Matt Bergland, men’s forward- One of only three freshmen to dress for both of last weekend’s icebreaking games, Bergland rabidly whipped up a 1-2-3 transcript in the Friars’ 4-3 tipover of Bowling Green last Saturday, spotting him sole initial lead on the team scoring charts. Charging up two of those points on the power play –an assist on full-time linemate John Cavanagh’s second period go-ahead and his own goal for the eventual clincher- Bergland has earned consideration to be churned into the PK posse down the road as well.
“He’s a very intelligent player, he’s very instinctive, (and) he’s very, very quick,” said head coach Tim Army. “He has a good feel for the game. He can play at a fast-pace, and he’s got a good stick and a good nose for the net. I think showed that on both Friday and Saturday.”
And then, of course, fans who love to snack on trivial empty calories are waiting for the day sophomore Matt Tommasiello returns from his injury (likely not until January) and links up with Bergland, Matt Germain, and Matt Taormina in a PK quartet.
David Brown, men’s defenseman- Brown’s bar was tinkering near the top to start the season, as evidenced by his assignment to complement proficient puckslinger Matt Taormina on the power play points. Though he has yet to post a shot on net in the small hours of the season, Brown bagged a helper on Bergland’s game winner versus Bowling Green.
Ashley Cottrell, women’s forward- Coach Bob Deraney, being the seasoned Division I skipper that he is, will not favor single constituents of the new class he tirelessly acclaims. And, so far, the stats won’t do that either. But Cottrell gets a few extra ogling points for the international experience she brings and Deraney’s call for her to step up to the top line in the middle of last weekend.
Genevieve Lacasse, women’s goaltender- Initially pronounced blocked by the incumbent crease trinity of Danielle Ciarletta, Jen Smith, and Christina England, Lacasse has made early good of her timely arrival, handling the entirety of four games and backstopping PC’s first two wins. She has confronted an individual game average of 33.5 shots and let a slim nine through –many of Deraney has attributed to meltdowns on the part of Lacasse’s praetorian guards. So long as any veterans are unavailable, Lacasse promises to act as a functional landing mat.
Shawn Tingley, men’s forward- The 20-year-old North Kingstown native and his EJHL-enriched resume are both in the cooler for the time being as he nurses a pre-season ankle sprain. By Army’s eager estimate, though, Tingley should join in on practice starting next week and will be phased in to a prominent sect of the depth chart.
Laura Veharanta, women’s forward- Going into this weekend, the season-long first-liner leads the Friars in the way of scoring (5 points) and shooting (22 registered stabs). And on the tactical front, Veharanta knows a thing or two about trying to help a program penetrate the national landscape: she is on the heels of piloting a first-year California Wave U19 program to last year’s USA Hockey national tournament –opposite classmate and PC blueliner Jennifer Friedman.
Women’s Hockey vs. Boston College quick hits
· The WHEA’s Catholic Clash rekindles for the first time since the closure of the 2007-08 regular season, when the Friars claimed the short half of a home-and-home wishbone (1 out of 4 allotted points), yet scraped out enough to claim a playoff berth at the Eagles expense.
· The WHEA’s Catholic Clash rekindles for the first time since the closure of the 2007-08 regular season, when the Friars claimed the short half of a home-and-home wishbone (1 out of 4 allotted points), yet scraped out enough to claim a playoff berth at the Eagles expense.
· Assuming she is fit to return to action today, PC freshman Kate Bacon shall stare down former high school teammate Tracy Johnson, a junior blueliner for the Eagles. The two played together at Minnesota-based Benilde-St. Margaret’s from 2004-2006.
· Both PC senior Stephanie Morris and BC freshman Mary Restuccia are North American Hockey Academy alumnae.
· BC’s top scorers: Kelli Stack (5-3-8); Allie Thunstrom (2-3-5); Danielle Welch (2-3-5)
· Site: Schneider Arena; 2:00 face-off
· Media: Gametracker; US College Hockey Online’s Game of the Week
Men’s Hockey at Holy Cross quick hits
· Both late bloomers in terms of thawing out their respective schedules, a task they both carried out last week, the Friars and Crusaders tangle for the fourth time in recent memory, though PC will pay the program’s first visit to the Worcester since February 7, 1956. The Crusaders, who twelve months ago wrested their first triumph over the Friars in seven all-time tries through a 6-4 earthquake at Schneider Arena, are 1-0-1 after last weekend’s two-game set with conference cohabitant Canisius.
· Both late bloomers in terms of thawing out their respective schedules, a task they both carried out last week, the Friars and Crusaders tangle for the fourth time in recent memory, though PC will pay the program’s first visit to the Worcester since February 7, 1956. The Crusaders, who twelve months ago wrested their first triumph over the Friars in seven all-time tries through a 6-4 earthquake at Schneider Arena, are 1-0-1 after last weekend’s two-game set with conference cohabitant Canisius.
· HC’s top scorers: Dewey Thomson (1-2-3); Brodie Sheahan (2-0-2); Everett Sheen (1-1-2)
· Projected goaltending matchup: Justin Gates (PC) vs. Adam Roy (HC)
· Site: Hart Recreation Center (Worcester, Mass.); 7:00 face-off
· Media: Online audio streaming
Quick Feeds: The PC men’s 4-1 letdown in Lowell last night had precisely one jutting scrap of consolation in senior captain Kyle Laughlin’s first goal in 24 outings. Laughlin’s twig went infamously stiff in the latter half of last season, good for merely five sparse helpers after he had last struck the mesh personally against Union on December 7, 2007…Army reinserted Kyle MacKinnon into the lineup last night, letting him fill the centerpiece on the fourth line, bumping Andy Balysky to the wing, and letting Rob Maloney take a scratch night. All other attacking units were left unruffled from last week’s home win over Bowling Green…On the blue line last night, veteran Mark Fayne –assigned to the upper bowl last Saturday for his unsatisfactory output on opening night- was invited back into action, rotating David Cavanagh out…The USCHO broadcast crew, dropping in at the Schneider Arena booth for the second time this young season, will open its cyber doors to interested viewers at 1:45 today.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
