Tag Archives: Branden Gracel

Mar 9 2013

Rapid Reaction: UMass 3, Merrimack 0

The Massachusetts hockey team defeated Merrimack 3-0 on Senior Night at the Mullins Center.

Shea scores: Colin Shea put UMass up 3-0 when he scored from the point. The puck appeared to have been redirected by a Warrior along the way and as a result it went over Sam Marotta’s shoulder and into the net.

UMass dominates first period: The Minutemen scored twice in the first period with the first coming from Adam Phillips when he scored off of a beautiful feed from one of UMass’ four seniors on Senior Night, Rocco Carzo. The Minutemen scored another when Conor Sheary tapped in an easy rebound. Branden Gracel had the original shot that produced the rebound and Phillips also got an assist.

Ejection and bench minor: In the second period, Branden Gracel was hit hard along the boards by a Merrimack player. Gracel then went down to the ice, but was able to skate off under his own power. The referees did not call a penalty on the hit, which upset the Minutemen and they protested. UMass was given a bench minor as a result. Mike Busillo was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for making contact to the head of a Warrior on an open ice hit during the first period.

Senior Night: The Minutemen’s four seniors, Carzo, Eddie Olczyk, Kevin Czepiel and Darren Rowe were honored after the game on Senior Night. Olczyk was injured last night and could not play tonight, but he was allowed to sit on the bench during his final game.

Mar 9 2013

2nd Intermission thoughts: UMass 3, Merrimack 0.

The Massachusetts hockey team added another goal on the second period and it now leads Merrimack 3-0 heading into the final frame.

Shea scores: Colin Shea put UMass up 3-0 when he scored from the point. The puck appeared to have been redirected by a Warrior along the way and as a result it went over Sam Marotta’s shoulder and into the net.

Penalty madness: Later in the second period, Branden Gracel was hit hard along the boards by a Merrimack player. Gracel then went down to the ice, but was able to skate off under his own power. The referees did not call a penalty on the hit, which upset the Minutemen and they protested. UMass was given a bench minor as a result.

Feb 23 2013

Rapid Reaction: UMass 5, Maine 2

Taylor C. Snow/ Collegian

Taylor C. Snow/ Collegian

The Massachusetts hockey team defeated Maine 5-2 Saturday night at the Mullins Center. With the win, the Minutemen (11-17-2, 8-14-1 Hockey East Association) are back in eighth place and one point ahead of the Black Bears (9-17-6, 5-12-6 for the final spot in the Hockey East Playoffs.

LaRue puts UMass ahead in third: Fourth-line forward Zack LaRue put the Minutemen back on top with a goal in the third period, when he put home a rebound that Maine goalie Martin Ouellette couldn’t cover up. Conor Sheary added on an insurance goal later in the third. Kevin Czepiel added an empty-net goal in the final minute of the game to wrap up the two points.

UMass goes up early: With 14:09 remaining in the first period, Adam Phillips put UMass up 1-0 when he put home a rebound off of a shot by Rocco Carzo. Then Branden Gracel put the Minutemen up 2-0 at the time when he shot a rocket that beat Ouellette over his glove at the 7:47 mark in the frame.

Maine responds in second: The Black Bears dominated the second period with a pair of goals to tie the game up at 2-2. Both goals came on wrist shots that beat UMass goalie Steve Mastalerz. Jake Rutt scored the first one on a power play goal. Then Bill Norman tied the game later in the frame.

Up Next: UMass will be back in action next weekend when it travels to No. 5 New Hampshire for a pair of road games. Friday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Feb 23 2013

First Intermission Report: UMass 2, Maine 0

The Massachusetts hockey team leads Maine 2-0 after one period of action at the Mullins Center.

Phillips gets things started: The Minutemen were shut out by Martin Ouellette of the Black Bears last night, but it didn’t take long for them to score Saturday. With 14:09 remaining in the first period, Adam Phillips put UMass up 1-0 when he put home a rebound off of a shot by Rocco Carzo.

Gracel snipe: The Minutemen got an insurance goal from Branden Gracel when he shot a rocket that beat Ouellette over his glove at the 7:47 mark in the frame.

Stats: Ouellette made seven saves and Steve Mastalerz made six. UMass outshot Maine 9-6. Joel Hanley and Conor Sheary assisted Gracel’s goal. Steven Guzzo was credited with a secondary assist on Phillips’ goal. No penalties for either team yet.

Feb 1 2013

First intermission report: UMass 1, BU 0

After 17 minutes and 21 seconds of back-and-forth scoreless action, the Massachusetts hockey team struck first and leads Boston University 1-0 after one period.

Gracel gives UMass lead: Branden Gracel scored the only goal of the first period at the 17:21 mark. Michael Pereira and Conor Allen set up Gracel’s 12th goal of the season.

Chippy play: The first period was a physical one as both teams traded monstrous hits throughout. At one point the Terrier’s Sam Kurker slid into UMass goalie Kevin Boyle. Boyle didn’t like that and gave him a slash when the referees weren’t looking. Near the end of the period, a large scrum broke out after Boyle came up with a big save. Boyle, Conor Sheary and Wade Megan each received penalties as a result and BU will have a 5-on-4 advantage when the second period begins.

Boyle’s come’s up big: Boyle got the start in goal tonight after sitting the last four games. Boyle made the most of his opportunity in the first frame with nine saves. On one of his saves, he robbed the Terrier’s Evan Rodrigues on a breakaway opportunity.

Jan 21 2013

Gracel wins more Hockey East honors

Taylor C. Snow/Collegian

Taylor C. Snow/Collegian

The accolades keep coming for Branden Gracel.

The junior forward was named Co-Player of the Week in the Hockey East Association for the second time this season along with No. 2 Boston College’s Steven Whitney. His three-point and two-goal performance for the Massachusetts hockey team helped propel it to a 5-2 win over the Eagles Friday night. His three points and two goals each tie his career single-game high.

Gracel has already totaled his previous season-high with 21 points so far this season, which also leads the 2012-2013 Minutemen. He also leads the team in goals (10) and is second in assists (11).

This wasn’t Gracel’s only award lately. He was named the Hockey East Player of the Month in December and was an honorable mention for the Hockey Commissioner’s Association’s National Player of the Month, also in December.

As a team, UMass was named the Hockey East Team of the Week, also for the second time this season, for its upset win over BC.

Dec 7 2012

UMass vs. Colgate first intermission thoughts

The Massachusetts (5-6-2) hockey team and Colgate (7-7-2) are all knotted up at 1-1 at the Mullins Center after the first period.

Gracel ties it up: The Minutemen were facing a 1-0 deficit late in the first period until junior forward Branden Gracel tied the game at 1-1 with 27 seconds left in the frame. Both Adam Phillips and Joel Hanley were credited with assists on the goal.

Colgate strikes first: The Raiders scored the game’s first goal 11 minutes, 12 seconds into the game when Kyle Baun redirected Spiro Goulakos’ initial shot for a power play goal. Phillips was in the box for the Minutemen on an interference penalty that happened 9:42 into the first period. Tyson Spink was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Second period preview: Both teams were equally aggressive in the first period. UMass failed to score on another power play in the first period, so can they turn around its recent special teams’ misfortunes?