In the first practice of the new season in their building, the head coach drew up the drill, explained it and sent his team out to execute. His team responded by going through it at a quick tempo with crisp movements and on-target passing. There were few whistles, and no time was spent having to break things down and start over.
This businesslike approach and sharp execution is what Jerry Keefe and the 2021-22 Northeastern Huskies are all about. They know that there are more expectations than ever riding on the new season after some impressive teams have been unable to win the games that matter most. Keefe, 45, might be a rookie head coach on paper, but after spending a decade assisting Jim Madigan behind the bench, he’s no stranger to the program.
With an impressive core of upperclassmen and some precocious first-year players joining the roster, capturing another Beanpot trophy or Hockey East title has become par for the course on St. Botolph Street. While that success has been welcome, the team wants more.
“It’s a very detailed group,” Keefe told New England Hockey Journal. “We have some smart hockey players. They’re picking up on things pretty quick, which is nice to see as a coach. I think our details have been very good, and there’s a lot of good energy with this team.”
The native of Billerica, Mass., and his staff consisting of associate head coach Mike Levine (Sandwich, Mass.), assistant coach Mike McLaughlin and volunteer assistant goaltending coach Mike Condon (Needham, Mass.) understand the importance of setting the right tone with the team, especially in the early stages of preparation.
They know that they have a talented, experienced group. They also know that talent alone does not win championships.
“I’ve said it before, but we have tremendous leadership with our captain and leaders,” said Keefe. “Our focus is obviously on getting better each game, week to week. We have big goals in mind for this team, and I know the players do as well. For us, we want to be playing our best hockey at the end of the year so that when it comes playoff time in the Hockey East, we’re ready to make a jump at a league title, and we want to make sure we’re putting ourselves in position to get to the national tournament.
“That’s the first step. But, you have to get there first.”
The veteran core of returning upperclassmen led by captain and Haverhill, Mass., native Jordan Harris, with skilled power forwards Sam Colangelo (Stoneham, Mass.) and Aidan McDonough (Milton, Mass.), has the experience and skills to build a strong supporting cast around. Newcomers in the form of seasoned transfers such as Michigan State captain Tommy Miller on defense or big-bodied Bentley forward Jakov Novak, among others, plus a talented group of freshmen give Northeastern a chance to take that next important step for the program.
“I was talking to Coach Keefe the other day about just how fast guys are picking up on stuff,” Harris said. “It’s really exciting. You can see we have a lot of smart players who want to pick up on our systems and are excited to learn.”
Harris knows that the competition will be fierce as it has been in each of his previous three seasons. As in every year, Hockey East itself promises to be one of the top conferences in college hockey, with top competition bringing out the best in everybody.
The 21-year-old senior and former Kimball Union two-way star was chosen by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He and fellow Canadiens prospect Jayden Struble (Cumberland, R.I.) are relative rarities in the current era of hockey in that both of them went straight into school from prep hockey as true freshmen instead of playing at least a full season in juniors first. Both are superb athletes who bring contrasting physical packages but are key components to their team's makeup on defense.
“I’m really excited to see how we develop together as a team this year,” Struble said. “All of our freshmen came in an have been unbelievable. They’re working hard and are really skilled. Obviously, our older classes are really skilled and deep, and we get (goaltender) Dev (Levi) back, which is huge. Putting all of that together, I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Miller has a wealth of college experience under his belt with 135 games played for Michigan State from 2017-21. He is expected to be a top defensive anchor for a blueline corps that has legitimate talent at the top but strong depth throughout with Johnny Deroche (Lynnfield, Mass.), Tyler Spott, Julian Kislin, Jeremie Bucheler and Natick, Mass.. native James Davenport. Cam Gaudette (Braintree, Mass.) follows older brother and 2018 Hobey Baker winner Adam to the school after playing in the NAHL with the Northeast Generals and Maryland Black Bears.
“We have a good mix of those older guys and those younger guys,” Harris said. “With the three transfers, they’ve been fantastic so far, and the leadership they bring and the experience they bring, you can tell they’re not freshmen. They have a lot of college games under their belt. With the younger guys, they have a lot of energy and excitement. They want to be here, and it’s been really good.”
Up front, Northeastern has a deep group of forwards who bring a little bit of everything.
Junior left wing McDonough finished second in team scoring a year ago with 10 goals and 20 points. The seventh-round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks in 2019 is part of the leadership group with fellow assistant captains Riley Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) and Kislin. A powerful north-south skater whose ability to get to the net and use his soft touch to score off the rush or in tight make McDonough difficult to account for.
“I think our freshman year we had a taste of success and learned from the older guys what it took to be successful,” McDonough said. “Last year, we didn’t have the success we wanted to and it left a bad taste in our mouths. Throughout summer training and getting going in the fall here, we’re really excited because I think we have the group to have success like we did our freshman year and go further than that.”
Between McDonough and Anaheim Ducks 2020 second-round selection Colangelo, the Huskies have a pair of forwards who present nightmare matchup problems for opponents and are prime breakout candidates for college hockey this season.
Toronto-area twins Dylan and Ty Jackson are skilled offensive dynamos who starred for Dubuque of the USHL before coming to Northeastern. They put defenses on their heels and bring an incomparable chemistry that will keep opposing teams guessing and trying to match their frenetic speed and pace.
Northeastern also boasts a forward in East Greenwich, R.I., native Gunnarwolfe Fontaine who brings a heavy all-around game and is difficult to play against with his relentless forechecking style. A wrecking ball on skates, Fontaine played for the high-flying Chicago Steel, who were on a historic pace before the pandemic shut down the 2019-20 USHL season. The sophomore is looking to build on his 15 points in 21 contests, but the key thing about Fontaine is that even if he isn’t scoring, he’s helping.
The forwards are bolstered by another top transfer student in Novak, an Ottawa Senators prospect. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, he led Bentley in scoring each of the past two seasons and gives the Huskies another big body up front with college experience and high upside. Novak, Riley Hughes and Matt Demelis (Hingham, Mass.) could provide a secondary but powerful scoring punch.
Sophomore forward Steven Agriogianis chipped in as a freshman with six points in 11 games last season. Agriogianis, former UMass transfer and senior Marco Bozzo, junior Alex Mella (Stamford, Conn.) and fellow sophomore Michael Outzen all bring a mature, refined approach and versatility to the club.
Freshmen Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.), Justin Hryckowian, Matt Choupani, Chase McInnis (Hingham, Mass.) and Ryan St. Louis (Riverside, Conn.) round out the forwards. There will be an adjustment process in many cases, but the speed and skills they bring will provide NU coaches with some intriguing matchup options and valuable depth to develop them into top contributors.
If opponents hope things get easier in net, not so fast.
Devon Levi and Evan Fear complement each other well, with Levi expected to carry the bulk of the duties this season. The Florida Panthers seventh-rounder in 2020 might not possess ideal size for the position in the modern era at 6-feet, 175 pounds, but he has elite quickness and hockey sense and raised his profile significantly with his run for Team Canada in the 2021 World Junior Championship last winter. Levi plays big in the net, as does the 6-foot-2 Fear, who has impressed with a seamless transition since coming over from Quinnipiac University.
Though he didn’t appear in a game as a freshman due to injury, Levi has the bona fides and confidence after a standout Junior A career with the Carleton Place Canadians.
“I’m looking forward to having fans (in the stands),” said Levi. “It’s going to be really cool to have a packed building, and I’ve actually never played in front of a big crowd. I’m really excited to do that with a group of guys I’m close with and to battle with them in pressure situations.”
Freshman T.J. Semptimphelter provides additional goaltending depth and developmental upside going forward.
Keefe understands from his decade at Northeastern that the conference is an annual dogfight, and while things look good on paper and in the early going, a national title is the mission.
He has experienced the wins and successes that help establish the credibility needed to be a perennial power in college hockey and continue to bring in strong recruiting classes. As important as keeping the goal of competing for an NCAA championship in mind, Keefe said it starts by keeping the focus in front of the team, one game at a time without looking too far ahead.
Northeastern’s season begins against Bentley University at home on Oct. 2. With fans being allowed back into the games for the first time since spring 2020, there is much to look forward to. Keefe knows his players feed off of the energy that the student section affectionately known as the “Dog House” will bring to Matthews all season.
“Right now, our attention is on our first game and making sure we prepare the right way,” he said. “Bentley has an excellent program, and it will be an important test for our team.”
