Jefferies, Vinnell Pick up Hockey East Weekly Honors

WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Merrimack College men’s hockey forward Alex Jefferies and defenseman Zach Vinnell both picked up Hockey East weekly awards, as announced by the league office Monday morning. 

Jefferies, who made his collegiate debut over the weekend, was named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week and Vinnell was honored as the Defensive Player of the Week. It marks the first career weekly award for both players. 

In his first two career games, Jefferies made quite the splash. He had the primary assist on Merrimack’s lone goal Saturday in its loss to Massachusetts when his long range pass to Chase Gresock set up the junior’s breakaway goal. Sunday, the freshman earned a primary assist on Vinnell’s first goal of the season in the first period, then Jefferies scored a highlight reel caliber goal in the second period for his first collegiate marker. He ended the weekend with three points on a goal and two assists to quickly become Merrimack’s leader in scoring. 

 

FIRST CAREER GOALLLL!!!! Alex Jefferies finds the back of the net and the Warriors retake the lead!

16:09 2nd | MC 2, UM 1#GoMack pic.twitter.com/2J35YSsnKy

— Merrimack Men’s Hockey (@MerrimackMIH) December 6, 2020

Vinnell was a force on the backend for the Warriors in both games against the Minutemen. In Sunday’s game, he wired a wrist shot to the top shelf on the power play that gave the Warriors the lead in the first period. Then, he fired another wrist shot towards goal in the second period that was tipped on the way in by Patrick Holway to give Vinnell a primary assist. The two-point night marked the sophomore’s second career multi-point game and he finished the evening with a +1 rating. 

 

GOALLLLLL! Zach Vinnell fires one home on the power play and the Warriors take the lead!

8:53 1st | MC 1, UM 0#GoMack pic.twitter.com/ux96cgdRdS

— Merrimack Men’s Hockey (@MerrimackMIH) December 6, 2020

Up Next

Merrimack looks to keep momentum alive Saturday night when it takes on Northeastern at Matthews Arena in Boston. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. and fans can tune in regionally on NESN. 

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