What a difference a year makes.
After the worst start to a season in school history last year — winless through its first 11 games — the Northeastern men’s hockey team won its first game this season, shocking the nation’s top-ranked team in the Lefty McFadden Tournament in Dayton, Ohio last weekend.
NU stunned the University of Michigan and All-American goalie Al Montoya with a 4-2 win Friday night before falling to host No. 15 University of Miami (Ohio) Saturday, 6-2.
“We played well both nights actually,” said coach Bruce Crowder. “For six periods we competed hard. Going and playing Michigan with the number one ranking, it’s a good start.”
At the same time, it’s just that: a start.
“I think it’s one weekend in October,” Crowder said. “People are gonna think what they’re gonna think. The team and the staff are realizing what we can do, confidence is high.”
Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a Milan Gajic score, one of 13 Wolverine shots during the frame. In the second period, the Huskies tickled the twine three times, with sophomore Ray Ortiz, freshman Josh Robertson and senior captain Jason Guerriero providing the offense. Guerriero, who assisted on Ortiz’s goal, potted the winner on a powerplay assist from junior Mike Morris with four minutes left in the middle period.
In the third, senior defenseman Donny Grover added insurance with a last-minute tally assisted by Guerriero and Ortiz.
For senior defenseman, Tim Judy, holding on to a win against a top-level opponent was the best learning experience of the weekend.
“Both games were learning experiences,” he said. “Michigan is a great team and we went in and wanted to play our game and we did that. One of the biggest things in hockey is how to handle that and win the game when you’re leading in the third period. That was a pretty good learning process.” In another contrast to last season’s sloth-like start, NU’s top players — Guerriero, Morris and netminder Keni Gibson (31 saves) — played like top players. Guerriero posted a goal and three assists to give him 103 career points, while Morris notched a goal and two assists. Gibson’s effort was enough to earn him honors as Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week.
Last year, Morris scored one goal in the first 10 games, while Guerriero registered just one assist during the same span. At the same time, Gibson’s save percentage hovered around .880.
“All three of them had great weekends,” Crowder said. “There’s no doubt that those are the guys that need to play well. I think they learned something from last year.”
Guerrerio almost missed the games with what Crowder described as a “muscle issue,” but was deemed ready to go after Friday’s morning skate.
“I think Jay [Guerrerio] used the best line about it. He said ‘I’m hurt, I’m not injured,” Crowder said. “I think its a testament to him he battled through it and was a very big factor against Michigan.”
Against Miami-Ohio Saturday, Crowder started sophomore Adam Geragosian in net. The North Andover native stopped 16 of 22 shots.
“In April we knew two goalies were going to play,” Crowder said. “We made the decision to bring Geragosian. We’ve got to see what our number two goalie can do.”
Northeastern fell behind, 5-0, giving up power play strikes to RedHawks Marty Guerin, Taylor Hustead and Geoff Smith as well as even strength tallies by Matt Christie and Andy Greene.
First-round NHL draftee Mike Morris got the Huskies on the board at the 5:35 mark of the third, assisted by Guerriero. Seventeen seconds later, sophomore Yale Lewis potted the second Husky strike.
Greene added an empty net goal with 43 seconds left for Miami (2-0), which moved up to No. 10 in the www.uscho.com polls after downing Northeastern and Boston University in the tournament.
“Saturday things didn’t go our way. The puck had eyes, but we didn’t quit in the third period and scored two quick goals,” Judy said. “We never gave up and that’s pretty commendable.”
Northeastern will face its third straight ranked opponent this Saturday, when defending national champion Denver University comes to Matthews Arena for a 7 p.m. tilt. The Pioneers are ranked No. 11, while Northeastern jumped to the “Others Receiving Votes” section of the poll, just behind Colgate University, Ohio State University, St. Cloud State University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
“It’s great for our students, we’ve got a tough month here with Denver coming into Matthews and then North Dakota,” Crowder said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to see the elite teams right in their own back yard.”
Northeastern then hosts Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m.
