Jesse Downey to UMASS

wild77 · Post by **wild77** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:22 am

From the 06/23/05 Duluth News Tribune DOWNEY HEADED TO MASSACHUSETTS When asked if he preferred to stop a scoring opportunity or start one, Jesse Downey pondered the question Wednesday before answering: "Start a scoring opportunity." That's one reason the Silver Bay defenseman is headed to the University of Massachusetts on a hockey scholarship. He signed a letter of intent with the Amherst-based school Monday. Downey was one of the more offensive defensemen in the Northland, something he said the Minutemen were seeking. "Rush the puck, join the (offensive) play," Downey said of the Minutemen's plan. "That's my game." The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Downey scored 21 goals and added 37 assists for 58 points in 2004-05, and had a plus-41 plus-minus rating. He finished his five-year varsity career setting school records in points (192) and assists (119). Despite his statistics, Downey received little interest from area colleges. Minnesota Duluth did not pursue him, while Bemidji State contacted him late. "That was a big disappointment for me," Downey said. Mariners coach Mike Guzzo said Downey caught the eye of Massachusetts coach Don Cahoon, not once but twice, at the Great Eight all-star tournament. "He took a second look and was even more impressed," Guzzo said. Massachusetts was 13-23-2 last year, finishing next-to-last in Hockey East. Guzzo expects Downey to help the Minutemen immediately, and is pleased he got the opportunity the old-fashioned way. "He has a (on-ice) vision that others don't have. I think he's going to be pretty special," Guzzo said. "It shows where a kid didn't have to make the state tournament or leave his high school (to get noticed)." Jesse will join defenseman John Wessbecker from Blake for the Minutemen's 2005-2006 season. Looks like they will get an oppurtunity to play some pretty good teams! Good luck Jesse! Sat 10/08/2005 St. Francis Xavier (EXH) Amherst, Mass. 6:00 PM Fri 10/14/2005 St. Lawrence Canton, N.Y. 7:00 PM Sat 10/15/2005 Clarkson Potsdam, N.Y. 7:00 PM Fri 10/21/2005 Holy Cross Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 10/28/2005 New Hampshire* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 10/29/2005 Maine* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 11/04/2005 Providence* Providence, R.I. 7:00 PM Sat 11/05/2005 Providence* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 11/11/2005 Northeastern* Boston, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 11/12/2005 Boston University* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Tue 11/22/2005 Vermont* Burlington, Vt. 7:00 PM Fri 11/25/2005 Colorado College Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 11/26/2005 Denver Amherst, Mass. 8:00 PM Tue 12/06/2005 Merrimack* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 12/09/2005 Boston College* Chestnut Hill, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 12/10/2005 Boston College* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Thu 12/29/2005 Bowling Green/Toyota UConn Hockey Classic Storrs, Conn. 4:00 PM Fri 12/30/2005 Consolation Game/Toyota UConn Hockey Classic Storrs, Conn. 4:00 PM Fri 12/30/2005 Championship Game/Toyota UConn Hockey Classic Storrs, Conn. 7:15 PM Fri 01/06/2006 Merrimack* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 01/07/2006 Merrimack* North Andover, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 01/13/2006 UMass-Lowell* Lowell, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 01/20/2006 New Hampshire* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 01/21/2006 New Hampshire* Durham, N.H. 7:00 PM Fri 01/27/2006 UMass-Lowell* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 01/28/2006 Boston University* Boston, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 02/03/2006 Boston College* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 02/04/2006 UMass-Lowell* Lowell, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 02/10/2006 Boston University* Boston, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 02/11/2006 Providence* Providence, R.I. 7:00 PM Fri 02/17/2006 Vermont* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 02/18/2006 Vermont* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 02/24/2006 Northeastern* Boston, Mass. 7:00 PM Sat 02/25/2006 Northeastern* Amherst, Mass. 7:00 PM Fri 03/03/2006 Maine* Orono, Maine 7:00 PM Sat 03/04/2006 Maine* Orono, Maine 7:00 PM