UMass hockey enters weekend needing points for postseason bid

AMHERST - University of Massachusetts hockey coach Toot Cahoon didn't try to pass off Saturday's game against Providence as just another game. He knows better. So do his players and the fans. As the Minutemen try to pull out of their recent skid to get back into the playoff race, Saturday's 7 p.m. game at the Mullins Center is a big game.

Minnesota trades former UMass hockey player Casey Wellman to Rangers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Wild have traded forward Casey Wellman to the New York Rangers for center Erik Christensen and a conditional seventh-round draft choice.

Minutemen need points in race to Hockey East postseason

After last weekend's two losses, the University of Massachusetts hockey team urgently needs some points to stay in the Hockey East playoff picture.

The Minutemen will play Northeastern tonight at Matthews Arena in Boston and are at home against Merrimack Saturday. Both games are at 7 p.m.

UMass hockey outplayed by Lowell, suffers first loss at Mullins Center

AMHERST - The return of student fans to the Mullins Center wasn't enough to save the University of Massachusetts hockey team's home streak. The Minutemen entered the game as the nation's only undefeated team at home, but UMass-Lowell scored three unanswered goals in the second period to beat UMass 4-2 Friday.

Minutemen, Lowell meet in home-and-home hockey series

AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts hockey team will try to extend one streak and end another when it begins a home-and-home series with UMass-Lowell tonight at the Mullins Center.

The teams will play Saturday at Tsongas Arena. Both games are at 7 p.m.

UMass hockey holds on for 4-3 win over Vermont

AMHERST - Senior captain Danny Hobbs had a hat trick for the University of Massachusetts, but it was sophomore Conor Allen who played the hero as the Minutemen escaped with a 4-3 win over Vermont Friday in an up-and-down game at the Mullins Center.

UMass hopes to climb Hockey East standings against Vermont

AMHERST - There won't likely be as much attention on this hockey matchup between the Universities of Massachusetts and Vermont as there was on the last one.

But in terms of the Hockey East standings, Friday's 7 p.m. game at the Mullins Center means every bit as much as it would if the game was being played outside at a historic ballpark.

UMass hockey, men's basketball undefeated at Mullins Center

AMHERST - Moments after the University of Massachusetts hockey team finished off its 4-0 win over No. 4-ranked Boston College on Friday night, the Mullins Center crew began to transform the arena from an ice rink to basketball gym.

UMass hockey shuts out No. 4 Boston College

AMHERST — University of Massachusetts coach Toot Cahoon’s
decision to start rarely used freshman goalie Steve Mastalerz against
No. 4 Boston College drew some surprised reactions when it was announced before the game. But the netminder more than rewarded his coach's faith stopping 35 shots in a 4-0 shutout of the Eagles Friday at the Mullins Center. Sophomore goalie Jeff Teglia was coming off a strong game against Vermont last week at Fenway Park and freshman Kevin Boyle had beaten BC earlier this season, but Cahoon chose Mastalerz.

UMass hockey opens critical stretch against fourth-ranked Boston College

AMHERST - There are no bells and whistles left for the University of Massachusetts hockey team. The nonconference slate, the trip to Florida, the game at Fenway Park are all in the rearview mirror. Tonight's game against fourth-ranked Boston College at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center begins a 14-game stretch of Hockey East games that will close out the regular season.

Yankees fan delivers for UMass hockey in overtime win at Frozen Fenway

BOSTON - The University of Massachusetts hockey team's hero at Fenway Park on Saturday is a New York Yankees fan. Michael Marcou of Kings Park, N.Y., scored with 22.3 seconds left in overtime to give the Minutemen a 3-2 win over Vermont in the first game of a Hockey East doubleheader at Frozen Fenway 2012. With UMass on the power play, Marcou came in from the point, collected a rebound and tapped it through traffic by Catamounts goalie Rob Madore. Marcou then raced to the boards on the home-plate side of the rink, pumping his fist as his teammates mobbed him.

• Related column: Hockey at Fenway in January

Hockey at Fenway in January is quite a spectacle

BOSTON - If you spend too much time thinking about it, the whole idea is almost absurd.

It would be hard to explain to a non-sports fan why you'd play a hockey game on a baseball field in early January, especially with dozens of perfectly good indoor climate-controlled buildings nearby.

On eve of Fenway experience, memories surface for UMass

BOSTON - Conor Sheary was jealous. The University of Massachusetts sophomore forward skipped a high school practice to watch his older sister Courtney, who played for the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team, compete in the first Frozen Fenway in 2010.

Late goal by Danny Hobbs gives UMass hockey tie with Providence

Danny Hobbs scored a 6-on-5 goal with 37 seconds left in regulation to help the University of Massachusetts hockey team earn a 4-4 tie with Providence on the road Thursday night.

UMass hockey coach looks forward to a Frozen Fenway game on Saturday

AMHERST - As he watched the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers play outside at Citizen's Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia Monday afternoon in the NHL's annual Winter Classic, University of Massachusetts hockey coach Don "Toot" Cahoon couldn't help but feel excited. He knew that less than a week later he'd be leading his own team in a game with a similar environment as the Minutemen will face Vermont, Saturday at 4 p.m. at Fenway Park in Boston. The game is a part of the 16-day Frozen Fenway event.

• Click here for Hockey East Frozen Fenway 2012

Weather looking favorable for UMass hockey game Saturday at Fenway Park

After the first Frozen Fenway in 2010, Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna promised himself that he wouldn't be obsessed with checking the weather leading up to the second set of outdoor Hockey East games that will be played at Fenway Park on Saturday. "I said last time that I wouldn't do that again because I was driving myself crazy, but I am checking," Bertagna said. "Every morning I'm looking at the 10-day forecast." So far he's been getting good news about the two games - the University of Massachusetts faces Vermont at 4 p.m. Maine plays New Hampshire at 7:30 p.m. According to Weather.com, Saturday's temperature ranges from a low of 32 to a high of 49 degrees with just a 10 percent chance of precipitation.

• Click here for Hockey East Frozen Fenway 2012

UMass hockey stuns No. 13 Cornell in Everblades Classic

It wasn't a true road game, but the University of Massachusetts hockey team finally got a win away from the Mullins Center as the Minutemen battered one of the nation's best goalies and upset No. 13 Cornell 5-2 in the Florida Everblades Classic in Estero.

UMass (6-7-4) advanced to face Maine in the finals today at 7:30 p.m. The outcome won't count in Hockey East standings.

UMass hockey seeks new start in Florida

UM returns to ice after 3-week break

By MATT VAUTOUR Staff Writer

The three-week break did not come at a great time for the University of Massachusetts hockey team, which never got to ride the momentum after its 3-1 upset of No. 17 Yale.

UMass hockey rallies over Yale to remain unbeaten at Mullins Center

AMHERST - Branden Gracel's beautiful game-winning goal early in the third period gave the University of Massachusetts hockey team a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Yale on Wednesday as the Minutemen stayed undefeated at the Mullins Center.

UMass hockey settles for 4-4 tie with Harvard Friday

The Minutemen (4-7-4), who are unbeaten at home, took a quick 1-0 lead on a goal by Conor Sheary just a 1 minute, 39 seconds into the first period. A Crimson turnover in the neutral zone lead to a two-on-one rush as T.J. Syner bated the defender and passed the puck across the slot to a wide open Sheary, who had the whole net to shoot at.