MEN'S HOCKEY ENTERS TWO-GAME ROAD TRIP AT #19 WISCONSIN

GAME NOTES
DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team hits the road fresh off a pair of Hockey East victories last weekend. The Wildcats travel to WCHA power Wisconsin (1-2-1) for a two-game road series at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. The 19th-ranked Badgers are coming off a split of Minnesota State. UNH has won the last three meetings between these teams including a 5-1 win over the Badgers in last year's season opener at Whittemore Center.

SCOUTING THE BADGERS: Wisconsin enters this weekend’s series with New Hampshire 1-2-1 overall with a 1-2-1 mark in WCHA play. The Badgers opened the season with a loss and tie at home to Colorado College, while most recently spliting a two game road series with Minnesota State. The Badgers were voted 19th in the most recently USCHO.com poll. A well-balanced offensive attack is led by junior defenseman Brendan Smith, who has five points (2g, 3a). Senior Blake Geoffrion is the team’s leading goal scorer with three goals and four points overall.  Juniors Scott Gudmandson and Brett Bennett have each played twice in net for the Badgers. Gudmandson is 0-1-1 with a .932 save percentage and a 1.94 GAA. Bennett, the former BU Terrier, is 1-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and a .933 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY VS. WISCONSIN: Wisconsin owns a 14-3-0 advantage in 17 all-time meetings dating back to March 25, 1977. However, the Wildcats have had the best of the series most recently with three-straight wins. The Badgers won the first 14 meetings, three of which were in overtime. UNH has posted 21 goals in the last three meetings, all wins for the Wildcats. UNH is 2-3 at home, 0-8 on the road and 1-3 in neutral site games. Coach Umile in his 20-year coaching career has registered a 3-1 mark against the Badgers. In the last meeting, UNH captured a 5-1 win over Wisconsin in last year’s season opener at Whittemore Center. Peter LeBlanc, Mike Sislo and Paul Thompson each scored a goal in last year’s 5-1 win and lead a group of five Wildcats with a point against the Badgers. Senior netminder Brian Fosters is 1-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .967 save percentage against Wisconsin.

SCORING LEADERS VS. THE BADGERS:
Player    GP        G-A-P   
Blake Kessel    1        0-1-1
Peter LeBlanc    1        1-0-1
Stevie Moses    1        0-1-1
Mike Sislo    1        1-0-1
Paul Thompson    1        1-0-1
Mike Beck    1        0-0-0
Bobby Butler    1        0-0-0
Phil DeSimone    1        0-0-0
Nick Krates    1        0-0-0
Goaltending Stats
Player    GP/Min    GA    GAA    W-L-T    SV    SV%
Foster    1/60:00    1    1.00    1-0-0    30    .967
Foster Game-by-Game vs. the Badgers
Date        Min    Res.    Svs.    GA    Shots
10-11-08        60:00    W    30    1    31
Totals        60:00    1-0-0    30    1    31
Series vs. Wisconsin (3-14-0)
3-25-77    (N)    Wisconsin    4    UNH    3    OT    L
12-29-78    (A)    Wisconsin    4    UNH    3    OT    L
12-30-78    (A)    Wisconsin    7    UNH    3        L
3-26-82    (N)    Wisconsin    5    UNH    0        L
1-25-85    (H)    Wisconsin    8    UNH    6        L
1-26-85    (H)    Wisconsin    10    UNH    5        L
11-29-85    (A)    Wisconsin    7    UNH    3        L
11-30-85    (A)    Wisconsin    7    UNH    4        L
11-30-86    (A)    Wisconsin    6    UNH    4        L
1-15-88    (H)    Wisconsin    3    UNH    2    OT    L
1-8-89        (A)    Wisconsin    3    UNH    0        L
11-10-89    (A)    Wisconsin    8    UNH    1        L
11-11-89    (A)    Wisconsin    7    UNH    3        L
3-26-92    (N)    Wisconsin    4    UNH    2        L
12-27-96    (H)    UNH    9    Wisconsin    7    W
3-28-98    (N)    UNH    7    Wisconsin    4    W
10-11-08    (H)    UNH    5    Wisconsin    1    W

SPEELMAN NAMED HOCKEY EAST ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Speelman was named Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week. He becomes the first Wildcat to earn this  award since James van Riemsdyk did so on Jan. 14, 2008. Speelman was moved up to New Hampshire’s top line and delivered right away, potting his first two career goals in a 4-2 win over Northeastern. The goals gave UNH an early 2-0 lead, a lead the Wildcats never relinquished. Speelman’s performance marked the first time a freshman scored two goals in a game for UNH since last season when Stevie Moses tallied two at home against Providence on Feb. 13.

WISCONSIN TRIP A HOMECOMING FOR THREE WILDCATS:  This weekend’s matchup with Wisconsin will be a homecoming for three Wildcats from the Badger state in Mike Sislo, Blake Kessel and Scott Pavelski.

WILDCATS HOPE TO CONTINUE RECENT SUCCESS AGAINST WCHA:  UNH is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games against WCHA teams including capturing a 6-5 overtime win over North Dakota in the NCAA Northeast Regional last March.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: UNH begins a stretch where it will play nine of the next 12 games on the road before heading into holiday break.

WILDCATS ENJOYING RECENT SUCCESS AGAINST WISCONSIN: Although Wisconsin won the first 14 meetings between the two schools, New Hampshire has won three-straight against the Badgers posting an eye-popping 21 goals in those wins.

POWERFUL POWER PLAY: The UNH power play has scored five goals in the last three games.

KESSEL NATION’S TOP DEFENSIVE SCORER: Blake Kessel has 10 points in four games this season. The sophomore defenseman ranks second in the nation and first among blueliners in points per game at 2.00 ppg. Kessel, who had just 13 points in 37 games a year ago, dished out a career high three assists on Friday night against Northeastern.

‘CATS CONTINUE RECENT SUCCESS OVER MAINE: With a 5-2 win over Maine on Saturday night, the Wildcats, who have now won 10 of their last 13 against Maine, including six of the last seven against the Black Bears.

NEW HAMPSHIRE LIGHTING THE LAMP: The Wildcat offense has scored three goals or more in each of the last four games, including outscoring their opponents 9-4 over the weekend.

BORISENOK OFF TO A FAST START: Mike Borisenok continues to put up big numbers for the Wildcats. He had just two points as a freshman and has already tripled that total with six points in five games this season. He posted a career-high three points with a goal and an assist against Maine on Saturday.

BUTLER LEADING THE WAY FOR THE WILDCATS: Senior captain Bobby Butler had a goal and two assists on Friday night in a 4-2 win over Northeastern. Butler tallied seven shots on goal and tallied a goal in the first four games of the season. Butler is the team leader in goals with four and ranks second in points with seven.

SISLO LIGHTS THE LAMP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2009-10: UNH’s leading goal scorer from a year ago Mike Sislo broke into the goal scoring column with this first goal of the season, a power play tally in the third period of UNH’s 4-2 win over Northeastern.

MANZ NETS SECOND CAREER GOAL: Junior forward Greg Manz scored just the second goal of his career with his first-period tally on Saturday night against Maine.

UNH BEST IN THE SECOND... PERIOD: The Wildcats have shined in the second period this season, scoring 12 of their 18 goals in the middle frame. Overall, the ‘Cats have five more goals in the second period than their closest competition in Hockey East.

MOSES MATCHES CAREER HIGH WITH A PAIR OF GOALS: Sophomore Stevie Moses scored a pair of goals, his first two of the season, in a 5-2 win over Maine. Moses scored both of his goals in a three-goal second period, including potting the game winner.

BURKE TALLIES FIRST CAREER POINT: Freshman forward Greg Burke registered his first career point with an assist on Greg Manz’ first period goal in a 5-2 win over Maine.

SCORING BY CLASS: 2009-10 breakdown of scoring by class.
Class    G-A-P    G-A-P %
Seniors:    5-9-14    28-28-28
Juniors:    3-7-10    17-22-20
Sophomores:    8-14-22    44-44-44
Freshmen:    2-2-4    11-6-8

THE NATIONAL POLLS:
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine (October 26)
Rk.    School, Pts. (FPV)        LW     Record    WIP
1    Miami University, 490 (22)    1    4-1-1    4
2    University of North Dakota, 446    2    4-1-1    4
3    University of Denver, 433 (11)    5    4-2-0    4
4    Boston University, 407        3    1-2-0    4
5    University of Michigan, 368    4    2-2-0    4
6    Cornell University, 294        6    0-0-0    4
7    Yale University, 256 (1)        9    0-0-0    4
8    Massachusetts-Lowell, 220    12    3-1-0    4
9    Princeton University, 203    8    0-0-0    4
10    University of Vermont, 201    7    2-2-0    4
11    University of Notre Dame, 193    10    3-3-0    4
12    Boston College, 129        15    1-1-0    4
13    Nebraska Omaha, 117        13    3-0-1    3
14    Colorado College, 80        NR    4-1-1    1
15    Bemidji State University, 53    NR    3-0-1    1
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska, 49; University of Massachusetts, 40; University of Minnesota, 26; Quinnipiac University, 20; University of New Hampshire, 14; St. Cloud State University, 11; University of Minnesota Duluth, 10; Western Michigan University, 9; U.S. Air Force Academy, 4; University of Alaska Anchorage, 3; College of the Holy Cross, 1; Ferris State University, 1; Michigan State University, 1; University of Wisconsin, 1.

USCHO.com/CSTV Division I Men’s Poll (October 26)
 Rk.  Team           (First Place)    Record    Pts    LW
1     Miami                   (26)           4-1-1       925     1
2     Denver                  (20)           4-2-0       899     4
3     North Dakota      (1)           4-1-1       867     2
4     Boston University                  1-2-0       760     3
5     Michigan                           2-2-0       697     5
6     Cornell                            0-0-0       627     6
7     Yale                    (1)           0-0-0       562     8
8     Notre Dame                         3-3-0       523     9
9     Mass.-Lowell                       3-1-0       507    13
10     Vermont                            2-2-0       467     7
11     Princeton                          0-0-0       466    10
12     Nebraska-Omaha                 3-0-1       437    12
13     Boston College                     1-1-0       427    14
14     Bemidji State                      3-0-1       327    16
15     Colorado College               4-1-1       309    19
16     Alaska                             3-0-1       291    15
17     Massachusetts                      3-0-0       179    NR
18     Quinnipiac                         3-0-0       133    20
19     Wisconsin                          1-2-1       117    17
20     Michigan State                     4-2-0       109    NR

Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota 106, St. Cloud State 91, Minnesota-Duluth 75, New Hampshire 64, Western Michigan 41, Harvard 22, Ferris State 20, Providence 16, Northeastern 10, Merrimack 2, Holy Cross 1, Lake Superior 1, St. Lawrence 1, Union 1

WHERE IS UNH RANKED?: Here is a week-by-week look at the ‘Cats in the national polls and the HE standings:
Date     USA TODAY    USCHO     HE
9/28            RV    N/A    t-4th (pre)
10/5            N/A    16    t-4th (pre)
10/12        RV    RV    t-4th (pre)
10/19        RV    RV    N/A
10/26        RV    RV    t-1st

WILDCAT AWARDS: Here is a list of awards that Wildcat players have won to date this season:
Player    Award                    Date
Dalton Speelman    HE Rookie of the Week                10/26

DICK UMILE INDUCTED INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGENDS OF HOCKEY: Head Coach Dick Umile was among a group of seven Hall of Fame inductees for the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey for 2009. In addition, former Wildcat assistant coach and longtime voice of the team Bob Norton will also be inducted.  The ceremony was held on 10/11 at C.R. Sparks in Bedford, N.H.

THE PROGRAM’S HISTORY:  UNH has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 19 times in the 82-year history of the program, including the nation’s second best streak at eight-straight appearances. UNH has appeared in the Frozen Four seven times, including national championship game appearances against Maine in 1999 and Minnesota in 2003. UNH earned Hockey East Tournament titles in 2002 and 2003 and regular-season championships in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008. The Wildcats won the ECAC regular-season title in 1974 and the tournament championship in 1979. UNH has posted 30 seasons with 20-plus wins, including the last 13 consecutive seasons.

‘CATS SELECTED IN THE NHL DRAFT: Five current UNH players have been selected in the National Hockey League draft...Greg Burke (Washington), Phil DeSimone (Washington), Brian Foster (Florida), Blake Kessel (N.Y. Islanders) and Peter LeBlanc (Chicago) have all been taken.

 ‘CATS IN THE PROS: Here is a listing of former Wildcats playing professional hockey:
Justin Aikins:  Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs (CHL)
A.J. Bucchino: Amarillo Gorillas (CHL)
Joe Charlebois: Toledo Walleye (ECHL)
Greg Collins: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
Sean Collins: Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)
Ty Conklin: St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Matt Dzieduszycki: Hannover Scorpions (DEL)
Matt Fornataro: South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Thomas Fortney:  ESV Buchloe (GER)
Jamie Fritsch: Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL)
Lanny Gare:  Bad Nauheim EC (GerObL)
Darren Haydar: Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)
Brett Hemingway: Alaska Aces (ECHL)
Colin Hemingway: Alaska Aces (ECHL)
Kevin Kapstad: Riessersee SC (2.GBun)
Jason Krog:  Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Nathan Martz: Alleghe HC (Italy)
Jacob Micflikier: Florida Everblades (ECHL)
Mark Mowers: Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss NL)
Josh Prudden: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
Mike Radja: TPS Turku (FNL)
Kevin Regan: Reading Royals (ECHL)
Steve Saviano: Vaxjo Lakers (SEL)
Tyler Scott: Allen Americans (CHL)
Trevor Smith: Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL)
Garrett Stafford: Texas Stars (AHL)
Craig Switzer: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
James van Riemsdyk: Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Daniel Winnik: Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)

UNH HOCKEY ON THE RADIO: In the summer of 1999, the University of New Hampshire Athletic Department formed the “UNH Sports Network” — the largest network ever to broadcast UNH sporting events.
    Wildcats Sports Properties has added WGIN-AM 930 (Rochester) and WQSO-FM 96.7 (Portsmouth) as flagship stations on the Wildcat Sports Network, joining WGIR-AM 610 (Manchester), which was added in 2008. All three stations are part of the Clear Channel family and this change will go into effect at the beginning of the 2009-10 season.
    These three aforementioned stations -- along with WUVR-AM 1490 (Lebanon), WNTK-FM 99.7 (New London) and WCNL-AM 1010 (Newport) -- will carry the following: all UNH football & men’s hockey broadcasts and weekly coaches’ shows, a select number of men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and women’s hockey broadcasts, as well as “Wildcat Sports Today”, a three-minute daily update concerning UNH athletics.
    The game can also be heard on the internet at www.UNHWildcats.com through a service from Stretch Internet. Stretch has also partnered with UNH to develop a podcast page for UNH fans to listen to archived broadcasts.
    Dan Parkhurst will be handling the play-by-play for the third straight season, while Pete Webster will once again be doing the color commentating. Webster has been announcing Wildcat hockey for 16 years since the 1993-94 season.

LISTEN LIVE ON THE INTERNET: UNHWildcats.com via Stretch Internet Broadcast will carry all of the UNH men’s ice hockey action again this season...If you can not attend Wildcat hockey, you can still tune into the game from anywhere you can gain access to the internet...Fans can get to the UNH men’s ice hockey broadcast site by going to the men’s hockey schedule page at www.unhwildcats.com.

THE DICK UMILE SHOW ON RADIO: The Coach’s Show featuring UNH men’s hockey head coach Dick Umile and hosted by Mike Murphy begins its 10th season in 2009-10. The Coach’s Show is broadcast Mondays on the Wildcat Sports Network from various locations around the seacoast and features Coach Umile, as well as a student-athlete from the men’s ice hockey team. In front of a live audience, Murphy and his guests talk about the latest news and notes regarding UNH hockey. 

GRANITE STATE CONNECTION: The Wildcat hockey team features three players from New Hampshire with Greg Burke (Lee) Brian Foster (Pembroke) and Paul Thompson (Derry) all hailing from the Granite State.

WATCH ALL THE ACTION WITH THE UNHWILDCATS.TV: UNH and Pack Network have once again partnered to provide online video streaming of UNH’s seven ticketed sports for the upcoming 2009-10 season with UNHwildcats.TV.
    Wildcat fans are encouraged to buy the “Wildcat All-Access Pass” which is an annual subscription for $79.95 that provides all the live coverage of UNH home athletic events. Fans can also purchase home events on a per game basis of $6.95.