Daniel Jencko returned to the UMass hockey lineup with a bang on Nov. 29.

After missing seven games due to injury, Jencko tallied his second goal of the season against Army at Mullins Center, helping the Minutemen pick up their seventh victory of the year.

Now with five points in seven games played, the Slovakia native is UMass’ top-scoring freshman forward despite appearing in a fraction of as many games.

“He’s been a real pleasant surprise,” Minutemen head coach Greg Carvel said. “The skill-set, I’m not surprised at. That goal he scored against West Point, he’s got that capability. He’s got really good hands, he’s got really good instincts, he’s got really good stick skills.”

Prior to his time in Amherst, Jencko put up respectable numbers with the Malmo Redhawks J20 team in Sweden, scoring 23 goals in 68 career games. Then, the 6-foot, 181-pound winger made the jump to the United States Hockey League midway through last season and finished with 20 points in 37 games for the Youngstown Phantoms.

“I played in Sweden for three years, it’s a much bigger rink, it’s the same [as the Mullins Center] actually,” Jencko said. “When I came to the USHL it was much faster, much more physical, but here’s it’s another level. I think it’s harder to come from juniors to NCAA than NCAA to any pro hockey.”

UMass’ offense has been led primarily by the trifecta of Cole O’Hara (21 points), Aydar Suniev (team-high nine goals), and Dans Locmelis (15 points) through the first two months of the season. However, a healthy Jencko could solidify UMass’ depth scoring, which would go a long way in helping the Minutemen score more goals, a desire Carvel has expressed multiple times in recent weeks.

“He’s a top-nine forward for us right now and the only freshman in that situation,” Carvel said.

Jencko appeared on the Minutemen’s third forward line against the Black Knights, alongside Ryan Lautenbach and fellow freshman James Duerr. Should Jencko continue to progress offensively, UMass’ 3.27 goals-per-game-average could climb higher.

“Just getting better as a player here, that’s why I came here, to work on my details and get better,” Jencko said. “Just try and win the last game with our team.”

ROOKIE REARGUARDS – The Minutemen blue line lost two significant pieces in Scott Morrow and Ryan Ufko to the pros at the end of last season. Both defensemen were key cogs in UMass’ overall success as two of the team’s top three scorers from a year ago.

Francesco Dell’Elce and Larry Keenan have stepped in and progressed well for the Minutemen on the backend this season, even more so when considering they’ve been on the same pair. Dell’Elce has picked up some of the void on offense with four goals and eight points, while Keenan (goal, assist) has been more of a steady presence all over the ice.

“We’re in a tough spot that we have five left-shot [defensemen], so we have to force two players to play on their off-side,” Carvel said. “To me it’s a compliment to [Keenan] that he can play his off-side. He may not have the points that [Dell’Elce] has, [Dell’Elce] plays on the second-unit power play, [Keenan] to me is a very good two-way defenseman.

“I think at this stage we’re asking [Keenan] to just make simple plays, especially on his off-side,” Carvel said.

The freshman duo have slotted in as the second D-pair, behind Lucas Olvestad and Owen Murray. Captain Linden Alger has had a rotation of either Finn Loftus or Kennedy O’Connor on the third pair.

UMass’ production from its blueliners has been admirable as four of the seven have two goals or more. However, Carvel would like to see someone take hold of that sixth defenseman spot.

“Finn Loftus is a really smart, good skill-set player, but he’s young and he needs to learn how to compete at this level,” Carvel said. “Kennedy O’Connor is a bigger body, he’s got experience, he doesn’t have the skill-set but he has the compete level. It’s kind of game-to-game, what do we need more? Do we need a big body, do we need a puck mover? Most games we’ll dress seven defensemen.”

ALL GAS, NO BREAKS – UMass’ power play ranks eighth-best in the country. Considering the Minutemen roll out a five-forward first power-play unit, their 27.3 conversion percentage shouldn’t be all that surprising.

The power play was important in UMass’ 3-1 win against Army and proved to be a factor in all four of its victories during the month of November. 

“The coach put the five best players on the ice together and let them play. That’s all it is,” Carvel said. “Gave them a little bit of structure, little bit of philosophy, but they’re very good college players and you just don’t get in there way too much. Just give them a broad plan.

“It’s a really talented group,” Carvel said. “One of the best five-man units that I’ve had in college hockey.”

Only UMass Lowell (30%) and Maine (27.4%) have better power play numbers among Hockey East teams.