Preseason: Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart lineups and notes
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — It all starts somewhere. Merrimack will hit the ice for the first time in the 2023-24 season today when the Warriors travel to Sacred Heart for a preseason game. This will be Merrimack’s only preseason game before the regular season opens next weekend at Arizona State.
The Sun Devils played an exhibition game last night and beat up the University of Arizona club team 16-0.
The Warriors will dress every healthy player on the roster in this game, essentially using a different personnel group in each period (so there is no official line chart for this game).
Puck Drop: 2 p.m.
Arena: Martire Family Arena (cap. 3,600)
TV/Stream: FloSports (requires a subscription)
Game Notes
This is Merrimack’s first visit to Martire Family Arena. The Warriors played Sacred Heart last season (a 3-0 win) at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
We reported earlier this week that defenseman Mike Brown would miss time due to an injury. Sophomore defenseman Trevor Griebel is still banged up and also won’t dress today, and neither will Ben Brar. However, there is hope that both Griebel and Brar could be ready to go next weekend.
Merrimack head coach Scott Borek won’t be behind the bench today. He’s recovering from offseason surgery but hopes to return soon. Dan Jewell, who was promoted to associate head coach over the summer, will be behind the bench alongside Chris Ross and Jimmy Mullin, who will be behind the Merrimack bench for the first time.
Ten new faces will debut today. They include transfers Chase Stevenson (Gr., UNH), Mark Gallant (Gr., Dartmouth), and Michael Citara (Jr., Providence). Freshmen include Max Wattvil (D), Brady Hunter (F), Ethan Bono (F), Frank Djurasevic (D), David Sacco (F), Luke Weilandt (F), and Ty Daneault (F).