BUFFALO, N.Y — As UMass prepares for its initial venture into the uncharted waters of Frozen Four play, coach Greg Carvel was asked to describe his favorite moment along the journey to get here.
It was a seventh-month odyssey that included nearly 40 games, countless travel miles, a first-ever Hockey East regular-season title, and a championship in the NCAA Northeast Regional, which included victories over the nation’s most renowned academic institution (Harvard) and a university with the most storied sports program (Notre Dame).
“Favorite memory? That’s a tough one. There’s so many things,” said Carvel, whose Minutemen take on perennial college hockey power University of Denver tonight (8:30) in a national semifinal at the KeyBank Center.
“I think my favorite memory will be coaching Cale Makar. It’s been a special opportunity. He’s a really special kid. I hope he’s rewarded (Friday) at the ceremony, because I think he’s everything that you want out of the Hobey Baker winner.”
Carvel, a former NHL assistant (Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks) who earlier this week was named this year’s winner of the Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the year, said the relationship has been beneficial for both sides.
“I’m excited that in the two years, again, it’s gone exactly as I hoped it would for him, but it’s gone exactly as I hoped it would for us, me and Cale,” Carvel said. “I really like the relationship we have, the trust that we built, the way that I’ve been able to coach him, him coach me at the same time. Other than winning championships, helping Cale develop and — again — not getting in his way, but helping him become the player that he is. I’m just really excited to watch him at the next level because I’ve coached at that level, too. He’s phenomenal. He’s going to be a hell of a player.”
Makar, the odds-on favorite to be presented the annual Hobey Baker Award on Friday night at the Harbor Center and the No. 4 overall pick by Colorado in the NHL draft two years ago, said he came back to UMass this season not only out of loyalty but from a sense that something special could happen. Makar leads the Minutemen in points (48), assists (32), shots (132) and plus-minus (plus-32), all replete with a world-class skating ability.