University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Hockey Announces 2024-25 Captains
September 04, 2024 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has named graduate student defenseman Linden Alger as captain for 2024-25, while senior forwards Ryan Lautenbach and Lucas Mercuri will serve as alternate captains, head coach Greg Carvel announced on Wednesday.
"Linden's growth as a player during his time at UMass perfectly exemplifies the attitude, character and commitment that we ask from all our players, said Carvel. "Linden played a big role on our back end last season and has been a celebrated leader during his entire time as a Minuteman. He has been a part of multiple Championship and NCAA Tournament teams and will be an excellent leader for this year's team. Linden will be assisted by two veteran senior forwards. Lucas and Ryan consistently play to our team's identity and have been strong voices in our locker room. They have earned the respect of their teammates by leading and living to the UMass hockey standard. The leadership of all three of these young men should play a pivotal role in the success of our team this season, both on and off the ice."'
Alger, who announced he would be returning for a fifth season with the Minutemen this past spring, has appeared in 66 games over four years in Amherst, including a career-best 35 in 2023-24. He is +4 for his career and has five points on three goals and two assists, four of which came last season. The four-time Hockey East All-Academic Team honoree is the first Massachusetts native (Centerville) to wear the "C" for UMass since Conor Sheary (Melrose) did so as a senior in 2023-14.
Lautenbach enters his senior year coming off his most productive campaign of his collegiate career in 2023-24, which saw him post 24 points on 10 goals and 14 assists, including a team-best three shorthanded tallies and one game winner. The Brighton, Michigan native has seen action in 102 career games to date with 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points. He is a two-time Hockey East All-Academic Team member.
Mercuri, a 2020 sixth round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, has appeared in 108 of a possible 109 games over his first three seasons in a UMass uniform and has compiled 54 career points on 18 goals and 36 assists with a +2 rating, four power-play goals and five game winners. The Montreal, Quebec native posted new career highs in goals (9), assists (16) and points (25) as a junior over 37 games with three power-play tallies and three game winners. He has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team twice in his career thus far.
The Minutemen are set to open their 2024-25 season one month from tomorrow at Bentley on October 5 in a 7 p.m. matchup in Waltham, Massachusetts.
"Linden's growth as a player during his time at UMass perfectly exemplifies the attitude, character and commitment that we ask from all our players, said Carvel. "Linden played a big role on our back end last season and has been a celebrated leader during his entire time as a Minuteman. He has been a part of multiple Championship and NCAA Tournament teams and will be an excellent leader for this year's team. Linden will be assisted by two veteran senior forwards. Lucas and Ryan consistently play to our team's identity and have been strong voices in our locker room. They have earned the respect of their teammates by leading and living to the UMass hockey standard. The leadership of all three of these young men should play a pivotal role in the success of our team this season, both on and off the ice."'
Alger, who announced he would be returning for a fifth season with the Minutemen this past spring, has appeared in 66 games over four years in Amherst, including a career-best 35 in 2023-24. He is +4 for his career and has five points on three goals and two assists, four of which came last season. The four-time Hockey East All-Academic Team honoree is the first Massachusetts native (Centerville) to wear the "C" for UMass since Conor Sheary (Melrose) did so as a senior in 2023-14.
Lautenbach enters his senior year coming off his most productive campaign of his collegiate career in 2023-24, which saw him post 24 points on 10 goals and 14 assists, including a team-best three shorthanded tallies and one game winner. The Brighton, Michigan native has seen action in 102 career games to date with 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points. He is a two-time Hockey East All-Academic Team member.
Mercuri, a 2020 sixth round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, has appeared in 108 of a possible 109 games over his first three seasons in a UMass uniform and has compiled 54 career points on 18 goals and 36 assists with a +2 rating, four power-play goals and five game winners. The Montreal, Quebec native posted new career highs in goals (9), assists (16) and points (25) as a junior over 37 games with three power-play tallies and three game winners. He has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team twice in his career thus far.
The Minutemen are set to open their 2024-25 season one month from tomorrow at Bentley on October 5 in a 7 p.m. matchup in Waltham, Massachusetts.
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