#12 Massachusetts Hockey Travels To Merrimack Wednesday For Midweek Matchup

Game 15	#12 Massachusetts Minutemen (8-4-2, 6-2-2 HE) vs. Merrimack Warriors (6-8-0, 3-6-0 HE)
Date \| Time	Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - 7 p.m.
Locations	North Andover, Mass. (Lawler Rink - 2,549)
Series History	UMass leads 48-43-8
Live Statistics	Sidearm
Watch Live	College Sports Live
Listen (Radio)	WHMP FM 101.5, AM 1400/1240
Listen (Online)	WHMP Streaming Player
Game Notes	Massachusetts \| Merrimack
Team Records	Massachusetts \| Merrimack
Twitter	@UMassHockey \| @UMassAthletics
Instagram	UMass Hockey \| UMass Athletics
Tickets	Wednesday

LAST TIME OUT
- No. 14 University of Massachusetts battled rival No. 15 UMass Lowell last weekend, taking four of six hockey east points against the River Hawks with a 4-4 (0-1 SOL) on Friday and a 3-2 victory at the Mullins Center on Saturday.
- UMass its freshmen contribute seven points and senior Anthony Del Gaizo post his first career two-goal game as the squad earned the 4-4 tie in the weekend opener.
- After coming up empty on the first two power play opportunities of the contest, UMass broke though at the 14:30 mark of the first period to open the scoring. Collecting the puck from freshman Lucas Mercuri, senior Bobby Trivigno skated into the UMass Lowell zone on a 2-on-1 with freshman Ryan Lautenbach and dished to the rookie for his first collegiate tally, giving the Minutemen a 1-0 lead.
- UMass expanded its advantage to 2-0, 4:20 into the second period. Lautenbach and sophomore Aaron Bohlinger fed freshman Scott Morrow who picked a corner from the left faceoff dot for his fifth goal of the season.
- The River Hawks halved their deficit at the 9:18 mark, though. After a stellar initial stop by goaltender Matt Murray, Matt Allen put back a rebound with Ben Meehan and Connor Sodergren collecting the assists.
- UMass Lowell then made quick work of a full two minutes of 5-on-3 power play time to head into the second intermission up 3-2. Reid Stefanson and Matt Crasa provided the tallies for the River Hawks at 15:35 and 16:25, respectively.
- Del Gaizo knotted things up at 3-3 on the power play for Massachusetts, knocking a loose puck home off a UMass Lowell defender from freshman Ryan Ufko and Morrow, 2:29 into the third period.
- Crasa regained the lead for the River Hawks, 4-3, at the 12:22 mark, redirecting in his second of the night at the back post from Lucas Condotta and Nick Austin.
- Del Gaizo responded once more in the closing moments of the third, depositing his second of the game into the UMass Lowell net from the top of the crease with Ufko and junior Reed Lebster picking up the assists on the equalizer that leveled things at 4-4.
- The Minutemen had a power play opportunity in overtime after the River Hawks were whistled for too many men, but were unable to capitalize on the 4-on-3. Then UMass Lowell's Carl Berglund scored the lone shootout goal to give the River Hawks the extra point.
- Murray totaled 28 saves in net for the Minutemen and Owen Savory had 27 stops for the River Hawks.
- UMass had four players post multi-point nights. Joining Del Gaizo's two tallies, Lautenbach and Morrow each contributed a goal and an assist, and Ufko had two helpers.
- Aided by a second straight multi-point game for Del Gaizo, the Minutemen topped the River Hawks, 3-2 at the Mullins Center on Saturday
- UMass opened the scoring just 2:01 into the contest, making quick work of the first power play opportunity of the night. Lebster was positioned at the top of the crease to redirect in a feed from Del Gaizo and Ufko to put the Minutemen out in front, 1-0.
- The lead doubled to 2-0 at the 3:30 mark of the second period when Morrow picked up the puck from Mercuri and danced around the zone before slicing through the UMass Lowell defense for the highlight reel tally.
- The River Hawks cut the UMass lead in half with a power-play goal 14:42 into the second period as Ryan Brushett beat Murray though a screen with Stefanson and Berglund earning assists.
- Del Gaizo gave the Minutemen back some breathing room with his third goal of the weekend just 23 seconds into the third period, cleaning up a rebound at the net front from senior Colin Felix and Lebster.
- UMass Lowell converted with the man advantage for a second time at the 13:23 mark with Berglund and Austin setting up Andre Lee for the score.
- The UMass defense held strong the rest of the way though to preserve the win, despite being outshot 15-3 in the third and 32-17 on the night. Murray finished with 30 saves for the Minutemen and Henry Welsch totaled 14 stops for the River Hawks.- In recognition of his four-point weekend (3g, 1a) against UMass Lowell, which included the game-tying goal Friday and the game-winning goal Saturday, Anthony Del Gaizo was recognized as Hockey East Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

MORROW, PAVICICH TO VIE FOR TEAM USA ROSTER SPOTS
- Freshman defenseman Scott Morrow and freshman goaltender Luke Pavicich were among the 31 players named to the preliminary roster for the 2020 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced this past Tuesday.
- The pair of Minutemen will head to Plymouth, Michigan for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena, starting Dec. 12, looking to earn roster spots on Team USA's 25-man squad for the upcoming 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, Dec. 26, 2021-Jan. 5, 2022.
- Massachusetts hockey has been represented well at World Juniors during Greg Carvel's tenure at UMass with Minutemen earning roster spots at three of the past four championships, most recently with Zac Jones making the U.S. squad for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. Goaltender Filip Lindberg earned a Gold medal at the 2019 tournament with Finland and Cale Makar won Gold with Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championship.
- Other past WJC participants from UMass include William Lagesson (2016, Sweden) and Stephen Werner (2004, USA). Werner was a Gold medal winner, as well. Director of Equipment Operations Josh Penn earned a Bronze medal on staff with Team USA in 2018.

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 Gaudet 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 97 career points over 116 career contests on 39 goals and 58 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 nine 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 307 games for the Minutemen with Felix having appeared in 118 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.
- Morrow currently leads the nation in points per-game among freshmen defensemen (1.00), tied for fifth in points among all freshmen, tied for fifth in goals (6), tied for ninth in assists (8).
- Among all defensemen nationally, Morrow ranks fifth in points per-game.
- Ryan Ufko is tied for fourth nationally among freshmen with 10 assists.

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 99 games in his collegiate career over four-plus seasons and holds a 2.20 goals against average and a .918 save percentage with 2,332 career stops.
- He is UMass' all-time leader in wins (60) and shutouts (13) 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.
- Murray is currently 18th in the nation in GAA (2.18) and 11th in save percentage (.927).

NEXT STOP, AMHERST, MA
- The Minutemen have five players on their 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 of 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.

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. UMass is currently 12th in the nation in scoring defense through 12 games at 2.21 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 61-14-5 at the Mullins Center over the past three seasons (2018-present) for an .794 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 79 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.

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