Hobey Baker Predictions include a UMass Player (Mitchell Chaffee)

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e_parade
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Hobey Baker Predictions include a UMass Player (Mitchell Chaffee)

Post by e_parade » Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:35 pm

https://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-men ... rd-2019-20
Mitchell Chaffee – Massachusetts

Massachusetts came within a game of the program's first-ever national championship in 2019, ultimately falling to Minnesota Duluth in the finals. Gone from a year ago are Hobey Baker winner Cale Makar and Jacob Pritchard, the top-two point producers for the Minutemen.

However, Mitchell Chaffee returns after a 42-point season and can expect to be the go-to offensive threat for UMass in 2019-20. Chaffee — a first-line right winger — and Makar were both named ACHA First-Team All-Americans to culminate the team's best season in program history.

The Minutemen won 31 games last year, a program record and a far cry from the 5-29-2 mark in coach Greg Carvel's first season.

Improvements by Chaffee among others aided the program's swift turnaround. The rising junior nearly doubled his point total from 24 to 42 with a dozen multi-point games.

Like Limoges, Chaffee's plus/minus took a staggering turn for the better. He was -5 as a freshman before finishing his sophomore campaign at +23. To elevate his case for the Hobey Baker this season, Chaffee's postseason performances will likely need a boost.

His lone point in the NCAA tournament came in the Minutemen's Frozen Four win over Denver. By comparison, Makar registered a point in three of four postseason games.

Last season, UMass was a bit of a surprise. If the Minutemen replicate their team success with Chaffee leading the charge, it'll be hard not to include the junior's name in the Hobey Baker conversation.
Already some great press for the coming season. It would be awesome for him to be in the conversation throughout the season and maybe as a finalist at the end of the year. But having it preseason is already a good sign there.

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