Bentley Opens 2016-17 Season Saturday Night with Trip to UNH
The Matchup: Bentley University gets the 2016-17 season underway on Saturday with a trip up to Durham, N.H. to take on the University of New Hampshire Wildcats at the Whittemore Center. Face-off is set for 7:00 pm.
This will mark the second straight season the Falcons are making the trek up to UNH. The two teams squared off last season for the first time, with the Wildcats emerging in a high-scoring game 5-4.
While this is the season-opener for the Falcons, UNH played an exhibition game on Sunday against Canadian school New Brunswick, and came away with a 3-1 win.
Follow the Game: Fans will have a variety of options to follow the action, including a free webcast and an audio only broadcast.
Looking at the Falcons: Bentley was voted 8th in the Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, and 7th in the Atlantic Hockey media poll. They return 18 players from last year's squad that defeated Sacred Heart two games to one in the AHC First Round, and pushed top-seed Robert Morris to three games in the quarterfinals.
Two of the team's top three scorers from last season are back. Senior Max French led the team in goals (23) and points (47), while junior Kyle Schmidt was T-2nd in points (45) and first in assists (29). All-Rookie team defenseman Tanner Jago was 5th on the team in both assists (16) and points (18). Both French and Schmidt were named Preseason All-Conference in the AHC media poll. French was named to the 1st team and Schmidt the 2nd team.
Bentley's top returning goalie is junior Jayson Argue. A 3rd team All-Atlantic Hockey and All-Rookie team selection in 2014-15, he started 17 games last season.
Last Season's Meeting: The Falcons and Wildcats met for the first time ever last season on Nov. 28 at the Whitt, with the Wildcats winning a wild one 5-4. The game was tied 2-2 after the first period, and Bentley scored the opening goal from senior Derek Bacon. UNH led 3-2 after the 2nd period, but Bentley tied the game up twice in the 3rd period, both times on goals by Kyle Schmidt, coming at 3:53 and 5:17 of the period. With the game tied 4-4 after Schmidt's 2nd goal, UNH scored the winner at 8:31 from Maxim Gaudreault.
The Captains: French was named team captain by head coach Ryan Soderquist. After serving as one of two assistant captains last season, he rises to team captain and takes over the mantle from graduated Andrew Gladiuk. Schmidt will serve as the lone assistant captain.
Looking at the Freshmen Class: Bentley's 2016-17 freshmen class is made up of nine-student athletes with some impressive pedigree. Five of them, forwards Jonathan Desbiens (West Kelowna, BCHL) and Ryner Gorowsky (Fairbanks, NAHL) and defensemen Brett Orr (Portage, MJHL) and Tanner Salsberry and Connor Brassard (Jersey Hitmen, USPHL) all led their junior teams to league championships last season. Additionally, goalie Aidan Pelino (Chilliwack Chiefs, BCHL) and forward Dean Balsamo (Aston, NAHL) led their teams to the finals in their respective leagues.
Headed Back to Fenway: Bentley is headed back to Frozen Fenway. On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, the Falcons will take on Army West Point at 7:30 pm. The game between Atlantic Hockey rivals will get the two week festivities started and is the first of eight college games.
It was just three seasons ago when Bentley played in the first ever Atlantic Hockey game at Frozen Fenway. They defeated rival Holy Cross 3-2 on Dec. 28, 2013.
TV Spotlight: Atlantic Hockey announced on Sept. 20 that the Bentley-Sacred Heart game will air on the American Sports Network. The game emanates from Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., and begins at 8:30. ASN produced broadcasts are syndicated on many regional sports networks, including NESN+ in Massachusetts.
French Among Active Career Leaders: French enters the 2016-17 season in some elite company nationally. Among active players, he ranks 2nd in career goals with 50, four behind Boston College's Ryan Fitzgerald. He also ranked 3rd in career points with 104 and 3rd in power play goals with 14.
Bentley in Season Openers: The Falcons last won a season-opener in 2013-14, when they went on the road and defeated Nebraska-Omaha 6-4 in that season's curtain raiser. They dropped last year's opener to Mercyhurst at home 3-1.
Bentley Against Hockey East: The Falcons have beaten a Hockey East opponent in six of the last eight seasons; Maine (2008-09), UMass-Amherst (2009-10), Northeastern (2010-11, 2012-13, 2015-16) and Boston University (2013-14). They will get a number of opportunities to add to that this season. In addition to Saturday's game at UNH, the Falcons will face Northeastern twice and Vermont twice.
Up Next: The Falcons will take on Northeastern in a home and home series next weekend. The series gets underway Friday night at the JAR for Bentley's home opener, before shifting to Matthews Arena on Saturday night. Bentley swept last year's home and home series, winning 3-2 on the road and 4-1 at home. They lead the all-time series with the Huskies 4-2.