Time is running out to sign up for this year’s Reverse Raffle put on by the Pond Club.  The annual event will take place Friday, April 2nd at the Top of the Campus in the Campus Center.  If you haven’t been before, I highly recommend it.  For just $110 you and a guest are treated to an evening where you can interact with other UMass fans and coaches, an open beer and wine bar, appetizers, as well as a 1 in 175 chance to win prizes or even $4,999.  Did I mention the open bar? Even if you aren’t a big winner (unlike myself who came home with a lovely personal care set last year, I know you’re jealous) the best part is the whole event is a fundraiser for your University of Massachusetts hockey team.  It’s a ton of fun and something I look forward to every year, I hope to see everyone there.

So be sure to send in your sign up form before all the lucky numbers have been taken.  Sorry suckers but I’ve already laid claim to #22, this year’s winner!

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Dick Baker has an article on UMass’ newest forward recruit, Steven Guzzo.  I’m extremely glad to see the local media taking a greater interest in hockey recruiting.  Matt Vautour had a story on Jeff Teglia yesterday as well.

Also included is the news that Justin Braun has officially signed with the San Jose Sharks.  Baker mentions that he’ll be in Worcester and finishing out his semester at UMass.  From what I hear James Marcou will likely do the same, so neither of them will likely be Bay Area bound until next season.

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Forging forward for Ford Field!

Here’s how I see this year’s NCAA tournament playing out:

Miami
Alabama-Huntsville      Miami

Michigan                                                                     Michigan
Bemidji State                 Michigan                            

North Dakota                                                                                                      Boston College
Yale                                North Dakota

Alaska                                                                         Boston College
Boston College              Boston College                   

Denver                                                                                                                                              Boston College
RIT                                Denver

New Hampshire                                                        Cornell
Cornell                          Cornell                                

St Cloud State                                                                                                     Wisconsin
Northern Michigan     Northern Michigan

Vermont                                                                     Wisconsin
Wisconsin                     Wisconsin                          

That’s right, BC as national champs.  They’re just playing amazingly right now and have not one but two solid goaltenders to turn to.  I almost want to pick Cornell to make it to the finals, but I can’t quite pull the trigger.  Therefore they’ll definitely make it.  Miami and DU are great teams, but it’s all how you finish and they did stumble in their conference tourneys.  Of course if Cheverie takes things over for four straight games it’s a whole different ball game…

Thomas Pöck (photo by Karen Winger)

 Congratulations to Thomas Pöck who was one of six defensemen named to Hockey East’s All-Decade Team.  Pöck was certainly one of a kind for UMass and to date is the school’s only Hobey Baker finalist. 

Fans were able to pick their favorite players for each team over the decade and James Marcou got the nod for the Minutemen.

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Joel Hanley and his Newmarket Hurricanes won their first game of the CCHL championship.  Hanley had a goal and an assist in the overtime thriller.  Hanley has 3 goals, 5 assists and was a +9 in 14 playoff games.

UMass recruits are not having a lot of luck staying healthy this year.  Joel Hanley broke his leg, Eric Filiou got mono, Shane Walsh missed the EJHL championship with injury, and now Conor Allen is out for the year with a broken jaw.  Tough way to end what was a great season in the USHL for him.

Speaking of the USHL, new commit Jeff Teglia has been named USHL goaltender of the week on three different occasions this year.  Teglia was also rated as the 28th best North American goaltender for last year’s NHL draft but ended up going undrafted.  As far as I can tell I believe he’s now too old to get drafted this year.  Here’s an article on Teglia from last month regarding his pursuit of a college scholarship.  Notice that UMass isn’t even mentioned at that point, so kudos to the coaching staff for swooping in and picking him up.

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Good impressions so far for Casey Wellman.