Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
It’s only one game, but perhaps the River Hawks might be a bit more competitive than many in Hockey East believed.
Blaise MacDonald’s young squad skated to a draw at UMass-Amherst, overcoming a two goal deficit to tie the Minutemen 2-2. (Read Chaz Scoggins’ game story) UMass was tied for 5th in the preseason poll, while UML was slotted out of the playoffs at #9, so while a tie is like kissing your sister, tying your sister university on the road is more like a win in this case.
I can’t close this post without mentioning my 2nd favorite Hockey East team. (Sorry, you'll have to indulge me since I covered the team for 5 1/2 years) UNH went into Agganis Arena and slapped around Boston University, 4-1 in a game that saw head coach Dick Umile win his 400th game. Umile’s Wildcats are conference co-favorites along with Boston College, but I think this is finally the year New Hampshire breaks through and wins the national title. Last night only served to solidify that belief in my mind.
Do yourselves a favor and get out to Tsongas Arena when New Hampshire comes to Lowell to play the River Hawks. Not only will you get to see one of the best teams in the country, but the Wildcats also feature fantastic Freshman James vanRiemsdyk, the #2 overall pick (Flyers) in last summer’s NHL draft. And who knows…the game might very well feature a UML team that’s the surprise of Hockey East.
College Hockey always seems to be of the Highest quality in the Northeast. Wether its BC, BU, UMass Lowell, U Maine or even UNH we're Never lacking for good hockey around here. Sorry Teddy UNH may have a good team but the National Title you're shotting a little high arent you? They'll do well but saying they'll go all the way is thinking a little too big!
Thanks, Teddy, for supporting a local team!
Will you be covering the River Hawks' games this season? How about going to any of the out-of-town games? And can you please remind me who's handling the radio broadcasts this year?
Go, River Hawks!
I'm going to try to post something on college hockey at least once a week so that you folks can have an open thread to comment on. Plus, I'm guessing Gayle will chime in with periodic UML posts.
River Hawks hockey games are on WUML (91.5 FM) this year. I also hear rumblings that the new owners of WCAP want to do the games, though I'm not sure about this year.
Don't know if I'll get to go to any out of town games, but I have season tickets at the Tsongas, so I'll be there for a few as a fan and maybe even live blog one or two of them.
Teddy,
Sorry- can't agree with your prediction on UNH. The Mildcats are the Buffalo Bills of college hockey. Always a bridesmaid - never a bride.
Agree that a UNH/UML game is always fun to watch due to the style of play but UNH always has a suspect defense and goalie seem to crack at the most inopportune times.
Heck, people, go to all of the UML games. Can't beat the entertainment for the price.
This year is going to be different. They return Kvin Regan in net (Bruins property). He's very good. 5 of 6 defensemen return plus a ton of forwards. And a great Freshman class led by VanrRemsdyk, who is awesome. It's not very often a top two pick goes to college, so this is a rare treat and a special player. Remember where you heard it first.
We shall see. I'll grant you that Regan is better than some of the guys they've trotted out there in that past but I've seen him play some very shaky games. It's not like he's as steady as a or a or even as good as most of the BU goalies have been.
Not impressed by the "D" from last year so bringing almost all of them back wouldn't inspire a ton of confidence for me if I were a fan of theirs. Sure their forwards are good (they always are) but I just don't know that they have the defensive talent or the backchecking to win their own league much less the whole ball of wax.
Are you doubting the word of someone who picked the Rams to make the Super Bowl? Do so at your own risk!
Yeah, well I'd rather rest on my laurels of picking the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs rather than revert to a comparison of 2007-08 NFL picks. I think I've got a couple of shaky ones there too.
I'll assume I can pick all forms of ice hockey correctly until I prove myself wrong (which will probably take until about the end of the current season). At least I am taking a stand at the start of the year. LOL