For a rebuilding Vermont team that finally played its first games last weekend, coming home from UMass with a win proved to be too tall an order.
Under first-year coach Todd Woodcroft, the Catamounts lost twice to the 10th-ranked Minutemen but learned lessons that should pay dividends down the road.
“It was a good starting point for our players to understand how hard it is to win in Hockey East going against a team as structured and as good as UMass,’’ said Woodcroft. “Whether (UMass) had (six) games under their belt or not, it doesn’t matter. It gives us a place to go in games and say, that is the standard we have to get to.’’
After being outshot 34-15 in a 4-0 loss on Saturday, Vermont had a better start on Sunday before losing, 4-1.
“The first six or seven minutes we were very good and then we took a penalty. Whether the penalty was questionable or not, it doesn’t really matter. We took a penalty and now we get into penalty trouble and then the stuff you worked so hard to build, it gets kind of evaporated,’’ he said.
“We’re not good enough as a team to be able to withstand that. They scored three power-play goals against us and now we’re climbing out of a hole all day. It’s a lesson for us in what to do and how to play and the structure we need.’’
Asked what he learned about his team in the first two games, Woodcroft said he learned how much his players care about each other.
“We were down and we kept fighting, which is what we like. We lost the first game. We came out in the second game and I felt that we were doing everything right. Our plan going into the game was we want to win and we want to compete. Whether people are picking us for last (place), it doesn’t matter. I learned about the pride that these guys have.’’
Vermont possessed the puck more in the second game than in the first. Shot attempts went from 55-29 in favor of UMass in the first game to 47-41 for the Minutemen in the second.
“I thought we got better. The metrics we judge ourselves on are probably different than what other people would look at. Shot attempts, what that tells me is UMass was fantastic about getting in shooting lanes. That’s a standard for us to see. They are one of the top teams in the country and their best players are blocking shots. It also tells us we’re not moving our feet. So we’re getting shot attempts from a standstill.’’
Woodcroft was impressed with senior goalie Tyler Harmon, who spent the last three years backing up Stefan Lekkas, one of Hockey East’s top netminders.
“He’s so calm, he’s so competitive. He doesn’t get rattled. He’s learning how to be an elite goalie. He was never really given an opportunity to play. You can say, of course not, because he was playing behind Stef Lekkas. That’s like the guy that plays behind Marty Brodeur.
“He’s been a student for a long time. Now he’s getting an opportunity to demonstrate what he’s learned. It’s a two-game sample size, so it’s not like he has the Vezina Trophy in his pocket or anything, but he’s shown glimpses of what he can do and how hard he fought to get in there.’’
Even though the losses surely will outnumber the wins this season, Woodcroft will define progress in other ways.
“We’re going to measure it by how competitive we are. We do not accept losing, of course. But what we for sure don’t accept is a lack of competing. If we can compete every day, even if you’re a senior right now, you’re helping lay the foundation for the guys that are freshmen. Those are the successes for us.’’ he said.
“We were joking that we made the playoffs (when Hockey East decided last week that all 11 teams would be included). So how do we build toward the playoffs? How do we get ready for that? However many games we play, those are getting us ready for the playoffs.’’
Ruikka is top rookie
Providence College defenseman Uula Ruikka of Finland is off to a solid start in his freshman season.
Ruikka, who played for the Chicago Steel of the USHL for two seasons before enrolling at PC, earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors after scoring his first goal in a shootout loss at Northeastern, then adding an assist the next day when the Friars rebounded with a home win against the Huskies.
“He’s really poised with the puck coming out of our zone on the power play. He’s got a little shimmy to him, so he can hold people off with his upper body and his eyes and make plays coming out of our zone,’’ said Ron Rolston, PC’s acting head coach with Nate Leaman away at the World Junior Championship.
“He’s still developing, obviously. It’s still early in his college career. He’ll have to continue to get better defensively. He’s a battler. He comes every day and puts everything into it and battles to get better.
“He’s somebody for us who adds a lot of poise, can really rip the puck on the power play, so he’s got some real good offensive instincts at the offensive blue line. I think he’s going to be a real good one for us.’’
Struble’s impact
There isn’t a more physical defenseman in Hockey East — and maybe in all of college hockey — than Northeastern sophomore Jayden Struble (Cumberland, R.I.).
“I'm going to say this: When Jayden Struble is on the ice and you're on the other team, you take note,’’ said NU captain Zach Solow. “He is a beast out there. You see how he finishes (his checks). No one wants to be on the wrong end of that.’’
The Montreal Canadiens’ second-round draft pick in 2019, Struble scored a goal and an assist and handed out some bone-rattling hits in a shootout win against PC on Saturday. He and the Huskies had a tougher time in losing a rematch on Sunday. PC’s first goal bounced in off him and he was in the penalty box when the Friars scored their third goal.
“He’s in a good spot. We know about the physical prowess that he has. He’s a strong kid. He’s been playing with much more confidence over the last three to four weeks,’’ said NU coach Jim Madigan.
“He’s had to endure some injuries with his groin even in this preseason through October and early November. He’s got himself healthy, and when he's healthy, that's what we see that type of player, where he can log a log of minutes, he's physical, he can help you on the offensive and defensive side of puck and yet there's still even a higher ceiling for him.’’
Mullin, Stilwell on move
Two Ivy Leaguers, winger Tristan Mullin of Cornell and defenseman Tony Stillwell of Brown, are moving on.
Mullin, who would have been a Big Red captain this season if not for the pandemic, is headed to Vermont for the second semester.
Mullin caught Woodcroft’s eye during Winnipeg Jets development camp in 2019. Coming from a program with a winning history, he’ll provide leadership for the Catamounts.
Stillwell will suit up for Quinnipiac as a grad transfer in 2021-22. A superb skater, he’ll give the Bobcats an effective power-play quarterback.
