When hockey followers consider the College of Massachusetts, the title that normally involves thoughts is defenseman Cale Makar.
And rightfully so. After changing into the primary UMass participant to win the Hobey Baker Award, probably the most prestigious in school hockey, Makar memorably jumped proper into the Avalanche lineup throughout the first spherical of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs earlier than occurring to win the Calder Trophy in his first full NHL season. Makar, 23, is now up for the Norris Trophy, and main all defensemen in scoring this season, during which he has already surpassed 70 factors.
Anyone who has watched UMass’ transformation to one in all school hockey’s powerhouses, nevertheless, will inform you that ahead Bobby Trivigno has been on the middle of it.
The Rangers comprehend it, too.
“All people can speak about Cale Makar,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel instructed The Put up in a current cellphone interview. “However the man who will, for me, go down in historical past for altering this program, is Bobby Trivigno.
“He’s not the hockey participant Cale Makar is, however what he did for 4 years right here — two Hockey East Championships, a regular-season championship and a nationwide championship — he's extra answerable for the success of this program than every other participant.”
Trivigno, an undrafted 23-year-old ahead hailing from Setauket, N.Y., has been on the Rangers’ radar for fairly a while. He would’ve participated within the Rangers’ growth camp this 12 months if not for NCAA guidelines that prohibit gamers from lacking faculty for NHL occasions, however a supply stated the pesky 5-foot-8 competitor has already met with members of the Blueshirts’ entrance workplace.
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If the celebrities align for Trivigno, a contract with the group he grew up rooting for may very well be ready for him on the finish of his senior season.
Madison Sq. Backyard is already acquainted territory for Trivigno, whose household had season tickets when he was youthful. Trivigno stated he remembers watching present president and common supervisor Chris Drury throughout his taking part in days with the Rangers from 2007-11.
Trivigno’s fashion of play checks all of the containers that Drury got down to add extra of to the Rangers final offseason, and his résumé speaks for itself. A top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker this 12 months, Trivigno simply led UMass to back-to-back Hockey East championships and was a two-time match MVP.
Final 12 months, UMass captured the primary nationwide championship in program historical past. It wouldn’t have been doable with out Trivigno’s game-winning help 14 ½ minutes into extra time of the semifinal recreation towards Minnesota-Duluth, which earned him the title of Most Excellent Participant of the Frozen 4 and a spot on the All-Match group.
“I feel the success I’ve had right here with our groups has positively ready me in some type of method for the subsequent degree,” stated Trivigno, who's UMass’ captain. “Whether or not that’s in playoffs or essential video games, massive video games. I feel the one distinction would most likely be extra followers in attendance.”
Carvel, who has served as an NHL assistant coach for the Geese and Senators, has watched a couple of of his UMass gamers grow to be professionals. Except for Makar, there are the Sharks’ Mario Ferraro and John Leonard, and the Rangers’ Zac Jones. When Carvel thinks of how Trivigno will make the soar, the coach is aware of he's going to discover a strategy to impression video games.
Regardless of his measurement, Trivigno is at all times probably the most conditioned, disciplined and hardest-working participant on the ice, in line with Carvel. Not solely will Trivigno’s consistency earn the belief of an NHL coach, Carvel stated, however his velocity and skating skills ought to separate him from the pack as properly.
“His will actually form of makes up for that distinction in measurement,” Carvel stated. “Throw a puck within the nook with him and anyone at this degree, I don’t care how massive the opposite individual is, he’ll come out with it extra instances than not.
“We used to start out virtually each video session with him knocking someone over twice his measurement.”
When UMass reached the Frozen 4 for the primary time, in 2018-19, throughout Trivigno’s rookie season and Makar’s ultimate 12 months, Trivigno was suspended for the championship recreation for an unlawful test to the top within the semifinal matchup.
UMass misplaced 3-0, however Carvel maintains Trivigno may need made a big distinction. That proved to be true when UMass cruised to a 5-0 victory in its second crack on the title.
“With out him on this group this 12 months, we’re a particularly totally different group,” Carvel stated. “His single impression on this group is bigger than any participant that I’ve coached at this degree.”
Makar is thought for his elite abilities and having a hockey IQ past his years. Trivigno is thought for his coronary heart and game-changing impression that comes from inside.
The Avalanche have one UMass star. The Rangers may get the opposite.
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