2023–24 Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Merrimack Warriors Men's ice hockey season was the 68th season of play for the program, the 35th at the Division I level, and the 35th in Hockey East. The Warriors represented Merrimack College, played their home games at the J. Thom Lawler Rink and were coached by Scott Borek, in his sixth season.

2023–24 Merrimack Warriors
men's ice hockey season
Turkey Leg Classic, Champion
Conference10th Hockey East
Home iceJ. Thom Lawler Rink
Rankings
USCHONR
USA HockeyNR
Record
Overall13–21–1
Conference6–16–1
Home7–9–1
Road6–12–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachScott Borek
Assistant coachesDan Jewell
Chris Ross
CaptainBen Brar
Alternate captainMac Welsher
Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey seasons
« 2022–23 2024–25 »

Season

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Coming off of its first NCAA tournament appearance in twelve years, Merrimack entered the year with some expectations for its program. Though the team had lost several depth players to graduation, the Warriors returned the top three forwards as well as both of their starting goaltender. However, just before the opening game, Alex Jefferies was injured in practice and missed the first month of the season.[1] Without their leading scorer, the team was unable to do much offensively against Arizona State but the Warriors soon recovered and posted three solid wins to finish out October.

Once Jefferies returned in early November, the team was hoping to continue their upwards trend but the goaltending gave out. Over a six-game stretch, Merrimack lost four 1-goal games with neither netminder finding much consistency. The Warriors recovered a bit over Thanksgiving, winning two matches against weak Atlantic Hockey teams, but ended the first half of their season with three consecutive losses. Both Zachary Borgiel and Hugo Ollas were struggling to keep the puck out of the net and coach Borek had no option but to hope at least one of his goaltenders would recover their form from '23.

Merrimack was able to pick itself up after the winter break when Borgiel strung three solid games together and lifted the Warriors record back to .500. Ollas joined in to help earn a split against #13 Massachusetts in the middle of January, however, Jefferies went back on the shelf after the second match and was out of the lineup for three weeks. Merrimack lost every game that their top forward missed and when he returned the team was well and truly out of the race. Borgiel's play had also degraded to the point that the goaltending rotation was ended in mid-February with Ollas taking over for the remainder of the season. Merrimack was able to salvage what was left of their season and play even in the final few weeks but that only saved the team from finishing last in the standings.

With an abysmal record in conference, the Warriors were going to have to run through a gauntlet of strong teams if they wanted to reach the tournament once more. However, the team was unable to surmount even their first challenge. Northeastern shut down the Merrimack offense, blacking the team for the first time since the opening game and swiftly ended the Warriors' season.

Departures

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Player Position Nationality Cause
Will CalverleyForward CanadaGraduation (signed with Florida Everblades)
Tristan CrozierForward CanadaGraduation (signed with Tulsa Oilers)
Slava DeminDefenseman United StatesGraduation (retired)
Hugo EsselinForward SwedenGraduation (retired)
Filip Karlsson TägtströmForward SwedenSigned professional contract (Tyresö/Hanviken)
Ryan LeiboldForward United StatesGraduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays)
Ottoville LeppänenForward FinlandGraduation (signed with Orlando Solar Bears)
Mick MessnerForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Utah Grizzlies)
Kevin SadovskiDefenseman United StatesLeft program (retired)
Jordan SeyfertForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Kalamazoo Wings)

Recruiting

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Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Liam CavanDefenseman Canada21Gloucester, ON
Michael CitaraForward United States21New Hope, PA; transfer from Providence
Ty DaneaultForward Canada18Red Deer, AB
Frank DjurasevicDefenseman United States21New Rochelle, NY
Brady HunterForward Canada21Enfield, NS
David SaccoForward United States21Middleton, MA
Max WattvilDefenseman Sweden21Stockholm, SWE
Luke WeilandtForward United States21Northbrook, IL

Roster

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As of September 26, 2023.[2]

No. Nat. Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Sweden Hugo Ollas Junior G 6' 8" (2.03 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 2002-04-24 Linköping, Sweden Linköping J20 (J20 Nationell) NYR, 197th overall 2020
2 United States Christian Felton Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-02-04 Medina, Ohio Bentley (AHA)
4 United States Mike Brown Junior D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 2001-04-03 Belmont, Massachusetts Youngstown (USHL)
5 United States Trevor Griebel Sophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2001-03-07 Tampa, Florida Fargo (USHL)
7 Sweden Max Wattvil Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 2002-08-11 Stockholm, Sweden Minnesota (NAHL)
8 Canada Liam Dennison Graduate D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1999-02-07 Manotick, Ontario Youngstown (USHL)
9 Canada Brady Hunter Freshman F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-07-27 Enfield, Nova Scotia Trail (BCHL)
10 Canada Mark Hillier Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-03-18 Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador Summerside (MHL)
11 Canada Devlin O'Brien Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-04-05 Toronto, Ontario Penticton (BCHL)
13 Canada Chase Stevenson Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-01-13 West Kelowna, British Columbia New Hampshire (HEA)
14 United States Tyler Young Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-05-08 Lancaster, Massachusetts Maryland (NAHL)
15 United States Mark Gallant Graduate F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-05-01 Concord, Massachusetts Dartmouth (ECAC)
16 Russia Nikita Borodayenko Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-06-17 Dmitrov, Russia Dubuque (USHL)
17 United States Mac Welsher (A) Graduate F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1999-04-24 Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan Des Moines (USHL)
18 Canada Ben Brar (C) Graduate F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1998-11-19 Abbotsford, British Columbia Prince George (BCHL)
19 United States Alex Jefferies Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-11-08 Lunenburg, Massachusetts The Gunnery (USHS–CT) NYI, 121st overall 2020
20 Canada Ethan Bono Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 2004-01-15 Port McNeill, British Columbia Alberni Valley (BCHL)
21 United States Matt Copponi Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-06-04 Mansfield, Massachusetts Dexter Southfield (USHS–MA) EDM, 216th overall 2023
22 United States Michael Citara Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2002-04-22 New Hope, Pennsylvania Providence (HEA)
23 United States Frank Djurasevic Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 2002-03-09 New Rochelle, New York Penticton (BCHL)
24 United States David Sacco Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2002-01-03 Middleton, Massachusetts Alberni Valley (BCHL)
25 United States Luke Weilandt Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2002-04-04 Northbrook, Illinois Wenatchee (BCHL)
26 Sweden Ivan Zivlak Junior D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-08-08 Gislaved, Sweden Linköping J20 (J20 Nationell)
27 Sweden Adam Arvedson Junior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 169 lb (77 kg) 2001-08-30 Karlstad, Sweden Färjestad (J20 Nationell)
28 Sweden Filip Forsmark Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 1998-06-23 Skövde, Sweden Tri-City (USHL)
29 United States Zachary Borgiel Senior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 2000-04-27 Fort Gratiot, Michigan Cowichan Valley (BCHL)
37 United States Zach Bookman Sophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2002-03-29 Syracuse, New York Brooks (AJHL)
43 Canada Ty Daneault Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 2004-12-20 Red Deer, Alberta Drumheller (AJHL)

Standings

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Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#2 Boston College †*242031101611055641346118389
#3 Boston University2418421115710453402810216397
#10 Maine241491010447667372312211994
#16 Providence241194312376658351813410083
#13 Massachusetts24121024203657623720143108105
#20 New Hampshire2412111100366956362015110690
Northeastern249141130306571361716311397
Connecticut249141111294977361519290105
Vermont247143103265281351319387106
Merrimack246171011216285351321198114
Massachusetts Lowell24417314018397836824472113
Championship: March 23, 2024
† indicates regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO Division I Men's Poll

Schedule and results

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DateTimeOpponent#Rank#SiteTVDecisionResultAttendanceRecord
Exhibition
October 7 2:00 pm Sacred Heart* #14 Martire Family ArenaFairfield, Connecticut (Exhibition)FloHockey Borgiel W 3–2 OT 307
Regular Season
October 13 9:00 pm at Arizona State* #15 Mullett ArenaTempe, Arizona  Borgiel L 0–1 OT 4,680 0–1–0
October 14 7:00 pm at Arizona State* #15 Mullett ArenaTempe, Arizona  Ollas L 2–4  4,569 0–2–0
October 20 7:00 pm Clarkson* J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel W 4–1  2,947 1–2–0
October 22 4:00 pm St. Lawrence* J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas W 5–2  2,087 2–2–0
October 28 4:00 pm at #18 Northeastern Matthews ArenaBoston, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel W 4–1  2,132 3–2–0 (1–0–0)
November 3 7:00 pm #20 Maine J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas L 1–2  2,438 3–3–0 (1–1–0)
November 4 7:00 pm #20 Maine J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 4–5  2,189 3–4–0 (1–2–0)
November 10 7:00 pm at Connecticut Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, ConnecticutESPN+ Ollas W 6–3  2,630 4–4–0 (2–2–0)
November 11 7:00 pm Connecticut J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 3–4  2,432 4–5–0 (2–3–0)
November 15 7:00 pm Massachusetts Lowell J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+, NESN Borgiel T 1–1 SOW 2,576 4–5–1 (2–3–1)
November 18 7:00 pm at Massachusetts Lowell Tsongas CenterLowell, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas L 2–3 OT 4,867 4–6–1 (2–4–1)
Turkey Leg Classic
November 24 4:00 pm Army* J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, Massachusetts (Turkey Leg Game 1)ESPN+ Borgiel W 7–3  2,034 5–6–1
November 25 4:00 pm Bentley* J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, Massachusetts (Turkey Leg Game 2)ESPN+ Ollas W 4–3  1,547 6–6–1
December 1 7:30 pm #4 Boston University J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas L 1–4  2,734 6–7–1 (2–5–1)
December 2 7:00 pm at #4 Boston University Agganis ArenaBoston, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 2–5  5,747 6–8–1 (2–6–1)
December 8 7:00 pm at Yale* Ingalls RinkNew Haven, ConnecticutESPN+ Ollas L 2–5  1,116 6–9–1
December 29 7:00 pm at Brown* Meehan AuditoriumProvidence, Rhode IslandESPN+ Borgiel W 5–1  610 7–9–1
December 31 2:00 pm Stonehill* J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel W 3–2  2,038 8–9–1
January 2 7:00 pm at Holy Cross* Hart CenterWorcester, MassachusettsFloHockey Borgiel W 4–3 OT 714 9–9–1
January 12 7:00 pm at #13 Massachusetts Mullins CenterAmherst, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 3–4  3,734 9–10–1 (2–7–1)
January 13 7:00 pm #13 Massachusetts J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas W 4–1  2,537 10–10–1 (3–7–1)
January 19 7:00 pm #2 Boston College J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 4–6  2,674 10–11–1 (3–8–1)
January 21 1:00 pm at #2 Boston College Conte ForumChestnut Hill, MassachusettsESPN+, NESN Ollas L 2–6  6,640 10–12–1 (3–9–1)
January 26 7:00 pm at Northeastern Matthews ArenaBoston, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 3–5  2,421 10–13–1 (3–10–1)
January 27 7:00 pm Northeastern J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas L 1–4  2,647 10–14–1 (3–11–1)
February 2 7:00 pm #11 Massachusetts J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Borgiel L 2–3  2,314 10–15–1 (3–12–1)
February 3 7:00 pm at #18 New Hampshire Whittemore CenterDurham, New HampshireESPN+ Ollas L 1–3  5,080 10–16–1 (3–13–1)
February 9 7:00 pm at #3 Boston University Agganis ArenaBoston, MassachusettsESPN+, NESN Borgiel L 1–7  5,404 10–17–1 (3–14–1)
February 10 7:00 pm #17 New Hampshire J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas W 3–1  2,639 11–17–1 (4–14–1)
February 16 7:00 pm at Vermont Gutterson FieldhouseBurlington, VermontESPN+ Ollas W 5–2  2,270 12–17–1 (5–14–1)
February 17 7:00 pm at Vermont Gutterson FieldhouseBurlington, VermontESPN+ Ollas L 1–4  2,565 12–18–1 (5–15–1)
February 29 7:00 pm #10 Providence J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas L 2–4  1,832 12–19–1 (5–16–1)
March 1 6:00 pm at #10 Providence Schneider ArenaProvidence, Rhode IslandESPN+ Ollas W 2–1  2,017 13–19–1 (6–16–1)
March 9 7:00 pm #1 Boston College J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, MassachusettsESPN+ Ollas L 4–6  2,747 13–20–1 (6–17–1)
Hockey East Tournament
March 13 7:00 pm at Northeastern* Matthews ArenaBoston, Massachusetts (Opening Round)ESPN+ Ollas L 0–4  1,254 13–21–1
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
Source:[3]

Scoring statistics

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Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Matt CopponiC307253248
Zach BookmanD334242830
Alex JefferiesLW2213102319
Ty DaneaultRW341382133
Mark HillierF35712192
Ben BrarF355141920
Filip ForsmarkLW/RW355131825
Michael CitaraRW3169156
Mac WelsherC30491318
Frank DjurasevicD35461026
Ethan BonoF2963910
Liam DennisonD3527910
Devlin O'BrienLW3035824
Christian FeltonD263474
Trevor GriebelD/F192466
Luke WeilandtF233256
Mark GallantF3323523
Chase StevensonF1540410
Adam ArvedsonD211342
Max WattvilD2421314
Ivan ZivlakD241234
David SaccoRW1811223
Brady HunterC110222
Nikita BorodayenkoF120114
Tyler YoungRW1201125
Steven BacovskyG10000
Zachary BorgielG160002
Hugo OllasG220002
Total98169267412

[4]

Goaltending statistics

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Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals against Saves Shut outs SV % GAA
Hugo Ollas211162:537120555400.9082.84
Zachary Borgiel17921:36691504050.8903.26
Empty Net-25:28---9----
Total352109:57132111149450.8923.24

Rankings

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Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (Final)
USCHO.com 14 15 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
USA Hockey 12 13 NR 20 20т NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25.[5]
Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.

References

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  1. "Jefferies will miss opening weekend for Merrimack". The Mack Report. October 13, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  2. "2023-24 Merrimack College Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Merrimack Warriors. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  3. "2023-24 Merrimack College Men's Ice Hockey Schedule". Merrimack Warriors. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  4. "Merrimack College 2023-2024 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  5. "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.