UMass did not win any awards or see any traction in this week’s polls, which was to be expected since the team spent the week taking finals and travelling home for a week of rest before heading down to Florida following Christmas.

But there are still polls and awards for those few teams that did have games this past week.  One team that had a game was Merrimack and they probably wish they didn’t.  The Warriors fell at home to Union and drop to 7th in the USCHO poll.  After reaching #1 in the poll Merrimack is now 1-3-1 in their last five.  There wasn’t much movement in that or the USA Hockey/USA Today poll since most teams were dormant this past week.

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As the only two Hockey East teams in action Merrimack and Vermont split this week’s abbreviated Hockey East awards.  The Catamounts dropped a 2-1 decision to St Lawrence.

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Hockey East has a .500 record so far against the ECAC, a rare season where Hockey East doesn’t have a winning record against its neighboring conference.  UMass also is .500 against ECAC teams, going 1-1-1 against Yale, Quinnipiac, and Harvard.  There are still a few more Hockey East-ECAC matchups, including UMass against Clarkson and Maine against Cornell down in Florida.  That could result in Clarkson against Maine and Cornell against UMass as well.  There will be other matchups between the leagues in January and finally Boston University and either Northeastern or Boston College will take on Harvard in this year’s Beanpot.

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Unfortunately Matt Irwin was called up and sent down by the San Jose Sharks without being given the chance to make his NHL debut.

While Jon Quick is the mainstay in the Kings’ net and Justin Braun and Casey Wellman have both gotten callups to the NHL so far, I thought we should take a look at some of the other UMass alumni in the pros that aren’t getting as much attention.

Greg Mauldin in 2nd on the Lake Erie Lake Monster in scoring with 7 goals and 10 assists.  Unfortunately he’s been sick lately and may have missed a callup to Denver as a result.  Instead the chance went to former Terrier David Van Der Gulik.

Mike Kostka started the year with the Panthers’ AHL team in San Antonio but was traded to Tampa Bay earlier in the Month.  He’s gotten off to a good start with his new team, scoring a goal, gaining two assists, and registering a +2 in 7 games with the Norfolk Admirals.

Matt Anderson is second on the Albany River Rats Devils with 5 goals and 11 assists in 28 games.

Mark Matheson is leading the Chicago Wolves in +/- with a +8.

Paul Dainton is currently backing up Manny Legace down in Springfield.

David Leaderer is playing with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL where he has 8 points in 19 games.

Obi Aduba has 10 points in 23 games for the Quad City Mallards of the CHL.

P.J. Fenton, Cory Quirk, and Doug Kublin are all playing in Germany.