MIKE
ALEXIOU
Merrimack
Sr. | F | Pickering, Ontario
Alexiou was a member of two all-tournament teams
during his 11-goal sophomore season (Maverick Stampede,
Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Pot).
Key Statistics: Alexiou led
Merrimack with 11 goals in 2004-05 and was second on
the team with 16 points over the course of 32 games.
But he saw a significant goal-scoring dropoff last season,
only finding the back of the net twice. He still contributed
with 11 helpers, which placed him third on the Warrior
squad.
What He Does: At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds,
he can provide a valuable presence in front of the net,
and he isn’t afraid to get dirty anywhere on the
ice. Alexiou has a quick shot with a nice release point
and things like that tend to add up to solid goal production,
save for last season’s statistical tailspin.
The Bigger Picture: Merrimack coach
Mark Dennehy doesn’t want his players to try to
reinvent the wheel; he just wants them to keep things
simple, and that holds true for Alexiou. He’ll
keep putting his senior forward in positions that allow
him to contribute offensively, and after Dennehy mentioned
Alexiou’s name in the same breath as former BC
star and last year’s Hobey Baker finalist Chris
Collins, it’s clear that he holds his abilities
in high regard. While it would be a tad bit optimistic
to say Alexiou can jump from 13 points to about 60 this
year, it would be reasonable to forecast something a
little closer to the production of his sophomore year.
Merrimack coach Mark Dennehy on
Alexiou: "He’s a goal-scorer for
sure. He has a real knack for the puck around the net.
I want him to keep getting in the batter’s box
and swinging at some pitches. He may have just not gotten
as many opportunities [to score last year] and may have
been a bit snake-bitten. I’m not comparing him
to Chris Collins, but their junior years were really
similar.”
