2020–21 Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey season
men's ice hockey season
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Merrimack_Warriors.svg/200px-Merrimack_Warriors.svg.png)
Dan Jewell
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The 2020-21 Merrimack Warriors Men's ice hockey season was the 66th season of play for the program, the 32nd at the Division I level, and the 32nd season in the Hockey East conference. The Warriors represented Merrimack College and were coached by Scott Borek, in his 3rd season.
Season
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Merrimack's players would lose a season of play.[1] However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.[2]
Due to cancellations and rescheduling Merrimack began the season playing ranked teams in eight consecutive games. As a result, the team's record was a paltry 1–7. Despite the losses, the team was able to keep the score close in most games and used the experience to improve in the second half of the season. Merrimack ended the regular season on a 4–4–2 run, not a particularly stellar record, but a vast improvement over their start. The Warriors had risen to 9th in the conference and were getting ready to play Vermont on the final week of the regular season. Unfortunately, several members of the team entered COVID-19 protocols on March 4. As a result, not only was the Vermont series cancelled but, since the team could not feasibly receive a clean bill of health before the Hockey East Tournament began on March 10, Merrimack had to withdraw from postseason play and end their season.[3]
James Corcoran and Jordan Seyfert sat out the season.
Departures
Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
---|---|---|---|
Joey Cassetti | Forward | ![]() | Transferred to Miami |
Tyler Drevitch | Forward | ![]() | Graduation (Signed with Wheeling Nailers) |
Tyler Irvine | Forward | ![]() | Graduation (Signed with Binghamton Devils) |
Griff Jeszka | Forward | ![]() | Graduation (Signed with Worcester Railers) |
Sami Tavernier | Forward | ![]() | Graduation (Signed with Syracuse Crunch) |
August Von Ungern-Sternberg | Forward | ![]() | Signed professional contract (Rostock Piranhas) |
Recruiting
Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Zachary Borgiel | Goaltender | ![]() | 20 | Fort Gratiot, MI |
Alex Jefferies | Forward | ![]() | 18 | Lunenburg, MA; selected 121st overall in 2020 |
Filip Karlsson-Tägtström | Forward | ![]() | 21 | Stockholm, SWE |
Jakob Lee | Forward | ![]() | 21 | Owen Sound, ON |
Conor Lovett | Forward | ![]() | 19 | Franklin, MA |
Mick Messner | Forward | ![]() | 21 | Madison, WI; transfer from Wisconsin |
Max Newton | Forward | ![]() | 22 | Vancouver, BC; transfer from Alaska |
Kevin Sadovski | Defenseman | ![]() | 21 | Palm Coast, FL |
Roster
As of February 12, 2021.[4]
No. | S/P/C | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Jere Huhtamaa | Sophomore | G | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 2000-04-10 | Helsinki, Finland | Jokerit U20 (Nuorten SM-liiga) | — |
2 | ![]() | Patrick Holway | Senior | D | 6' 5" (1.96 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 1996-10-01 | Cohasset, Massachusetts | Maine (HEA) | DET, 170th overall 2015 |
3 | ![]() | Declan Carlile | Sophomore | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 2000-05-18 | Hartland, Michigan | Muskegon (USHL) | — |
4 | ![]() | Conor Lovett | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | 2001-04-07 | Franklin, Massachusetts | Lawrence Academy (USHS–MA) | — |
5 | ![]() | Jacob Modry | Sophomore | D | 6' 5" (1.96 m) | 214 lb (97 kg) | 1999-01-23 | El Segundo, California | Wenatchee (BCHL) | — |
6 | ![]() | Zach Vinnell | Sophomore | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 1998-04-03 | Cochrane, Alberta | Camrose (AJHL) | — |
7 | ![]() | Zach Uens | Sophomore | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 2001-05-13 | Belleville, Ontario | Wellington (OJHL) | FLA, 105th overall 2020 |
8 | ![]() | Liam Dennison | Sophomore | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 172 lb (78 kg) | 1999-02-07 | Manotick, Ontario | Youngstown (USHL) | — |
9 | ![]() | Liam Walsh | Sophomore | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 191 lb (87 kg) | 1999-07-14 | Bridgeville, Pennsylvania | Cedar Rapids (USHL) | — |
10 | ![]() | Max Newton | Senior | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 1997-11-14 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Alaska (WCHA) | — |
11 | ![]() | Mick Messner | Junior | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | 1999-04-20 | Madison, Wisconsin | Wisconsin (Big Ten) | — |
12 | ![]() | Jordan Seyfert | Junior | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 179 lb (81 kg) | 1999-04-03 | Annville, Pennsylvania | Fargo (USHL) | — |
13 | ![]() | Chase Gresock (C) | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 211 lb (96 kg) | 1998-08-13 | Powell, Ohio | Youngstown (USHL) | — |
14 | ![]() | Patrick Kramer | Graduate | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 1997-03-06 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Youngstown (USHL) | — |
15 | ![]() | Hugo Esselin | Sophomore | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 199 lb (90 kg) | 2000-07-15 | Stockholm, Sweden | Djurgårdens J20 (J20 SuperElit) | — |
16 | ![]() | Regan Kimens | Sophomore | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 1999-03-28 | Vaughan, Ontario | Coquitlam (BCHL) | — |
17 | ![]() | Mac Welsher | Sophomore | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 1999-04-24 | Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan | Des Moines (USHL) | — |
18 | ![]() | Ben Brar | Sophomore | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | 1998-11-19 | Abbotsford, British Columbia | Prince George (BCHL) | — |
19 | ![]() | Alex Jefferies | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 199 lb (90 kg) | 2001-11-08 | Lunenburg, Massachusetts | The Gunnery (USHS–CT) | NYI, 121st overall 2020 |
20 | ![]() | Jakob Lee | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | 1999-02-12 | Owen Sound, Ontario | Brooks (AJHL) | — |
21 | ![]() | Christian Simeone | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 1997-02-12 | Milton, Massachusetts | Alberni Valley (BCHL) | — |
22 | ![]() | Logan Drevitch | Junior | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 168 lb (76 kg) | 1998-04-14 | Middleborough, Massachusetts | Boston Bandits (NCDC) | — |
23 | ![]() | Kevin Sadovski | Freshman | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 1999-07-06 | Palm Coast, Florida | Utica (NCDC) | — |
24 | ![]() | Ryan Nolan | Sophomore | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 1998-07-14 | Winnetka, Illinois | Victoria (BCHL) | — |
25 | ![]() | Filip Karlsson-Tägtström | Freshman | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 1999-07-14 | Stockholm, Sweden | Sioux Falls (USHL) | — |
26 | ![]() | Tyler Heidt | Junior | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 1998-11-07 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Melfort (SJHL) | — |
27 | ![]() | Dominic Dockery | Senior | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 1997-01-02 | Lockport, New York | Youngstown (USHL) | — |
28 | ![]() | Filip Forsmark | Sophomore | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 166 lb (75 kg) | 1998-06-23 | Skövde, Sweden | Tri-City (USHL) | — |
29 | ![]() | Zachary Borgiel | Freshman | G | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2000-04-27 | Fort Gratiot, Michigan | Cowichan Valley (BCHL) | — |
30 | ![]() | Troy Kobryn | Sophomore | G | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 1999-02-14 | Hillsborough, New Jersey | Cedar Rapids (USHL) | — |
31 | ![]() | James Corcoran | Sophomore | G | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 1998-02-23 | Walpole, Massachusetts | Winchendon (USHS–MA) | — |
Standings
| |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conference record | Overall record | ||||||||||||||||
GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SOW | HEPI | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | ||
#6 Boston College | 21 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 58.61 | 82 | 46 | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 91 | 58 | |
#11 Boston University | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 56.36 | 49 | 37 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 45 | |
#1 Massachusetts * | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 55.44 | 76 | 42 | 29 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 103 | 48 | |
Connecticut | 22 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 52.01 | 69 | 63 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 70 | 69 | |
#16 Providence | 23 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 50.80 | 63 | 61 | 25 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 71 | 67 | |
Northeastern | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 49.94 | 68 | 60 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 69 | 64 | |
#19 Massachusetts–Lowell | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48.00 | 46 | 53 | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 59 | 63 | |
Maine | 15 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 46.66 | 41 | 61 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 43 | 68 | |
Merrimack | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45.38 | 47 | 66 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 47 | 66 | |
New Hampshire | 21 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 43.66 | 51 | 83 | 23 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 60 | 88 | |
Vermont | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38.02 | 17 | 37 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 20 | 42 | |
Championship: March 20, 2021[5] No Regular Season Champion Awarded[6] * indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |
Schedule and results
[7]
Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regular Season | |||||||||||
December 5 | 4:30 PM | at #8 Massachusetts | Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts | NESN+ | Borgiel | L 1–3 | 0 | 0–1–0 (0–1–0) | |||
December 6 | 4:35 PM | vs. #8 Massachusetts | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | W 3–2 | 0 | 1–1–0 (1–1–0) | ||||
December 12 | 6:05 PM | at #17 Northeastern | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | NESN | Kobryn | L 2–8 | 0 | 1–2–0 (1–2–0) | |||
December 13 | 4:05 PM | vs. #17 Northeastern | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | L 3–6 | 0 | 1–3–0 (1–3–0) | ||||
January 9 | 7:05 PM | at #14 Northeastern | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | Borgiel | L 2–3 OT | 0 | 1–4–0 (1–4–0) | ||||
January 10 | 3:05 PM | vs. #14 Northeastern | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Kobryn | L 2–3 | 0 | 1–5–0 (1–5–0) | ||||
January 16 | 7:00 PM | at #3 Boston College | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | NESN | Borgiel | L 1–2 | 0 | 1–6–0 (1–6–0) | |||
January 17 | 4:05 PM | vs. #3 Boston College | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | L 3–5 | 0 | 1–7–0 (1–7–0) | ||||
January 22 | 7:00 PM | at New Hampshire | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | Borgiel | W 5–2 | 0 | 2–7–0 (2–7–0) | ||||
January 23 | 4:05 PM | vs. New Hampshire | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | T 2–2 SOL | 0 | 2–7–1 (2–7–1) | ||||
January 29 | 3:05 PM | vs. Connecticut | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | L 1–6 | 0 | 2–8–1 (2–8–1) | ||||
January 30 | 3:00 PM | at Connecticut | Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs, Connecticut | Kobryn | L 2–6 | 0 | 2–9–1 (2–9–1) | ||||
February 6 | 2:05 PM | vs. #16 Providence | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | L 1–5 | 0 | 2–10–1 (2–10–1) | ||||
February 7 | 2:00 PM | at #16 Providence | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | Borgiel | W 3–2 | 0 | 3–10–1 (3–10–1) | ||||
February 19 | 4:00 PM | at New Hampshire | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | Borgiel | T 3–3 SOL | 0 | 3–10–2 (3–10–2) | ||||
February 20 | 4:05 PM | vs. New Hampshire | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | W 6–2 | 0 | 4–10–2 (4–10–2) | ||||
February 26 | 4:05 PM | at #8 Boston University | Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | Huhtamaa | W 5–2 | 0 | 5–10–2 (5–10–2) | ||||
February 27 | 4:05 PM | vs. #8 Boston University | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | Borgiel | L 2–4 | 0 | 5–11–2 (5–11–2) | ||||
Hockey East Tournament | |||||||||||
Participation Cancelled | |||||||||||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. |
Scoring statistics
Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Filip Forsmark | LW/RW | 18 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 16 |
Liam Walsh | LW | 17 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 10 |
Alex Jefferies | LW | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
Declan Carlile | D | 14 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
Logan Drevitch | LW | 12 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
Zach Vinnell | D | 16 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
Patrick Holway | D | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 22 |
Ben Brar | F | 15 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
Chase Gresock | F | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Max Newton | F | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
Zach Uens | D | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Dominic Dockery | D | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
Regan Kimens | LW | 16 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
Conor Lovett | F | 15 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 23 |
Patrick Kramer | C | 17 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
Mac Welsher | C | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
Ryan Nolan | F | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Mick Messner | LW | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Liam Dennison | D | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Christian Simeone | F | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Jere Huhtamaa | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Troy Kobryn | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kevin Sadovski | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hugo Esselin | C | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Filip Karlsson-Tägtström | C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Jacob Modry | D | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Tyler Heidt | D | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Jakob Lee | C | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Zachary Borgiel | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bench | - | 18 | - | - | - | 4 |
Total | 47 | 86 | 133 | 185 |
[8]
Goaltending statistics
Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jere Huhtamaa | 3 | 141 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 67 | 0 | .905 | 2.97 |
Zachary Borgiel | 15 | 792 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 41 | 310 | 0 | .883 | 3.10 |
Troy Kobryn | 3 | 147 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 73 | 0 | .839 | 5.72 |
Empty Net | - | 11 | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - |
Total | 18 | 1092 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 66 | 450 | 0 | .872 | 3.63 |
Rankings
Poll | Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 (Final) | ||||
USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR | |||
USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.[9]
Awards and honors
Player | Award | Ref |
---|---|---|
Alex Jefferies | Hockey East Rookie Team | [10] |
References
- ^ "NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility". CBS Sports. August 21, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ "DI Council grants waiver to allow transfer student-athletes to compete immediately". NCAA. December 16, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19 ends season for Merrimack hockey team". The Eagle-Tribune. March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "2020–21 Merrimack College Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Merrimack Warriors.
- ^ "Hockey East Unveils 2021 Tournament and Seeding Format - Hockey East Association". hockeyeastonline.com. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Hockey East Women's Tournament Field Set". hockeyeastonline.com. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Merrimack Warriors (Men) 2020-2021 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ "Merrimack College 2020-2021 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- ^ "Hockey East Names Men's Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team - Hockey East Association". hockeyeastonline.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021.