Merrimack dealing with a few injuries ahead of opening weekend

The Merrimack men's hockey team is dealing with a handful of injuries this week as the Warriors prepare for an exhibition game against Sacred Heart on Saturday and the regular-season opener against Stonehill on Sunday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Merrimack head coach Scott Borek confirmed that centers Mark Hillier and Jack Richard will start the season on the injured list. Borek said in our podcast interview — which will be released later this week — that Richard is likely out for the season and will require surgery.

Goaltender Nils Wallstrom is also injured and the Warriors hope to have him back in the lineup in mid-October.

Max Lundgren has to serve a two-game suspension levied by the NCAA for pro appearances in Europe before he moved to the U.S. to play in the USHL.

With Wallstrom injured and Lundgren ineligible for the first two games, freshman Ryan Keyes will start against Stonehill on Sunday and the first game against Minnesota State on Oct. 10.

"He has come in and looked very good over the summer and in the first month of preseason," Borek said. "He's a great kid, a great teammate, and a great fit in our room. He's going to get a chance early in the year and I'm excited for him, because he deserves it with the work he's put in."

Keyes, who is from Alaska, was added to the roster over the summer after Steve Bacovsky entered the transfer portal. Last season, he played for the South Shore Kings (NCDC), where he posted a 2.06 GAA and a .926 save percentage and backstopped the Kings to the NCDC championship.