UMass hockey: Minutemen ready for home-and-home series against Merrimack

THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS ATHLETICS PHOTO BY THOM KENDALL/UMASS ATHLETICS
Published: 01-16-2025 6:28 PM |
Six points in the Hockey East standings are up for grabs this weekend in the UMass hockey team’s upcoming home and home series against Merrimack.
Beginning Friday in North Andover, the Minutemen will have their hands full against a Warriors bunch that always seems to bring their A-game, no matter where they are in the standings. Ten of UMass’ last 11 meetings with Merrimack have been decided by one goal.
“We’ll talk about the style of game there [at Lawler Rink], but the focus is more inward right now than on our opponent,” Minutemen head coach Greg Carvel said.
UMass is coming off a perplexing 3-0 loss against Northeastern at the Mullins Center last Saturday, which occurred less than 24 hours after taking down the Huskies, 5-0, in Boston.
“The focus point is we didn’t get to the net,” Carvel said on what stood out to him about Saturday’s loss. “We don’t do a good enough job, don’t have a enough of a mindset of wanting to go hard to that area and stop and stay and find a loose puck. I thought that was the glaring thing to me in the game.”
The Minutemen’s fourth line can be a catalyst in that department. Due to factors such as injuries and performance, UMass’ fourth line has seen numerous bodies on that trio throughout the year, however Carvel feels a couple players are starting to carve out roles on that line.
“Bo Cosman is really starting to come along,” Carvel said. “He plays with pace and he makes things happen on the ice. [James] Duerr to me is learning how to be an effective player. I thought he played well this weekend.
“Right now, Cosman has worked his way up and Duerr has been there for a long time, and it’s alright to have some competition and have guys have to earn their way,” Carvel said.
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Cam O’Neill, who slotted in on the fourth line in Boston on Friday, suffered another injury and will be out “a while”, Carvel said during Saturday’s post-game press conference.
In the rematch against Northeastern at Mullins, the Minutemen recorded 35 shots, but not enough were from high-danger areas. Conversely, three of UMass’ five goals scored at Matthews Arena the night before were from just outside the Huskies crease.
Merrimack has used four goaltenders this season, including the team’s equipment manager Spencer Marquis, due to injuries, a suspension and eligibility issues to the other three goalies. Marquis made 22 saves in a 3-2 loss to Stonehill on Oct. 6.
Max Lundgren has played the most games (13) and has picked up the most wins (4-6-0) among Warriors goalies. However, Nils Wallstrom was the tender in net when Merrimack upset No. 2 Boston College, 5-2, last Friday at Conte Forum. Ryan Keyes, Merrimack’s third-stringer, last played Dec. 6 against Alaska.
The Warriors have allowed 62 goals this season, third-most in Hockey East. UMass, by comparison, has given up 50 goals.
The Minutemen hold the advantage in special teams as well as Merrimack is third-worst in Hockey East in power-play-percentage (18.4) and second-to-last on the penalty kill (73.7 percent). UMass is first in power-play-percentage (28.6) and fourth on the penalty kill (83.9 percent).
While certain stats may not favor Merrimack, it enters the series with more momentum. The Warriors have won four of their last five, including their huge win over the Eagles, to move to seventh-place in Hockey East.
The Minutemen trail Merrimack by two points in the standings and sit in ninth place.
“I’ve got to worry about my team,” Carvel said. “There’s a certain way we need to play and it doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, if we play a certain way, we usually find a way to win and vice versa. Every team in Hockey East is a grind, every team is good.”
Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m.