Dick Baker of the Springfield Republican has an update on Paul Dainton returning to Springfield last night to make 37 saves in a 4-2 win over Worcester. One of the goals he allowed was against former teammate Matt Irwin who also assisted on the other goal.
Recently in Matt Irwin Category
Dick Baker of the Springfield Republican has an update on Justin Braun (San Jose Sharks, NHL), Matt Irwin (Worcester Sharks, AHL) and Casey Wellman (Minnesota Wild, NHL).
Braun played a season-high 21 minutes in a 3-2 win over Edmonton, while Irwin was reassigned to Worcester. After being called up from Houston, Wellman has been sidelined with the an injury for the Wild.
The San Jose Sharks of the NHL called up Matt Irwin on Sunday from the AHL Worcester Sharks. That gives the Sharks a pair of UMass blueliners as Irwin will join former teammate Justin Braun.
Braun has played in 14 games this season with a 1 goal, 2 assists and a +5 rating.
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).
In Dick Baker's MassLive.com Hockey Blog, he recaps the Maine loss including the play of Kevin Czepiel. He also has updates on Mike Kostka with the Rochester Americans and Matt Irwin with the Worcester Sharks.
So much for the importance of UMass hockey scoring the first goal
So much for the importance of UMass hockey scoring the first goal
Kevin Czepiel of Holyoke shines in center of faceoff circle for UMass hockey against Maine
UMass hockey happenings: Post-game notes from Maine game
Former UMass hockey defenseman Matt Irwin is third star in Worcester win
Former UMass hockey defenseman Mike Kostka has big night for Rochester in AHL
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:
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
Dick Baker has some great updates to his MassLive.com UMass Hockey Blog that you'll want to read before heading over to the exhibition game against New Brunswick this afternoon at 3 PM in the Mullins Center Practice Rink.
He also has an update on Matt Irwin and Cory Quirk who apparently threw fists in a game against Springfield last night.
Dick also has a piece examining what UMass must do defensively to clear the puck consistently from the defensive end to help transition the offense.
With the loss of so many players following last season, the growth of the program has helped recruiting top level players. The reputation of the program and the University has helped attract blue-chip level recruits.
Finally, Dick looks at the youth of Boston University which is fairly similar to the situation at UMass. The Terriers have 17 freshmen and sophomores and just one senior.
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.
Former UMass defensemen Justin Braun and Matt Irwin are each mentioned in this article from the Mercury News as the San Jose Sharks rookie camp has begun. Both played for the AHL affiliate Worcester Sharks at the conclusion of UMass' season last year.
The Worcester Sharks will begin their AHL season in just over a month as well - Oct. 9 to be exact - and former Minutemen Justin Braun and Matt Irwin have received a bit of preseason praise. "Some of Worcester's top rookies should include defensemen Justin Braun and Matt Irwin, who played at UMass, and defenseman Nick Schaus, who played four seasons at UMass-Lowell. "We've got some draft picks that will be coming in and some free agents," coach Roy Sommer said. "The kids that played for us at the end of the year in the playoffs have a great opportunity this season. They're not just coming into the league, they have the experience."
Former UMass defenseman Matt Irwin was also mentioned today in a news feature focusing on his offseason training as he prepares for the upcoming hockey season. Irwin signed with the San Jose Sharks last spring and is anticipated to be playing for the AHL Worcester Sharks in 2010-11.
