2021–22 UMass Minutemen ice hockey season
College ice hockey team season
The 2021–22 UMass Minutemen ice hockey season was the 90th season of play for the program. They represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season and for the 28th season in the Hockey East conference. The Minutemen were coached by Greg Carvel , in his sixth season, and played their home games at Mullins Center .
Season
Fresh off of the program's first national championship, Massachusetts would have to overcome a sizable loss of talent if they wanted a repeat performance. While the team still possessed many returning players, including tournament MOP Bobby Trivigno , several players had left early for professional careers after outstanding seasons. While the team lost Filip Lindberg, Matt Murray had shared the starting role in net so the team was not without an experienced and proven goaltender. However, the losses were felt in the opening weekend when the Minutemen were swept by Minnesota State at home.
The team performed better over the succeeding month and won each of their next six games but then played poorly in the middle of November and saw their ranking sink down into the mid-teens. UMass suffered from Hockey East 's poor performance in non-conference games. This meant that victories against their conference rivals, even ranked opponents, would not help their postseason hopes as much as it would in other years. For the remainder of the season, Massachusetts would hover around #10 in the national rankings as they weren't able to put together any extended winning streaks. Throughout the team's up and down play, Trivigno was the leading light offensively. Not only did he finish 16 points better than any other Minuteman but he ended up tied for third in the national scoring race.
Entering the final week of the regular season, UMass had a 5-point lead in the conference standings and needed just one point to guarantee itself a share of the Hockey East title. Instead, the Minutemen lost both games to Boston College by 1-goal margins while Northeastern swept its weekend finale to surge past Massachusetts. Aside from the stunning result, the losses forced UMass to play Providence in the quarterfinals. The Minutemen were badly outshot by the Friars in the match, 19–47, but Matt Murray stood tall and held the fort while the offense made the most of its sparse opportunities. They were again outshot in the semifinal, though that time only by 4, and managed to knock off Massachusetts Lowell behind Trivigno's second game-winner of the postseason.
Before the championship game, UMass knew they were mathematically guaranteed to receive a bid to the NCAA tournament but they weren't going to let that slow them down. Trivigno tied the game just past the midway point and, though he didn't net the winner, he assisted on the final goal that sealed their second consecutive Hockey East Championship.
Despite riding high after a conference victory, UMass could still only garner a #3 seed for the national tournament. This forced the team into an underdog role against one of the tournament favorites, Minnesota . The Minutemen got off to a decent start and then netted two quick goals in the later half of the first. The Gophers added their own before the period was out but UMass rebuilt its 2-goal advantage early in the second. After that, however, Minnesota slowly chipped away at Massachusetts' lead and ended up tying the game on the power play late in the third. Once overtime began, both teams looked to end things quickly. Unfortunately for the Minutemen, it was Ben Meyers , captain of the Gophers, who scored the final goal and ended the Minutemen's season.
Departures
Recruiting
Player
Position
Nationality
Age
Notes
Matt Baker
Forward
Canada 24
Midhurst, ON ; graduate transfer from Dartmouth
Eric DeDobbelaer
Forward
Canada 21
Brantford, ON
Slava Demin
Defenseman
United States 21
Cypress, CA ; transfer from Denver ; Selected 99th overall in 2018 NHL Entry Draft
Cam Donaldson
Forward
United States 23
Pittsboro, NC ; graduate transfer from Cornell
Ryan Lautenbach
Forward
United States 21
Brighton, MI
Taylor Makar
Forward
Canada 20
Calgary, AB ; Selected 220th overall in 2021 NHL Entry Draft
Lucas Mercuri
Forward
Canada 19
Montreal, QC ; Selected 159th overall in 2020 NHL Entry Draft
Scott Morrow Defenseman
United States 18
Darien, CT ; Selected 40th overall in 2021 NHL Entry Draft
Luke Pavicich
Goaltender
United States 19
Clarence Center, NY
Ryan Ufko Defenseman
United States 18
Smithtown, NY ; Selected 115th overall in 2021 NHL Entry Draft
Roster
As of August 12, 2021.[ 1]
No. S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
Weight
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
NHL rights
1
Luke Pavicich Freshman
G 6' 3" (1.91 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
2002-03-21
Clarence Center, New York Kenai River (NAHL —
3
Ty Farmer Senior
D 5' 11" (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1998-01-06
O'Fallon, Missouri Fargo (USHL —
4
Matthew Kessel A Junior
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
203 lb (92 kg)
2000-06-23
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Sioux Falls (USHL STL 2020
5
Linden Alger Sophomore
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
2000-04-09
Centerville, Massachusetts Youngstown (USHL —
6
Ryan Ufko Freshman
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
2003-05-07
Smithtown, New York Chicago (USHL NSH 2021
7
Cal Kiefiuk Junior
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-02-28
Macomb, Michigan Central Illinois (USHL —
8
Bobby Trivigno C Senior
F 5' 8" (1.73 m)
162 lb (73 kg)
1999-01-19
Setauket, New York Waterloo (USHL —
9
Cam Donaldson Graduate
F 5' 8" (1.73 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1998-07-14
Pittsboro, North Carolina Cornell (ECAC —
10
Josh Lopina Sophomore
F 6' 2" (1.88 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
2001-02-16
Minooka, Illinois Lincoln (USHL ANA 2021
11
Lucas Mercuri Freshman
F 6' 3" (1.91 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
2002-03-07
Montreal, Quebec Des Moines (USHL CAR 2020
12
Garrett Wait Senior
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1998-06-13
Edina, Minnesota Minnesota (Big Ten —
13
Reed Lebster Junior
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
1999-03-04
Grand Rapids, Michigan Des Moines (USHL —
14
Ryan Lautenbach Freshman
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-02-27
Brighton, Michigan Omaha (USHL —
15
Oliver MacDonald Sophomore
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-11-07
Grosse Pointe, Michigan Fargo (USHL —
17
Slava Demin Senior
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
191 lb (87 kg)
2000-04-04
Cypress, California Denver (NCHC VGK 2018
18
Taylor Makar Freshman
F 6' 3" (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2001-03-13
Calgary, Alberta Brooks (AJHL —
19
Ryan Sullivan Sophomore
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2000-03-07
Grosse Pointe, Michigan Sioux Falls (USHL —
20
Matt Baker Graduate
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1997-02-21
Barrie, Ontario Dartmouth (ECAC —
22
Jerry Harding Junior
F 6' 2" (1.88 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1999-03-22
Canton, Massachusetts Providence (HEA —
23
Scott Morrow Freshman
D 6' 2" (1.88 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
2002-11-01
Darien, Connecticut Shattuck-St. Mary's (Midget AAA CAR 2021
25
Aaron Bohlinger Sophomore
D 5' 9" (1.75 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
2000-08-25
Walden, New York Waterloo (USHL —
26
Colin Felix A Senior
D 6' 1" (1.85 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1999-01-07
Ocean City, New Jersey Madison (USHL —
27
Anthony Del Gaizo Senior
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1998-01-31
Basking Ridge, New Jersey Muskegon (USHL —
28
Eric Faith Junior
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
1998-04-18
Carp, Ontario Brockville (CCHL —
29
Eric DeDobbelaer Freshman
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2000-06-15
Brantford, Ontario Brantford (OJHL —
31
Matt Murray Graduate
G 6' 1" (1.85 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
1998-02-02
St. Albert, Alberta Fargo (USHL —
32
Henry Graham Sophomore
G 6' 0" (1.83 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
2000-07-25
Manhattan, New York P. A. L. (NCDC )
—
Standings
Schedule and results
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
TV
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Regular season
October 2
7:30 PM
#5 Minnesota State *
#1
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
L 0–2 8,412
0–1–0
October 3
4:00 PM
#5 Minnesota State*
#1
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
L 3–6 3,808
0–2–0
October 15
7:05 PM
at American International *
#9
MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts
Murray
W 5–1 1,306
1–2–0
October 16
7:00 PM
American International*
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
W 4–2 4,664
2–2–0
October 23
7:00 PM
Dartmouth *
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst , Massachusetts (Exhibition)
L 2–3
October 29
7:00 PM
at Merrimack
#12
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts NESN+
Murray
W 5–4 OT
3,477
3–2–0 (1–0–0)
October 30
7:00 PM
Merrimack
#12
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
W 2–1 2,083
4–2–0 (2–0–0)
November 5
7:00 PM
#7 Providence
#12
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN
Murray
W 1–0 4,485
5–2–0 (3–0–0)
November 6
7:00 PM
#7 Providence
#12
Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island NESN+
Murray
W 5–1 3,169
6–2–0 (4–0–0)
November 12
7:30 PM
at Boston University
#8
Agganis Arena • Boston , Massachusetts
Murray
T 2–2 SOW
4,149
6–2–1 (4–0–1)
November 13
7:00 PM
Boston University
#8
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN
Murray
L 3–4 OT
5,741
6–3–1 (4–1–1)
November 19
7:00 PM
New Hampshire
#8
Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire NESN
Murray
W 3–0 4,363
7–3–1 (5–1–1)
November 20
7:00 PM
at New Hampshire
#8
Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire
Murray
L 1–2 OT
4,316
7–4–1 (5–2–1)
December 3
7:15 PM
at #15 Massachusetts Lowell
#14
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts NESN
Murray
T 4–4 SOL
6,289
7–4–2 (5–2–2)
December 4
7:00 PM
#15 Massachusetts Lowell
#14
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
W 3–2 5,423
8–4–2 (6–2–2)
December 9
7:00 PM
at Merrimack
#12
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts
Murray
W 3–2 2,122
9–4–2 (7–2–2)
January 3
6:00 PM
at Merrimack*
#10
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
W 4–3 OT
529
10–4–2
January 8
5:00 PM
at #6 Michigan *
#10
Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan BTN
Murray
L 1–4 5,800
10–5–2
January 9
4:00 PM
at #6 Michigan*
#10
Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan
ESPNU
Murray
L 2–4 5,800
10–6–2
January 21
7:00 PM
#12 Northeastern
#14
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN
Murray
W 3–2 3,542
11–6–2 (8–2–2)
January 22
7:30 PM
at #12 Northeastern
#14
Matthews Arena • Boston , Massachusetts NESN+
Murray
W 6–0 0
12–6–2 (9–2–2)
January 25
7:00 PM
Boston University
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN
Pavicich
L 4–6 6,269
12–7–2 (9–3–2)
January 28
7:00 PM
#17 Providence
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN+
Murray
L 1–2 4,493
12–8–2 (9–4–2)
January 30
1:05 PM
at #14 Massachusetts Lowell
#9
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts
Murray
W 4–3 3,745
13–8–2 (10–4–2)
February 4
7:00 PM
Long Island *
#10
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
W 6–3 3,274
14–8–2
February 5
7:00 PM
Long Island*
#10
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Pavicich
W 3–1 3,410
15–8–2
February 11
7:00 PM
Maine
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
L 2–3 OT
3,294
15–9–2 (10–5–2)
February 12
7:00 PM
Maine
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN
Murray
W 4–2 3,434
16–9–2 (11–5–2)
February 18
7:05 PM
at #20 Connecticut
#10
XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut
Murray
W 2–1 4,358
17–9–2 (12–5–2)
February 19
7:00 PM
#20 Connecticut
#10
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
Murray
L 2–4 5,036
17–10–2 (12–6–2)
February 25
7:00 PM
at Vermont
#10
Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont
Murray
W 5–1 2,304
18–10–2 (13–6–2)
February 26
7:00 PM
at Vermont
#10
Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont
Murray
W 8–2 2,380
19–10–2 (14–6–2)
March 4
7:00 PM
at Boston College
#9
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts NESN
Murray
L 1–2 5,524
19–11–2 (14–7–2)
March 5
4:30 PM
Boston College
#9
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts
NESN+
Murray
L 3–4 5,736
19–12–2 (14–8–2)
Hockey East Tournament
March 12
7:00 PM
#20 Providence*
#12
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts (Quarterfinal)
Murray
W 4–2 2,422
20–12–2
March 18
7:30 PM
vs. #13 Massachusetts Lowell *
#11
TD Garden • Boston , Massachusetts (Semifinal)NESN+
Murray
W 3–1 13,106
21–12–2
March 19
7:00 PM
vs. #19 Connecticut*
#11
TD Garden • Boston, Massachusetts (Championship)
NESN
Murray
W 2–1 OT
12,049
22–12–2
NCAA Tournament
March 25
6:00 PM
vs. #5 Minnesota *
#10
DCU Center • Worcester, Massachusetts (Northeast Regional semifinal)ESPNU
Murray
L 3–4 OT
6,002
22–13–2
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll . All times are in Eastern Time . [ 2]
Scoring statistics
Name
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Bobby Trivigno LW 37
20
29
49 28
Scott Morrow D 37
13
20
33 10
Ryan Ufko D 37
5
26
31 12
Josh Lopina C 27
12
15
27 8
Garrett Wait LW 32
13
12
25 12
Reed Lebster RW 36
9
9
18 23
Cal Kiefiuk F 30
6
12
18 24
Anthony Del Gaizo F 36
7
10
17 12
Matthew Kessel D 37
6
11
17 22
Lucas Mercuri C 36
6
9
15 18
Aaron Bohlinger D 28
2
11
13 4
Ryan Lautenbach RW 31
3
7
10 2
Colin Felix D 36
2
8
10 30
Ty Farmer D 36
1
8
9 24
Eric Faith LW 32
2
4
6 6
Oliver MacDonald F 27
3
2
5 6
Ryan Sullivan F 33
2
2
4 4
Matt Baker C 19
1
2
3 6
Slava Demin D 22
1
2
3 4
Cam Donaldson C 27
1
2
3 4
Taylor Makar C /LW 17
1
0
1 12
Jerry Harding F 30
1
0
1 2
Henry Graham G 1
0
0
0 4
Luke Pavicich G 4
0
0
0 0
Linden Alger D 11
0
0
0 2
Matt Murray G 36
0
0
0 2
Total
117
201
318
277
[ 3]
Goaltending statistics
Name
Games
Minutes
Wins
Losses
Ties
Goals Against
Saves
Shut Outs
SV % GAA
Luke Pavicich 4
111
1
1
0
3
42
0
.933
1.62
Matt Murray 36
2128
21
12
2
82
910
3
.917
2.31
Empty Net
-
14
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
Total
37
2253
22
13
2
88
952
3
.915
2.34
Rankings
Poll[ 4]
Week
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 (Final)
USCHO.com
1
7
9
9
12
12
8
8
13
14
12
12
10
14
14
9
10
9
10
10
9
12
11
10
-
10
USA Today
1
6
9
9
10
12
9
8
13
14
12
12
9
14
12
8
9
9
9
10
9
12
12
9
10
10
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24. [ 5]
Awards and honors
Players drafted into the NHL
† incoming freshman
[ 11]
References
^ "2020–21 Roster" . UMass Athletics. Retrieved September 6, 2017 .^ "Massachusetts 2021-22 Team Schedule" . College Hockey Inc . Retrieved February 2, 2022 .^ "UMass (Amherst) 2021-2022 Skater Stats" . Elite Prospects . Retrieved July 2, 2020 .^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll" . USCHO.com . Retrieved November 26, 2019 .^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll" . USCHO.com . Retrieved November 26, 2019 .^ "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay" . USCHO.com . April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022 .^ a b c "Bobby Trivigno Named Hockey East Player of the Year" . Hockey East . March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022 .^ a b "Hockey East Names 2021-22 Men's All-Star Teams" . Hockey East . March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022 .^ "Hockey East Names Men's Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team" . Hockey East . March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022 .^ "Hockey East Names Men's Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team" . Hockey East . March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022 .^ "NCAA player rankings, selections in 2022 NHL Draft" . USCHO.com . Retrieved July 9, 2022 .
