For the third straight year, UMass will be represented on the biggest stage of junior hockey.
Freshman defenseman Zac Jones was named Monday to the United States roster for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. He joins former defenseman Cale Makar, who represented Canada in 2018, and sophomore goalie Filip Lindberg, who represented Finland last year, as recent UMass players at the event.
The Americans open group play Thursday against Canada before facing Germany on Friday, Russia on Sunday and the Czech Republic on Monday. If the U.S. qualifies for the medal round, the quarterfinals are scheduled for Jan. 2, the semifinals are on Jan.4 and the medal games are on Jan. 5. All games will be broadcasted on NHL Network and all four preliminary games are scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.
Jones will definitely miss Sunday’s game against RPI and will likely also miss the Minutemen’s trip to Denver on Jan. 3 and 4.
If the Americans play for a medal, which it has done the last four years, it is possible Jones will also miss the Minutemen’s home-and-home series with Boston College on Jan. 10 and 11. Last year, coach Greg Carvel said he learned from Makar’s experience that it might be better for players to rest after the tournament and gave Lindberg the weekend off after his return.
MITCHELL RECOGNIZED BY A-10 — Tre Mitchell was named the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week after scoring 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds in UMass’ 74-53 win over Maine.
The center is the third different UMass player to earn the honor, joining teammates T.J. Weeks and Sean East II, who won the award in the first two weeks of the season, respectively. It is the first time since 2003-04 that UMass had three different players honored as the conference’s rookie of the week.
Mitchell ranks 10th in the A-10 averaging 14.3 points per game and ranks 14th with a team-best 6.3 rebounds pr contest.
INJURY REPORT — In addition to not knowing when Weeks will return from a stomach ailment, men’s basketball coach Matt McCall said the timeline for Kolton Mitchell is still unclear. The freshman guard is scheduled to see a doctor in January for a checkup on his surgically repaired left hand.
If the hand is healing well, Mitchell might be able to return to the court early in conference play next month. He is currently doing drills without a ball, which is progress after breaking his hand in the Minutemen’s opener against UMass-Lowell on Nov. 5.
POWELL BECOMES NO. 19 — Football coach Walt Bell hinted at the fact UMass wouldn’t be done Wednesday during the early signing period, and the prediction came true Friday. The Minutemen added New Jersey defensive back Te’Rai Powell as the 19th member of the 2020 signing class.
Powell is the third defensive back that signed with UMass joining Tristan Armstrong and Cody Jones.
“He has a lot of position versatility, he’s played running back, he’s played nickel, he’s played outside linebacker, he’s played safety, he’s played corner,” UMass safeties coach and Northampton native Jason Tudryn said. “He’s a do-everything type of guy and he’s a guy who knows how to lead a locker room and obviously make plays on the football field.”
RODGERS COLLECTS ACCOLADES — UMass cornerback Isaiah Rodgers has picked up several major honors for his performance this season for the Minutemen.
The senior was named the nation’s best kick returner by Pro Football Focus after leading the country with 1,295 yards on a nation-high 53 kickoff returns. He was also named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference as the kick returner.
In addition, he led UMass with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups this season while also recording 42 tackles, including three for a loss. His defensive statistics earned him a spot as a defensive back on both the All-ECAC and the All-New England teams.
Josh Walfish can be reached at jwalfish@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshWalfishDHG. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.