The easiest way for a freshman to create playing time for himself is to do more than one thing well.

Freshman forward Chase Langeraap saw most of his action early in season as a winger on the Massachusetts hockey team’s third or fourth line. Langeraap scored the first goal of his career – a power-play goal – against Boston University last Friday. The Minutemen defeated the Terriers, 5-3, at Agganis Arena for the first time ever.

Before the win over BU, Langeraap had played in four of UMass’s seven games and started each game at the left wing spot on the line. However, against the Terriers, Langeraap centered a line featuring senior Matt Burto and sophomore Scott Crowder.

Langeraap celebrated the start in the middle with the goal and also added the first assist of his career. He also won seven of the eight faceoffs he took in the game; the only UMass player to finish the game with a winning record in draws.

UMass coach Don Cahoon awarded Langeraap with another start in Saturday’s matchup with UMass Lowell. In that game, he won four of the five draws he took, making him 11-for-13 on the weekend.

For the weekend, he was minus-3 despite his offensive success.

Ortiz honored

Sophomore winger Will Ortiz scored two goals over the weekend; including the game-winner against BU. He has now scored goals in four consecutive games. For this, he earned this week’s UMass/Dinn Brothers Athlete of the Week award.

His five goals lead both the team and Hockey East, but he is tied with four other players for the conference lead. No other UMass player has more than three goals on the season.

Ortiz is another player Cahoon can move around because of his talents. He has played on almost every line this season and brings explosiveness and grit to which group Cahoon pairs him with.

Back on the ice

Sophomore center Brett Watson suited up on Saturday for the first time since breaking a finger in practice before a weekend series with Providence. The Minutemen missed the play of their heady pivot.

Not only does Watson provide a calming presence in the middle of the ice, he excels on the penalty kill and in other situations that Cahoon demands defense in.

Without Watson, players like Michael Lecomte and junior Jordan Virtue filled in on the penalty kill and on the UMass depth chart behind top center Cory Quirk.

Watson centered a line featuring Crowder and Burto, providing the Minutemen with a talented trip capable of shutting down an opponent’s top line. But also one more than able to create scoring chances.

Early in the season, Watson played between Alex Berry and James Marcou. Marcou and Berry are relentless offensive players who constantly try to push the puck up ice to create scoring chances. Watson’s excellent positioning and understanding of defensive hockey, allowed him to offset any channels created by the aggression of his wingers.

Sophomore net minder Dan Meyers is also healthy after a battle with a pulled groin. Meyers dressed against Merrimack two weeks ago and in both matchups last weekend, but freshman Paul Dainton got the start in all three games.

Dainton has performed well in his action, holding opponents to 2.42 goals per game.

Freshman Matt Gedman dressed in Meyers stead during his injury but saw no playing time