If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Last year, UMass-Boston boasted one of the most dynamic lines in Division 3 hockey, with Colin Larkin centering crafty Nolan Redler (Winchester, Mass.) and big right wing Zack Bross.
Larkin, last year’s Sid Watson Award winner as the top player in Division 3, graduated as one of the most decorated players in program history. But his wingers are back and picking up right where they left off for the ninth-ranked Beacons (8-1), who head into the weekend as the first-place team in the New England Hockey Conference.
UMB coach Pete Belisle (Manville, R.I.) said in the preseason he had no intention of splitting up Redler and Bross, and he hasn’t.
“There was just chemistry,” he said. “They were one of the most dynamic lines in our league last year.”
Only six players in the country have scored more goals than Redler, who has eight through the first nine games and leads the team with 13 points. He scored 24 goals last year.
Physically, the two wings couldn’t be any more different. The quick Redler stands 5-foot-7, while the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Bross is adept at protecting the puck down low and knocking players off the puck.
“Bross can complement anyone because of his 200-foot game,” said Belisle. “I’m hoping this year he can have a little bit more of a shoot-first mentality.”
Bross finished with 33 assists last year playing with Larkin and Redler, third-most in Division 3..
“It was a pretty quick learning curve last year,” he said.
Already, six players on the squad have at least eight points to their name, a group that also includes talented sophomore defenseman Nick Albano of Beverly, Mass. (3-9-12), senior defenseman John Regnart (3-5-8), junior forward Daniel Nachbaur (3-5-8) and freshman Chris Peters, who’s spent time centering Redler and Bross.
With five senior defensemen back in front of sharp goalie Bailey MacBurnie of Beverly, Mass. (1.43 goals-against average, .931 save percentage), the Beacons seem poised for more success this winter.
UMB’s 6-0 record in NEHC play gives it a half-game lead on Babson (7-2-1, 5-0-1 NEHC). It’s already shaping up to be a league of haves and have-nots, with No. 12 Hobart (5-2-1), New England College (4-3-1), Skidmore (4-3-1) and defending champion and No. 13 Norwich (4-2-1) in the mix, too.
The Beacons face a testing weekend when they entertain Hobart (Friday) and Skidmore (Saturday).
Team of the Week
Norwich University
After an inconsistent 2-2-1 start, the Cadets won two games over the weekend to capture their own PrimeLink Shootout, including a 3-2 opening win over then-No. 2 Adrian. Freshman Brett Ouderkirk was named tourney MVP after collecting six points in the two games.
Player of the Week
Ryan Pfeffer (Canton, Mass.), Sr., F, Trinity
Pfeffer scored a career-high four goals as the Pioneers (4-0-1) roared back from a three-goal deficit to beat Aurora, 6-4, on Saturday. The Thayer Academy product’s six points in five games rank third in the NESCAC.
Game to Watch
University of New England at Nichols, Friday (6:40 p.m.)
The top two teams in the Commonwealth Coast tangle in Levy Rink. No. 5 UNE (7-1) has outscored opponents 43-12 so far, while defending league champ Nichols (5-3) has matched that team’s 5-1 mark in league play.
