UMass Lowell Hockey Notebook (February 6, 2008)

The Captain Leads the Way

Ben Holmstrom is the captain of the River Hawks. It’s a job that has many responsibilities, both on and off the ice. One of those responsibilities is to step up when his team needs it the most.

Six games ago the River Hawks lost junior winger Mike Potacco to an injury. Potacco’s injury left a hole in the lineup as he, Scott Campbell and Mark Roebothan – the CPR Line – had 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) over the previous 10 games (11/20-1/12).

Holmstrom has stepped up during Potacco’s absence with eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) over the last six games. He has points in three straight and five of the last six. And he has back-to-back multiple point games.

Holmstrom had two assists including the lone helper on Jonathan Maniff’s game-winning tally at 19:37 of the third period in UML’s 3-2 victory over Maine Friday night. He had a goal and an assist Sunday afternoon at Vermont.

Holmstrom leads the River Hawks with 17 assists this season and is tied for the team-lead with 20 points. He has three goals, all on the power play, and his five power play points are fourth on the team.

He scored the game-winner in a 3-2 win over Cornell in the Florida College Classic (12/28) and is second on the team with three game-winning points (1 goal, 2 assists).

Holmstrom plays in all situations for the River Hawks and is a big part of the UML penalty kill that has killed 87.6-percent of opponent’s power plays on the season. He leads the team in total face offs (549) and wins (263). It was his face off win that led to Maniff’s game-winner against Maine last Friday night.

Holmstrom has six multiple point games, more than any other River Hawk this season. He was second on the River Hawks with four multiple point games last season.

For much of the season Holmstrom’s line has consisted of fellow sophomore Kory Falite and freshman Patrick Cey. Together the trio, in 18 games as a line, combined for 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists).

Holmstrom and Falite are the only two River Hawk forwards to have skated together in all 25 games this season. Falite is tied for the team lead in goals (11) and points (20). Holmstrom has assisted on seven of Falite’s 11 goals. Falite has an assist on all three of Holmstrom’s goals.

Holmstrom wears the ‘C’ as one of three sophomores serving in captain roles for the River Hawks in 2007-08. Sophomore defensemen Jeremy Dehner and Barry Goers wear an ‘A’ as alternate captains. Junior Mark Roebothan also wears a ‘C’ for UML.

River Hawks, Terriers Meet for Third and Final Time of 2007-08 Regular Season

The River Hawks and Terriers meet for the third and final time Friday night at the Tsongas Arena. The two teams have split the first two contests with each team winning on home ice. UML earned a 4-3 victory on December 7 at the Tsongas Arena. BU won, 7-4, at the Agganis Arena on November 3.

No matter what happens Friday night in this season’s rubber match, the series has a much different complexion than last year’s. UML and BU have combined to score 18 goals in two games this season compared to just five in three games a season ago. The River Hawks and Terriers out-scored their 2006-07 season total with 11 goals in the first meeting this season.

The River Hawks went 1-0-2 last season against BU to win the season series. UML earned a 2-1 victory in the season’s first meeting on October 27, 2006. The two teams skated to consecutive ties in the final two meetings – 1-1 on November 3, 2006 and 0-0 on February 2, 2007. The scoreless tie was just the second in UML program history.

The River Hawks have won five of the last seven meetings, but the Terriers hold a 55-16-8 edge in 79 all-time meetings. BU is 21-11-5 all-time at UML home sites. UML is 7-6-2 in games played at the Tsongas Arena.

Who’s Hot:

Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded back-to-back multiple point games against Maine and Vermont. He had two assists including the lone helper on the game-winning goal in UML’s 3-2 victory over the Black Bears Friday night. The sophomore captain had a goal and an assists Sunday afternoon at Vermont. Holmstrom has a three game point streak, and has eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) over the last six games.

Jonathan Maniff (Revere, Mass.) scored two goals, including the game-winner at 19:37 of the third period in the River Hawks victory over Maine Friday night. Maniff has two multiple goal games, and is second on the squad with 10 goals. He leads UML with three game-winning goals.
 
Kory Falite (Billerica, Mass.) had three points on two goals and an assist over the weekend. The sophomore winger had a goal and an assist Sunday afternoon at Vermont. Falite has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) over the last six games.

Miscellaneous Notes
The River Hawks have garnered points in seven of their last 11 Hockey East games after going 1-1-0 over the weekend…UML snapped an 0-for-21 skid on the power play with a man-advantage marker in the second period against Vermont Sunday afternoon…Friday’s victory over Maine marked the first time since the 1985-86 season (excluding forfeits – UML won two games in Feb. 1994 via forfeit)…Jonathan Maniff’s game-winning goal at 19:37 of the third period Friday night was the second time this season the River Hawks have won a game in the closing seconds of a period. Scott Campbell (Navan, Ont.) netted the game-winner against Providence with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime on Jan. 12…Ben Holmstrom extend his point streak to three games over the weekend.