We had to get into the Thanksgiving spirit for this week’s Division 1 Extra segment!
It’s time to take a spin around New England’s college rinks prior to a full slate of weekend action, but we’re doing so with a little bit of a twist on this holiday.
Your meal on Thanksgiving and a college hockey team both need all parts to align in order to be great. So with that in mind, we set out to create a lineup filled with some of the region’s top talent in the form of a classic holiday plate.
Enjoy the holiday ― and the hockey ― this weekend, but I’ll be back with your weekly preview on Friday morning!
Turkey: Cale Makar, UMass
Just like the turkey on the Thanksgiving table, Makar and his Minutemen have been the center of attention while rising to the top of the Hockey East race and fourth in the national rankings. Head coach Greg Carvel is certainly thankful for the five-goal, 15-point line that his star sophomore defenseman has put up through 11 games and hopes for more of the same as the season continues in Amherst.
Gravy: Tyler Madden, Northeastern
The turkey and your whole Thanksgiving plate aren’t complete without some gravy. Often times, the contributions of freshmen are just that ― a little something extra ― for a college hockey team. Madden was one of the most touted rookies and has helped the Huskies replace offense from their dynamic top line of a season ago, scoring four goals and five assists while skating as a part of five different line combinations through the first 11 games. No matter who he’s been paired with, Madden has produced.
Mashed Potatoes: Bobo Carpenter, Boston University
Every team needs a great captain to hold things together, and mashed potatoes are a great choice as the captain of Thanksgiving side dishes. The senior from North Reading, Mass., has been there as a steady presence since he stepped on campus and especially during the Terriers’ recent 3-1-1 run that followed a tough start. Carpenter scored four of his six goals this season over the last handful of games.
Stuffing: Vimal Sukumaran, Providence
Another strong side dish. Sukumaran isn’t the centerpiece in the Friar lineup, but he always seems to step up and get his job done as a rock among the team’s bottom six forwards. You’re not always looking for big numbers down there because that’s what the likes of Jack Dugan and Josh Wilkins, but Sukumaran contributes a little bit of everything with six points on two goals and more than a blocked shot per game to lead the Friars’ forwards.
Green Beans: Stefanos Lekkas, Vermont
Perfect green beans are a great addition to the meal and represent all vegetables on our table. In hockey, you have to have a great goaltender to keep the team at its best. Lekkas has been exactly that for Vermont, though he doesn’t yet have the wins and losses (3-6) to show for it. The junior is tied for seventh in the nation with a .938 save percentage. Some more offensive production would do the Cats well in hopes of adding to their veteran goaltender’s win total going forward.
Macaroni and Cheese: Bentley
This is not a traditional Thanksgiving dish, at least according to my experience, but let’s go with it because it was included in this yummy-looking picture. The beautiful new Bentley Arena should only help this Atlantic Hockey program continue to rise just as mac and cheese can rise in status among Turkey Day side dishes. The Falcons have already picked up some delicious wins over Hockey East foes in recent years, too.
Cranberry Sauce: Adam Fox, Harvard
Here we’ve got a versatile item for the table. Cranberry sauce can come straight from a can or be homemade, though it’s consistent and sweet no matter what. That’s Adam Fox. The Crimson junior is a defenseman, but it’s well known that he’s not afraid to jump up and make plays with the best of them. The Carolina prospect has seven more points than any of his Harvard teammates and is the ultimate power-play weapon as seven of his 15 points have come with a man advantage.
Roll: Chase Pearson, Maine
The roll is the perfect complement to everything else on your plate. It can be dipped in gravy or used for a sandwich with leftover turkey after the meal. Pearson is as comfortable anywhere on the ice as a roll is paired with any food on your plate. He’s an important player at both ends as he not only leads the Black Bears with a plus-six rating, but with seven goals and 11 points in 10 games as well. He’s recorded four points on the power play and scored a goal shorthanded, so you can count on him in any role. (No pun intended.)
Pie: Jerry York, Boston College
Pie is the best way to complete the meal, whether you enjoy apple, pumpkin, or something else. York has been behind some of New England’s sweetest college hockey endings, having guided the Eagles to nine Hockey East championships, 11 Frozen Fours, and four national titles. This one’s pretty simple. With 1,056 wins to his name, he’s undoubtedly one of the best coaches hockey has ever seen.
