Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey | |
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University | Merrimack College |
Conference | Hockey East |
Head coach | Scott Borek 6th season, 76–103–11 (.429) |
Assistant coaches |
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Arena | J. Thom Lawler Rink North Andover, Massachusetts |
Colors | Blue and gold |
NCAA Tournament championships | |
DII: 1978 | |
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four | |
DII: 1978, 1984 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
DII: 1978, 1984 DI: 1988, 2011, 2023 | |
Conference Tournament championships | |
ECAC 2 (DII): 1967, 1968, 1977, 1980 East ECAC East (DIII): 1987, 1988, 1989 | |
Conference regular season championships | |
ECAC 2 (DII): 1968, 1969, 1975, 1976 ECAC East (DIII): 1987, 1988, 1989 | |
Current uniform | |
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The Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey team is: a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Merrimack College. The Warriors are a member of Hockey East. They play at the: 2,549-seat J. Thom Lawler Rink in North Andover, Massachusetts, which underwent renovation in 2010. Merrimack's 92.08% capacity during theββ2013β14 season was second in Hockey East.
Historyβ»
The Warriors started intercollegiate play in 1954β55, as the college offered more supportββto the "program in the form of a modest budget," new uniforms. And varsity letters. Babson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and "Keene Teachers were among the first intercollegiate competition Merrimack hockey faced that year." And for the first time, "the college recognized hockey as a varsity sport."
They were successful in the late 1970s and early 1980s while playing in the ECAC Division II. Merrimack won the division II national title in 1978 and were the runner up in 1984. They became an NCAA Division I independent team in 1984. But did not play a schedule against predominantly Division I teams until they joined the Hockey East conference in 1989.
Led by, "Coach Ron Anderson," a new era began for Merrimack hockey in 1989 when the Warriors competed in their first season as a member of the Hockey East Association. That team posted an overall record of 10β24β1, but pulled off the surprise of the season by taking eventual league champion Boston Collegeββto a third and decisive playoff game. And after being picked for the bottom part of the league in three of the last four seasons, the Warriors continued to baffle the experts by battling for home-ice advantage all season long while defeating several Top 20 teams. And with the roots of the Merrimack hockey tree that were planted in Hockey East seven years earlier firmly entrenched, the 1996β97 Warriors entered a new chapter in history by qualifying for a Hockey East playoff home ice berth. The 1997β98 team raised the bar a little higher by upsetting top-ranked Boston University in the quarterfinals and earning trip to the conference semifinals at Boston's FleetCenter.
The 1998β99 season began yet another era in Merrimack hockey history with the dawning of the Serino age. On April 24, 1998, Chris Serino became just the sixth head coach in the program's history. The Warriors posted a mark of 11β24β1 in Serino's inaugural campaign. And senior forward and captain Rejean Stringer was named an All-American, Merrimack's first ever in the University Division. In Serino's second season, the Warriors set an NCAA record for consecutive overtime contests by playing in six straight at the end of January, and in 2000β01, the Warriors notched 14 victories, the most for Merrimack since 1996β97. Several of those victories were over nationally ranked opponents.
In 2002β03, senior goaltender and captain Joe Exter led Merrimack to a surprising race for home ice throughout much of the season, including the team's first-ever regular season Division I tournament title with wins over host Rensselaer and Wayne State at the 52nd Annual Rensselaer/HSBC Holiday Hockey Tournament in late December. Exter was selected to the All-Hockey East Team by league coaches. Long-time assistant coach Stu Irving was also honored, as the American Hockey Coaches Association presented him with its Terry Flanagan Memorial Award in recognition of an assistant coach's career body of work. The season also saw the inauguration of the Blue Line Club, the program's official support organization.
The program struggled in the highly competitive Hockey East. The 2006β07 season, in which they won only 3 games, was the nadir of their struggles. In the 2010β11 season, however, they had unprecedented success against several of the nation's top teams. They finished the regular season 22β8β4 and were ranked 9th in the nation. Merrimack gained a home ice advantage for the first round for the first time since 1997.
The program received its first No. 1 ranking in the USCHO Poll during the 2011β12 season.
Mark Dennehy was fired as the team's head coach at the conclusion of the 2017β18 season following 12β21β4 record and a sixth straight losing season. Scott Borek was hired as the team's head coach on April 9, 2018.
Season-by-season resultsβ»
Source:
All-time coaching recordsβ»
As of the completion of 2023β24 season
Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1956β1964 | Jim Reynolds | 8 | 46β45β3 | .505 |
1964β1965 | Ron Ryan | 1 | 6β8β0 | .429 |
1965β1978 | J. Thom Lawler | 13 | 218β138β10 | .609 |
1978β1983 | Bruce Parker | 5 | 100β76β5 | .566 |
1983β1998 | Ron Anderson | 15 | 254β253β24 | .501 |
1998β2005 | Chris Serino | 7 | 78β149β27 | .360 |
2005β2018 | Mark Dennehy | 13 | 168β243β60 | .420 |
2018βPresent | Scott Borek | 6 | 76β103β11 | .429 |
Totals | 7 coaches | 68 seasons | 946β1019β140 | .483 |
Awards and honorsβ»
NCAAβ»
Individual awardsβ»
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All-American Teamsβ»
AHCA Second Team All-Americans
- 1998β99: Rejean Stringer, F
- 2010β11: StΓ©phane Da Costa, F
- 2011β12: Joe Cannata, G
- 2012β13: Mike Collins, F
- 2022β23: Alex Jefferies, F
Hockey Eastβ»
Individual awardsβ»
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All-Conference teamsβ»
- 1994β95: Martin Legault, G
- 1996β97: Martin Legault, G
- 2011β12: Joe Cannata, G
- 2012β13: Mike Collins, F
- 2022β23: Alex Jefferies, F
- 1998β99: Rejean Stringer, F
- 2000β01: Anthony Aquino, F
- 2002β03: Joe Exter, G
- 2004β05: Bryan Schmidt, D
- 2009β10: StΓ©phane Da Costa, D
- 2010β11: StΓ©phane Da Costa, D
- 2011β12: Karl Stollery, D
- 2012β13: Jordan Heywood, D
- 2021β22: Declan Carlile, D
- 2016β17: Collin Delia, G
- 2017β18: Brett Seney, F
- 2022β23: Hugo Ollas, G
- 1992β93: Mark Goble, F
- 1993β94: John Jakopin, F
- 1994β95: Casey Kesselring, F
- 1995β96: Darrel Scoville, D
- 1998β99: Greg Classen, F
- 1999β00: Anthony Aquino, F
- 2000β01: Joe Exter, G
- 2002β03: Bryan Schmidt, D
- 2003β04: Jim Healey, G
- 2005β06: Rob Ricci, F
- 2008β09: Karl Stollery, D
- 2009β10: StΓ©phane Da Costa, F
- 2010β11: Mike Collins, F
- 2018β19: Chase Gresock, F
- 2019β20: Declan Carlile, D
- 2020β21: Alex Jefferies, F
Statistical Leadersβ»
Source:
Career points leadersβ»
Player | Years | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Vesey | 1984β1988 | 140 | 110 | 134 | 244 | |
Richard Pion | 1985β1989 | 124 | 103 | 128 | 231 | |
Mike Reynolds | 1972β1976 | 124 | 113 | 111 | 224 | |
Tom Lawler | 1977β1981 | 138 | 102 | 119 | 221 | |
Jim Toomey | 1976β1980 | 140 | 99 | 121 | 220 | |
Mickey Rego | 1977β1981 | 136 | 94 | 108 | 202 | |
Mark Ziliotto | 1985β1989 | 136 | 84 | 100 | 184 | |
Bob Magnuson | 1976β1980 | 132 | 90 | 91 | 181 | |
Billy Dunn | 1972β1975 | 102 | 81 | 96 | 177 | |
Andy Heinze | 1986β1990 | 144 | 77 | 89 | 166 |
Career goaltending leadersβ»
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
minimum 30 games played
Player | Years | GP | Min | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hugo Ollas | 2021βPresent | 40 | 2156 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 82 | 6 | .917 | 2.28 |
Sam Marotta | 2010β2014 | 47 | 2360 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 94 | 3 | .917 | 2.39 |
Rasmus Tirronen | 2011β2015 | 68 | 3893 | 22 | 34 | 8 | 159 | 3 | .918 | 2.45 |
Joe Cannata | 2008β2012 | 122 | 7145 | 59 | 46 | 16 | 294 | 7 | .915 | 2.47 |
Collin Delia | 2014β2017 | 56 | 3240 | 21 | 24 | 10 | 134 | 4 | .911 | 2.48 |
Statistics current through the end of the 2022β23 season.
Current rosterβ»
As of September 26, 2023.
No. | S/P/C | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Hugo Ollas | Junior | G | 6' 8" (2.03 m) | 253 lb (115 kg) | 2002-04-24 | LinkΓΆping, Sweden | LinkΓΆping J20 (J20 Nationell) | NYR, 197th overall 2020 |
2 | ![]() |
Christian Felton | Senior | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2000-02-04 | Medina, Ohio | Bentley (AHA) | β |
4 | ![]() |
Mike Brown | Junior | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 202 lb (92 kg) | 2001-04-03 | Belmont, Massachusetts | Youngstown (USHL) | β |
5 | ![]() |
Trevor Griebel | Sophomore | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2001-03-07 | Tampa, Florida | Fargo (USHL) | β |
7 | ![]() |
Max Wattvil | Freshman | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 2002-08-11 | Stockholm, Sweden | Minnesota (NAHL) | β |
8 | ![]() |
Liam Dennison | Graduate | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 1999-02-07 | Manotick, Ontario | Youngstown (USHL) | β |
9 | ![]() |
Brady Hunter | Freshman | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | 2002-07-27 | Enfield, Nova Scotia | Trail (BCHL) | β |
10 | ![]() |
Mark Hillier | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-03-18 | Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador | Summerside (MHL) | β |
11 | ![]() |
Devlin O'Brien | Junior | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2002-04-05 | Toronto, Ontario | Penticton (BCHL) | β |
13 | ![]() |
Chase Stevenson | Graduate | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 1999-01-13 | West Kelowna, British Columbia | New Hampshire (HEA) | β |
14 | ![]() |
Tyler Young | Sophomore | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2001-05-08 | Lancaster, Massachusetts | Maryland (NAHL) | β |
15 | ![]() |
Mark Gallant | Graduate | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2000-05-01 | Concord, Massachusetts | Dartmouth (ECAC) | β |
16 | ![]() |
Nikita Borodayenko | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-06-17 | Dmitrov, Russia | Dubuque (USHL) | β |
17 | ![]() |
Mac Welsher | Graduate | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 1999-04-24 | Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan | Des Moines (USHL) | β |
18 | ![]() |
Ben Brar | Graduate | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 1998-11-19 | Abbotsford, British Columbia | Prince George (BCHL) | β |
19 | ![]() |
Alex Jefferies | Senior | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2001-11-08 | Lunenburg, Massachusetts | The Gunnery (USHSβCT) | NYI, 121st overall 2020 |
20 | ![]() |
Ethan Bono | Freshman | F | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | 2004-01-15 | Port McNeill, British Columbia | Alberni Valley (BCHL) | β |
21 | ![]() |
Matt Copponi | Junior | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2003-06-04 | Mansfield, Massachusetts | Dexter Southfield (USHSβMA) | EDM, 216th overall 2023 |
22 | ![]() |
Michael Citara | Junior | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | 2002-04-22 | New Hope, Pennsylvania | Providence (HEA) | β |
23 | ![]() |
Frank Djurasevic | Freshman | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 2002-03-09 | New Rochelle, New York | Penticton (BCHL) | β |
24 | ![]() |
David Sacco | Freshman | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | 2002-01-03 | Middleton, Massachusetts | Alberni Valley (BCHL) | β |
25 | ![]() |
Luke Weilandt | Freshman | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 2002-04-04 | Northbrook, Illinois | Wenatchee (BCHL) | β |
26 | ![]() |
Ivan Zivlak | Junior | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2002-08-08 | Gislaved, Sweden | LinkΓΆping J20 (J20 Nationell) | β |
27 | ![]() |
Adam Arvedson | Junior | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 169 lb (77 kg) | 2001-08-30 | Karlstad, Sweden | FΓ€rjestad (J20 Nationell) | β |
28 | ![]() |
Filip Forsmark | Graduate | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 177 lb (80 kg) | 1998-06-23 | SkΓΆvde, Sweden | Tri-City (USHL) | β |
29 | ![]() |
Zachary Borgiel | Senior | G | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 212 lb (96 kg) | 2000-04-27 | Fort Gratiot, Michigan | Cowichan Valley (BCHL) | β |
37 | ![]() |
Zach Bookman | Sophomore | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2002-03-29 | Syracuse, New York | Brooks (AJHL) | β |
43 | ![]() |
Ty Daneault | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 2004-12-20 | Red Deer, Alberta | Drumheller (AJHL) | β |
Olympiansβ»
This is a list of Merrimack alumni were a part of an Olympic team.
Name | Position | Merrimack Tenure | Team | Year | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Karl Stollery | Defenseman | 2008β2012 | ![]() |
2018 | ![]() |
Warriors in the NHLβ»
As of January 7, 2024.
Player | Position | Team(s) | Years | Games | Stanley Cups |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Declan Carlile | Defenseman | TBL | 2024βPresent | 1 | 0 |
Greg Classen | Center | NSH | 2000β2003 | 90 | 0 |
Mark Cornforth | Defenseman | BOS | 1995β1996 | 6 | 0 |
StΓ©phane Da Costa | Center | OTT | 2010β2014 | 47 | 0 |
Collin Delia | Goaltender | CHI, VAN | 2017βPresent | 52 | 0 |
Matt Foy | Right Wing | MIN | 2005β2008 | 56 | 0 |
Jim Hrivnak | Goaltender | WSH, WIN, STL | 1989β1994 | 85 | 0 |
John Jakopin | Defenseman | FLA, PIT, SJS | 1997β2003 | 113 | 0 |
Bob Jay | Defenseman | LAK | 1993β1994 | 3 | 0 |
Johnathan Kovacevic | Defenseman | WPG, MTL | 2021βPresent | 117 | 0 |
Steve McKenna | Defenseman | LAK, MIN, PIT, NYR | 1996β2004 | 373 | 0 |
Darrel Scoville | Defenseman | CGY, CBJ | 1999β2004 | 16 | 0 |
Brett Seney | Left Wing | NJD, TOR, CHI | 2018βPresent | 65 | 0 |
Karl Stollery | Defenseman | COL, SJS, NJD | 2013β2017 | 23 | 0 |
Jim Vesey | Center | STL, BOS | 1988β1992 | 15 | 0 |
Source:
NHL Entry Draft Selectionsβ»
As of May 17, 2024.
Player | Position | Draft Year | Selection | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hrivnak | Goalie | 1986 | Round 3 Pick 61 | Washington Capitals |
Ben Lebeau | Forward | 1988 | Round 5 Pick 101 | Winnipeg Jets |
Dan Hodge | Defencemen | 1991 | Round 9 Pick 194 | Boston Bruins |
Gaetan Poirier | Left Wing | 1996 | Round 6 Pick 156 | Florida Panthers |
Marco Rosa | Center | 2001 | Round 8 Pick 255 | Dallas Stars |
Anthony Aquino | Forward | 2001 | Round 3 Pick 92 | Dallas Stars |
Matt Foy | Forward | 2002 | Round 6 Pick 175 | Minnesota Wild |
Joe Cannata | Goalie | 2009 | Round 6 Pick 173 | Vancouver Canucks |
Brent Seney | Left Wing | 2015 | Round 6 Pick 157 | New Jersey Devils |
Johnathan Kovacevic | Defencemen | 2017 | Round 3 Pick 74 | Winnipeg Jets |
Zachary Uens | Defencemen | 2020 | Round 4 Pick 105 | Florida Panthers |
Matt Copponi | Center | 2023 | Round 7 Pick 216 | Edmonton Oilers |
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Merrimack College Brand Guidelines". Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ Buckley, Steve (February 13, 2011). "Merrimack foundation... rock solid". The Boston Herald. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
- ^ "Warrior Hockey".
- ^ Powers, John (March 10, 2011). "New ice age dawns at Merrimack". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ "Merrimack Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ β».
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ "Merrimack Warriors men's Hockey 2018-19 Year-By-Year Results" (PDF). Merrimack Warriors. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "Merrimack men's Hockey 2018-19 Record Book without Year-By-Year" (PDF). Merrimack Warriors. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ "2023-24 Merrimack College Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Merrimack Warriors. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Alumni report for Merrimack College". Hockey DB. Retrieved November 26, 2018.