Merrimack opened its season with a strong showing in earning a split
at the CCHA's Western Michigan, 5-4 and 2-5. First, the boxes:
Friday, October 23, 1992 at Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo, MI
NONCONFERENCE
Merrimack Warriors (1-0-0) 1 0 4 - 5
Western Michigan Broncos (0-1-0) 3 1 0 - 4
FIRST PERIOD MC-WMU
1. MC1, Wayde McMillan 1 (Jim Gibson), 1:33. 1-0
2. WMU1, Chris Brooks 1 (Ryan D'Arcy), 3:04. 1-1
3. WMU2, Byron Witkowski 1 (Joe Bonnett, Jeremy Brown), 9:41. 1-2
4. WMU3, Jason Jennings 1 (Witkowski, Pat Ferschweiler), 12:42. PPG 1-3
SECOND PERIOD
5. WMU4, Witkowski 2 (Derek Schooley, Ferschweiler), 14:20. 5x3 1-4
THIRD PERIOD
6. MC2, Alex Weinrich (Guy Ragault), 1:59. 2-4
7. MC3, McMillan 2 (Ryan Mailhiot, Gibson), 2:06. 3-4
8. MC4, Dan Gravelle 1 (Bryan Miller, Dan Hodge), 16:08. PPG 4-4
9. MC5, Mailhiot 1 (McMillan), 16:29. GWG 5-4
SHOTS ON GOAL: Merrimack 12-11-15 = 38
Western Michigan 11--9--8 = 28
GOALIES: Merrimack, Mike Doneghey (W, 1-0-0, 60:00, 28 sh-24 sv).
WMU, Craig Brown (L, 0-1-0, 60:00, 38-33).
POWER PLAYS: Merrimack 1 of 4. WMU 2 of 7.
PENALTIES: Merrimack 9/18. WMU 6/12.
REFEREES: John Edwards, John Dobrzelewski. LINESMAN: Pat Thompson.
ATTENDANCE: 1,282.
Saturday, October 24, 1992 at Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo, MI
NONCONFERENCE
Merrimack Warriors (1-1-0) 0 2 0 - 2
Western Michigan Broncos (1-1-0) 2 1 2 - 5
FIRST PERIOD WMU-MC
1. WMU1, Scott Chartier 1 (Colin Ward, Mike Whitton), 3:31. PPG 1-0
2. WMU2, Derek Schooley 1 (Chartier), 15:12. PPG 2-0
SECOND PERIOD
3. MC1, Jim Gibson 1 (Ryan Mailhiot, Wayde McMillan), 9:16. 2-1
4. MC2, Dan Gravelle 2 (Dan Hodge, Teal Fowler), 11:14. PPG 2-2
5. WMU3, Chris Belanger 1 (Pat Ferschweiler, Chris Brooks), 17:03. GWG 3-2
THIRD PERIOD
6. WMU4, Ferschweiler 1 (Ward, Belanger), 8:11. 4-2
7. WMU5, Byron Witkowski 3 (Schooley, Jamal Mayers), 18:51. ENG 5-2
SHOTS ON GOAL: Merrimack 13-16--7 = 36
Western Michigan 15--4-19 = 38
GOALIES: Merrimack, Dan Millar (L, 0-1-0, 59:31, 37 sh-33 sv).
WMU, Brian Renfrew (W, 1-0-0, 60:00, 36-34).
POWER PLAYS: Merrimack 1 of 5. WMU 2 of 5.
PENALTIES: Merrimack 9/18. WMU 9/18.
REFEREES: John Edwards, John Dobrzelewski. LINESMAN: Pat Thompson.
ATTENDANCE: 1,878.
I won't go goal-by-goal, rather, a general review of the series focusing
primarily on Merrimack.
Overall, Merrimack was pretty happy with its performance on the weekend
as WMU was ranked in most polls and even picked to finish 2nd in the CCHA
by one Detroit writer. It was a good series for the Warriors to open up
with as they more than held their own against the more physical style of
WMU and were in a position to win both games if not for some great saves
by Renfrew in the 2nd period of the 2nd game.
Perhaps most impressive and exciting to the coaches was the play of the
third line of Ryan Mailhiot (freshman)-Wayde McMillan-Jim Gibson. The
trio accounted for 4 of the Warriors' 7 goals on the weekend, tallying
10 points among them. Mailhiot is small but very, very quick and has a
nose for the net. McMillan came on strong at the end of last year and
played like a man possessed in the series, and Gibson is the banger who
kept the puck moving when it was in the offensive end. The line was only
on the ice for one goal against all weekend.
In addition, goalies Mike Doneghey and freshman Dan Millar were superb in
net as they split the series. A real battle is shaping up for the top
job and Ron Anderson has no #1 right now because both are playing so well.
Doneghey looks better than ever and his play in the last two periods of
game 1 allowed his team to wait for its chances and mount the comeback.
Millar, meanwhile, had fans raving and Merrimack personnel wondering if
we were watching the reincarnation of Jim Hrivnak, who holds nearly every
netminding record at Merrimack. Millar made 33 saves in game 2, several
of the simply spectacular variety. One came late in the first period
with WMU up 2-0; after Millar made the initial save but left the rebound
for the trailer, Chris Brooks, Brooks tried to roof a backhander and
started celebrating only to see the referee wave no goal. Brooks started
arguing as if to say, "How can that NOT be in?" But Millar had miraculously
made the glove save from point-blank range to prevent a possible back-
breaking goal.
Overall, Merrimack allowed 9 goals on the weekend. But one was an empty-
netter and 4 or 5 came off of weird deflections, three by Merrimack
players. Merrimack was the better skating team and seems to have more
hustle and determination to keep fighting back from deficits than it has
had in recent years, and the vast experience that this team has combined
with the confidence in netminding plays a big part in this. It should
be an interesting season.
Last but not least, All-America candidate Dan Gravelle scored two big
goals in the series, one a tip-in off of a Dan Hodge blast to tie the
first game at 4 and set up Mailhiot's heroics, and one in game 2 on the
power play to tie the game at 2. One of Hockey East's best faceoff men,
Gravelle rebounded from a sub-.500 faceoff win percentage Friday to win
his first *sixteen* draws Saturday, and ended up winning 18 of 22 on the
night.
For Western, both goalies Craig Brown and Brian Renfrew played well in
the series with Renfrew stealing the show Saturday. Brown was the victim
of some listless play by his team Friday, especially in the third when
Merrimack scored the four unanswered goals. In fact, after McMillan got
the winner at 16:29, Western was unable to move the puck up ice for the
rest of the game and couldn't get Brown out for an extra attacker until
there were just seconds left. The Merrimack forecheckers would pressure
the Bronco D and deflect clearing passes to the boards where another
Warrior would dump it right back in; the puck never entered the Merrimack
end again over the final three minutes.
Merrimack coach Ron Anderson suggested that after Friday's devastating
loss, either Western would be so shocked at the fury with which Merrimack
fought back and come out ripe for another defeat, or they would come out
focused and with the belief that they could play better. To WMU's credit,
the latter occurred, and they jumped out to a 2-0 lead although both goals
by Chartier and Schooley came on the power play and off of deflections
by Merrimack players who tried to block the shots. The channel 3 sports
guy was amusing as he called Schooley's goal "a great one" on the evening
news; it was a shot from the right point that hit a stick and bounced up
in the air. Millar couldn't see it and the knuckleball fell in the net
behind him.
Senior captain Pat Ferschweiler had a good series, setting up three goals
and scoring the one that broke Merrimack's back and made it 4-2 in the
third period Saturday. Byron Witkowski scored three including the empty-
netter and added an assist in the series for WMU.
Funniest moment of the series came after two players from each side went
off for roughing in the second period Saturday. Merrimack's Rob Atkinson
was hounded by the fans near the penalty box and banged the glass, then
gestured to one of the fans. The fan tossed a lollipop over the glass;
Atkinson said thanks and the fans laughed. :-)
Despite the physical play, Merrimack left with only one injury - and that
was to Coach Ron Anderson. Anderson was hit in the back of the head with
a puck that deflected into the bench Saturday and didn't even realize
what had happened until one of the players asked, "Hey Coach, what's that
red stuff on your shirt?" He finished the game, though, holding a towel
to the back of his head and is okay.
NEXT WEEK: WMU has Michigan in a home-and-home, their first big test, while
Merrimack hosts DivII Alabama-Huntsville for a pair.
Finally, it was nice to get to meet John Haeussler and Keith Instone and
their wives at the games, although we didn't get to spend too much time
together. John made the trip from Ann Arbor for Friday's game to see
his adopted Warriors for the first time. Both he and his wife wore
Merrimack jerseys which the players really got a kick out of. As our
video man, John Savastano, said, "Wherever we go, they come to 'Back the
Mack.'" Keith made the trip from Bowling Green for Saturday's game as
well. Keith had seen Merrimack play before, a few years ago at Notre Dame,
but this is a completely different (and, I think, better) team, and I hope
both John and Keith got a good impression, I thought the Warriors gave a
good account of themselves.
You other closet Merrimack fans out there :-) can see the Warriors on tv
Fri Nov 13th when Merrimack plays at Maine in a game that will be shown
live on NESN and probably available in other areas of the country.
And for those who were wondering...Heather couldn't make the trip, but
I did pick up a nice Western sweatshirt for her. :-) Carol, I did
survive my first flight(s) ever although I'm not too keen on landings.
Our trainer, Scott Abbey, tried everything possible to make myself and
Dan Hodge nervous on the flight back (Hodge has flown but hates to fly)
by saying things like, "You know, Northwest has the oldest fleet out of
all of the major carriers." But it didn't work. Also, I want to know
who built that huge airport in Detroit (Detroit Metro). It seemed like
years from the time we hit the ground till we finally pulled up at the
terminal. I think we must have landed in Buffalo and taxied to Detroit.
What a weird feeling, we were in Detroit at 1:30 and in Boston two hours
later. Anyway, keep your eyes on Merrimack, they continue to improve
and with the way HE is weak this season compared to past years, the
opportunity exists for a decent jump in the league standings.
---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors
(Any opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.) *HMN*
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