Saturday, October 12, 1991 at Volpe Complex, North Andover, MA
EXHIBITION
Concordia Stingers (2-3-0) 0 0 1 - 1
Merrimack Warriors 2 1 1 - 4
PERIOD 1
1. MC, Agostino Casale (Dan Gravelle), 4:17.
2. MC, Matt Adams (Gravelle), 9:10.
PERIOD 2
3. MC, Casale (unassisted), 0:48.
PERIOD 3
4. MC, Wayde McMillan (unassisted), 2:41.
5. C, Steve Sonoski (Daniel Picard, Marco Desmarais), 17:53. PPG
SHOTS ON GOAL: Concordia 11--5-10 = 26
Merrimack 9-19--4 = 32
GOALIES: Concordia, Scott Donaldson (9:10, 4 shots-2 saves),
Robert Desjardins (50:50, 29 shots-27 saves).
Merrimack, Yannick Gosselin (20:00, 11 shots-11 saves),
Steve D'Amore (20:00, 5 shots-5 saves),
Mike Doneghey (20:00, 10 shots-9 saves).
POWER PLAYS: Concordia 1 of 4, Merrimack 0 of 6.
PENALTIES: Concordia 19 for 55 minutes, Merrimack 15 for 30 minutes.
REFEREE: Frank Cole. LINESMEN: John Melanson, Dennis Hughes.
ATTENDANCE: about 100.
Although there's still some work to be done, Ron Anderson had to be pleased
with Merrimack's first actual game situation. The Warriors capitalized on
some turnovers enroute to building a 4-0 lead and got some solid goaltending
from all three netminders in what was a pretty chippy game.
The first line of Adams-Gravelle-Casale was extremely impressive, accounting
for the first three goals. Sporting News All-America candidate Agostino
Casale looks like he will be only better this year despite being switched from
left to right wing. This change was made to make way for freshman sensation
Matt Adams, a local boy who should be a strong candidate for the All-Rookie
Team. Adams utilized his speed and accurate shot to wreak havoc in the
offensive end. Gravelle continued his dominance on faceoffs and should he
continue to make use of his great playmaking skills to feed his two natural
goal-scoring wings, this line will do quite a bit of damage this season.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the young season has been sophomore Cooper
Naylor. Naylor was relegated to fourth line for much of last year, but he
seems to have a new-found confidence and has worked his way up to 2nd line
center with strong two-way play. He tallied six points including a hat trick
in the Blue-White scrimmage last Monday. With the Dynamic Duo of Gravelle
and Rob Atkinson (leading HE freshman scorer in 1990-91) being split up to
allow Gravelle to center the first line, Naylor and Atkinson appear to be
working well together and should form the nucleus of a solid, hard-working
second line.
On defense, Merrimack may be in better shape than I originally thought. It
had looked so bad that over the summer when discussing recruits, someone said,
"I hear they're doing construction down on Route 495, maybe we can pick up
some defensemen." (i.e. orange cones) But several players have performed well,
most notably Bryan Miller and Mark Cornforth. Miller, who had a promising
freshman year and then suffered the sophomore jinx along with perhaps the
weight of high expectations, looks like he has returned to form and is
prepared to provide some badly needed help on the blueline. Cornforth, a
freshman, impressed with his willingness to take chances on offense and
refusal to shy away from confrontation in his own end. Miller and Cornforth
are joined by Claude Maillet and Alex Weinrich who will both be counted on
to help out on the power play. Another surprise has been junior Don MacLeod
who saw little action last year but was considered by many to be one of the top
players in tonight's game. If he can earn a regular spot on defense, his
size (6'1", 205) will be very welcome.
All three goalies performed well. The Goose and Steve D'Amore appear to be
the top candidates for the starting job, but with Mike Doneghey also ready
to play, Anderson will likely go into the season knowing that all three goalies
can do the job. That's a good position to be in, especially considering that
Gosselin is coming back from a knee injury. The only goal surrendered was
by Doneghey, but that one was deflected in. D'Amore has yet to allow a goal
in 50 minutes of preseason action.
The weakest spots at this point are on right wing and the power play. After
Casale, the 2nd line wing is questionable as John Barron and Jeff Massey are
battling for the job. Both have size that they need to take better advantage
of. On the PP, Merrimack looked lethargic at times. I consider the points
to be perhaps the key players on the man advantage, and although players like
Maillet and Weinrich have the ability to take charge, they had trouble
getting shots through and on net.
For Concordia, again Desjardins was solid in net. The Stingers appeared to
be suffering the effects of the long trip down here and playing UNH the night
before, especially into the third period, when they took a few unnecessary
penalties including a major for slashing. The first line of Morin-Sonoski-
Ayotte was an effective one - when they weren't in the box. Merrimack had
the size advantage, which frustrated Concordia quite a bit.
Merrimack next hosts Providence in the final exhibition tuneup on October 20th
at 2 pm. That should be a good opportunity to find out where the Warriors
stand right now as they meet a Friar team that is a legitimate contender for
2nd in Hockey East. Concordia is scheduled to play its third game in three
days tomorrow (Sun 10/13), an exhibition at Lowell.
RINK RUMORS: It looks like the 2nd phase of "Merrimack 2000" may be the
construction of a new 5000-seat rink on campus within a couple of years. The
first phase, a new science and engineering center complete with rooftop
observatory and computer lab, opened this September. The next question is
whether to build a new rink or renovate the existing one. Early figures have
the price tag at $4 million to renovate and $7 million to build a new one.
Considering that the plans are also to build a swimming pool and track and field
facility, it appears to make more sense to build a new rink and pool complex
and then to turn the old rink building into a track and field facility for less
than $100,000. There have also been suggestions to maintain the current rink
as a practice rink and for renting out to local high school/youth teams, which
is already being done. The difference is that the prime hours, which are
taken by the varsity and JV teams at no financial benefit to the college,
would then be available to rent to local teams. In addition, a new building
could be used for concerts and other events during the stretches that Merrimack
does not play at home, and the Warriors could practice at the old rink.
A decision on whether to renovate or build a rink should be forthcoming in
early 1992. Fundraising would take place for a year or so and then work
would begin. Updates on this as they become available.
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Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]