking up the assists.
- The Minutemen took their first lead of the contest with less than a minute to play in the second as junior Cal Kiefiuk buried a pass from Lebster after Morrow's outlet sent the duo on up the ice on an odd-man rush.
- Merrimack opened the third period by leveling the score at 3-3 in the opening minute, but graduate student Matt Baker put the Minutemen back up by a goal on another 2-on-1 chance as he finished off a feed from sophomore Oliver MacDonald and Felix at 8:58 for his first tally in a UMass uniform.
- The Warriors responded once more with time winding down in the third. With the Merrimack net empty and the extra attacker on, Ben Brar knocked in the Warriors' fourth of the night at 19:13.
- Merrimack was whistled for goaltender interference at the horn to end the third, resulting in a UMass power play to begin overtime. With one second remaining on the penalty to Zach Uens, Morrow's one-timer from Kiefiuk hit the back of the net to seal the victory.
- Five Minutemen finished the contest with multi-point performances, with Wait leading the way with two goals, while Kiefiuk and Morrow both contributed a goal and an assist, and Lebster and Trivigno each added a pair of helpers.
- Merrimack out-shot UMass 36-26 on the night and was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Minutemen were 2-for-4 with the man advantage. Murray totaled 32 saves for UMass and Borgiel had 21 stops for the Warriors.
- Following the weekend's action, Morrow was tabbed the Hockey East Rookie of the Week, the second Minuteman to garner the award this season.
A YEAR TO REMEMBER
- UMass ended a tumultuous 2020-21 season by capturing its first-ever NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship, defeating St. Cloud State, 5-0 in the 2021 National Championship Game on April 10 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- The Minutemen outscored their opponents 27-6 in the 2020-21 postseason and 17-3 in the NCAA Tournament. UMass head coach Greg Carvel garnered recognition from College Hockey News and USCHO.com, honored as the 2021 National Coach of the Year by both media outlets.
- In 2020-21, UMass earned the No. 3 seed in the Hockey East Tournament and the squad won three games on home ice to secure the Minutemen's first Hockey East Tournament Championship.
- Five Minutemen garnered Hockey East All-Star honors, the second highest total in program history, while Bobby Trivigno was named the program's first-ever winner of the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born player in New England. Trivigno earned a First Team All-America nod, as well, and defenseman Zac Jones was tabbed a Second Team All-American.
- UMass ended the 2020-21 campaign on a 14-game unbeaten streak, the longest unbeaten streak in program history, going 11-0-3 from January 22 to April 10. The Minutemen finished with a 20-5-4 record, the fewest losses for an NCAA Champion since Maine's 40-1-2 season in 1992-93.
NICE TO MEET YOU
- There are just seven college hockey programs, active in 2021-22, that UMass has not yet faced in program history and the Minutemen will check three off the list this season.
- UMass had its first-ever meetings against Minnesota State on opening weekend and will also take on Michigan (1/8-1/9) and newly-minted Division I program LIU (2/4-2/5) later this season.
- Other teams UMass has never faced include Miami, Michigan Tech, Penn State and St. Thomas. The list will grow by two when Alaska-Anchorage and Robert Morris resume competition.
MOVING ON
- UMass had 10 departures from its 2020-21 National Championship roster, which included five seniors. Forwards Carson Gicewicz and Jake Gaduet both signed AHL deals with Rockford and Cleveland, respectively.
- Three members of that championship squad inked NHL contracts as Marc Del Gaizo signed with the Nashville Predators after three seasons in Amherst and Zac Jones with the New York Rangers following his second season at UMass. Jones became the 19th Minuteman to play in the National Hockey League on April 22 when he made his debut in New York. Filip Lindberg turned pro as well after three years with the Minutemen and signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent.
BOBBY'S BACK!
- UMass has returned its leading scorer from the 2020-21 National Championship squad in senior Bobby Trivigno, who was named captain of the Minutemen in the offseason.
- Trivigno led UMass with 34 points in 2020-21 on 11 goals and 23 assists and garnered a CCM/AHCA Hockey All-America First Team selection.
- The first Minuteman to win the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born college hockey player in New England, Trivigno helped guide UMass to its first Hockey East Tournament Championship and NCAA Championship as an assistant captain during his junior campaign.
- In the 2021 Hockey East playoffs, Trivigno led the squad with six points over three tournament games on two goals and four assists and was +6, to garner Tournament MVP recognition along with a spot on the Steve Nazro Hockey East All-Tournament Team.
- In the Frozen Four, he set up both the tying goal and the overtime game-winning goal in a 3-2 OT thriller vs. Minnesota Duluth in the National Semifinal and scored in UMass' 5-0 win over St. Cloud State in the National Championship game to earn Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player recognition.
- The 2021 Hockey East First-Team All-Star finished the season tied for sixth nationally in points and 10th in points per-game (1.17), tied for fifth in assists and seventh in assists per-game (0.79).
- A native of Setauket, New Your, Trivigno currently has with 89 career points over 108 career contests on 35 goals and 54 assists.
BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE
- In addition to Bobby Trivigno being back for 2021-22, his two linemates from last season have also returned—sophomore Josh Lopina and junior Garrett Wait.
- Lopina put up 23 points in 29 games on 9 goals and 14 assists last season and became the first player in program history to be named a Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Wait had 17 points in 29 games as a junior in 2020-21.
YOUTH & EXPERIENCE
- UMass' blueline is a mix of youth and experience this season, led by junior assistant captain Matthew Kessel, senior assistant captain Colin Felix and senior Ty Farmer. Combined, those three have played a total of 283 games for the Minutemen with Felix having appeared in 110 straight contests since arriving in Amherst.
- Kessel, a 2021 Hockey East Third-Team All-Star registered 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists over 29 games in 2020-21 and was +15 with a team-best six power-play goals. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native led all defensemen nationally in goals, goals per-game (.34) and power-play goals. An All-Tournament Team selection at the Frozen Four, Kessel ended the year tied for fourth nationally in points by a defenseman, ninth in points per-game (.88) and tied for 10th in power play points (9).
- UMass has added freshmen defensemen Scott Morrow and Ryan Ufko to the mix in addition to Denver transfer Slava Demin.
- Morrow, a 6-2, 195-pound right shot defenseman, was taken in the second round (40th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the second-highest draft selection in program history behind Cale Makar who went fourth overall in 2017.
- Ufko, a 5-10, 181-pound right shot defenseman, was chosen in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. Both Ufko and Morrow were invited to the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase with Team USA this past July.
SUPER SENIOR
- After playing four seasons in Amherst, goaltender Matt Murray is back for more, using his additional year of eligibility to play a fifth season with the Minutemen in 2021-22.
- Murray has appeared in 91 games in his collegiate career over four-plus seasons and holds a 2.23 goals against average and a .916 save percentage with 2,107 career stops.
- He is UMass' all-time leader in wins (56) and shutouts (11) and set the program's single season wins record with 20 in 2018-19.
- In 2020-21 the St. Albert, Alberta native finished 11th nationally in goals against average (1.97), eighth in winning percentage (.714, 10-4-0) and tied for eighth in shutouts (3), while holding a .917 save percentage.
- Murray capped his 2020-21 campaign with a 36-save performance against Minnesota Duluth in the National Semifinal, sending the Minutemen to the National Championship game with the 3-2 overtime victory over the Bulldogs.
NEXT STOP: AMHERST, MA
- The Minutemen have five players on its 2021-22 roster who began their collegiate careers at other institutions before electing to transfer to UMass, including three new arrivals for this season.
- UMass has added a pair of graduate transfers out of the Ivy League as Cam Donaldson (Cornell) and Matt Baker (Dartmouth) join the Minutemen for their fifth year of eligibility after the Ivies opted out of the 2020-21 season. Both are pursuing Master's degrees in finance, alternative investments. Donaldson was an All-ECAC Hockey Third Team and All-Ivy League honorable mention player for the Big Red in 2018-19 after putting up 25 points on 12 goals and 13 assists.
- Slava Demin, another new addition for 2021-22, comes to UMass after three seasons at Denver. He was selected in the fourth round (99th overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and his rights were acquired by Chicago Blackhawks in February 2020. He put up 31 points (9g, 22a) over 96 games with the Pioneers.
- The transfer portal has been kind to the Minutemen in recent memory—St. Lawrence transfer Carson Gicewicz led UMass in with 17 goals last season with four coming at the NCAA Regional. Minnesota transfer Garrett Wait scored the overtime game winner against Minnesota Duluth to send UMass to the 2021 National Championship game and finished with 17 points (9g, 8a) in his first season with the Minutemen. Providence transfer Jerry Harding brought a physical presence to the UMass lineup last year while also contributing six points (2g, 4a).
- In the Minutemen's 2018-19 run to the National Championship game, St. Lawrence transfer Jacob Pritchard put up 47 points in 41 games that season, including seven power-play goals.
LOCK HIM IN
- Head coach Greg Carvel has been extended through the 2025-26 season, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced in June 2021.
- The new five-year rolling contract (April 11, 2021 – April 10, 2026) for the reigning USCHO and College Hockey News Coach of the Year will automatically add an additional year to the agreement on April 11 of each contract year (unless Carvel is provided notice by the university).
NEWMASS AT A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
- The Minutemen posted a 12-2-2 record against ranked teams in 2020-21 capped the year with a 14-game unbeaten streak (11-0-3), the longest unbeaten streak in school history.
- Three UMass' losses last season were one-goal games, with just four regulation losses on the year. Three of five losses came prior to December 7 when the Minutemen were without the services of veteran defensemen Marc Del Gaizo and Ty Farmer for the November 27-28 setbacks to Boston College due to injuries.
- UMass was 18-2-3 from December 7, 2020 to the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, the fewest losses of any team and best winning percentage (.848) in the nation over that span.
- UMass won 13 games where the margin was three goals or more in 2020-21, compared to one loss (the 6-3 loss to Boston College on Nov. 28).
- The Minutemen allowed one goal or less in 55.2% of its games last season (16 occasions in 29 games) and two or fewer goals in 21 of 29 games.
SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS
- UMass' penalty kill was first in the nation (91.7%) in 2020-21 and its power play ranked 10th nationally (23.4%) while the squad tied for second in the nation in shorthanded goals with five. The Minutemen led the nation in combined special teams at 57.9% in 2020-21 and were a net +19 on special teams last season, tops in Hockey East.
- UMass had 25 power-play goals in 29 games, compared to 16 in 34 games in 2019-20 and tied for fifth in the nation in power-play goals last season.
- The Minutemen currenly rank 11th in the nation with a 91.3% PK percentage, bolstered by 18 consecutive successfull kills from Oct. 2 vs. Minnesota State to Oct. 30 vs. Merrimack.
QUICK DRAW
- One of the Minutemen's biggest strengths in 2020-21 was the team's success over the faceoff dots. UMass finished sixth nationally with a 53.7% faceoff percentage, 961 of 1788.
- Josh Lopina finished seventh nationally in faceoffs wins (312), 101 more than the next closest rookie.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
- With 2019 Hobey Baker winner, 2020 Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar, 2019 Hockey East All-Star Mario Ferraro currently on NHL rosters and 2021 Second Team All-American Zac Jones having seen time with the New York Rangers, UMass' hallmark has been developing talent on the blueline during head coach Greg Carvel's tenure.
- As a team, UMass was sixth in the nation in scoring defense (1.97) in 2019-20 after ranking seventh (2.02) the season prior. The 2019-20 squad set a program record for the fewest goals allowed in a season, 67, which was eclipsed in 2020-21 (48 in 29 games). The 2020-21 Minutemen finished second in the nation in scoring defense at 1.66 goals per-game.
- The Minutemen blueliners led the nation in points per-game (3.07), goals (26), goals per-game (0.90) and points (89) in 2020-21, while ranking second in power-play goals (9), tied for second in power-play points (28), tied for third in assists (63), fourth in shots on goal per-game (10.76) and tied for fourth in power-play assists (19).
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
- UMass is 58-13-5 at the Mullins Center over the past three seasons (2018-present) for a .796 winning percentage. This stretch included a 16-game unbeaten streak (15-0-1) that began on Jan. 11, 2019 against Vermont and came to an end on Nov. 30, 2019 with a 2-1 loss to Quinnipiac.
- UMass went 11-2-2 at home last season, tying for first in the nation for home victories and finishing sixth in home winning percentage at .800.
TOP OF THE CHARTS
- For the first time in program history, the Minutemen were No. 1 in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey preseason polls, in addition to being selected as the preseason favorite in Hockey East for 2021-22. UMass entered the 2019-20 season ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com poll and No. 5 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, which was the first time the Minutemen opened a season ranked in either poll.
- In 2020-21, the Minutemen were ranked in the top-15 every week and the squad has been nationally ranked in 74 straight poll weeks since October 22, 2018 after previously not being ranked in either poll since February 2010.
- History was made on Dec. 3, 2018 as the Minutemen earned their first No. 1 national ranking in program history, sitting at the top of the USCHO.com poll with 26 first-place votes and 964 points. UMass was ranked for 20 straight weeks to end the 2018-19 season and earned a No. 2 ranking in the final polls.
- UMass entered the national rankings on Oct. 22, 2018 coming in at No. 16 in the USCHO.com poll. The last time the Minutemen were ranked prior to October 2018 was in the USCHO.com poll released on Feb. 15, 2010.
- On November 5, 2018, UMass moved up to No. 9 in the USCHO.com Poll and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll in the No. 9 spot as well, the highest ranking for the Minutemen since November 30, 2009 (No. 9).
- UMass surpassed all previous highs in rankings on Nov. 12, 2018 when the squad was sitting at No. 4 in both polls.
- Previously the highest ranking in program history came in the USCHO.com poll on Dec. 31, 2007 at No. 5. The Minutemen spent six weeks in the top-10 during the 2007-08 season.
- After sitting in the No. 4 spot for two weeks, UMass improved upon its all-time highest ranking, moving up to No. 3 in both polls on Nov. 26, 2018.
- The Minutemen earned their first-ever top-10 ranking (No. 9) on Nov. 10, 2003 and ranked as high as No. 7 that season.
- UMass collected its first-ever national ranking on Jan. 6, 2003. (No. 15 USCHO.com poll/No. 14 USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Poll).
- On Jan. 14, 2019, UMass received its first No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
LEAGUE THINGS AND OTHER TIDBITS
- Anthony Del Gazio's father Anthony played college hockey at Merrimack (1983-84). Anthony Del Gaizo and Marc Del Gaizo (2018-21) were the fourth set of siblings to play for the Minutemen in the program's modern era (James Marcou 2007-10 and Michael Marcou 2008-12; Jeff Turner 1997-2001 and Tim Turner 1999-2003; Mike Warner 2000-04 and Tim Warner 2001-05). With the addition of Taylor Makar to the roster this season, he and his brother Cale (2017-19) are the fifth set of brothers to wear the Maroon & White.
- Bobby Trivigno is the second member of his family to play in Hockey East, following in the footsteps of his sister Dana who was a standout forward and former captain for Boston College, where she put up 138 points in 148 career games for the Eagles (2012-16).
- Matthew Kessel is the third member of his family to play college hockey. His brother Will played at Western Michigan from 2011-15 and captained the Broncos in 2014-15, while his brother Peter plays at Holy Cross and is in his senior season with the Crusaders.
- Linden Alger's father Richard played for UMass in the program's inaugural Division I season (1993-94) and then played the next two campaigns at Boston University (1995-97).
- Scott Morrow's uncle, Scott (1988-92), and dad, Steve Morrow (1988-91), both played college hockey at New Hampshire.
