As an aspiring orthopedic surgeon Tyler
McGregor of Holy Cross is going to be working with
state-of-the-art equipment.
When it comes to his other operating
room, the hockey rink, McGregor has decided to go
old school.
“It sounds dumb, but I switched
back to a wood stick at the start of last year,’’
McGregor said. “I'm probably the only guy playing
with one in the country, but I swear it gives a better
feel for the puck.’’
There’s no doubting the results.
McGregor scored a league-high 21 goals as a junior
and has tallied nine times this season. Averaging
one goal per game, the Holy Cross senior is tied for
tops in the nation, along with Colgate’s Tyler
Burton (11 in 11 games) and Chris Collins of Boston
College (nine in nine games).
“I'm glad to get off to a quick
start,’’ McGregor, 22, said. “The
last couple years I've had some rough stretches early
in the season so it’s nice to get the first
couple goals sooner rather than later.’’
The goals came fast and furious on the
weekend of Nov. 11-12. McGregor scored three goals
in the first period of Holy Cross’ shocking
10-3 win over Mercyhurst, the most productive period
of his career. He added two more the next night, making
him the obvious choice for Atlantic Hockey Player
of the Week honors.
“Whenever we play Mercyhurst it’s
always a good game so it’s easy to get excited,’’
McGregor said. “I got a couple nice bounces
and found myself in the right place at the right time.
My linemates, Pierre Napert-Frenette and Blair Bartlett,
have had some great chemistry and it all just came
together.’’
McGregor scored both goals in the Crusaders’
2-1 road win over American International on Nov. 19,
staking him to the Atlantic Hockey lead.
“I just go into a season expecting
to play well, which doesn't always mean scoring goals,’’
McGregor said. “Our team is based on defensive
discipline, so getting goals always seems like a bonus.
I'm happy with my play so far, but the season is still
very young.’’
Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl said McGregor
is one of those recruits whom you feel good about
and then plays up to his potential.
“He’s a good, solid two-way
hockey player and very opportunistic around the net,’’
Pearl said. “Since the day he got here he’s
had that goal-scoring knack. He doesn’t have
the hardest shot in the league – he just scores
goals. He is one of those guys who is always around
it.’’
Maintaining poise is McGregor’s
key to offensive success.
“I find the more I worry about
scoring or getting points, the tighter I play and
less productive I am,’’ he said. “When
I get the puck in the offensive zone I just try to
relax my head and read the goalie or defense as best
as possible.’’
Pearl said McGregor compares favorably
to Holy Cross alums that decided to turn pro, but
his attention is still on medical school.
“Playing after college was something
I'd really thought of until recently,’’
McGregor said. “My goal is still to attend medical
school sometime after graduation, but as my playing
days are winding down I'm starting to realize how
much I would miss it if its gone. If any offers were
to come my way I'd definitely listen.’’
McGregor said he would like to close
his collegiate career going out on top.
“Our goals are the same every
year: win the season and playoff titles," McGregor
said. “We'd like to make some noise out of our
conference as well. We've closed that gap more and
more every year, we don't think it should be a surprise
when we defeat a team from another conference anymore."
Great Weekend Getaway
Rensselaer
Holiday Tournament, Troy, N.Y. (Fri.-Sat.) In Friday’s opening round, Hockey
East leader Providence (6-4-1) takes on CCHA’s
Nebraska-Omaha (5-6) at 4 p.m., followed by
Atlantic Hockey runner-up Holy Cross (6-2-1)
against the host school, RPI (6-4-3) of the
ECACHL at 7 p.m.
While You're There: The Capital
Holiday Lights in the Park takes place in Albany’s
Washington Park. Come see thousands of festive
lights and costumed characters on Friday and
Saturday between 6-10 p.m. Car admission: $10.
The Schuyler Mansion (32 Catherine Street, Albany)
wraps up its “Of Private and of Public
Sorrow” exhibit from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit
the 1848 Shaker Meeting House and its Christmas
Shop (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), located near Albany airport.
Take in the Rodin sculpture exhibit at the Albany
Institute of History & Art (125 Washington
Avenue) from 10 am. to 5 p.m.
Stick
Salute
American
International freshman goalie Tom Fenton
stopped 67 of 70 shots fired at him during a
weekend set with Holy Cross, managing a 1-1
tie and 2-1 setback. Fenton raised his save
percentage by 51 points to .878. He is 0-3-1
this season with a 4.28 goals against average.
Bench
Minor
It’s
hard to point a finger at Holy Cross with its
exceptional special teams, but an 0-for-15
effort on the power play against AIC
was a bit hard to swallow for the Crusaders,
who did escape with a one-goal win and a tie.
SEEN
AND HEARD IN ATLANTIC HOCKEY
Giving thanks – The
Thanksgiving holiday is a time to praise the noteworthy
contributions that some Atlantic Hockey teams have
made to their local communities.
• Sacred Heart hosted a Make A
Wish Foundation event in July, bringing in a 12-year-old
Arizona boy so he could have a snowball fight with
his best friend from Connecticut. Following the exchange
of snowballs, the Pioneers joined local hockey players
for a game and pizza party. In September the team
refurbished a local garden located near a school.
The Pioneers also wrote notes to American troops who
are serving our country in the Middle East on a huge
holiday card.
• At Holy Cross, there are eight
players who have learned sign language as part of
their language requirements. On Saturday mornings,
the Crusaders work with deaf players. Holy Cross players
often volunteer to read and mentor local students.
“We try to be involved in the community here
because the community is awfully good to us,’’
said coach Paul Pearl.
• Mercyhurst players have worked
with a local adolescent center, a Shriner’s
Hospital for children, the annual college food drive
and with a local skating club.
“There is absolutely no question
that a little bit of humble pie is good for everybody,’’
Pearl said.
“Every community service opportunity
that our guys have been involved with, you leave that
experience feeling good about yourself so there are
some self-esteem benefits,’’ said Sacred
Heart coach Shaun Hannah.
FRIES
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
• National leaders: Mercyhurst’s
Jamie Hunt (4-15—19) and Scott Champagne (7-12—19)
are tied for second in the nation with 1.73 points
per game averages. Hunt is second in assists per game
(1.36), trailing only Bowling Green’s Alex Foster
(16 in 11 games, 1.45). Connecticut’s Chris
Myhro is seventh in the nation for points per game
for freshmen (6-4—10, 1.11) and Bear Trapp of
Sacred Heart is tied for ninth (4-5-9, 1.00). Holy
Cross goalie Tony Quesada ranks eighth in goals-against
average (1.82) and New Jersey Devils draftee Jason
Smith of Sacred Heart is 15th (2.27). Quesada also
ranks seventh in save percentage (.937).
• It’s been a long time:
On Saturday in West Springfield, Mass., American International
and Rochester Institute of Technology meet for the
first time since 1991-92 when the clubs skated to
a 4-4 tie. Next season, both teams will be in Atlantic
Hockey. RIT leads the series, 3-0-1. The Tigers, however,
are winless in their last six.
• Streaks: AIC snapped a six-game
season-opening losing streak with a 1-1 tie against
Holy Cross. The Crusaders prevailed 2-1 the next night,
dropping AIC to 0-7-1.
A
variety of sources were utilized in the compilation
of this report.
