Ryan Ames

My profile on Jack Galanek and how the Hopkinton native wound up at UMass, where he’s become one of the Minutemen’s most valuable players: gazettenet.com/2026/03/12/uma…

It’s OFFICIAL!! #NewMass X #Flagship🚩

Michael Hrabal has signed his ELC with the Utah Mammoth.

“Last year, I did a you-know-what job, and that's not acceptable. This year, we finished in eighth place. There's an adjustment period with the MAC.” “The A-10 and the MAC are two leagues that are played completely differently.” - Frank Martin

Since a few asked about the link to today’s Martin/Bamford press conference: youtu.be/t7geZxtNzYg?si…

To add to this, here are the most notable disparities from PWR to NPI: Minnesota State +5 Michigan Tech +5 St. Thomas +4 UMass -4 Every other team’s ranking in top 20 of NPI was either the same or +\- 1

Wow, Merrimack wins the Hockey East Championship. Did not see that coming at all.

Here’s a look at UMass’ shot chart from tonight, per @chnews. Pink dots are shots, gray dots are attempts that missed the net. I count about a dozen high-danger chances for the Minutemen. It’s astonishing not a single one found the back of the net.

Daily Hampshire Gazette’s coverage of UMass hockey’s 2-0 loss to Merrimack in the Hockey East semis: @mikecmaynard with the recap: gazettenet.com/2026/03/20/uma… My side: gazettenet.com/2026/03/20/uma… Photos by @AuburnFocal

Final: Merrimack 2, UMass 0. Minutemen fall in Hockey East semis to the Warriors. UMass’ season is over.

Goal Merrimack. Warriors score on empty net with 1:39 left. 2-0.

Goal Merrimack. O'Connell springs loose for a partial breakaway and beats Hrabal blocker side. 1-0 Warriors exactly three minutes into the third.

End P2: UMass 0, Merrimack 0. Minutemen kill off three Warrior power plays and whiff on about three grade-A scoring chances that frame. Feels like an ugly goal will decide this one.

End P1: UMass 0, Merrimack 0. Minutemen had the two best chances that period, both generated by the Galanek line. UMass couldn't convert on two PP chances.

UMass lines vs Merrimack (3/20): Musa-Galanek-Nestrasil Jencko-Kerr-Klecka Dunn-Mehlenbacher-O'Neill Cosman-DeAngelo-VanTassell Keenan-Murray Dell'Elce-Hanrahan Olvestad-Lieberman Nycz Hrabal

Boots firmly on the ground.

The accolades just keep rolling in 👏 Michael Hrabal is a Mike Richter Award finalist! @UMassHockey

UMass women’s basketball head coach Mike Leflar has signed a contract extension to lead the Minutewomen through 2030-31.

@slapschotts Sorry, Ken. Hope better days are ahead.

My time with The Daily Gazette came to an end today. It was a great ride. To everyone who followed me for my #UnionHockey and #ECACHockey coverage for 30 seasons, thank you. For those who listened to “The Parting Schotts Podcast,” thank you.

Michael Hrabal is the Hockey East Player of the Year.