BOSTON --Â In the midst of its best start to the season in 25 years, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team opens Hockey East play on Friday night against crosstown rival Boston College at Conte Forum for the start of a home-and-home set with the Eagles this weekend.
Sophomore forward
Kevin Roy, who was named the Warrior Hockey Player of the Month on Wednesday, enters Friday's tilt riding a six-game point streak, which is tied for the longest in his career. Roy has 12 points (seven goals, five assists), and is tied for second in the nation with 2.00 points per game.
The Lac-Beauport, Quebec native has four multi-point games, tied for the most in the country, including a hat trick on opening night against Alabama-Huntsville.
Roy has been aided by the play of freshman
Mike Szmatula, who leads the nation in rookie scoring with 1.83 points per game. Last week's Pro Ambitions Co-Rookie of the Week has 11 points in six games, and leads the country with 10 assists.
Senior
Braden Pimm is also off to a torrid start to the season, recording a goal in every game, matching his six-goal total from last season. Four of Pimm's six goals have come on the power play, which is tied for the most in the country.
NU has received solid goaltending from
Derick Roy and
Clay Witt, who have traded starts through the team's first six contests this year. Witt has slightly better numbers entering this weekend following a 39 save performance in Northeastern's 6-3 come-from-behind victory at St. Lawrence on Oct. 25 with a 2.00 goals against average and .939 save percentage.
A look at the Eagles
Boston College has started the year 2-2-1 and is coming of an 0-1-1 weekend series at No. 1 Minnesota. The Eagles fought through overtime to a 3-3 tie with the Gophers before being defeated 6-1 in the series finale. The Eagles return home to face the Huskies, where they are 2-0-0 this season.
The BC offense this season is led by junior forward Johnny Gaudreau. Through the first five games of the season, Gaudreau has recorded eight points (three goals, five assists). Senior forward Kevin Hayes has chipped in two goals and four helpers for six total points.
The action in goal has been split for the Eagles this season. Junior Brian Billett has seen the majority of the work, appearing in three games while compiling a record of 1-2-0. He holds a 3.88 goals against average and an .862 save percentage. Freshman Thatcher Demko is 1-0-1 in two contests, with a 2.40 GAA and a .924 save percentage.
The all-time series with Boston College
Friday marks the 220th installment in the regional rivalry, which dates back to 1933, with Boston College holding a 158-47-14 advantage in the all-time series.
The Huskies went 1-3-0 against the Eagles last season, but the lone victory was a big one. In last season's opener at Matthews Arena on Oct. 13, 2012, NU knocked off No. 1 Boston College 3-1, thus ending BC's 19-game winning streak that ran from Jan. 27 - Apr. 7, 2012, culminating in the program's fifth national championship.
Huskies in Hockey East openers
Northeastern is entering its 30th season in Hockey East, and owns a 13-10-6 (.552) mark all-time in conference openers. The Huskies have faced off with Boston College to begin their Hockey East slate on four occasions, going 2-1-1. The last time NU began league play against the Eagles was on Oct. 10, 2006, a 5-2 win for BC. Northeastern hasn't topped Boston College in its Hockey East opener since Oct. 20, 2001 (4-3).
Last time out
St. Lawrence went 3-of-7 on the power play and used a three-goal first period to set the tone in a 6-4 victory against No. 20 Northeastern on Saturday night at Appleton Arena.
NU received goals from four different skaters, including a goal and an assist from senior
Braden Pimm.
Adam Reid,
John Stevens and
Zach Aston-Reese also scored for the Huskies, who were outshot 31-24 in the game and went 1-of-5 on the power play. Redshirt-freshman
Derick Roy got the start between the pipes for the third time this season, making 25 saves.
Out of the gates
Northeastern's hot start to the season gave the Huskies a 5-0-0 beginning to the year for the first time since the 1988-89 season, and fourth time in program history (1980-81, 1952-53).
Northeastern's two victories against Alabama-Huntsville to star the season gave NU a 2-0-0 start to the season for the second straight year. It's the first time since 1993-94 and 1994-95 that NU has begun consecutive seasons at 2-0-0.
A win on Friday would be the quickest Northeastern has reached six victories since the 1980-81 season. when the Huskies started the year 12-0-0.
Head of the class
Northeastern is well represented among class scoring this season, with three student-athletes either leading or tied for the nation's lead in freshman, sophomore, and senior scoring.
Rookie
Mike Szmatula leads all freshmen with 1.83 points per game on one goal and 10 assists, while the Huskies are the only team in the country with four players ranked in the top-15 of freshmen scoring (
Zach Aston-Reese, t-6th;
Dalen Hedges, t-9th;
John Stevens, t-13th). Minnesota, the nation's top team, is the only other squad with three players in the top-10 of rookie scoring.
Sophomore
Kevin Roy is tied with Miami (Ohio)'s Riley Barber for the lead in sophomore scoring with 12 points (seven goals, five assists), and
Braden Pimm is in a four-way tie among senior scoring with nine points (six goals, three assists).Â
Striking early, striking late
The Huskies have made a habit of taking advantage of the first and last two minutes of a period. NU has eight goals in that span, the most of any team in the country.
Going streaking
A trio of Huskies is off to a fast start to the year, recording a point in each of their first six games of the season.
Kevin Roy has a point in every game this year, including four multi-point nights, and is tied for the nation's lead with 12 points on seven goals and five assists.
Braden Pimm's second period goal on Saturday gave the senior a goal in all six games this season, the longest scoring streak and point streak of his career.
Mike Szmatula also has a point in all six contests this year with one goal and 10 assists, while
Zach Aston-Reese is in the midst of a four-game point streak with six points (two goals, four assists).
Offensive explosion
After scoring 81 goals all of last season, Northeastern has already logged more than a third of that total in just six games. NU leads the nation with 30 goals this season, and its 5.00 goals per game average is tied for first in the country. The Huskies' 30 goals this season are the most through six games since the 1994-95 season when NU tallied 33 goals in the opening six games of the season.
The Huskies' 12 goals on opening weekend were the most goals scored in the team's first two games of the season since NU scored 13 in the opening two games of the 2002-03 season.
Poll position
The Huskies moved up a spot in this week's USCHO.com poll to No.19 with 154 points, and is also receiving votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll. After its hot start to the year, Northeastern the USCHO.com poll at No. 20 last week, receiving 99 points. It was the first time NU has been in the top 20 since Oct. 29, 2012 when the Huskies were ranked 15th.
Northeastern is one of eight Hockey East teams either ranked or receiving votes in this week's USCHO.com poll, and also appeared in the poll during the first nine weeks of last season, highlighted by a No. 14 ranking on Oct. 15, 2012.
Platoon between the pipes
Head coach
Jim Madigan has utilized a pair of goaltenders so far this season, with junior
Clay Witt and redshirt-freshman
Derick Roy alternating starts through six games. Witt is 3-0-0 on the season with a 2.00 goals against average and .939 save percentage, highlighted by a 39 save effort at St. Lawrence last weekend. Roy, meanwhile, has put up impressive numbers of his own with a 2.69 GAA and .907 save percentage.
Pimm on the power play
The Northeastern power play, currently ranked in a tie for second in the nation with 10 goals on the man advantage, has received four from senior
Braden Pimm in six games, already exceeding his total from last season and tied for first in the country.
Pimm recorded one PPG in each game against Alabama-Huntsville, becoming the first Husky since
Garrett Vermeersch on Oct. 9-10, 2009 to net a power play goal in each of his team's first two games of the season. Pimm was one of six players in the nation to net two power play goals in his first two contests.
Lending a helping hand
Northeastern has tallied 51 assists through six games this season, the second most in the country, sparked by 10 helpers from freshman
Mike Szmatula (first in the nation). Szmatula has an assist in every game this season, including three games with multi-assist efforts and a career-high three helpers on opening night against Alabama-Huntsville.
Hello, my name is …
Northeastern houses 12 freshmen (eight forwards, three defensemen, one goaltender) on its 2013-14 roster, which is the most in Hockey East and tied with Sacred Heart for the most rookies in the nation. Eight freshmen have seen playing time so far this season, and have accounted for seven goals and 29 assists, which is 44% of Northeastern's total scoring.
Did I catch a niner in there?
Northeastern fans got a good look at the Huskies' offense on opening night as NU notched nine goals for the first time since Dec. 2, 2011 against Notre Dame. It also marked the first time since Oct. 25, 1988 against Vermont that the Huskies netted nine goals in the opening game of the season.
Shots, shots, shots
For the second time this season, NU generated more than 50 shots on goal against Holy Cross on Oct. 19. Opening night against Alabama-Huntsville saw the Huskies pepper the opposing goaltender with 52 shots on goal. It marked just the second time in the last five seasons that NU has generated at least 50 shots on goal.
Oh brother
Northeastern's 28-man roster features two sets of brothers in Cody and
Nathan Ferriero, as well as Derick and
Kevin Roy. The Huskies are one of just two teams in the nation to have two pairs of brothers on its roster, joining Quinnipiac's Connor and Tim Clifton and Conner and Kellen Jones.
O Captain, My Captain
Northeastern head coach
Jim Madigan announced this spring that junior defenseman
Josh Manson will serve as the Huskies' captain in 2013-14. Manson will be joined by classmates
Dax Lauwers and
Adam Reid as assistant captains.
Manson, a 2011 sixth-round NHL draft pick by the Anaheim Ducks, emerged as a leader during his sophomore season with seven points (three goals, four assists). Lauwers and Reid, meanwhile, contributed five (1-4-5) and 12 (6-6-12) points, respectively, during their sophomore seasons in 2012-13.
Comeback at St. Lawrence
Last weekend, the Huskies erased a 2-0 deficit to come back and knock off St. Lawrence 6-3. It marked the first time since Jan. 7, 2011 against Massachusetts, a span of 95 games, that NU fell behind 2-0 and came back to win the game.
Show dogs
Northeastern has four NHL draft picks on this year's squad. Sophomore
Kevin Roy is NU's highest draft pick after the Anaheim Ducks took him in the fourth round (97th overall) last year.
San Jose selected senior
Cody Ferriero in the fifth round (127th) in 2010 while junior
Josh Manson was an Anaheim sixth rounder (160th) in 2011. Newcomer
Matt Benning was selected by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (175th) at the 2012 Entry Draft.
Stiff scheduling
Eleven of Northeastern's 17 opponents this season are either ranked or receiving votes in the first USCHO.com poll, which was released on Sept. 30. UMass Lowell is the top-ranked squad in the country, followed by Boston College (No. 4), Notre Dame (No. 8), New Hampshire (No. 13), Providence (No. 14), Western Michigan (No. 18), Boston University (No. 19), Harvard (RV - 18), Air Force (RV - 14), Dartmouth (RV - 2), Merrimack (RV - 2). Northeastern is 18-31-7 against ranked opponents dating back to the 2010-11 season.
All eyes on me
When Northeastern takes the ice at No. 5 Boston College on Nov. 1, it will do so in front of a national audience. The Huskies and Eagles will square off on NBCSN at 8 p.m. as part of a two-year contract extension between NBCSN and Hockey East, the league announced Oct. 8
In addition, NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets, will stream all league games telecast on NBCSN. All games will be live streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.
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Freshman
Mike Szmatula's first collegiate goal caught the attention of the nation last week when it was included in the NCAA's Ice Hockey Plays of the Week. The forward took a pass from
Nathan Ferriero and flew into the attacking zone. Szmatula then quickly cut into the slot before firing a shot across his body into the top right corner for a 2-0 Husky lead.
Taking it outside
The Huskies will make their anticipated return to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, as the Huskies face UMass Lowell on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 as part of Frozen Fenway 2014 festivities. The City of Boston, the Boston Red Sox, Hockey East Association and Fenway Sports Management (FSM) announced the return of Frozen Fenway in a press release on Apr. 25.
"The entire Northeastern family, from our student-athletes, to our coaches and to our fans, is truly gracious for another opportunity to play hockey at Fenway Park," head coach
Jim Madigan said. "I'll never forget my first experience outdoors at Fenway and everyone is very excited to make some new memories. We are also excited to take on a worthy opponent in UMass Lowell."
The matchup between the Huskies and the River Hawks will mark the second time Northeastern has participated in the Frozen Fenway festivities. On Jan. 14, 2012, in front of an audience of 29,601 in frigid temperatures and brisk winds, the Huskies dropped a contentious 2-1 battle to Boston College, the eventual national champions.
Season and individual game tickets now on sale
Season and individual game tickets are now on sale for the Northeastern men's ice hockey team. Starting at just $100, fans can secure a great seat to see the NU men's team take the ice for all of its 14 home games during the 2013-14 season, including nine Hockey East games. Individual game tickets start range from $10 to $20. Log on to
GoNU.com/tickets for more information.
Huskies hockey in high definition
GoNUxstream will broadcast each and every home men's hockey game free, in high definition, live at www.GoNU.com/xstream. Northeastern University was the first school in Hockey East to broadcast a live, HD stream over the internet. The broadcast is complete with live stats, live chat, commentating and sideline reporting.
Hang out with the Huskies
Be sure to connect with Northeastern athletics and Northeastern men's hockey on Facebook and Twitter to receive scores and information, interact with fellow fans, access photos and videos, and receive exclusive promotional and ticket offers. Follow NU Athletics, @
GoNUathletics, and 'Like' us atÂ
facebook.com/GoNUathletics. To get live, in-game updates of Northeastern men's hockey, follow @
GoNUmhockey, and 'Like' us atÂ
facebook.com/GoNUmhockey.
The road ahead
Northeastern will continue league play next weekend when the Huskies travel to the Tsongas Center for a 7 p.m. matchup with No. 15/14 UMass Lowell on Saturday night. NU is 37-57-8 all-time against the River Hawks, who are the defending Hockey East champions.
