AMHERST, Mass. — “Let me give you the 10-cent tour.”



Entering the William D. Mullins Memorial Center, Jillian Jakuba opens a maroon door and begins walking down a long entryway with white-painted brick and five maroon stripes racing down the side. Those walls serve as a strong contrast to the black rubber skate-resistant flooring with grey trim.



This hallway is the gateway to the University of Massachusetts’ hockey program. To the left, there is a long-paneled display of alumni who have made it to the NHL. On the right, is another visual exhibit featuring the seven players in program history who were named All-Americans.



One can’t help but notice there is an open space next to a photograph of former captain and current San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun, the last Minuteman to capture the honor.



“Hopefully,” says Jakuba, the hockey program’s long-time sports information director,...