The UMass Minutemen men's hockey team has just four winning seasons since the program returned to campus in the fall of 1993 after a 14-year hiatus. It's been to the NCAA tournament only one time, back in 2007 behind future Stanley Cup champion goalie Jonathan Quick. That was also the last time the team reached the final four of the Hockey East tournament.
But as the Minutemen prepare for their conference semifinal meeting with Boston College on Friday night, there is plenty of excitement in Amherst, Massachusetts. And it's all thanks to sophomore defenseman Cale Makar.