Surprising First Half Gives Brown Reason for Hope
The following article appeared in the December 31 issue of the Providence Journal.
The Providence College and Brown men’s hockey teams had one thing in common when the season opened in October:
Little was expected from either team.
PC was picked to finish in the Hockey East basement for a second straight season, while Brown was predicted for 11th in the 12-team ECAC.
But after a first half marked by surprises, both teams open the second half on Saturday with reason for optimism.
Brown
The Bears have regularly dressed eight or nine freshmen a game. With such a young lineup, it’s no surprise that consistency has been a problem.
The freshmen have had “good games and bad games, good shifts and bad shifts,” Whittet said.
The Bears have played just 11 games. “We’re still experimenting,” said Whittet. “There’s a lot to like, we just have to clean up some things,” he said.
Brown has been strong on the road — 2-1-2 — with wins at Colgate and Cornell, but winless at home — 0-3-2. “One of our goals for the season is to be a dominant team at home. Obviously, that hasn’t happened,” Whittet said.
Junior Jack Maclellan — “arguably the best offensive player in the East,” according to Whittet — has been the Bears’ top player. With 9-11-20 in 11 games, Maclellan is averaging 1.81 points a game, second in the country.
Harry Zolnierczyk (7-6-13) and Chris Zaires (2-8-10) have been dependable scorers, and Jesse Fratkin and Bobby Farnham have had their moments, too.
On defense, freshman Dennis Robertson has been a revelation.
“We thought a lot of him coming in,” said Whittet, but he’s exceeded expectations, with 5 goals and 10 points while averaging 25 minutes a game. “He’s been a really good find for us.”
Junior defenseman Jeff Buvinow and freshman Matt Wahl also have been good.
Whittet is looking for steadier goaltending in the second half. Starter Mike Clemente’s goals-against average is 4.01 and his save percentage is .879.
“We need to find more consistency on the offensive side and be much better on the defensive side” to move up in the standings, said Whittet.
Complete article can be accessed via the Journal Web site by clicking here.
