Merrimack Men's Hockey Ranked No. 6 In Both Major Polls

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The Merrimack College men's hockey team last was in action on Dec. 10, but the Warriors continue to get plenty of attention for their play so far this season.

On Monday, Merrimack (13-4-0 overall, 9-2-0 Hockey East, tie 1st) was ranked No. 6 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine College Hockey Poll, after being ranked No. 5 the week before. The Warriors also were ranked No. 6 in the most recent DCU/USCHO Division I Poll.

Meanwhile, this past Thursday, Merrimack junior forward Alex Jefferies was listed on the Hobey Baker Award watchlist by Patrick Donnelly of NCAA.com. The Hobey Baker is college hockey's equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy, awarded each season to the game's top player.

Jefferies, from Lunenburg, was not considered a candidate for the award when the season began.

"The Warriors have been one of the biggest, if not the biggest surprise in all of college hockey this season," Donnelly wrote. "Perhaps the biggest reason is the resurgence of Jefferies."

Jefferies, who was drafted by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (121st overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, leads the Warriors with 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists).

Though the offensive numbers are impressive, Jefferies recently told the Sentinel & Enterprise that his biggest improvement has been on the defensive side of the puck.

"I think my biggest growth has been in my 200-foot game," Jefferies said. "I was more focused on scoring goals and on offense as a freshman, always just looking to score. The coaches here have worked with me on being a better player without the puck."

Jefferies and linemates Matt Copponi, a sophomore, and Otto Leppänen, a graduate student, have been an impressive trio this season. Copponi currently has 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists), as does Leppänen (4 goals, 12 assists).

"We've got some good chemistry," Jefferies said. "We're playing well together going into the break and hope to keep it going when we get back."

The Warriors return from their break with a trip to Dartmouth on Dec. 30 and 31.