UMass had some talented players last season, but the Minutemen go into this season with their top five scorers from 2009-10 gone.
Forward James Marcou and defenseman Matt Irwin signed with the San Jose Sharks. Marcou led UMass in scoring last season with 11 goals and 40 assists for 51 points. Irwin was fifth in points. He had seven goals and 17 assists for 24.
Marcou would have been a senior, Irwin a junior.
The Wild signed another key Minuteman, free agent Casey Wellman. He led UMass in goals with 23 and had 22 assists for 45 points, second on the team.
Defenseman Justin Braun, the Defensive Player of the Year, graduated. Braun from Vadnais Heights, Minn., had eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points. Also graduating was forward Will Ortiz (13-13-26).
Braun was named first team all-conference in Hockey East, Marcou and Wellman were named to the second team.
Senior forward T.J. Syner does return. He had eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points, sixth on the team.
UMass plays the Gophers at Mariucci Arena on Oct. 8-9. That;'s the season-opening series for both teams.
