MEN'S HOCKEY KICKS OFF 2009-10 SEASON ON SATURDAY AGAINST ACADIA
DURHAM, N.H. --
Coming of its eighth straight trip to the NCAA tournament,
expectations are once again high for the University of New
Hampshire men’s ice hockey team in 2009-10. Last season, the
Wildcats joined Michigan as the only programs in the country to
qualify for the NCAA’s over the past eight seasons.
Additionally, UNH head coach Dick Umile has guided the Wildcats to
20+ wins in 13 straight years, the second-longest streak in the
nation and five seasons more than its closest competition, while no
other team in Hockey East has an active streak longer than one
season. After struggling through a 1-5-2 stretch in November, New
Hampshire went 14-4-2 to close out the regular season and claimed
third place in the league and home-ice in the Hockey East
quarterfinals for the 13th straight season. However, the crowning
moment of the 2008-09 season was the Wildcats’ goal with 0.1
seconds remaining to tie and eventually win 6-5 in overtime its
NCAA Northeast Regional opening-round game against perennial power
North Dakota in front of UNH faithful at Verizon Wireless Arena in
Manchester. While the Wildcats’ season ended on a late goal
in a 2-1 loss to eventual national champion Boston University, the
outlook is once again bright as the Wildcats set their sights on
winning a national championship.
GOALTENDING
Once again, UNH will be led from the net out in 2009-10 by senior
netminder Brian Foster (Pembroke, N.H.). Foster, a
fifth-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers in 2005, emerged as
one of the elite goalies in all of Hockey East and when healthy was
dominant in net for the Wildcats. While Foster missed a pair of
games in November and struggled through an ankle injury in the
first half of the season, he was pivotal in UNH’s second-half
run and was one of three netminders in Hockey East to win the
league’s goalie of the month honors on two occasions
(October, February; Millan, Thiessen). A honorable mention Hockey
East All Star selection, Foster ranked third in the conference in
win percentage at .688 and fifth in save percentage at .917. In
addition, his 15-league wins ranked second in Hockey East.
Sophomore Matt DiGirolamo (Ambler, Pa.) emerged as
Foster’s backup and will serve in that role once again this
season. DiGirolamo picked up his first collegiate win Dec. 11
against Holy Cross as he stopped all six shots he faced in the
final 26:25 en route to the victory. Fellow sophomore Tyler
Scott (Ridgefield, Conn.) will give the Wildcats valuable
depth in the net behind Foster.
DEFENSE
UNH once again returns sure-handed veterans on the defense with
senior Nick Krates (Palos Park, Ill.) anchoring a
solid core of four returners on defense. Krates played in 37 of 38
games and set benchmarks in goals, points and plus/minus during his
junior campaign. Krates is joined by three other returners on
defense in junior Matt Campanale (Chester Springs,
Pa.) and sophomores Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.)
and Damon Kipp (Salmon Arm, B.C.). Campanale was
inserted into the Wildcat lineup a third of the way through and
proved to be a valuable addition notching his first collegiate
point with an assist in UNH’s 6-5 overtime win over Vermont
on March 7, a win that gave UNH third place in the regular season.
Kessel is the Wildcats’ top returning blueline scorer and
served as a lethal weapon on the Wildcat power play. Kessel had a
knack for scoring big goals as three of his six goals were game
winners including late winners against Mass-Lowell and Vermont at
Whittemore Center. Kipp quickly became one of UNH’s most
reliable defenders playing in 27 games as a freshman. He notched
two points, none bigger than his assist on a Greg Collins’
goal in NCAA Northeast Regional game against North Dakota. Junior
Mike Beck (Long Beach, Calif.) is another defender
with a lot of experience for New Hampshire. Beck played in 11 games
and should compete for an increased role in 2009-10. Adding depth
to the UNH defense are three freshmen that could compete for a spot
in the Wildcat lineup right out of the gate in Connor
Hardowa (Edmonton, Alberta), Brett
Kostolansky (Denver, Colo.) and Ansel
Ivens-Anderson (Pound Ridge, N.Y.). Hardowa played three
years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), leading the
Spruce Grove Saints to the 2008-09 regular season title. Hardowa
led all defensemen in the AJHL, scoring 63 points in 61 games on 20
goals and 43 assists. After a stellar career at prep school power
Shattuck St. Mary’s, Kostolansky played one season for the
Chicago Steel of the USHL. During the 2008-09 campaign, he amassed
18 points on a goal and 17 assists. Anderson helped lead the Jersey
Hitmen to the regular season and playoff championships in the EJHL
in 2008-09. Prior to that season, he played two years for the
Junior Monarchs out of Manchester, N.H.
FORWARDS
Offensively, the Wildcats return three players with over 30 points
a year ago and five everyday players led by senior co-captains
Bobby Butler (Marlboro, Mass.) and Peter
LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ontario). Butler (9g, 21a) and LeBlanc
(14g, 16a) each had 30 points a year ago. Butler is the
program’s active leader in points (68), goals (32) and
assists (36). LeBlanc emerged as one of the Wildcats’ top
scoring threat down the stretch and netted a pivotal overtime goal
against North Dakota to give UNH a 6-5 win in the NCAA Northeast
Regional. New Hampshire returns the most firepower from its junior
class, which accounted for 40 percent of the scoring a year ago.
The group is anchored by leading returning goal scorer Mike
Sislo (Superior, Wis.). Sislo, who had just three goals
his freshman season, erupted for 19 goals and 12 assists and was
Hockey East’s Player of the Month in December. Classmates
Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.), Paul
Thompson (Derry, N.H.) and Greg Manz
(Wayne, Pa.) will be called upon to provide offensive firepower for
the ‘Cats in 2009-10. DeSimone played in all 38 games and set
benchmarks in goals (7), assists (11) and points (18). Thompson
played in 27 games a year ago with four goals and five assists,
tallying eight of his nine points in Hockey East play. Manz played
in six games including both games at the NCAA Northeast Regional.
He will compete for an everyday spot in the lineup. Three
sophomores who gained valuable experience a year ago and are
expected to contribute in 2009-10 are Steve Moses
(Leominster, Mass), Mike Borisenok (Watervliet,
N.Y.) and Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.).
Moses played in 33-of-38 games recording 13 points (5g, 8a). He
potted game-winners against Providence (2/14) and Maine (2/6) and
is one of six returners with double-figure points a year ago.
Borisenok appeared in 11 games notching a goal and an assist
despite missing several games late in the season due to illness.
McCarey played in eight games as a freshman and could see
additional time this season. Five newcomers will look to crack the
UNH lineup right of the gate for Umile’s Wildcats.
Austin Block (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Greg
Burke (Lee, N.H.), John Henrion (Holden,
Mass.), Brett Kostolansky (Denver, Colo.) and
Dalton Speelman (San Jose, Calif.) comprise the
freshman forward class. Block played two years in the North
American Hockey League (NAHL) for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and served
as the team captain for 2008-09 campaign. As a second year player,
he led the league in scoring with 73 points in 57 games, (29 goals
and 44 assists). Burke missed most of 2008-09 with a season-ending
injury. However, the highly talented forward represented his
country in the World Junior A challenge just weeks before the
injury. He had two points in five games as the United States won
the championship for the first time. Burke was drafted in the sixth
round of the 2008 NHL Entry Level Draft by the Washington Capitals
with the 174th overall pick. Henrion was a first-year player with
the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) after
playing junior hockey for the Junior Bruins of the EJHL. John
played both center and wing for the NTDP accumulating 31 points in
58 games on 19 goals and 12 assists. Henrion’s schedule while
at NTDP included many games against Division I colleges as well as
international competition. His season culminated with his
participation on the Gold Medal-winning U.S. team in the World
Under-18 Championships. Pavelski, whose brother Joe plays for the
San Jose Sharks, was a two-year player for the Waterloo Blackhawks.
He played in all situations for the Blackhawks in his second season
amassing 29 points in 57 games on 13 goals and 16 assists to go
along with a +19 rating. He was an especially effective penalty
killer throughout the season. Speelman played one year for the
Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL and registered 21 goals and 21
assists for 42 points in 57 games and was a +30.
SCHEDULE
The Wildcats will open the 2009-10 season at home with an
exhibition match against Acadia University Saturday, Oct. 3 (7
p.m.) and will officially kick off the regular season on Oct. 10 (7
p.m.) at Rensselaer. UNH opens its home slate with national
championship finalist Miami University for a two-game home set Oct.
16-17 at Whittemore Center. The games with Miami are part of four
straight home games that include the Hockey East opener Oct. 23 (7
p.m.) against Northeastern and the lone home meeting with long-time
rival Maine Oct. 24 (7 p.m.). UNH concludes October with a two-game
series at WCHA-power Wisconsin. The Badgers, who just missed out of
qualifying for the NCAA tournament, are one of college
hockey’s most storied programs with six national
championships. New Hampshire resumes conference play as it
entertains Boston College on Nov. 6 (7 p.m.). The Wildcats then hit
the road for three straight Hockey East road games, one against
Mass-Lowell and two at Massachusetts. New Hampshire will meet up
with defending national champion Boston University on Nov. 20 (7
p.m.) at Whittemore Center for the first time since the
team’s heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Terriers in the NCAA
Northeast Regional finals on March 30. The Wildcats will conclude
November with the tail-end of the home-and-home with BU and a
single game at Merrimack Nov. 28. UNH will leave Hockey East play
twice in January with a single game against Cornell on Jan. 3 (3
p.m.) at Whittemore Center and take on intrastate foe Dartmouth
College in the ninth annual “Battle for the RiverStone
Cup” on Jan. 16 (7 p.m.) at Verizon Wireless Arena. The
Wildcats will cap off their regular-season with a home-and-home
series with Boston College.
