With the coming season’s roster now released, I figure it’s time to start guessing at some possible lines. Here’s my best shot.
Syner Gracel Hobbs
Pereira LaRue Sheary
Olczyk Carzo Power
Tegeler Czepiel Guzzo
Bench: Filiou, Auvenshine, Kiley, DeAngelo
Shea Marcou
Allen Phillips
Yevenko Hanley
Bench: Raiola, Busillo, Rowe
Teglia
Bench: Boyle, Mastalerz, Moore
There you have it. I think it’s important to keep the wings of Syner-Hobbs and Pereira-Sheary together from last season. The centers for those lines changed quite a bit during the season, but I really think Branden Gracel fits well with the two senior captains. From the little information out there, it does appear that LaRue played some center in juniors, so it sounds like he’ll have the talent to make it on the second line. Obviously if he’s more of a wing Rocco Carzo, who really needs to bounceback from a disappointing season, would center Pereira and Sheary. I see Olczyk as our shutdown defensive forward while Troy Power will continue to give some good two way minutes. “Holyoke” had a very solid season last year and I see him playing every night. Andrew Tegeler seems like a similar player to Power and could see regular minutes. If LaRue isn’t able to play center, the lines could look like this:
Syner Gracel Hobbs
Pereira Carzo Sheary
LaRue Czepiel Power
Tegeler Filiou Olczyk
On defense I think it’s a good bet we’ll see Colin Shea, Mike Marcou, Conor Allen, Adam Phillips, and Joel Hanley in there every night. I think the sixth spot will be rotated depending on the needs of the game. If the team needs offense it’ll be Darren Rowe. If the team is looking for a little muscle it’ll be Oleg Yevenko of Mike Busillo. If Toot is just looking for a solid all around defenseman it’ll be Anthony Raiola who ended last season playing very well.
In net I’m defaulting to the upperclassman, just like Toot did when I asked him about the goaltending situation last week. But after a couple weeks of practice, it could be anyone’s crease.
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One of the FTT readers asked on the Fear The Triangle Facebook page if I have any information on the exhibition game. I don’t. Nothing is listed on the official schedule and a check of the schedules of the CIS (Canadian university) teams we usually play shows they’re already taking on other schools during the first weekend of October. Who, when, or if UMass is playing an exhibition is a mystery to me but I’ll do some digging at tomorrow’s football game at Holy Cross.
Brock Hines, John Hennessy, and Adam Frenier will be broadcasting games on the UMass Radio Network again this season. I’m actually a little surprised that Brock didn’t try to parlay last year’s honor as Hockey East’s Concannon Media Award winner into a Versus NHL gig, but it’ll be good to have him back.
Brett Watson is mentioned in this “Where are they now?” piece on his father, a former Flyer. Brett is now working for JP Morgan.
Here’s the Collegian’s coverage of the Fenway announcement.
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The Sporting News has one of the better college vs major junior pieces I’ve read.
Fear The Triangle - UMass Hockey Blog 
Carson
/ September 3, 2011lines look interesting – definitely gets me even more excited for this season! however, not sure how i feel about olcyzk on the 3rd line, given that his offensive game is pretty anemic. i would probably like tegeler better in his spot.
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James
/ September 3, 2011Guzzo is a center, not a wing.
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rocks22
/ September 3, 2011Correct you are. I had forgotten that.
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Anonymous
/ September 4, 2011How big is LaRue? Pereira and Sheary played well together but when the games were physically sometimes disappear well both scored it was more on a skill play or breakdown. Both more on the rush type of player if Larue is a big body that could be a great addition to that line!
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rocks22
/ September 5, 2011LaRue is listed at 6’2″ 195lbs but supposed to be a great skater, so to your point may be a good addition to that line if he cab keep from getting knocked off the puck.
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Anonymous
/ September 6, 2011gonna be some great competition among the defensive players for the last 2 spots, I also wouldnt be surprised if they go with 7 on certain nights, as they did last year.
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Anonymous
/ September 13, 2011Would love to see Kevin Moore get a shot in a game or two…seems like coach is afraid to play a non scholarship athlete…bs if u ask me
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rocks22
/ September 13, 2011Toot has always said whoever plays best in practice will play well enough in the games. Certainly the goaltending position is a big question mark and if he is outplaying the others in practice I don’t see why Moore wouldn’t get a shot. I’m not sure how much of a possibility that is however.
I do know that the team, from Toot to the players have all commented repeatedly about how important Moore is to the team and said he’s more of an assistant coach than backup goaltender in practice. I’d love to seem him play as well, but if he doesn’t it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not a big part of the team.
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Anonymous
/ September 14, 2011first i have heard about only scholarship players playing, how many players are on scholarship?
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rocks22
/ September 14, 2011UMass gives the full allowed allotment of 18 scholarships, but schools can split that actual dollar amount up to up to 30 players. So some players are receiving full scholarships, some fractional scholarships, and there are likely a few that could be considered non-scholarship. To the commentors points, Kevin Moore, 3rd or 4th on the depth chart, is unlikely to be receiving any scholarship money.
If I were to guess, of the 29 players currently on the roster I would say probably 26 had some kind of scholarship money.
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