Cole O’Hara is on pace for a career year with the UMass hockey team.

The junior forward is first on the Minutemen in points (16 in 12 games played), which is already two points away from his career-best of 18 last season. The 6-foot, 183-pounder has registered at least one point in every game, save for the series in Vermont, which has propelled the Richmond Hill, Ontario native into a tie for first place among Hockey East scorers with Maine’s Harrison Scott and Boston College’s Gabe Perreault.

O’Hara had a huge hand in the Minutemen’s crucial 5-1 victory over No. 10 Providence last Saturday, finishing the night with three assists – his third three-point performance of the season. In a game where UMass hockey needed its leaders to step up, O’Hara left no doubt as to his importance to this year’s Minutemen squad.

“He's kind of been sneaky,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel said. “I didn't realize he had three points during the game [Saturday]. One or two of those might have been a second assist, but he had a great assist to set up [Aydar] Suniev on the goal in the third period. He has very good hands and very good instincts and he's getting stronger on the pucks.”

O’Hara’s primary helper to Suniev was a heads-up play as O’Hara had the puck in the slot, ready to shoot, but instead swiveled and dished it off to the weak side to Suniev, who quickly slapped in the power play marker.

The Minutemen have had no shortage of injuries to their forward group as they’ve already lost Cam O’Neill, Daniel Jencko, and Michael Cameron up front, making what O’Hara, a Nashville Predators draft pick, has accomplished even more impressive.

“That was a huge game for us,” O’Hara said. “We weren't too happy with [the first game against Providence, a 2-1 loss]. Down bodies it's always tough. Credit to Carvel he kind of preached, those are the games you come together, you have to give a little more when you're down bodies. We dug deep down. It was a good win.”

O’Hara’s role on UMass’ five forward, top power-play unit can’t be overlooked as well. The right-shot winger has helped the Minutemen achieve a 23.7 percent conversion rate, good for fourth-best in Hockey East.

“We both play on the flanks so whenever he's open I try to find him and whenever I'm open he's trying to find me,” Suniev said. “I think just playing with him 5-on-5 on the line, building some connection definitely helps on the power play as well.”

Five of O’Hara’s 16 points have come on the power play this year.

O’Hara and Suniev seem to have found a connection through the early goings of the season on UMass’ second forward line. O’Hara has served has Suniev’s set-up man for half of the Calgary Flames draft pick’s eight goals.

“He's a great player,” Suniev said. “I think starting this season, we had some chemistry building in practice and then coming in the games. It's definitely great to play with him. We both find each other. I'm glad he's on my line.

“He can shoot, he can score, he can do everything, so he's a good player,” Suniev said.

Off the ice, Carvel noted O’Hara’s mature habits have directly led to improved statistics from the former captain of the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm.

“He's turned into a man, that's what happened to him,” Carvel said. “The kids that come here and really focus on the details off the ice, the conditioning, the nutrition, the mental toughness that they build and create, the consistency in their habits, that's what develops them as players and he's a great example.”

“I think it's just kind of the process,” O’Hara said. “I had goals going into the summer and expectations for myself this year. It's kind of all about the process and sticking to it.”

Now with two full seasons under his belt, O’Hara is looked upon as one of UMass’ leaders this year. Recognizing that, O’Hara has begun developing more of a vocal presence to complement his on-ice abilities.

“He didn't say a word for two years, now he's starting to be a leader, because he's feeling that confidence, but he's earned that confidence,” Carvel said.

“He's a junior, it's time to step up for him as well,” Suniev said. “He's a leader on and off the ice.”

UMass will need more of the same from O’Hara as it transitions into the heart of its Hockey East schedule following the Thanksgiving holiday. Luckily for the Minutemen, No. 19’s game has never looked better as the nation’s third-leading scorer.

“He's a power forward now at this level with good stick skills, good offensive instincts, so he's just coming into his own and it's great to see,” Carvel said.