Sorry for the lateness of tonight’s post but I was busy watching Justin Braun score his first ever NHL goal for the Sharks in a game dominated by the storyline of Dany Heatley returning to Ottawa.  I believe Braun finished +2 for the game.  I’m not surprised at all by how solid Braun looks so far with the big club.  I can’t think of any other player I saw come through the Mullins Center that looked more NHL ready than Justin Braun.  No one.

Finally had a chance to listen to Tuesday’s radio show while driving into work today.  Prompted by a listener’s question Coach Cahoon had some information on next year’s schedule.  Yale will be returning the game from last year.  The Saturday after Thanksgiving series with Quinnipiac will be extended a bit longer with the Minutemen heading to Hamden next year.  UMass will be returning to the Everblades College Classic in Estero, FL next year with traditional hosts Maine, Cornell, plus a western team to be named later.  Last time UMass played in the tournament in 2002 they lost the championship to Maine 8-3.  Cahoon said he is still working on the other two games, saying he’d like to get a Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Ohio State into the Mullins.  Obviously this means that the Gophers and Badgers did not make a definitive agreement to make a return trip for the two games each that UMass is playing out there this season, which is disappointing.  Cahoon mentioned UConn as a possible opponent depending how successful he is at getting top tier western teams scheduled.

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Mike Donnellan makes the case for his own Food Network show in the most recent edition of One Moore Minute.  I’m impressed by the cooking, I’m really impressed by how nice the kitchen looks.  When I was a college student my kitchen usually only looked like that on move in day.  I think Kevin Moore must have travelled back in time to the 1970’s and jumped a game show host for their sport jacket.  Did Strength Coach Chris Boyko leave UMass?  He’ll be missed  if that’s the case.

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The Daily Collegian correctly pegs penalty killing and goaltending as the main factors for the Minutemen’s recent success.

They also preview the game against Lowell.  Lowell lost 3-0 at home to the UNH Wildcats tonight.

USCHO also keys in on the improved special teams as helping the Minutemen gain their first wins of the season.