Despite disappointing end to season, this year’s Tigers garnered national respect, further set foundation for future championship aspirations
March 27, 2024 Leave a comment
By Joe Paisley
This past season should be remembered for more than 0.0004, the Pairwise rankings margin that Massachusetts had over CC to secure the final at-large berth in this weekend’s NCAA Tournament.
Consider how Tigers fans and those around the program had to pay attention to the Pairwise rankings for the first time in more than decade. That’s telling when considering the progress made by this program in three seasons under coach Kris Mayotte and his staff.
“We got as close as we can to reaching our potential and I truly believe we became one of the best teams in the country,” Mayotte said during the season-ending media conference. “It’s always going to be a tough pill to swallow when you are that close and it doesn’t go your way. It cannot take away from the work that was done and the progress that was made.”
One step forward for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference program was a changed national perception of the 21-13-3 Tigers, who were ranked in the Top 10 for the first time since Feb. 2012 and will likely finish the season in the Top 20.
“The biggest thing we talked about with our guys is the respect they were able to bring to the program,” Mayotte said. “That is probably the hardest thing to get and it is certainly something that people don’t give freely. The way people will talk about this program moving forward is a lot different than it has been in recent memory and that is all due to their work.”
It showed as this season continued. which featured the 11th most difficult schedule in the nation.
“It’s gotten the fans back,” Mayotte said. “We can all say the second half this this season had a completely different feel and energy playing games here. It was a true home-ice advantage.
That changed perception both locally and nationally should help in the future for a program that is well supported by the college and has a newer facility in Ed Robson Arena.
“I think it’s about when you talk about on the recruiting trail, we are a have program,” Mayotte said. “We are not a have-not program. We are not a middle-of-the-road program.
“We present a package on why you should come here that’s as good as anybody’s,” he added. “What we haven’t been able to show is recent success. So, the student athletes we have been recruiting have had to take a leap of faith that the success was going to come. The guys who are here right now have done that.
“It’s not going to be easier for the next guy but it’s not just us telling them why we think this will be successful. You can look around and see what we have built and how we have built it without using the transfer portal (heavily), investing in our recruits, investing in our player development. They can see how it plays out instead of it just sounding like a pitch.”
The future
For next year’s team –about a third of the current roster will graduate, go pro or leave via the NCAA transfer portal – 0.0004 won’t provide additional motivation. The freshman class will be defenseman-heavy to balance out the roster after forward-laden classes in Mayotte’s first three years.
“It is going to be a good class, there just won’t be as much asked of it,” Mayotte said. “We don’t need to. We’ll see if that changes but as of right now, we don’t need a first-line center or a No 1 defenseman. We have that in our program. We think we have a lot of quality and depth coming in.”
Whether they or any possible transfers will be called on to replace NY Rangers draft pick Noah Laba or free-agent goalie Kaidan Mbereko remains to be seen. Both are rightfully getting scouts’ attention and they will spend the next several weeks considering whether leaving now for the pros would pave a path to the NHL.
The eight graduating seniors have one year’s eligibility remaining due to the pandemic so all might consider a return to CC or hit the transfer portal to start graduate school elsewhere. Six – Nicklaus Andrews, – Ray Christy, Tyler Coffey, Chase Foley, Danny Weight and captain Logan Will – have entered the portal.
Senior defenseman Jack Millar said he will either go pro or return to CC.
“It’s pretty much deciding whether I want to sign a contract and go somewhere or come back and play,” Millar said. “I am just weighing those options.”
And while the individual Tigers consider their futures, CC fans can look back on the 2023-24 season as another positive step towards becoming a program that can win a national title, something that seemed quite unlikely three short years ago.
“I have said it from the day I got this job,” Mayotte said. “This is a championship program. This is a top-five program in the country and I believe that as much today as I did then. But (now) I think it will be easier for others to see what we have been talking about for three years.”
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Most wins since 2011
First winning record since 2012
Tied for third in NCHC, best finish since joining league in 2013-14
Tied for NCAA lead with nine wins over 2024 NCAA Tournament teams
Ten wins versus ranked teams most since the 20078-08 season
Mayotte named NCHC Coach of the Year
Mbereko named NCHC Goaltender of the Year and finalist for Mike Richter Award as nation’s best
Laba named NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year
First four-game season sweep of North Dakota in program’s 85-year history-
Ranked in Top 20 for first time since December 2012 and first time in Top 10 since February 2012