Merrimack hockey surprises early on

By John Vellante  |  October 21, 2007

Late last winter, Merrimack College put the wraps on a dismal hockey season by going winless (0-14-2) in its last 16 games. The Warriors never scored more than three goals in any game and finished the season 3-27-4 - dead last in Hockey East.

Not much was expected from the Warriors this season, and Hockey East coaches, in their preseason poll, pegged Merrimack for last place again.

That still could happen, but Merrimack certainly raised a few eyebrows in its season opener when it stunned Niagara, 4-2, with its highest goal production since the 2005-06 finale, when it beat Providence, 4-3, in overtime.

Coach Mark Dennehy certainly wasn't thrilled with the fact that Niagara peppered goalie Pat Watson of Waltham with 30 shots, but admitted, "This was a nice way to open things up."

Merrimack spread the scoring around with 10 players scoring goals or making assists. Dennehy was particularly pleased that four of the 10 players involved in scoring were freshmen playing in their first collegiate game.

The game was especially meaningful for Merrimack sophomore defenseman David Burkholder Jr. of West Seneca, N.Y. His father, David Burkholder Sr., is the Niagara coach.

"It really seemed strange, especially during the national anthem, to look across the ice and see him standing there behind the other bench," said the younger Burkholder. "It was the first time we had ever opposed each other and the emotions were flying all over the place. The night was very special. I had cousins and grandparents sitting in the stands, and I am sure their emotions were mixed, too. On one hand, I want my father to have a successful season, but on the other, I want Merrimack to have one too. It was a great way to start the season."

Niagara bounced back in its second game with a 6-2 win over Holy Cross. In that game, J.P. Martignetti of Winchester assisted on both Holy Cross goals and was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week for his effort.

David Cohen has been named head coach of the boys' basketball team at Concord-Carlisle. He succeeds Tom Sullivan, who resigned to accept a similar position at Woburn. Cohen captained the 1992 Concord team and for the past two seasons has coached the Middlesex School girls' varsity squad. Before that, he spent three years as assistant boys' varsity coach at Concord-Carlisle and a year as assistant boys' coach at Middlesex. . . . Congratulations are due Billerica girls' soccer coach Tom Severo. Goals by junior Kirsten Arsenault and senior Kirsten Chirichetti boosted Billerica to a 2-0 win over Chelmsford and Severo to his 300th career win. . . . Martha Dane kept Acton-Boxborough, ranked No. 1 nationally in this week's NSCAA/Adidas poll, undefeated (13-0) and atop the girls' Top 20 list by scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 decision over No. 5 Westford. . . . Belmont may be unranked in the latest Boston Globe Top 20 boys' soccer poll, but it certainly is wreaking havoc with those that are. First, Belmont tied No. 2 Lexington and then beat No. 8 Woburn, 3-2, behind a hat trick from senior captain Tim Weis. Concord-Carlisle was still unbeaten (11-0-1) and holding on to the top spot in the boys' poll. . . . North Andover (9-4-1) qualified for boys' soccer postseason play for the 17th straight year with a 3-2 win over Manchester Essex. . . . Salem (N.H.) is heavily favored to win its fourth straight state volleyball title. The Blue Devils (16-0) are riding a 71-game win streak. . . . The New Hampshire field hockey postseason play is underway, and Salem (13-0-1) is the top seed in Class L. Salem is seeking its fifth state crown in the last six years.

Junior Robbie Douglas of Downey, Calif., had a 146 to earn medalist honors and lead the University of Massachusetts at Lowell to the Southern New Hampshire University Invitational golf championship. He had rounds of 75 and 71. It was the River Hawks' first tournament championship under coach Gary Mucica in four years. Others in the top six for UMass-Lowell included Ryan Bean (152) of Fitchburg and Anthony Gallardo (153) of Methuen. . . . Sammy Macy of Tewksbury was the Northeast-10 Conference field hockey Freshman of the Week. The UMass-Lowell rookie had six points (one goal, four assists ) in wins over American International and Assumption. . . . Dracut's Kaley Moore bagged three goals to lead Suffolk to a 4-0 women's soccer victory over Pine Manor. It was the Rams' first win of their inaugural varsity season and the first hat trick in the school's history. . . . A pair of former Belmont standouts - seniors Marco D'Andrea and Cristian Palacios - had a combined 21 points for the Suffolk men's soccer team (7-4). D'Andrea had five goals and three assists for 13 points and Palacios three goals and two assists for eight. . . . It took Bentley sophomore forward Jared Joaquin of North Andover 14 games to score his first soccer goal of the season. The next three came much quicker, in the next game. Joaquin had a hat trick in a 5-2 win over Stonehill.

Mike Ramshaw of Londonderry, N.H., has been named executive director of sales for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Class AA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. . . . Pat Doak of Concord finished the Ironman World Triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in 12 hours, 5 minutes, and 39 seconds. Doak competed in the physically challenged division.

Sports Notebook ideas or items may be sent to vellante@globe.com.