By Warren Kozireski —
One was a four-year starter at Colgate whereas the opposite set 5 program data tending web at Division III Skidmore and each have been in search of a fifth-year expertise, ideally collectively.
The College of Massachusetts-Lowell gave Pierson and Tate Brandon the chance to once more play with one another and up to now, so good.
“Thrilled; it’s been a terrific transfer,” Pierson mentioned through the Adirondack Invitational in Lake Placid in late November. “The competitors is improbable, the workforce is de facto nice, the teaching is unbelievable.
Clearly, I knew (Affiliate Head Coach) Andy Bochetto (previously an assistant at Colgate) earlier than. Nevertheless it’s been a terrific transfer, I’m actually pleased with it and excited for what we’re going to do right here.”
Pierson was voted by his teammates as co-captain regardless of simply arriving this summer time and is taking part in key minutes on the River Hawks blueline. Unofficially he was on the ice for about 4 of the ultimate six minutes in a 2-0 victory over St. Lawrence within the match opener. Tate is ready within the wings for his first minutes of the season because the workforce’s third goaltender.
“He (Tate) clearly had an unbelievable Division III profession and broke a whole lot of data at Skidmore. We have been each in search of fifth-year alternatives and…it type of simply completely labored out and it’s been superior to play with him once more. We haven’t performed collectively since we have been 18 (years outdated), so it’s been a pleasant reunion.
(Relating to the captaincy) we had a month of summer time coaching, and I’m honored that the blokes felt sufficient to vote that means, and the coaches had sufficient religion in me. It’s large honor and I’m very proud to put on that “C.”
Pierson, a 6’1”, 195 lb. left shot was the workforce chief in blocked photographs all 4 seasons at Colgate (led the ECAC convention his junior season) and is selecting up proper the place he left off. He had one purpose and one help by means of the season’s first 13 video games and was tied for second on the squad at +5 plus/minus.
Tate final yr set Skidmore single-season workforce data for video games performed (27), minutes (1538), GAA (1.76), SV% (.938) and wins (19) earlier than the Thoroughbreds misplaced within the NEHC championship recreation to eventual repeat nationwide champion Hobart.
The Brandon’s performed on each workforce collectively till they cut up up in juniors ending with one season with the Connecticut Oilers and three with the North Jersey Avalanche 16-U and 18-U squads.
Peirson headed to Aberdeen within the NAHL for 2 seasons the place he gained a Robertson Cup whereas Tate performed for the Connecticut Jr. Rangers within the NCDC.
“(The Cup) is unquestionably up there (with favourite reminiscences). And successful at Colgate was unbelievable, with the ability to do this for a program that hadn’t carried out it in 30 years and for a coach (Don Vaughan) who hadn’t gained in 30 years, however the Robertson Cup was a particular one.
It was an extended grueling season and first one in historical past for Aberdeen was an superior factor to be part of.”
Now they’re hoping this season to create one final reminiscence taking part in collectively. UMass-Lowell is 10-3-1, as that is written, and moved up from #16 to #14 within the USCHO Dec. 2 rankings, so they’re heading in the right direction.
(Photographs of Pierson Brandon supplied by U-Mass Lowell Males’s Hockey Workforce and Athletic Division)
