January 21, 2013

ATHLETIC REPUBLIC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK #26 BRANDEN GRACEL, MASSACHUSETTS (Junior Forward; Calgary, Alta.) Gracel record three points (2g,1a) and was named the game's No. 1 star after leading the Minutemen to their first win at No. 2 Boston College since Nov. 17, 2007. The three points and two goals both matched career single-game bests for the junior. ATHLETIC REPUBLIC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK #21 STEVEN WHITNEY, BOSTON COLLEGE (Senior Forward, Reading, Mass.) Whitney scored five points (4g,1a) in BC's 1-1 weekend against UMass and Northeastern. He tallied four points with his first career hat trick in the 9-3 victory at Northeastern on Saturday night. Whitney finished the weekend with nine shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus rating. PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK #37 CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, UMASS LOWELL (Freshman Goaltender; Commerce, Mich.) Hellebuyck amassed 31 saves (.969 save%) in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Providence at the Tsongas Center, while earning his sixth straight win for the River Hawks. HEA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK #30 SAM MAROTTA, MERRIMACK (Junior Goaltender; Bridgewater, Mass.) Marotta stopped 53 of 56 shots (.946 save%), leading Merrimack to a three-point weekend at Maine. He registered 31 saves in the 1-1 tie Friday at Alfond Arena and followed that up with 22 stops on Saturday in the 3-2 triumph vs. the Black Bears. HOCKEY EAST TEAM OF THE WEEK MASSACHUSETTS MINTEMEN The Minutemen earned a 5-2 road win at No. 2 Boston College on Friday night, their first win at Conte Forum since November 17, 2007. UMass went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Athletic Republic Co-Players of the Week Branden Gracel and Steven Whitney ARMY ROTC THREE STARS AWARD At the conclusion of each Hockey East game, the " Army ROTC Three Stars of The Game" are selected. Here are the 2012-13 season leaders to date: Rk. Name Cl. Pos. School 1. John Henrion Sr. F UNH 2. Johnny Gaudreau So. F BC 3. Casey DeSmith So. G UNH   Wade Megan Sr. F BU 5. Jon Gillies Fr. G PC   Kevin Hayes Jr. F BC   Joseph Pendenza Jr. F UML   Kevin Roy Fr. F NU

HOCKEY EAST WEEKLY TOP PERFORMERS

Derek Army, PC (Jr., F, North Kingstown, R.I.) Scored two goals in a 6-5 win at No. 3 UNH on Saturday night.

Kyle Bigos, MC (Sr., D, Upland, Calif.) Had a goal and an assist in Merrimack's 3-2 win over Maine Saturday.

Mike Collins, MC (Jr., F, Boston, Mass.) Notched assists on all three goals, leading Merrimack to a 3-2 victory over Maine

Joey Diamond, Maine (Sr., F, Long Beach, N.Y.) Had a goal and an assist in Maine's 3-2 loss to Merrimack on Saturday.

Jon Gillies, PC (Fr., G, South Portland, Maine) Went 1-1-0 on the weekend (.924 save%), including a career-high 48 saves on Thursday at No. 15 UML.

Johnny Gaudreau, BC (So., F, Carneys Point, N.J.) Tallied five assists in weekend split, including matching a career-high with four assists in the win at NU.

Travis Jeke, BC, (Fr., D, Pittsburgh, Pa.) Scored first collegiate goal in loss to UMass, then recorded a game-high +6 rating in a 9-3 win at Northeastern.

Steve Mastalerz, UMass (So., G, North Andover, Mass.) Backstopped the Minutemen to their first win at BC since Nov. 17, 2007 with 21 stops.

Ross Mauermann, PC (So., F, Janesville, Wis.) Had a goal at No. 15 UML Thursday and added two assists at No. 3 UNH Saturday.

Kyle Mountain, UVM (So., F, Bryn Mawr, Pa.) Notched a goal against Penn State near his hometown in Philadelphia

Pat Mullane, BC (Sr., F, Wallingford, Conn.) Matched a career-high with four points (1g,3a) in team's 9-3 win at Northeastern.

Matt Nieto, BU (Jr., F, Long Beach, Calif.) Scored a goal and added an assist in Friday's game against Northeastern

Danny O'Regan, BU (Fr., F, Needham, Mass.) Tallied a goal and two assists against Northeastern on Friday.

Robert Polesello, UVM (Fr., F, Bolton, Ont.) Had a power play goal against Penn State on Saturday in Philadelphia

Evan Rodrigues, BU (So., F, Etobicoke, Ont.) Recorded a career-high four points (2g, 2a) on Friday vs. Northeastern, added a goal vs. UML Saturday.

Kevin Roy, NU (Fr., F, Lac-Beauport, Que.) Notched a goal and two assists in the win at BU on Friday night.

Chad Ruhwedel, UML (Jr., D, San Diego, Calif.) Registered two goals in a 2-0 week for UML, including the game-winner in the third period Thursday.

Vinny Saponari, NU (Sr., F, Powder Springs, Ga.) Scored his first game-winning goal of the season along with an assist at Boston University.

Steven Shamanski, PC (Jr., D, Carberry, Man.) Had a career high three assists in the 6-5 win at No. 3 UNH.

K.J. Tiefenwerth, UMass (Fr., F, Bellmore, N.Y.) Scored an important insurance goal for UMass in the squad's first win at Boston College since 2007.

CAREER FIRSTS/MILESTONES/WHO's HOT

Justin Agosta , UNH (EAST MEADOW, N.Y.) had a career high three assists Saturday VS. PC

Derek Army, PC (North Kingstown, R.I.) has 14 points (9G,5a) in his last 13 games

Adam Chapie, UML (Oxford, Mich.) SCored his second shorthanded goal in four games in the 4-3 win at Boston University

Kevin Goumas, UNH (LONG BEACH, N.Y.) has A FIVE-GAME POINT STREAK (2g,4a)

Branden Gracel, UMASS (CALGARY, ALTA.) Has 13 points (3G,10A) IN HIS LAST nine games

Connor Hellebuyck, UML (Commerce, Mich.) is 6-0-0 with a 0.95 GAA and a .964 save % and two shutouts in his last seven appearances

Sam Marotta , MC (Bridgewater, Mass.) Leads LEAGUE in OVERALL GAA (2.04) after stopping 83 of 86 shots (.965 SAVE%) in three games vs. Maine

Ross Mauermann, PC (Janesville, Wis.) has eight points (3G,5A) in his last seven games

Chris McCarthy, UVM (Collegeville, Pa.) Two games away from 100 in his career

Merrimack penalty kill HAS Killed 18 of 19 power plays (94.7%) VS. Maine in the last three games

UMASS' LINE OF Michael Pereira (WEST HAVEN, CONN.), Branden Gracel, Conor Sheary (MELROSE, Mass .) has totale d 20 points IN LAST SIX GAMES, including six POINTS (3g,3a) in Friday's win at NO. 2 BC

UMass Lowell RIVER HAWKS won its ninth straight gameS DATING BACK TO DEC. 8TH, matching its Division I era WIN STREAK

Scott Wilson, UML (Oakville, Ont.) has EIGHTS POINTS (4G,4A) in his last five games

TEAM NOTES

Boston College: BC closed a pair of league season series over the weekend, going 2-1-0 against both UMass and Northeastern. BC's 5-2 home loss to the Minutemen on Friday snapped an 18-game home unbeaten streak dating back to December 2011 and marked the first time since November 2007 that the Eagles have not beaten the Minutemen at home – a span of 13 wins. The loss, coupled with a 2-1 loss at fourth-ranked New Hampshire last week, marked the first time in nearly one year that the Eagles have suffered back-to-back losses. BC dropped a pair of road games at Maine on Jan. 20-21, 2012. BC's senior class fell to 15-3-0 in 18 meetings vs. UMass in four seasons. The group fell to 11-1-0 vs. the Minutemen at Kelley Rink…BC scored nine times in a win at NU and last scored nine times at BU on Dec. 3, 2011 (9-5)...With four points each vs. the Huskies, Johnny Gaudreau, Pat Mullane and Steven Whitney each matched their career highs…Kevin Hayes' three assists represented a career best, while Danny Linell and Quinn Smith both matched career highs with two points apiece at Northeastern…BC was without its head coach Jerry York, who is recovering from eye surgery, for the second straight weekend. BC is 2-2-0 in those games.

Boston University: BU's power play went 4-for-9 over the weekend after going just 4-for-45 in its previous 10 contests...The Terriers' last five home games have all been decided by one goal and the last three have been losses after coming out top in the first two... Its weekend setbacks against Northeastern and UMass Lowell marked BU's first back-to-back losses this season...Friday's result marked the first time in 14 years that BU has lost consecutive regular-season meetings with Northeastern, as the Terriers dropped a 5-4 overtime contest at Matthews Arena on the final night of last year's regular season...The Terriers' second line of Matt Nieto, Danny O'Regan and Evan Rodrigues combined for nine points (4g, 5a) in Friday's game against the Huskies... Rodrigues has scored 15 of his 16 points this season in Hockey East play...BU's sophomores hold a slight 51-50 edge over the freshmen in the race for points by class.

Maine: Maine hosted Merrimack for a pair of Hockey East games on the weekend…After Saturday night's game, the two teams have now played three straight regular season games…Sophomore Connor Leen (Chester, N.Y.) scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season on Saturday night against Merrimack…He finished with just one point as a freshman…Joey Diamond registered his second multi-point game of the season this weekend when he tallied a goal and an assist against Merrimack on Saturday night…Eleven of Maine's last 14 games have been decided by one goal or finished as a tie…Maine is 4-7 in one goal games this season…Mark Anthoine (Lewiston, Maine) leads the Black Bears in consecutive games played with 78, while Mark Nemec (Rouses Point, N.Y.) ranks second, having played in 65 straight games.

Massachusetts: With Friday's win, Minutemen snapped Boston College's 18-game home unbeaten streak that dated back to December 2, 2011...UMass snapped a string of 13 straight road losses to the Eagles that dated back to Nov. 17, 2007...UMass' penalty killing unit is 20-for-22 (90.9%) over the past five games with a pair of shorthanded goals and has killed off 11 straight penalties.

UMass-Lowell: UMass Lowell won its eighth and ninth straight games with victories over Providence (2-1) and No. 9 Boston University (4-3) last week, matching its Division I era record of nine consecutive victories, achieved during the 2001-02 season…Boston University ended UMass Lowell's penalty kill streak at 35 straight when the Terriers scored on their second power play of the game 6:27 into the third period. UMass Lowell last conceded a power play goal on Nov. 30 in a 5-2 loss to New Hampshire. The River Hawks have killed off 41 of opponents' last 43 power plays…UMass Lowell is 3-6-0 vs. ranked opponents after the win over No. 9 BU…After compiling for 1-8-9 over the first 13 games, the River Hawk defensemen have accounted for 8-18-26 in the last eight games…Junior blueliner Chad Ruhwedel has seven points (4g,3a) in his last five games.

Merrimack: For the first time in school history, Merrimack picked up points in consecutive games in a season in Orono, tying and defeating the Black Bears for a three-point weekend...Merrimack went 2-0-1 against the Black Bears in an eight-day span to win the season series... With points in five of their last six league games, the Warriors remain in fifth place in Hockey East, two points out of third...The Warriors have captured season-series from Maine, Northeastern and Vermont and have lost just one series (BU)...With the three-point weekend, Merrimack is 7- 2-2 in the last 11 meetings with the Black Bears...Mike Collins (Boston, Mass.) continues to lead Hockey East in points per game in conference games and is second in conference scoring...Merrimack's senior class is one win away of becoming the most successful class in its Division I history, passing last year's class...Mark Dennehy is two wins shy of 100 career at Merrimack...Merrimack will open its season-series with UNH next weekend, with a game Friday night at Lawler and Saturday (5 p.m.) at the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester. Merrimack will play UNH three times in nine days at three arenas.

New Hampshire: UNH dropped its only game of the week 6-5 to Providence College on Saturday evening…The Wildcats spotted the Friars leads of 4-0 and 5-2 before closing the gap in the third period…Justin Agosta recorded a career high three assists to lead four players with multi-point efforts…John Henrion (1g, 1a), Kevin Goumas (1g, 1a) and Casey Thrush (1g,1a) also had multiple points on the night…The six goals by the Friars is the most by any opponent all season and the most since a 7-6 loss to Harvard on Nov. 22, 2011…The Wildcats had 42 shots on net on Saturday marking the fourth time this season the team has had 40-plus shots…Kevin Goumas continues to be UNH's offensive catalyst he is riding a five-game scoring streak with two goals and four assists in that span. Additionally, Goumas has points in 15-of-16 games and 18-of-21 games overall this season…John Henrion has also been hot of late with a four-game scoring streak with five points and three goals in that stretch.

Northeastern: Northeastern split the weekend with its two Beanpot rivals, edging out Boston University on Friday, 6-5, before suffering a crushing 9-3 loss at the hands of Boston College on Saturday. Northeastern's last regular season victory at Agganis Arena occurred on March 5, 2011 (4-3) before the Huskies knocked off BU in the 2011 Hockey East quarterfinal round. The last time Northeastern has won consecutive regular season games vs. the Terriers dates back to Jan. 3-17, 1989. NU beat NU, 6-4, on Matthews Arena on Jan. 3 before taking out the Terriers, 4-1, on Jan. 17 at BU. Northeastern's six goals at Boston University are the most on Terriers' ice since Feb. 28, 2004 and most ever at Agganis Arena. Senior captain Vinny Saponari has scored the last two game-winning goals against his former club. Saponari has scored seven game-winning goals in his career and three as a Husky. Rookie Kevin Roy tallied his seventh multi-point game of the season and matched a season-best four-game point streak with a goal and two assists in the win at BU. He has accounted for 10 points (3g,7a) in his last four outings...Junior Cody Ferriero set a career high five-game point streak with an assist on Braden Pimm's goal and has accounted for nine points (7g,2a) in his last five outings.

Providence College: The Friars posted a split on the week, losing 2-1 at No. 15 UMass Lowell on Thursday night before winning at No. 3 UNH on Saturday, 6-5. The Friars won at UNH for the first time since March 12, 2004 (W, 4-3 OT)...Providence also snapped a 17-game (0-15-2) winless streak against the Wildcats, dating back to a 7-1 win at Schneider Arena on Feb. 24, 2007...Steven Shamanski, who entered Saturday with 13 career points (3-10-13) but never having scored more than one point in a game, led the Friars with three assists vs. UNH...Providence is now 8-0-0 when leading after two periods, 9- 1-1 when scoring first and to 5-0-1 when scoring four or more goals... The win at No. 3 UNH was the first of the year for the Friars against a ranked opponent...At UMass Lowell on Thursday, freshman goalie Jon Gillies made a career high 48 saves, the seventh-highest single game total in the Friar record book…Dating back to the second period of Providence's 5-4 win at UMass on Jan. 11, Gillies put together a shutout stretch of 124:36 before Lowell's power play goal at 2:10 of the third period on Thursday night.

Vermont: Vermont fell 4-2 against Penn State in the inaugural Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night … The game was Vermont's non-conference finale...It marked the first-ever meeting between the Catamounts and Nittany Lions, who are in their inaugural season of Division I play…The announced crowd at the Wells Fargo Center was 19,529...Nick Luukko, a native of West Chester, Pa., was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL Draft with the 179th overall selection...Three other Catamounts hail from the Philadelphia area: Chris McCarthy (Collegeville, Pa.), Kyle Mountain (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), and Colin Markison (Princeton, N.J.)...Mountain had a goal for UVM while Luukko picked up an assist against the Nittany Lions.