2022–23 UMass Minutemen ice hockey season
College ice hockey team season
The 2022–23 UMass Minutemen ice hockey season was the 91st season of play for the program, the 30th at the Division I level, and 29th in Hockey East . The Minutemen represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season were coached by Greg Carvel in his 7th season, and played their home games at Mullins Center .
Season
In the offseason, Garrett Wait suffered a potentially career-ending knee injury during a workout. He was medically disqualified from playing during the 2022–23 season.[ 1] Bobby Trivigno ), defense (Matthew Kessel ) and in goal (Matt Murray ) all had to be replaced. Coach Carvel brought in a talent-laden recruiting class to do just that with 4 freshmen who were already NHL draft picks as well as two drafted transfers. UMass was ranked highly entering the season, making the top 10 in both polls and was picked to finish 3rd in Hockey East .[ 2]
Early on, everything looked to be going well for the Minutemen. After an iffy start, the team swept the defending national champions, Denver , and were undefeated through their first 6 games. An overtime loss to Merrimack dented their record slightly but by the beginning of November, UMass was in the top-5 and seemingly well on their way to another NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, once the team got into conference play, the defense began to falter. Massachusetts was unable to provide its netminders with much support, allowing more than 34 shots against per game. The increased opportunities turned into goals and, despite having a nearly identical save percentage, the Minutemen allowed 15 more goals against in 2 fewer games. While those numbers weren't disastrous by themselves, the team had also declined on the offensive side. None of the team's players were able to make up for the loss of its top three forwards and just one player was able to get into double-digit goal totals. The team scored 23 fewer goals than the year before, putting them at a -38 goal differential.
Despite the trouble, UMass recovered during the holidays and held a winning record in early January. At the Frozen Fenway, the team began a 6-game losing streak and dropped out of the polls for the first time in years. They were able to recover to finish out the final 8 games at a .500 clip. The Minutemen had done so poorly in their conference games that the team finished 9th in the standings and were forced to start in the first round. They faced Boston College in a battle between two disappointing teams. UMass hardly put up a fight, getting outshot 18–42 and ending its season with a 2–5 loss.
Departures
Recruiting
Player
Position
Nationality
Age
Notes
Mikey Adamson
Defenseman
United States 21
Quincy, MA
Harrison Ballard
Forward
United States 18
Scottsdale, AZ
Cole Brady
Goaltender
Canada 21
Pickering, ON ; transfer from Arizona State ; selected 127th overall in 2019
Michael Cameron
Forward
United States 20
Berwyn, PA
Kenny Connors
Forward
United States 19
Glen Mills, PA ; selected 103rd overall in 2022
Tyson Dyck
Forward
Canada 18
Abbotsford, BC ; selected 206th overall in 2022
Noah Ellis
Defenseman
United States 20
Urbandale, IA ; selected 184th overall in 2020
Matt Koopman
Forward
United States 24
Marblehead, MA ; graduate transfer from Providence
Elliott McDermott
Defenseman
Canada 23
Kingston, ON ; transfer from Colgate
Owen Murray
Defenseman
Canada 19
Decker, MB
Joshua Nodler
Forward
United States 21
Oak Park, MI ; transfer from Michigan State ; selected 150th overall in 2019
Kennedy O'Connor
Defenseman
United States 21
Springfield, MA
Cole O'Hara
Forward
Canada 20
Richmond Hill, ON ; selected 114th overall in 2022
Roster
As of August 6, 2022.[ 3]
No. S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
Weight
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
NHL rights
1
Luke Pavicich Sophomore
G 6' 3" (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2002-03-21
Clarence Center, New York Kenai River (NAHL —
3
Mikey Adamson Freshman
D 5' 9" (1.75 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
2001-08-16
Quincy, Massachusetts Sioux City (USHL —
4
Kennedy O'Connor Freshman
D 6' 2" (1.88 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
2001-05-10
Springfield, Massachusetts Omaha (USHL —
5
Linden Alger Junior
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
2000-04-09
Centerville, Massachusetts Youngstown (USHL —
6
Ryan Ufko Sophomore
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
2003-05-07
Smithtown, New York Chicago (USHL NSH 2021
7
Cal Kiefiuk Senior
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-02-28
Macomb, Michigan Central Illinois (USHL —
9
Matt Koopman Graduate
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-05-01
Marblehead, Massachusetts Providence (HEA —
10
Cole O'Hara Freshman
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
183 lb (83 kg)
2002-06-20
Richmond Hill, Ontario Tri-City (USHL NSH 2022
11
Lucas Mercuri Sophomore
F 6' 3" (1.91 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
2002-03-07
Montreal, Quebec Des Moines (USHL CAR 2020
12
Garrett Wait Graduate
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1998-06-13
Edina, Minnesota Minnesota (Big Ten —
13
Reed Lebster A Senior
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
1999-03-04
Grand Rapids, Michigan Des Moines (USHL —
14
Ryan Lautenbach Sophomore
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2000-02-27
Brighton, Michigan Omaha (USHL —
17
Kenny Connors Freshman
F 6' 1" (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2003-03-10
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania Dubuque (USHL LAK 2022
18
Taylor Makar Sophomore
F 6' 3" (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2001-03-13
Calgary, Alberta Brooks (AJHL COL 2021
19
Ryan Sullivan Junior
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2000-03-07
Grosse Pointe, Michigan Sioux Falls (USHL —
20
Josh Nodler Senior
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2001-04-27
Oak Park, Michigan Michigan State (Big Ten CGY 2019
21
Noah Ellis Freshman
D 6' 2" (1.88 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
2002-02-01
Urbandale, Iowa Muskegon (USHL VGK 2020
22
Jerry Harding A Senior
F 6' 2" (1.88 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1999-03-22
Canton, Massachusetts Providence (HEA —
23
Scott Morrow Sophomore
D 6' 2" (1.88 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
2002-11-01
Darien, Connecticut Shattuck-St. Mary's (Midget AAA CAR 2021
24
Elliott McDermott Junior
D 5' 11" (1.8 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1999-02-03
Kingston, Ontario Colgate (ECAC —
25
Aaron Bohlinger Junior
D 5' 9" (1.75 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
2000-08-25
Walden, New York Waterloo (USHL —
26
Owen Murray Freshman
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
2002-12-01
Decker, Manitoba Green Bay (USHL —
27
Michael Cameron Freshman
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
2002-07-24
Berwyn, Pennsylvania Omaha (USHL —
28
Eric Faith C Senior
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
1998-04-18
Carp, Ontario Brockville (CCHL —
29
Eric DeDobbelaer Sophomore
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2000-06-15
Brantford, Ontario Brantford (OJHL —
32
Henry Graham Junior
G 6' 0" (1.83 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
2000-07-25
Manhattan, New York P. A. L. (NCDC )
—
34
Cole Brady Junior
G 6' 5" (1.96 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
2001-02-12
Pickering, Ontario Arizona State (NCAA )NJD 2019
40
Tyson Dyck Freshman
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
2004-02-06
Abbotsford, British Columbia Cranbrook (BCHL OTT 2022
Standings
Schedule and results
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
TV
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Exhibition
October 1
7:00 PM
Sacred Heart *
#10
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts (Exhibition)
Graham
L 2–3
Regular Season
October 8
7:05 PM
at American International *
#13
MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts FloHockey
Pavicich
T 2–2 OT
1,144
0–0–1
October 14
7:00 PM
#1 Denver *
#13
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
W 4–2 7,297
1–0–1
October 15
7:30 PM
#1 Denver *
#13
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
W 3−0 6,315
2−0−1
October 21
7:00 PM
Union *
#6
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
W 7–1 3,721
3–0–1
October 22
7:00 PM
Union *
#6
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Brady
W 7–0 3,737
4–0–1
October 28
7:00 PM
Merrimack
#5
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
W 3–2 OT
3,150
5–0–1 (1–0–0)
October 29
7:00 PM
at Merrimack
#5
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts ESPN+
Brady
L 1–2 OT
2,533
5–1–1 (1–1–0)
November 4
7:00 PM
at #14 Providence
#5
Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island NESN , ESPN+
Pavicich
L 4–7 2,981
5–2–1 (1–2–0)
November 5
7:00 PM
#14 Providence
#5
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
L 3–4 OT
4,790
5–3–1 (1–3–0)
November 11
7:00 PM
#14 Boston University
#11
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts NESN , ESPN+
Pavicich
L 2–7 5,197
5–4–1 (1–4–0)
November 12
7:00 PM
at #14 Boston University
#11
Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts ESPN+
Brady
L 1–5 4,869
5–5–1 (1–5–0)
November 18
7:00 PM
at New Hampshire
#16
Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire NESN , ESPN+
Pavicich
W 4–2 4,506
6–5–1 (2–5–0)
Friendship Four
November 25
2:00 PM
vs. #14 Massachusetts Lowell *
#17
SSE Arena Belfast • Belfast , Northern Ireland (Friendship Four Semifinal)
Pavicich
W 2–1 5,487
7–5–1
November 26
2:00 PM
vs. #4 Quinnipiac *
#17
SSE Arena Belfast • Belfast , Northern Ireland (Friendship Four Championship)
Pavicich
T 2–2 SOL
5,893
7–5–2
December 3
7:00 PM
#16 Massachusetts Lowell
#15
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts NESN+ , ESPN+
Pavicich
T 1–1 SOL
5,579
7–5–3 (2–5–1)
December 7
7:00 PM
#11 Merrimack
#13
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
L 1–2 2,797
7–6–3 (2–6–1)
Holiday Face–Off
December 28
5:00 PM
vs. Clarkson *
#15
Fiserv Forum • Milwaukee , Wisconsin (Holiday Face–Off Semifinal)BSW+
Pavicich
L 3–6 -
7–7–3
December 29
5:00 PM
vs. Lake Superior State *
#15
Fiserv Forum • Milwaukee , Wisconsin (Holiday Face–Off Consolation)BSW+
Graham
W 4–1 -
8–7–3
Regular Season
January 3
7:00 PM
Brown *
#15
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
W 3–0 2,070
9–7–3
January 7
6:00 PM
vs. Boston College *
#15
Fenway Park • Boston, Massachusetts (Frozen Fenway)NESN , ESPN+
Pavicich
L 2–4 22,500
9–8–3
January 11
7:00 PM
at #7 Boston University
#19
Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
L 2–6 2,721
9–9–3 (2–7–1)
January 15
3:00 PM
New Hampshire
#19
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts NESN , ESPN+
Graham
L 1–3 4,246
9–10–3 (2–8–1)
January 20
7:00 PM
#13 Connecticut
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts NESN+ , ESPN+
Graham
L 3–4 OT
3,411
9–11–3 (2–9–1)
January 21
4:30 PM
at #13 Connecticut
Toscano Family Ice Forum • Storrs, Connecticut ESPN+
Pavicich
L 1–3 2,691
9–12–3 (2–10–1)
January 27
7:15 PM
at #18 Massachusetts Lowell
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts NESN+ , ESPN+
Pavicich
L 0–1 6,339
9–13–3 (2–11–1)
February 3
7:00 PM
at Providence
Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island NESN+ , ESPN+
Pavicich
W 3–2 3,236
10–13–3 (3–11–1)
February 10
7:00 PM
Vermont
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Graham
T 4–4 SOW
4,314
10–13–4 (3–11–2)
February 11
7:00 PM
Vermont
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts NESN , ESPN+
Pavicich
T 3–3 SOW
4,320
10–13–5 (3–11–3)
February 17
7:00 PM
at Boston College
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts ESPN+
Pavicich
L 3–7 5,328
10–14–5 (3–12–3)
February 18
7:00 PM
Boston College
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Brady
L 1–3 5,278
10–15–5 (3–13–3)
February 24
7:00 PM
#15 Northeastern
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Brady
W 3–2 4,638
11–15–5 (4–13–3)
February 25
7:30 PM
at #15 Northeastern
Matthews Arena • Boston , Massachusetts ESPN+
Brady
L 0–4 4,407
11–16–5 (4–14–3)
March 3
7:00 PM
at Maine
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine ESPN+
Brady
W 5–2 4,272
12–16–5 (5–14–3)
March 4
7:00 PM
at Maine
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine ESPN+
Brady
W 4–3 5,043
13–16–5 (6–14–3)
Hockey East Tournament
March 8
7:00 PM
at Boston College *
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts NESN+ , ESPN+
Brady
L 2–5 1,376
13–17–5
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll . All times are in Eastern Time . [ 4]
Scoring statistics
Name
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Scott Morrow D 35
9
22
31 16
Kenny Connors C 32
9
17
26 8
Ryan Ufko D 32
8
16
24 25
Reed Lebster RW 30
8
14
22 6
Cal Kiefiuk F 31
7
14
21 29
Cole O'Hara RW 32
4
13
17 14
Ryan Lautenbach RW 33
4
10
14 20
Lucas Mercuri C 35
3
11
14 33
Taylor Makar C /LW 32
10
2
12 54
Michael Cameron C 31
9
3
12 0
Tyson Dyck C 28
5
4
9 8
Matt Koopman C 35
5
4
9 0
Aaron Bohlinger D 25
2
7
9 8
Eric Faith LW 33
1
6
7 16
Jerry Harding F 32
1
5
6 8
Josh Nodler C /RW 27
2
3
5 8
Ryan Sullivan F 32
2
1
3 8
Owen Murray D 21
1
2
3 12
Elliott McDermott D 35
1
2
3 10
Mikey Adamson D 11
1
1
2 4
Noah Ellis D 23
1
1
2 6
Kennedy O'Connor D 21
0
2
2 2
Linden Alger D 11
1
0
1 6
Cole Brady G 12
0
1
1 2
Eric DeDobbelaer C /RW 2
0
0
0 0
Henry Graham G 8
0
0
0 0
Luke Pavicich G 23
0
0
0 0
Total
94
161
255
393
[ 5]
Goaltending statistics
Name
Games
Minutes
Wins
Losses
Ties
Goals Against
Saves
Shut Outs
SV % GAA
Henry Graham 11
256:16
1
2
1
10
117
0
.921
2.34
Luke Pavicich 24
1265:40
8
10
4
58
671
2
.920
2.75
Cole Brady 17
600:06
4
5
0
31
303
1
.907
3.10
Empty Net
-
14:01
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
Total
35
2122:02
13
17
3
103
1091
3
.914
2.89
Rankings
Poll
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
26
27 (Final)
USCHO.com
10
-
13
13
6
5 (2)
5 (1)
11
16
17
15
13
15
-
15
19
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
-
NR
USA Today
10
10
13
14
6
5 (4)
5
10
15
17
15
12
15
15
15
17
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26. [ 6]
Players drafted into the NHL
† incoming freshman
[ 7]
References
^ "Former Gopher Garrett Wait's career may be over after suffering serious off-season injury" . The Rink Live . July 27, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022 .^ "NORTHEASTERN PICKED TO TOP HOCKEY EAST MEN'S LEAGUE" . Hockey East . September 13, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023 .^ "2022–23 Roster" . UMass Athletics. Retrieved September 6, 2017 .^ "2022-23 Hockey Schedule" . UMass Minutemen . Retrieved August 28, 2022 .^ "UMass (Amherst) 2022-2023 Skater Stats" . Elite Prospects . Retrieved July 2, 2020 .^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll" . USCHO.com . Retrieved November 26, 2019 .^ "NCAA player rankings, selections in 2023 NHL Draft" . USCHO.com . Retrieved June 30, 2023 .
