For the third straight season, there is a Marcou in the American Hockey League, although this one is not playing for the Sharks.
James Marcou's younger brother, Mike, signed an amateur tryout agreement with Oklahoma City and has already gotten into a game. The Marcou brothers were teammates at UMass until James turned pro at the end of the 2009-10 season.
James said his brother called him to talk things over before his AHL debut. "He was a little nervous," James added.
The Marcous have never played against each other in a high-level game. That could happen next year, or they could be on the same team again. James' season is over -- it never even started, actually -- due to a concussion, although he said he is symptom free.
"I wanted to play last week," he said, "but the Sharks said I'd be better off just shutting it down and starting up next year."
Where that will be is another question, since Marcou's contract is up.
"I'll find somewhere to play," he said, "even if it's not back here."
Recently in James Marcou Category
From the Worcester Telegram & Gazette:
Dick Baker has a feature on former UMass winger James Marcou who is looking to begin his second pro season with the San Jose Sharks. Marcou missed much of last season after dealing with concussion injuries.
Dick Baker has four new blog entries in his MassLive.com Hockey Blog as the Minutemen prepare for a home weekend against Northeastern (Friday, 7 PM) and New Hampshire (Saturday, 7 PM).
HockeysFuture.com has a depth analysis of the Worcester Sharks with several mentions for former UMass skaters including what they do well and what they need to work on in order to have a shot at making it in the NHL. Included references are to James Marcou, Justin Braun and Matt Irwin.
A quick update on several other former UMass hockey players who are now in the professional ranks:
Jonathan Quick - L.A. Kings - 6 W, 1 L, 1.96 GAA, .928 Sv%, 429 min.
Justin Braun - Worcester Sharks - 6 GP, 1G, 5A, 4 PIM
James Marcou - Worcester Sharks - 6 GP, 3G, 2A, -3, 0 PIM
Matt Irwin - Worcester Sharks - 4 GP, 2A, -2, 0 PIM
Cory Quirk - Worcester Sharks - 6 GP, 1G, -1, 0 PIM
Mike Kostka - Rochester Americans - 9 GP, 1G, 4A, +3, 4 PIM
- Alex Berry - Norfolk Admirals - 5 GP, 2A, +3, 9 PIM
The Daily Collegian ran its 2010 preview for the UMass Hockey Team on Wednesday. Check out the articles featured in today's paper:
In the Boston Globe today, Nancy Marrapese-Burrell has a feature on how Paul Kelly and College Hockey, Inc., are working to keep top level college hockey players from leaving early or going to play in the Canadian Junior Leagues which makes them ineligible for the NCAA.
The organization is reaching out to players' families, too, so they can understand the opportunities in college and the long-term benefits of an education. According to Kelly, just 5 percent of elite players in both junior and college hockey make it to the NHL.
In Dick Baker's MassLive.com UMass Hockey Blog, he has several posts on recent UMass skaters with updates on their pro careers. He also previews what will be a hot topic this weekend as the Pereira brothers face-off in Saturday's game at Boston University.
Wellman Surprisingly Sent Down By Wild
Just Like At UMass, Marcou Comes Up Big For AHL Sharks
Former MVP Kostka Still Good On The Power Play
Brotherly Unlove Takes Place Saturday Night At BU
James Marcou scored a goal in the 4-3 win over Hartford this weekend. This recap in the Telegram & Gazette has quotes from the former Minuteman about how the play developed.
Here is a pretty good preview of the Worcester Sharks heading into this season. The squad features four UMass players: Cory Quirk, James Marcou, Justin Braun and Matt Irwin.
Here are Dick Baker's latest entries in his MassLive.com UMass Hockey Blog following the exhibition game against New Brunswick. Defensive Picture Clearer After Exhibition Game
Dennehy Grateful For Merrimack's Support
Sharks Invade Mullins Center Practice Rink
Freshman Gracel Impressive In UMass Debut
Alumni Show Their Loyalty to Hockey Team
Minutemen Drop 4-3 OT Decision To New Brunswick
Irwin Talks About First Pro Fight
Alex Berry is in training camp with the Norfolk Admirals and HockeysFuture.com hasa season preview of the club along with a few nice mentions of what Berry will add to the lineup. The Admirals are the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Berry and the Admirals will open the regular season against a few familiar faces as the Worcester Sharks will head down to Virginia. If Berry makes the club, he will likely play against Justin Braun, Matt Irwin, James Marcou and Cory Quirk of the Sharks.
Dick Baker has several new entries in his UMass Hockey Blog on MassLive.com. One interesting thing to point out is that Justin Braun, James Marcou and Cory Quirk were all assigned to the Worcester Sharks over the weekend. The trio will join Matt Irwin with the AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.
Braun Plays In First NHL Game For San Jose
Locals Syner, Czepiel Look Good In First Week Of Practice
Minutemen Hold First Pre-Season Scrimmage
Wellman Scores Power Play Goal For Minnesota
Keane Ready To Do His Part
Three Former Minutemen Assigned To Worcester
What's New At BU - A Look At The Hockey East Opener
Hockey East Picks Come Wednesday
Dick Baker of the Springfield Republican touched on four different topics tonight in his UMass Hockey Blog which you can find at MassLive.com. In his first piece, he looks at the UMass power play and how that will be changed this year with the loss of so many key personnel from last year. His second blog posting deals with Matt Irwin being assigned by San Jose to AHL-affiliate Worcester. In San Jose, Irwin is expected to be among a quartet of Minutemen who include Cory Quirk, Justin Braun, and James Marcou. In his third entry, Dick spoke with Merrimack head coach and former UMass assistant Mark Dennehy on Don "Toot" Cahoon's contract extension and why that is good for the program along with speaking with Dennehy on how he has made improvements to the Merrimack hockey program including several new facility upgrades. Finally, Dick writes about how UMass is looking to keep improving attendance at home games after setting a school-record with an average of 5,313 in 15 games last season.
UMass alum Andy Merritt has an interesting read in the New England Hockey Journal on the dilemma of college hockey players to leave college early for the professional ranks. In his story, he mentions UMass' losses following last season of James Marcou, Casey Wellman and Matt Irwin. He has several quotes from UMass coach Don "Toot" Cahoon as well as quotes from Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna.
