Announcement:With my workload I am really unable to do as much with the Bruins as I would have liked, but I am going to introduce our first collegiate hockey story on UMass. Enjoy:

 

The Massachusetts hockey team prepares to take on Boston University, Friday at the Mullins Center in Amherst. 

 

In the second game of the season vs. Minnesota, UMass captain and goalie, Paul Dainton suffered an injury, and has not returned to action since. Dainton was practicing this week, but did not face pucks until Wednesday.

 

“I have been practicing, and I have to see if I am 100 percent,” said Dainton about his availability. 

 

Last week at BU the Minutemen managed to tie BU at the Agganis Arena in Boston 2-2. Defensemen Darren Rowe and forward Marc Concannon were able to spark a comeback to tie up the game in the third period.

 

“Our team has done a great job of being able to battle back,” said Dainton.”Regardless if I was out there or not we need to come out to a better start.”

 

Regardless of where Dainton is on Friday night whether it be dressed on the bench, sitting in the stands, or maybe even on the ice he is still the leader of the UMass team.

 

“It wasn’t a mouth injury, so he still has a great effect on the team in the locker room and still be the leader he is,” said head coach Don Cahoon.

 

Freshmen goalie, Jeff Teglia, got his first start of the season and collegiate career last weekend, and he turned away 33 Terrier shots.

 

“We got a good look at their power play,” said Teglia who helped shut down the Terrier power play last weekend on all five chances BU had. “We actually did really good against them (BU) last weekend.”

 

It appears Teglia will get another crack at the BU line-up as Paul Dainton did not have a full practice load this week.

 

“Yes he could(play), but it would not be practical because we have not put him into a scrimmage situation yet,” said Cahoon about Paul Dainton’s availability for Friday’s match-up with BU. 

 

David Warsofsky leads BU with five points already in the early part of the season. Warsofsky’s rights were actually acquired by the Boston Bruins this summer from the St. Louis Blues who drafted him in the 4th round during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. 

 

“Warsofsky is a kid who is offensively gifted on the back line so you really need to look out for him,” said junior back-up goalie Kevin Moore. “Their power play is what really makes them go, and Warsofsky is a big part of that.”

 

The first three games of the season so far have been against top notch teams in Minnesota and Boston University, but it may benefit UMass in the long run. 

 

“All of us have been put in tough situations on the road in Minnesota, facing a tough atmosphere. said Teglia. “All three games were close, and we tied BU so I think it is going to help us out a ton.”

 

Moore still has not seen any ice time, but that has not discouraged him yet. Although he did not get playing time once Dainton went down it was definitely going through his mind that he might have a chance. 

 

“When it happened it effected me fairly negatively. I tried started trying to hard and thinking that their might be a window of opportunity and you can’t do that because you can’t put that pressure on yourself. I have not snapped back out of it and it is business as usual.” said Moore reflecting on the injury to Paul Dainton. 

 

Teglia had to come off the bench into the Minnesota game, so as a back-up it is important to be ready at anytime. 

 

 “Prior to every game I do everything like I am starting. said Moore about prepping for every game.” “You can fall into the game like a fan which you can’t do, so I try to run through the situations in my head. If you fail it is because of your preparation not because you are cold. I never really liked that excuse for back-up goalies that they threw them in cold because your job as a back-up is to be prepared.”

 

The Minutemen freshmen will have their first opportunity to perform at the Mullins Center Friday in front of the UMass faithful after playing three road games to open the season. 

 

“They have stuck their nose in there, and have been really competitive so far,”said Cahoon about the teams freshmen so far this season. “The anticipation of the event should generate the energy you are looking for, and of course the crowd is all positive.”

 

UMass will look to pick up its first win of the season on Friday, but it is not an easy opponent going up against 8th ranked Boston University.