Merrimack’s Derkack honored again
For the second straight week, Merrimack College men’s basketball guard Jordan Derkack was named Northeast Conference Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
Derkack had maybe his best two-game stretch of his career this week. The sophomore guard averaged 24 points, six rebounds, and 4.5 assists in the two Merrimack wins. Derkack had 21 points in an NEC Championship rematch with FDU and then followed the up with a 27-point performance against NEC preseason favorite Sacred Heart. He also had five steals in two games. Derkack shot 57% from the field in the two games this week.
The Warriors get back to action on Saturday afternoon at NEC newcomer Le Moyne College. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
Nelson, Figueroa stay hot in Germany
Our two Merrimack Valley natives are still making waves in Germany’s First Division pro basketball league.
Tyler Nelson, a Bradford native, is averaging 15.4 points and has hit 18 of his last 37 3-point shot attempts while L.J. Figueroa, of Lawrence, is at a respectable 13.5 point per game and a four-game double-digit scoring streak.
Nelson, 28, is tied for third in the league making three 3-pointers per game while the 25-year-old Figueroa’s 1.8 steals per game has him tied for third place overall.
The duo met for the first time since high school in early December.
Harvey returning for Wisconsin?
One of the nation’s top players, Wisconsin sophomore defenseman Caroline Harvey, was expected to return to action earlier this month when the national champs hosted the Merrimack College women.
The Salem, N.H., resident suffered a knee injury early in the season which apparently caused problems.
In only 11 games she has 20 points — two goals, 18 assists — putting her among the top three in the nation in points per game.
We will be updating her status over the next week. Wisconsin hosts St. Thomas for two games this weekend before opening Big 10 league play against Minnesota State the following week.
Ex-Merrimack star makes mark in NHL
Johnathan Kovacevic has moved into second all-time in NHL scoring among Merrimack College alums per our college hockey writer Mike McMahon of The Mack Report.
Kovacevic has seven points (5 goals, 2 assists) in 31 games for the Montreal Canadiens this season and has 22 points in 117 career games.
He moved past Greg Classen (17 points) and recently moved past John Jakopin (113 games) into second place all-time in NHL games played by a Merrimack alum.
Kovacevic is behind Steve McKenna (1993-96) in both categories. McKenna’s NHL career spanned eight seasons (1996-04). He appeared in 373 career games and had 32 points playing for L.A., Minnesota, Pittsburgh and New York Rangers.
McKenna was a defenseman at Merrimack (he was partners with Jakopin) but was converted to a forward in the NHL. The 6-foot-8, 255-pounder had 824 career PIMs.
Marcotte to sign in Methuen
Former Boston Bruins Stanley Cup champ Don Marcotte, who has lived in the Cape Ann area since joining the team more than 50 years ago, will be signing autographs in Methuen on March 3 at the Methuen VFW Hall.
The signing was rescheduled from a January cancellation due to snow. It will take place from 10 a.m. until noon. Each autograph costs $15 with $5 inscriptions.
The monthly card show runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. with 40 dealer tables on hand. Admission is $2, free for children 9 and under.
For more info on the show send email to to vandreoli@comcast.net or call 508-265-4440.
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