November 25, 2009
Lowell Meeting Raised Expectations
by Matthew Ruffini/CHN Reporter
Massachusetts-Lowell ended last season playing some of its best hockey, knocking off Vermont and Northeastern before finally losing to Boston University in the Hockey East tournament championship game.
The run raised expectations for this season, expectations that, so far, have generally been met, despite a tough loss to Providence on Tuesday night.
Coach Blaise MacDonald knows the expectations are there, and has plenty himself, but like any good coach, is focusing his players on the "one game at a time" philosophy.
That the River Hawks ended last season strong was not the only reason for expectations to be so high. This team again returned most of its key players from last year, including its top seven scorers. But, ending last season on a roll has made the team even more motivated.
“Our team goal is to finish what we stated last season, we had a taste of success late in the year and we want that back," senior goalie Carter Hutton said. "At the same time we realize that success comes day by day, and we have a what’s next attitude towards everything. No matter what happens in games or practice, good teams know how to move on and learn from it.”
Expectations are one thing and then living up to them is another; MacDonald would just like his players to worry about what they can control and not what people are saying.
“Our Expectations are internal; about us and our team. We can’t control our opponents, only what we can do," MacDonald said. "To win Hockey East you must be consistent and have some good fortune.”
According to senior forward Kory Falite, the whole team has bought into the idea that Hockey East can’t be won this early in the season.
“To win Hockey East we really just have to take it one game and one day at a time," Falite said. "We can’t win the conference today but we can certainly get ourselves better prepared to do so.”
Hockey East is arguably one of the most balanced conferences this season, in just one weekend of conference play a team could fall from the top of the standings all the way to the bottom or vice versa.
“Our League is so strong from top to bottom that it always takes extreme focus on the short term, essentially on what’s next," MacDonald said. "This team understands just how slim the margin of error is."
Hockey East has four teams ranked in the top 20, two of them, including the RiverHawks, in the top 10.
“This conference is very difficult because you have a big game every night," Falite said. "I think my favorite aspect is the crowds, but it’s nice to play in a conference that pits you against the top teams in the country night in and night out.”
Currently Lowell sits fourth in Hockey East largely due to a very balanced offensive attack and solid goaltending. The RiverHawks currently have seven players with at least 10 points. Junior forward Scott Campbell leads the group with five goals, eight assists and 13 points. The RiverHawks also have received strong offensive play from one of their defensemen in Nick Schaus, who has four goals and eight assists.
“This year’s team has a lot of skilled players and I think that we have such a balanced attack because of that," Falite said. "It’s a great situation because you’re not leaning on one guy to do it every night. I think the success of our power play has a ton to do with that, we put out ten guys who can score and make plays.”
The RiverHawks have also had strong play in net from their two senior goalies. Hutton and Nevin Hamilton have split the time in net and have both put up solid numbers. In seven games Hutton already has two shutouts while Hamilton has won four out of the five games he has started. Hutton and Hamilton have become close friends and realize that with the two of them splitting time in net the River Hawks could be a tough team to score on no matter who is in net.
“We are quietly competitive, and we both understand the situation our team is in having two goaltenders that can play every night and can be successful with either one," Hutton said. "We are also best buddies and live in a house together so we have fun on and off the ice and that only helps the situation.”
This year’s River Hawks have the ingredients and the will power to not only take home the Hockey East title but also advance to the NCAA tournament. Given the questions in recent years — finally answered — whether the program was even going to survive, that would be huge for a program that hasn't tasted the NCAAs since the mid-'90s.
“The difference now from my freshman year is incredible; it all starts with the support from the school and the students," Hutton said. "I think if we have success this year it will only make the program stronger for years to come with our fan base and recruiting.”
