NORTH ANDOVER - Brandon Sadlowski has seen just about everything in his four seasons at Merrimack College.
The Alberta-born defenseman suffered through a three-win season as a freshman, and one of the biggest single-season turnarounds (9 wins) that Merrimack has seen as a sophomore.
Now, the Warriors are on the brink of making the postseason for the first time since 2003-04, but Sadlowski witnessed something else on Tuesday, when the Warriors suffered their worst defeat (7-0 loss to 7th-ranked Boston College) of his four seasons, tying the worst loss in the Mark Dennehy coaching era (9-2 loss at Michigan in 2005-06).
"You throw the tape away," said Sadlowski, who leads all defensemen with a plus-6 rating. "It's just one of those things where we weren't ready to play and Boston College was; they're a great club and put us in our place a little bit. It doesn't hurt us, a game like that helps you know that you have to bring it each night. Luckily, we all have short memories and we still have four games left to determine our playoff fate."
Sadlowski has been part of the maturity of Merrimack hockey. In the season's other two lopsided defeats - 5-1 setbacks against Ferris State and against Northeastern - the Warriors responded with a 3-1 win over UMass Lowell and a last-second loss to Maine, after Stephane Da Costa had the potential game-winner disallowed midway through the third period.
"We can't take a step back, that isn't an option," Sadlowski said. "We came to practice on Wednesday and really went at it hard. We know that we're much better than the team that was out there on Tuesday night."
And the Warriors record backs him up. Merrimack is still 4-1-1 in its last six games and close the season with three of four games at home, including tonight and tomorrow's games with Maine, where the Warriors are 11-2 on the season.
"We're not the most skilled team in Hockey East, we have a lot of talent, but we understand there are teams with more skill," Sadlowski said. "We are a blue-collar team. It sounds clichéd, but we take it one game at a time and like to get pucks deep and bang bodies. We know we still have to outwork our opponent each night."
Sadlowski continued, "You look at how close the teams are in the standings (3rd to 9th place is separated by just four points) and that just goes to show you that on most nights, it's the effort that makes the difference."
Merrimack currently occupies the eighth, and final playoff spot in Hockey East. They lead Vermont by one point, hold the tiebreaker, and sit three points shy of fourth, the final home-ice advantage slot in the league. The Warriors host Maine tonight and tomorrow (7:10 p.m) and play a home-and-home series with last-place Providence next weekend to close the regular season.
Kids Fest comes to Merrimack
Prior to faceoff this weekend, Merrimack presents the first Annual Merrimack Hockey Kids Fan Fest beginning at 5 p.m., sponsored by Fun Enterprises. The fan fest will include face-paintings, moon bounce, inflatables, a slap shot game, caricatures, and free photo key chains. All of the free activities, courtesy of Perfect Parties, will be available to all fans with a game ticket each night from 5-7 p.m. and in between periods.
Tomorrow, the Boston Bruins mascot, Blades, will be in attendance to meet and greet fans beginning at 6 p.m. The Hockey East Championship trophy will also be on display for photo opportunities. Merrimack will also unveil its All-Decade team during tomorrow's game.
Beware: Bear Crossing
What: #16 Maine at Merrimack College
When: Tonight and tomorrow, 7:10 p.m.
Where: J. Thom Lawler Arena (Merrimack College)
Last time out: Gustav Nyquist scored with 17.2 seconds remaining to give Maine a 4-2 win (the Black Bears tacked on an empty netter) at Alfond Arena. Stephane Da Costa scored seven minutes into the third period to give the Warriors what he thought was a 3-2 lead, but it was controversially called back for deflecting off Da Costa's skate.
Tickets: Visit www.merrimackathletics.com to purchase tickets online and download a coupon for $5 tickets redeemable at the box office.
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