We’ll skip the other Hockey East exhibition games this weekend as there were plenty of games that actually counted on the first weekend of the regular season.
Out-of-conference record on the weekend: 5-8-0
Thursday
Multi-point games were a-plenty for the Minutemen. Potential Hobey Baker candidate James Marcou led the way with four assists, but Matthew Irwin (2 goals, 1 assist), Justin Braun (1 goal, 2 assists) and Casey Wellman (1 goal, 2 assists) all had big nights as well.
Friday
Late first-period goals from Justin Bonitatibus and Chris Barton gave the Warriors a 2-2 tie after one, but the Fighting Sioux dominated the final 40 minutes, outshooting Merrimack 30-10 over the final two periods and scoring three unanswered goals.
Two goals in the first six minutes gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in this fast-paced game that featured 68 total shots, including 28 in the third period alone. Unfortunately for the Huskies, CC’s Joe Howe bested Chris Rawlings in the battle of the rookie goalies.
Three third-period goals doomed the Black Bears, who actually outshot the Dutchmen 28-18. Senior goalie Dave Wilson saved just 14 of the 17 shots he faced though (Union’s final goal was an empty-netter). A 1-for-8 power-play showing didn’t help Maine, either.
The Catamounts carried a 4-2 lead in the the final stanza against the No. 1/2 team in the nation, but a goal from standout defenseman Patrick Wiercioch and two more from Bruins’ 2008 first-round pick Joe Colborne gave the Pioneers a thrilling come-from-behind victory.
Billerica native Kory Falite (1 goal, 2 assists) and second-team All-American Maury Edwards (1 goal, 1 assist) led the way on offense for the River Hawks, while Carter Hutton was a rock in net, saving all 24 shots he faced.
Saturday
The Catamounts rebounded from their tough-to-swallow loss on Friday night with a big win on the road. Brayden Irwin netted two goals as 11 different UVM players found their way onto the stat sheet. Tyler Ruegsegger potted two of his own for the Pioneers.
Bryan Brutlag and Tyler Helfrich set up both of the Engineers’ third-period goals to down the Wildcats. Allen York saved 37 of the 38 shots UNH fired at him.
The Warriors again stayed close in front of a hostile crowd of over 11,000, but Jake Marto’s power-play goal at the 8:53 mark of the third proved to be the decisive tally for the Fighting Sioux. UND outshot Merrimack 35-18.
Daniel New (1 goal, 1 assist) recorded the game-winner with 1:18 left in regulation to get the Friars’ season off on the right foot. Sophomore goalie Alex Beaudry saved 33 of the 34 shots he faced from the Crusaders.
The Huskies scored three first-period goals en route to earning the weekend split with the Tigers. Senior Chris Donovan and freshman Garrett Vermeersch each posted a goal and an assist for Northeastern.
Falling behind 4-0 before the halfway point of the second ensured the Black Bears of starting the season with a sweep at the hands of the Dutchmen. The one positive for Maine was sophomore sensation Gustav Nyquist’s two-goal performance.
The River Hawks failed to make it back-to-back IceBreaker titles for Hockey East as Maverick goalie John Faulkner saved all 11 shots he faced after replacing Jeremie Dupont five minutes into the second. Kory Falite netted his second goal of the young season in the first.
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