Mike McMahon, the respected writer who covers Merrimack and college hockey for the Eagle Tribune, reported on Twitter today that UMass is scheduled to play at Fenway Park next January as part of a double-header. The two games would feature UMass versus Maine and UNH versus Vermont. The specific date is not known, nor is how it would affect the schedule that has already been reported (where UMass and Maine don’t play in the month of January).
This is great news for the program and will surely be a fun time for its fans. Matt Vautour had reported earlier that UMass was originally scheduled to play in Fenway in 2010 until the league decided to play a women’s game preceding Boston College-Boston University. News came out a few weeks ago that the Red Sox were interested in setting up another rink this coming winter even without the draw of a Bruins game and the Boston Herald reported that UNH and Maine were rumored to be participants.
Personally I think the better matchups would be UMass against Northeastern and rivals Maine and UNH, but just as long as Your State U is involved I’m not going to complain. McMahon did not name his source for the report, but it should be noted that he is also publishing a Q&A with Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna today as well, so the information may have come from the top.
Be sure to keep an eye on his blog, Warrior Rink Rat, for more information and I’ll be sure to pass along anything more I find out on here, Facebook, or Twitter.
(McMahon has reported that Bertagna was not his source. – mc)
Fear The Triangle - UMass Hockey Blog 
jjmc85
/ May 18, 2011It seems weird to have Maine and UNH there, but not have them play each other.
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rocks22
/ May 18, 2011Agreed. I was surprised to see it laid out the way it was. Still, I don’t care if we’re playing AIC there, I’m just glad UMass is in the building.
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Anonymous
/ May 19, 2011Thats gonna be freaking sweet, should be an interesting Beer the Triangle.
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dmoorhouse
/ May 19, 2011buddy …was that a slight at AIC? Give the Ice Jackets some respect! AIC finished with 8 wins last year (UMass had six) and the Jackets beat Army (twice) which is something the Minutemen couldn’t do. Also beat Air Force and swept Mercyhurst. Not a bad season for the Bee –
take care –
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rocks22
/ May 19, 2011Ouch. That Army comment really hurt.
Didn’t mean to unleash the wrath of Yellow Jacket Nation. I now know what the Bruins PR staff feels like with the Tampa fans.
Hope you’re doing well, my friend.
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Monty
/ May 19, 2011The original post by Mike also said the other 4 HE teams will play the following season at Fenway. I actually do appreciate that Hockey East is giving every team in the league a shot at this.
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rocks22
/ May 19, 2011I agree 100%.
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kingcullen
/ May 19, 2011Supposedly the matchups aren’t set in stone, I’d wait until the official announcement. I’ve heard UMass vs UVM, UNH vs Maine, UNH vs UVM, Maine vs. UMass, Northeastern may replace UVM, etc.
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