I wanted to share a few links before I pack up the car and head west to the football home opener.  Should be a good game as the Minutemen take on Rhode Island for perhaps the last time ever.  There’s few things I enjoy more than a fall afternoon spent at McGuirk hanging with the other UMass fans, grilling, drinking good beer, and watching football.

Dick Baker of the Republican has a couple good stories from the official first day of practice.  Toot Cahoon likes the depth he has on his team in the first one.  And then he has a feature on the towering Oleg Yevenko.  I had hoped to swing by the practice rink today while I’m out in Amherst to see how the players look but unfortunately there’s no practices scheduled today.

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Greg Mauldin is one of 9 players who have to have a good training camp to make the Avalanche.

Unfortunately James Marcou is still trying to recover from the concussion that put him out of commission last season and wasn’t able to participate in Sharks training camp.

Fear The Fin expects Justin Braun to be last man out on the Sharks defensive corps and start the season in Worcester.

Mike Kostka is in Panthers training camp.

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The USHL has started its pre-season schedule, so look for news on UMass’ two recruits, Kenny Gillespie and Shane Walsh, out there soon.