It’s been a week or so since my last update, so I thought I’d share some news and links in what I’ve now dubbed my “Up To The Minute” feature.

The signup for this year’s Pond Club Golf Tournament, taking place on June 11th, is available.  If, like me, you don’t golf but still want to participate somehow and support the program there are a number of different sponsorship opportunities available.

Why does the program need you to be involved in order for the Minutemen be successful on the ice?  Because UMass alumni are not writing $5 million checks for the program like elsewhere in Hockey East.  Want UMass to compete with these teams?  It all starts with getting involved with the Pond Club or attending events like the golf tournament or Reverse Raffle.

Matt Vautour mentioned T.J. Syner as one of the UMass athletes listed (which may differ from reality) at 5 foot 9 inches who had big years for the maroon and white.

Congratulations to Syner, Mike Marcou, Danny Hobbs, Kevin Moore, and all the student hockey fans who graduated this past weekend.  Best of luck in your post-UMass endeavors!

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Nothing really new coming out of the recent UConn to Hockey East news, though the fact that we’re getting weekly “reports” with the same information probably means things are still progressing towards their likely addition.

College Hockey News had this interesting testimonial from a doctor advocating that 3/4 face shields do in fact decrease injuries.

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Jon Quick continues to roll in the playoffs as his Kings took game one of the Western Conference finals despite some less than stellar goaltending from Quick.  I remember him giving up a goal from center ice during his time in Amherst as well.  NHL.com had a piece on Quick’s transformation from big man on the UMass campus to NHL goaltender.  They also had 8 things you should know about Quick.  I remember the hoodies and hip hop music quite a bit from his time in Amherst.  I even remember him saying he would keep himself entertained when the play was on the opposite end of the ice by singing to himself.  Game 2 takes place tonight at 9pm.

Justin Braun and the rest of Team USA are onto the quarterfinals of the World Championships (note that Braun is wearing #20 in the picture in the link).  Braun has played in all 7 of Team USA’s games but hasn’t registered any points.

Mike Kostka is the lone Minuteman standing in the AHL playoffs as his Norfolk Admirals eliminated Casey Wellman and the Connecticut Whale on the way to the semifinals.  Here’s an article on Kostka from a few weeks ago.  Wellman has been added to the Rangers’ post season roster in case of injury.

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I thought this former player’s insightful piece on his choice between major junior and the NCAA was an interesting read.