Yesterday I wrote “If you can’t get pumped up for this game, well then you just do not enjoy college hockey.” Little did I know that it would be the UMass players, not the fans, that wouldn’t get up for such a high profile game.
This team has a lot of skill and has certainly surpassed the pre-season expectations of them, but they are lacking a mental toughness and in the end it could keep them from making this a truly special season. Last night was just another sign that this team is missing something. After a great start to the season the team plays #9 Quinnipiac on NESN only to give up three quick first period goals and they ended up dropping the game in overtime. A month later with a chance for the program to win only its second in-season tournament ever the team loses to Bentley 4-1 in one of the bigger upsets of the year in all of college hockey. A week later UMass gets embarrassed on national TV by a struggling BU squad and gives up 7 goals in the process. They then give up another 7 the very next game against UNH. Just a few weeks ago with ESPNU and Barry Melrose in the house and a chance to sweep the season series against Vermont the team sleepwalks through the game and loses 3-0. Then we get to last night, a marquee matchup, again in front of TV and a sellout audience and the team doesn’t come to play. It’s mind-boggling. Whenever this team has had a challenge in front of them they’ve completely folded. I don’t think any of the previous no-shows were as upsetting as last night however.
I’m not going to get into the details of the game because frankly the entire thing was a disaster. Hopefully there was a lesson learned though, otherwise this entire season could become unravelled pretty quickly. As it is the team has made life a lot tougher for themselves by now needing to go out and get even more points on the road after throwing away the last two games due to complete and total lack of effort.
Fear The Triangle Player of the Game – Brett Watson
As Toot said in his press conference if only UMass could’ve had 19 other players that played as hard as he did.
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Here’s the recap from the Collegian.
Here’s USCHO’s game story.
Dick Baker says at least it wasn’t as bad as the 14-1 loss in 1996. No, but this certainly had the feel of a triangle-era game.
Here’s the recap from the Gazette.
Fear The Triangle - UMass Hockey Blog 
sam yhe man
/ February 6, 2010Not to take anything away from Brett Watson do we really want 19 of him he hasnt scored in the last 2.5 seasons.Maybe thats the problem TOOT dont know he needs his players to score .ITS TIME
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Alan
/ February 6, 2010ESL?
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rocks22
/ February 7, 2010I think Toot would take 19 players with Watson’s level of effort and consistency. He’s one of the top defensive forwards in the league. The numbers of goals he prevents far makes up for his lack of scoring.
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massattack
/ February 6, 2010Toot said he wanted 19 players who played as hard as Watson. Its not Watsons job to score.
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OutlawPete
/ February 6, 2010I’ll take 20 hard working guys over the 19 or so that were practicing their skating around the Mullins Center ice last night. I want Toot to drive me to each of the remaining home games and back because I’m not freezing my ass off walking down there to see one more gutless late-season performance from this team.
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rocks22
/ February 7, 2010Uh, imagine how it feels for fans that drive over two hours for each home game.
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Leigh Torbin
/ February 6, 2010Yikes! I’d almost forgotten about the 10-0 UNH game. Thanks Dick (sic)! Yes, sounds like a good ole trianglish night by all accounts. Hope they bounce back OK.
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Mel
/ February 6, 2010Most of the UMass players last night looked like they were participating in the weekly free skate at an MDC rink. That said, it is done and over. Like it never happened. Win 5 of the last 7 and all will be forgiven.
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Jason W.
/ February 6, 2010I will never forget that drubbing BU gave us in 1996. Sitting there watching goal after goal. Never felt so bad for athletes like I did that night. Memories from that night will haunt me forever.
Im just glad I didnt make the 90 min drive out to Amherst to watch that garbage last night. This team has once again crushed my spirit,
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transrapide
/ February 7, 2010I guess this team just isn’t ready for Prime Time. Outclassed in every aspect of the game. As we all say, the talent is there. But where is the determination when there’s something at stake? The way this team folds in such a thorough way in front of a packed house really shows that something major is amiss in their heads. Toot was right to call them out..there really is no excuse for such a performance.
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