{"id":48670,"date":"2013-01-31T06:00:24","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T12:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=48670"},"modified":"2013-01-31T08:01:22","modified_gmt":"2013-01-31T14:01:22","slug":"add-goaltending-battle-to-berards-challenges-in-interim-role-at-connecticut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2013\/01\/31\/add-goaltending-battle-to-berards-challenges-in-interim-role-at-connecticut\/","title":{"rendered":"Add goaltending battle to Berard’s challenges in interim role at Connecticut"},"content":{"rendered":"
Connecticut interim coach Dave Berard is getting his first taste of leading a college hockey program, and it’s been an eventful season so far for the former longtime Providence assistant coach who joined Bruce Marshall’s staff two years ago.<\/p>\n
What started as Marshall’s 25th season behind the Huskies bench soon saw him take a medical leave in November and then resign earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Berard, who had been running the team in Marshall’s absence since his medical leave, was officially appointed interim coach upon Marshall’s resignation on Jan. 6. A national search will commence at the end of the season, a critical junction for UConn, which is set to join Hockey East beginning with the 2014-15 season.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Berard has been dealing with the transition and uncertainty. Plus, he’s got an old-fashioned goaltending battle at the moment, something that you wouldn’t expect at UConn, which has unquestionably been senior Garrett Bartus’ team since he arrived in Storrs midway through his freshman season.<\/p>\n
Bartus, who holds the school’s all-time record for saves (3,269) and wins (40), has not been the go-to guy since the holidays. He’s 1-2 in three starts in 2013 while fellow senior Matt Grogan has stepped to the forefront, posting a 4-1-1 record since the semester break.<\/p>\n
Grogan has seen action in 10 games so far this season, equaling the total number of appearances he had in three seasons of backing up Bartus.<\/p>\n
“You see it all the time, a player stepping up into a critical role,” Berard said. “Garrett had some academic issues around the holidays and we looked to Matt to step in. He played well in three games for us and when Garrett got those issues resolved, we decided to play them both. They both won against Penn State so we kept that up.”<\/p>\n
Against Robert Morris and Mercyhurst, the Huskies had Grogan in net on Friday and Bartus on Saturday. In both cases, UConn won the Friday game and lost the following night.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t all about the goaltending, it was about coming back after a good win and letting down the next night,” Berard said. “We weren’t greedy enough to get the four points. Our game against Mercyhurst [5-0 loss on Jan. 19] was the worst we played in a long time.”<\/p>\n
Grogan had earned a spot in the rotation based on those Friday night wins and No. 2 Quinnipiac was next up.<\/p>\n
“We kept with the rotation and Matt got the start,” Berard said. “He played very well [48 saves in a 2-1 loss] and put us in a position to win the game. That’s all you can ask for.”<\/p>\n
Grogan was rewarded with starts both nights in last week’s series with American International, winning 3-1 on Friday and tying 1-1 on Saturday. He made 53 saves on the weekend.<\/p>\n
“At least we got a point on Saturday, which was an improvement,” Berard said. “Matt earned those starts and we were happy with the way he played.”<\/p>\n
Despite Grogan starting an unprecedented three games in a row, Berard isn’t willing to say that he is now the incumbent starter, not when you have an all-star at the ready as well.<\/p>\n
“Garrett has been great,” he said. “It’s been difficult for him. Since he got here he’s pretty much played every minute of every game. He’s not used to sitting on the bench, much less for [three straight] games. But he’s a good teammate and [Bartus and Grogan] have a good friendship. And Garrett knows he’ll play again.”<\/p>\n
It could be as early as Saturday night. The Huskies travel to Rochester Institute of Technology for a weekend series.<\/p>\n
“We’ll go with Matt on Friday and see what happens,” Berard said. “We’ll make adjustments if needed.”<\/p>\n
The Huskies have been tinkering with their offense all season. Production has been down about a half a goal per game over last season when Cole Schneider was the main threat with 45 points. He left for the pro ranks at the end of the season, forfeiting his last two years of eligibility.<\/p>\n
In addition to those points lost due to Schneider’s departure, other players have had trouble repeating their output from last season. Junior Brant Harris has 14 points so far after a 33-point sophomore campaign and classmate Billy Latta has six points, far shy of his 28 last year.<\/p>\n
“There’s been some residual effect [to the loss of Schneider],” Berard said. “But we’ve been getting better and guys have begun to develop chemistry and learn what we need to do to score goals. The things that worked last year aren’t going to work this year and it took some time to realize that. We’re learning that we’re going to have to work harder for goals and do things differently, and I think that we’re adjusting at the right time.”<\/p>\n
Connecticut has an almost identical record as this point last season (10-11-3 vs. 11-11-3 last year) going into the series at RIT. It’s one game at a time for Berard, who said he’s not looking ahead to the offseason when he’ll be competing to make his head coaching job permanent at UConn.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been told that I will be considered for the job and I told them I want the job.” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been given a great opportunity to audition for the next two months. That said, that’s all that I am focused on, the next two months. I’m focused on this team and the players and giving them the best chance to win a championship. They’re a special group.<\/p>\n
“Once the season is over, I’ll think about next year.”<\/p>\n
From the home office in Haverhill, Mass.:<\/p>\n
Atlantic Hockey player of the week: The junior forward had four points to lead the Purple Eagles to a win and a draw against RIT. He had a pair of goals in a 3-3 tie on Friday and a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 6-4 victory.<\/p>\n Atlantic Hockey goalie of the week: Torf allowed just one goal in two games against Robert Morris, leading the Falcons to their first home sweep of the season. He made 59 saves in total, including 30 in a 2-0 shutout on Friday. The junior has nine career shutouts.<\/p>\n Atlantic Hockey rookie of the week: Gladiuk should be making space on his trophy shelf for the league’s rookie of the year award. He wins the weekly honors for the second week in a row and fifth time this season. This time out he booked four points, all on assists in the Falcons’ split with Holy Cross. Gladiuk has 26 points, tied for tops in the nation among rookies at 1.18 points per game.<\/p>\n Air Force, the preseason pick to win the regular season title, languished in the middle of the pack for the first two months of the season. But since the beginning of December, Air Force is 8-2-2 with its only losses coming at No. 1 Minnesota and at then-No. 15 Niagara. The Falcons have vaulted into second place as a result.<\/p>\n Canisius dropped a 5-2 decision at Mercyhurst on Tuesday, and it was only the second time all season the Golden Griffins had lost a game where captain Preston Shupe recorded a point. Canisius is 9-2-2 this season when Shupe gets a point and 0-10-3 when he doesn’t.<\/p>\n It’s even better if the senior scores: the Griffs are 7-0 when he lights the lamp and 2-11-5 when Shupe is held without a goal.<\/p>\n Atlantic Hockey is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season and coaches and media are voting on an all-decade team.<\/p>\n
\nRyan Rashid, Niagara<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nJason Torf, Air Force<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAndrew Gladiuk, Bentley<\/strong><\/p>\nSoaring<\/h4>\n
Strange stat of the week<\/h4>\n
A decade of great players: my take<\/h4>\n