Healey Named Defensive Player of the Week

The following is from a press release that the college issued today:

WAKEFIELD, MA — Merrimack College senior goalkeeper Jim Healey (Holyrood, N.F.) has been named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week. Senior Mike Alexiou (Pickering, Ontario) and freshman J.C. Robitaille (Des Ruisseaux, Quebec) were also named to the Honor Roll.

Healey made a total of 67 saves as the Warriors went 1-0-1- this weekend. Healey made 33 saves in a 3-2 win at Schneider Arena against the Providence Friars on Friday night and stopped 34 shots in a 3-3 tie with Brown University the following night at Lawler Arena. He shares the honor with Brad Thiessen of Northeastern.

Alexiou, meanwhile, had a goal and two assists for the Warriors last week. He scored the lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Holy Cross on Tuesday night and had the primary assist on the Warriors’ first goal against the Friars. Alexiou also picked up a helper on Merrimack’s second goal against the Bears on Saturday. He leads the Warriors in scoring with four points (1-3-4).

Robitallie scored the first goal against Brown University on Saturday night and had the primary assist on Alexiou’s first tally of the year against Holy Cross. He is tied with junior Hank Carisio (Cheshire, CT) for second on the Warriors in scoring with three points (1-2-3).

The Warriors (1-4-1, 1-1-0 Hockey East) return to action this Friday when they host Maine at 7 p.m.

Brown @ Merrimack Recap

Well, it looks like we will not have a recap with the extra quotes. My trusty tape recorder decided it was hungry and ate my tape!

Something tells me that this is a sign for me to go buy one of those digital audio recorders. Technology is beautiful thing, isn’t it?

Notes from the MC-Brown tilt:

- Obviously the Warriors need to play better. I was somewhat surprised that they held a 3-1 lead entering the third. Brown really controlled the play.

- Jim Healey played well, there should be some fun debate this week as to who starts against Maine on Friday night. I believe that Healey earned playing time with the two performances this weekend. However the coaching staff has made it clear that they will start who they believe give them the best chance to win.

- Mike Alexiou extended his point streak to a team high four games. Alexiou had a team high six-game point streak last season.

- Matt Byrnes led the team with a 12-8 record in his 20 faceoffs last night.

- The power play looked good at times.

- Joe Loprieno has impressed me with his physical game that be brings on defense. In the scrum after Merrimacks’ second goal last night, you could tell who where the freshmen that were coming out of junior hockey. As soon as Alexiou got knocked back to the ice, Loprieno immediately threw off his gloves and went after the culprit. I was surprised there were only two-minute minors called on the play. The Brown player who hit Alexiou (not sure of who), could have easily been ejected for what looked like a cross-check well after the whistle.

- Pat Bowen was a scratch last night. He had played in all of the Warriors’ games.

- Merrimack dressed two defensemen as wingers. Chris Kane and Brock Wilson both played at forward.

- J.C. Robitaille has points in three of his four games played this year.

- Hank Carisio took a bad hit in the corner last night and was sporting a nice souvenir scar after the game. Carisio is also scoring on almost 25% of his shots (23.1%).

- The 15 penalties Merrimack took, and the 37 shots they allowed were both season highs.

- Merrimacks’ power play improved from 4.0% to 12.5% after going 3 for 7 in the game.

- Six of the Warriors’ ten goals have come in the second period (10%)

- Mickey Rego, who had played in the first four games, sat out for the second night in a row.

- There was someone who appeared to be a scout for the Florida Panthers in attendance last night. He was wearing dress pants and a Panthers golf shirt, and was roaming the press box before the game looking for line charts.

- Also something I forgot to mention earlier, Merrimack now uses TWO Zamboni’s.

- It was much warmer in the rink last night, likely because of the weather outside. The glass had a nice layer of fog before warmups.

Warriors tie Brown 3-3

There will be a detailed recap tomorrow afternoon with quotes not used in tomorrow’s paper.

The penalties were a problem tonight. Some of that does come with youth, but 15 penalties is a concern.

Jim Healey is the only reason tonight was a tie, it could have easily been a loss, and a bad loss at that.

Warrior senior Mike Alexiou extended his point-streak to four games. He had a team high six-game streak last season.

Talking to players and coaches after the game, it had the feel of a loss even though the scoreboard said they were even. It had to have felt like a loss – leading 3-1 with 20:00 to go, and then suddenly with 17:00 to go it’s 3-3.

Brown almost won the game a few times later in the period.

The game was very chippy.

Like I said earlier, there will be a more in depth recap tomorrow with notes and quotes not used in the Tribune tomorrow.

Alum’s taking in the fun

Graduated Merrimack Ice guru Adam “Iceman” Busalacchi (‘05) is in the house taking in tonights Brown/MC contest. Adam is known as the “iceman” and another nickname that I won’t mention in fear that he will hunt me down.

Brendon Clark (‘05) took in the Holy Cross game on Tuesday night.

Brown @ Merrimack – Lines

Greetings from the pressbox at the surprisingly “mild” Lawler Arena

Here are tonight’s lines for the Brown-MC tilt

First the away team….

Muncy-Dersch-Roux
Poli-Slats-Hinacak
Prough-Vokes-McNary
Volpatti-Timberlake-Johnson

Stuart-Robertson
Russell-Baier
Hurley-Palmer

Sibbald (Career, 3.26GAA, .889 Save percentage)

Now for the home team…

Alexiou-Kimball-Robitaille (same as last night vs. Providence)
Pallardy-Goebel-Byrnes
Kane(d)-Mills-Jones (same as last night vs. Providence)
Wilson(d)-Carisio-Vaskivuo

Sullivan-Sadlowski
Hart-Loprieno
Burkholder-Boulay

Back in net for the second straight night…

Jim Healey

Merrimack @ Providence Recap

The Warriors will go for a two game sweep tonight when they battle Brown at Lawler Arena (7 p.m.). Here is a recap of last night with some notes and quotes not used in today’s story in the paper.

Below, I’ll also preview Brown as best I can because tonight if their first game this season.

Merrimack @ Providence Notes/Thoughts –

* Tony Zancanaro (PC) went an incredible 22-4 on face offs for the game. It must have something to do with that low center of gravity he has.

* Jim Healey’s numbers in Hockey East games improved to 1-1-0, 2/50 GAA, and .917 Save%

* The second period was the first period that the Warriors have outscored an opponent this season. The third period was also the first third period where they have out shot an opponent this season

* Pat Kimball moved up to the first line and played well with fellow freshman J.C. Robitaille and senior Mike Alexiou. Kimball scored his first career goal.

* Kudos to freshman defenseman Joe Loprieno who sent Friar star winger Colin McDonald flying with a hip check in the first period. It seemed to rattle McDonald for the rest of the night as he was more concerned with chirping and going after Loprieno than going after the puck. The hip check is sort of a lost art, it was nice to see it executed.

* Merrimack had four power plays on the night, but with three of them shortened, the Warriors spent just 5:04 with the man-advantage as opposed to Providence’s 13:29

* At the start of the second period, the Providence student section started a chant to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”, singing, “If you suck at hockey go to Merrimack.” – With seconds remaining the students started another chant (despite losing and there being only 5.4 left on the clock – oh and the face-off was down the other end of the ice), only this time Healey started shaking his glove along with the tune – it really got under the skin of the fans, and it was a fitting end to a great night.

Post-Game Comments:

Chris Kane, Merrimack sophomore forward:
“Millsy came around the net and was grinding for the puck he gained possession and threw it out in front. Jonesy swept it and I crept in and just one-timed it to throw it on net and I got a goal out of it.”

Mark Dennehy, Merrimack Head Coach:
“We’ve played hard in three out of our first four games and didn’t have much to show for it. If we can score goals we can play with anybody, but our offense has given us trouble. Tonight we might have had a couple more, we missed a couple of breakaways, so I am sure that both teams will look on this tape and see a lot to work on, but I am proud of the guys, they gutted it out.”

“I’m happy for (Healey); he played well in every aspect. I don’t know if he is happy about it, but he took a puck off the collarbone in warm-ups – we might have to do that to him every game.”

“Wins are never easy, that is why they’re fun when you do win them. It’s good for our team.”

“Our first period was awful, if I have got heart issues they would have shown tonight in the first period, I had veins popping out of my head – I don’t like to go there with the guys, but after that I thought we did a much better job.”

“We got a great shift out of Chris Kane, Justin Mills, and Matt Jones, and you need that. That is what differentiates wins and losses. Guys that maybe don’t score scoring a goal. You don’t count on Chris “kitty cat” Kane scoring goals, but he went out there and got one and I am very proud of him. He was worked incredibly hard.”

Jim Healey, Merrimack sophomore goaltender:
“Great to get Hockey East points, especially on the road. This is a tough place to play, and hopefully we can get a couple more.

BROWN PREVIEW –

The vaunted Brown Bears come into Lawler tonight and the Warriors will go for two in a row.

Brown struggled last season managing just five wins, but they returned their top-12 scorers from last season.

Their biggest question mark comes in the crease where sophomore standout goalie Adam D’Alba retired after only two seasons to focus more on his studies. That leaves the Bears with a sophomore goaltender that has just six games experience, and a freshman in net.

See you tonight at the rink!

Oh What a Night…

WOW – that is the only word to really describe tonight’s Friar’s-Warrior’s showdown.

Warrior’s pull off a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Friar’s tonight in Providence (this seems to be Mark Dennehy’s building, doesn’t it?)

Look for a full recap here on the blog tomorrow morning (I have to take to the highway tonight), also pick up a copy of your Lawrence Eagle-Tribune tomorrow for the full game story.

I’ll briefly preview the vaunted Brown Bears that come to Lawler tomorrow night as well.

See you in the mornin’

MC @ Providence First Period Thoughts

Well, overall not a very good opening period for the Warrior’s, however they escape down just 1-0.

*Jim Healey made several point-blank saves to keep his team in the game

*Joe Loprieno served up a hip check to Providence star Colin McDonald. The hit seemed to affect the winger as he was focusing more on chirping at the Warrior freshman that he was on the game.

*J.C. Robitaille is logging a lot of minutes. He is playing on the top line again tonight with Alexiou and Kimball.

*The Warrior’s didn’t test Tyler Sims much in the first period. They managed 10 shots on goal, but nothing too difficult for the junior netminder.

*Jim Healey looks angry, but in a good way. Providence forwards have been spraying him with snow, and crowding his crease all period. Healey finally took matters into his own hands with about five minutes left, tangling with a few Friar’s in front. No penalties were called.

*Ryan Sullivan got thrown into the boards from behind early in the game, Merrimack wanted a call (this was a textbook hitting from behind call). He was ok, and didn’t miss a shift.

NOTE: I’ll be posting the recap of tonight’s game TOMORROW morning on the blog. There will of course be a story in the Tribune as well. I’ll also briefly preview Brown, there isn’t much to write there as they haven’t played a game yet.

Also, if you are going to be out and about tonight, plug scores.collegehockeynews.com into your cell phone’s web browser, and you can keep up with this game, and all of the other games around college hockey tonight!

Healey O.K.

Healey has taken the ice for introductions, and is starting tonight.

Healey leaves ice in Warmup

Tonights projected starting goaltender, Jim Healey, left the ice during warmups after taking a shot off of the left hand (his glove).

No word on whether or not he is still starting tonight.

According to the game clock, the puck drops in 23:00