The duo, along with captain Rocco Carzo, have been the primary producers for the Minutemen through their first two games.
Rocco Carzo rushes to celebrate with Brandon Gracel after the latter scored a goal against UConn on Oct. 12.AMHERST — They became friends because they couldn’t get Tim Horton's before practice anymore.
At least, that’s part of the reason, according to Brandon Gracel.
Gracel and Steven Guzzo, two Canadians who found their way to the University of Massachusetts hockey team, began bonding over their shared experiences when they arrived in Amherst three years ago.
Last season, they were roommates in North Apartments. This season, they no longer share living space, but something more important: Ice time.
The duo finds itself on a line together with captain Rocco Carzo, and the chemistry has been immediate — the combination has accounted for four of the Minutemen’s five even strength goals.
It wasn’t a natural fit, though. Gracel, born and raised in Calgary, and Guzzo a, Toronto-area native, had both been centers for their first their three years at UMass. But Micheletto needed instant bonds, and instead of letting positions get in the way, he moved Gracel to wing.
“Ultimately what you’re trying to find is guys that have some sort of chemistry together,” Micheletto said. “It appears that that’s been the case.”
It doesn’t always come instantly. Guzzo said there is no typical length of time it takes guys to gel, but that him and Gracel did it quickly, each tallying a goal and an assist on opening night against UConn.
“The more you play with someone, the more you know their tendencies, what they’re likely to do and where they’re likely to go on the ice,” Guzzo said. “I feel like it just came easy for me and Brandon, we always knew where each other would be.”
Gracel and Guzzo said they had to split up their living arrangements because some players would have been left without roommates, but that hasn’t precluded on-ice success.
Neither had to give up taking faceoffs either. Although Gracel plays the wing position, he takes the faceoffs when he’s on his backhand (he’s a righty, while Guzzo is a lefty).
They have more in common than a love for Tim Horton’s and all things Canada. Both, like many Canadians who end up at American colleges, were late bloomers.
“I think I got a little bit better with age, so school was the best suited route for me,” Guzzo recalled.
Gracel’s story is a similar one.
“When I was younger, I went to WHL camp, and if I would have made it that year, I probably would have played,” Gracel said. “The fact that I didn’t make it that year, and I wasn’t actually ready to play major junior at 15 or 16, the college route gives me a chance to develop more.”
Their paths crossed in Amherst, and luckily so for the Minutemen. The Gracel-Guzzo-Carzo line has stepped up the production while the top line of Connor Sheary, Michael Pereira and Troy Power have yet to get going.
“You can’t rely on two guys in this league and expect to be successful. It’s to easy for teams to shut down one line or two players,” Micheletto said. “One of the things that I think everybody has recognized is that we’ve got depth. It’s something that we want to exploit as much as possible. Obviously Rocco and Guzzo and Gracel have chipped in.”
If the second line continues its production, and the first line can get it rolling, the Minutemen could pack a powerful offensive punch in 2012 and beyond.