Heather Mixter
A Hockey East weekend means lots of work for the Warriors. This past weekend’s games were an even split between the Warriors and the Providence College Friars. Friday night’s games at Schneider Arena, ended in a four to two loss. Saturday night’s game at home ended in a three to two win, ending a five game losing streak. While there were many components that stood out during both of these games, two Merrimack players made themselves known. Freshman forwards Trevor Hoskin and Justin Gill dominated the ice with a combined total of three goals and four assists.
Gill would score the opening goal of the Friday night game at Providence, four and half minutes into the game. The assists on this goal would go to Hoskin and sophomore forward Caden Cranston. Both Hoskin and Gill would then get assists on the goal from sophomore forward Nick Pierre, which would be the Warriors last of the night during the second period. Five and half minutes into the first period of Saturday’s game the buzzer would sound for a goal, this time scored by Hoskin. The assists for this goal would go to junior defenseman Austin Oravetz and junior goaltender Max Lundgren. The third goal of the game and the final for the Warriors would also be scored by Hoskin, with assists going to Gill and Pierre. Hoskin’s return to score in the second period would come after leaving the ice during the first, due to a puck to the upper body and not returning for the remainder of the period.
Both players had an interesting hockey career before their arrival at Merrimack. Gill, is a 2023 fifth round draft pick of the New York Islanders and prior to Merrimack was playing for the Worcester Railers, which is an ECHL team derived from the Islanders. Prior to this he also played for the Bridgeport Islanders, an AHL affiliate of the Islanders as well. Hoskin is a 2024 fourth round draft pick of the Calgary Flames. Prior to his transfer to Merrimack he played a year at Niagara University where he would total twelve goals and twenty seven assists. This weekend alone, the two players have demonstrated what they can do. Now Warrior fans need to keep their eyes open to see just how much of an impact these two can have for the rest of the season.
