Men's Hockey Plays Host to Maine for "White Out the Whitt" (Fri - 7:30 p.m. - NESN) (Sat - 7 p.m. - NESN)
GAME NOTES
DURHAM, N.H. -- The sixth-ranked University of New Hampshire men's ice hockey team plays host to border-rival No. 15 Maine this weekend. Both games in this marquee matchup will be televised live on NESN. Friday night's game is set for a 7:30 p.m. start, while Saturday's game is a 7 p.m. puck drop. Fans are encouraged to wear white for this weekend's "White Out the Whitt" promotion.
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS: No. 15 Maine Black Bears enter this weekend's series with UNH with a 11-7-6 overall record and an 8-5-4 mark in Hockey East. Maine's 20 points is good for fifth place in Hockey East a point behind Merrimack and a point ahead of Northeastern. Junior forwards Spencer Abbott and Gustav Nyquist power the Black Bear offense with 28 points apiece. Abbott has 14 goals and 14 assists, while Nyquist has six goals and 22 assists. Maine is winless in its last three contests with a pair of ties and a loss. This past weekend, the Black Bears lost Friday night (4-3) and tied Saturday night (1-1) at home against Boston University. Maine has used a variety of goaltenders during the 2010-11 season. Dan Sullivan is 5-4-1 with a 2.80 GAA and an .883 save percentage, Shawn Sirman is 3-1-3 with a 2.61 GAA and a .904 save percentage, while Martin Ouellette is 3-2-2 with a 2.43 GAA and a .893 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MAINE: The Black Bears own the advantage in the all-time series history at 56-46-5 in 107 meetings. UNH captured a 4-3 overtime win over the Black Bears in Orono on Dec. 10. Coach Umile is 32-39-5 all-time in his coaching career vs. the Black Bears. Senior forward Paul Thompson is the active leader in Wildcat scoring against Maine with seven points in nine games, while five different Wildcats each have four or more career points against Maine. Di Girolamo is 1-0-0 with 2.98 with a .900 save percentage.
SCORING LEADERS VS. THE BLACK BEARS:
Player GP G-A-P
Paul Thompson 9 1-6-7
Mike Sislo 10 3-3-6
Blake Kessel 6 1-4-5
Mike Borisenok 7 1-3-4
Stevie Moses 7 3-1-4
Phil DeSimone 10 3-1-4
Jeff Silengo 1 2-0-2
John Henrion 3 1-1-2
Mike Beck 7 0-2-2
Damon Kipp 6 0-2-2
Kevin Goumas 1 0-2-2
Greg Manz 3 1-0-1
Dalton Speelman 2 1-0-1
Greg Burke 1 0-1-1
Kevin McCarey 6 0-1-1
Brett Kostolansky 4 0-1-1
Matt Campanale 6 0-0-0
Connor Hardowa 3 0-0-0
Austin Block 3 0-0-0
Scott Pavelski 2 0-0-0
Nick Sorkin 1 0-0-0
Goaltending Stats
Player GP/Min GA GAA W-L-T SV SV%
Di Girolamo 1/60:18 3 2.98 1-0-0 27 .900
Di Girolamo Game-by-Game vs. the Black Bears
Date Min Res. Svs. GA Shots
12-10-10 60:18 W 27 3 30
Totals 60:18 1-0-0 27 3 30
LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET (DEC. 10, 2010): Freshman Jeff Silengo scored his first two collegiate goals including the game-winner at 1:26 of overtime to cap-off a, 4-3, come-from-behind victory for UNH over the sixth-ranked University of Maine in Hockey East action in front of a sellout crowd of 5445 at Alfond Arena.
LAST TIME OUT (1/29/11 VS. PROVIDENCE): Paul Thompson, John Henrion and Dalton Speelman all recorded a goal and an assist and Matt Di Girolamo made 37 saves to lead the seventh-ranked University of New Hampshire men's hockey team to Friday night's 5-1 Hockey East victory against Providence College at the Whittemore Center.
UNH/MAINE TAKE CENTER STAGE LIVE ON NESN: UNH and Maine will take the Hockey East spotlight this weekend. Friday night Tom Caron & Craig Janney will call all the action for Hockey East's Friday Night Hockey Package. On Saturday night, Eric Frede & Pete Webster will have the call for the season series finale. Broadcast time is 7 p.m. both nights as Friday night will have a 30-minute pregame show.
FIVE SCORE: UNH scored five goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
SISLO JOINS THE CENTURY CLUB: With three points on Friday night at Providence, senior Mike Sislo became the 68th member of the century club at UNH and the first since Bobby Butler did so at Schneider Arena on Jan. 22, 2010 in an overtime win over the Friars. Sislo becomes the first player from Wisconsin to ever earn this honor; his linemates are on also approach 100 points with Thompson at 99 and DeSimone at 95.
THOMPSON TABBED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Paul Thompson was named Hockey East Athletic Republic Player of the Week. The announcement was made Monday afternoon by the league office. Thompson earned HE Player of the Week honors on Nov. 22 & Jan. 10. Thompson registered three goals and two assists in a weekend sweep of Providence. He tallied a +1 rating and had 10 shots on net. He potted the game-winning goal Saturday night. Thompson leads the 'Cats in six offensive categories: points (39), goals (20), power-play goals (nine), game-winning goals (five), shots (112) and shooting percentage (.179). He is also third in assists (19) and tied for third in plus/minus (+10). Thompson has tallied a point in 19 of 24 games, including 13 of the last 14 games, with 13 multiple-point efforts. He has tallied a goal and an assist in the same game 12 times, including three straight. In the national statistics, Thompson ranks third in points (39 points, 1.62 per game), third in goals (0.83 per game) and 19th in assists (0.79 per game); third in power-play goals (nine) and second in game-winning goals (five). In Hockey East, he is the league leader in points (39), goals (17), power-play points (14) and game-winning goals (5) as well as third in assists (15). After registering five points this past weekend, Thompson is only one point away from the 100-point milestone. In 125 career games, he has amassed 99 points on 49 goals and 50 assists. He is the team's active leader in points per game (1.6).
THOMPSON GARNERS HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Paul Thompson was named Hockey East Athletic Republic co-Player of the Month for February. The announcement was made Tuesday morning by the league office. Thompson, who earned HE Player of the Week honors on Jan. 10 and 31, shares the honors with Stephane Da Costa of Merrimack. Thompson, who was the league's player of the month in November, registered 14 points and 1.75 points per game (9g, 5a) in eight games for the Wildcats, leading them to a 5-3-0 record in the month. He tallied a goal in six of nine games and a point in 7 of 9. Thompson had five multi-point efforts with a +3 rating and two game-winning goals. He notched four points and a hat trick on Jan. 7 vs. UMass-Lowell.
THOMPSON TO APPEAR ON NESN THURSDAY NIGHT: Paul Thompson will appear during an intermission of the Boston Bruin's broadcast on NESN on Thursday night when the Bruins take on the Dallas Stars. Thompson will be talking about his breakout season and previewing the two UNH/Maine games that will air live on NESN this week.
THOMPSON VS. BUTLER: Bobby Butler had one of the best seasons by a UNH player in some time including being a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist a year ago. However, through 24 games Paul Thompson numbers are better than Butler's in several categories.
Through 24 games Goals Assists Points PPG
Butler in 2009-10 18 17 35 1.45
Thompson in 2010-11 20 19 39 1.63
THOMPSON THIRD IN NATION IN SCORING: Paul Thompson is third in the nation in points per game at 1.63 ppg behind Miami's Andy Miele (1.75 ppg) and Carter Camper (1.64 ppg).
THOMPSON ON THE DOORSTEP OF 100: Thompson with 49 goals and 50 assists is now just one point away from 100 for his career. Last weekend, Mike Sislo became the 68th member of the century club. Thompson's cousin Mike Souza is in the century club with 156 points (22nd on all-time scoring list). He is looking to become just the third Granite Stater to earn the century club at UNH. Frank Roy (Berlin, N.H.; 174 pts; 1979) and Dana Barbin (Exeter, N.H.; 127 pts; 1981) are the other two.
THOMPSON ON A TEAR: Paul Thompson continues to be on a tear with 14 points in the last seven games including five points this weekend (3g, 2a). He has 13 multi-point efforts in 24 games this season.
THOMPSON ONE AWAY FROM 40: Paul Thompson is just one point way from 40 during his senior season. There have been 24 players to record 40 points since 2000 with Darren Haydar topping the list with 76 points in 2001-02.
Player G-A-P Year
Paul Thompson 19-20-39 2010-11
Bobby Butler 29-24-53 2009-10
James van Riemsdyk 17-23-40 2008-09
Matt Fornataro 18-28-46 2007-08
Mike Radja 19-24-43 2007-08
Trevor Smith 21-22-43 2006-07
Matt Fornataro 13-27-40 2006-07
Jacob Micflikier 16-26-42 2005-06
Brett Hemingway 19-22-41 2005-06
Daniel Winnik 15-26-41 2005-06
Sean Collins 19-37-56 2004-05
Preston Callander 25-29-54 2004-05
Jacob Micfliker 20-24-44 2004-05
Daniel Winnik 18-22-40 2004-05
Steve Saviano 27-22-49 2003-04
Sean Collins 16-26-42 2003-04
Justin Aikins 10-31-41 2003-04
Lanny Gare 22-29-51 2002-03
Colin Hemingway 22-25-47 2002-03
Darren Haydar 31-45-76 2001-02
Colin Hemingway 33-33-66 2001-02
Sean Collins 20-25-45 2001-02
Lanny Gare 9-31-40 2001-02
Darren Haydar 18-23-41 2000-01
TOP LINE NOMINATED FOR HOBEY BAKER AWARD: UNH's top line of Paul Thompson, Phil DeSimone and Mike Sislo are all on the ballot for the 2011 Hobey Baker Award. Fans can vote for the trio at www.VoteforHobey.com.
FOUR SCORE IN THE SECOND PERIOD: The 'Cats scored eight second-period goals during the weekend with four each night. Overall, New Hampshire has scored 38 goals in the middle frame accounting for nearly 45 percent.
SOPHOMORE LINE CLICKS RIGHT AWAY: UNH's newly assembled third line of Dalton Speelman, Austin Block and John Henrion each scored in Saturday night's 5-1 win over Providence.
TOP LINE COMBINES FOR NINE ON FRIDAY: On Friday, UNH's top line of Thompson, Sislo and Phil DeSimone combined for nine points (3g,6a) in a 5-2 win, for DeSimone his three assists matched a career high.
DESIMONE 95 AND CLIMBING/25 GOALS,70 ASSISTS: Phil DeSimone is approaching 100 career points. DeSimone has 95 points on 25 goals and 70 assists. Mark Mowers is the only other player from N.Y., Phil DeSimone's home state, in UNH's century club.DeSimone is the first Wildcat with 70 assists since Matt Fornataro dished out 74 assists in his career.
'CATS EXTEND UNBEATEN STREAK TO 14 AGAINST THE FRIARS: UNH is 12-0-2 in its last 14 games against PC with its last loss coming in a 7-1 defeat on Feb. 24, 2007. In addition, New Hampshire is 15-0-1 in its last 16 games at home against the Friars with the last loss at home coming on March 12, 2004 in the Hockey East quarterfinals.
WHITE OUT THE WHITT: This weekend's games are "White Out the Whitt". Fans are encourage to wear white, while rally towels and thundersticks will be given away to select, limited amounts of fans each night.
'CATS MAGIC NUMBER 1 FOR POSTSEASON BID: Any combination of a UNH win or tie and Vermont loss or tie would allow UNH to clinch a playoff spot for the 23rd-straight season. The Wildcats have advanced to the postseason in Hockey East every year since 1989.
DESIMONE MATCHES CAREER HIGH: Phil DeSimone matched a career high with three assists on Friday night at Providence.
TOP LINERS APPROACHING CENTURY MARK:
Player G-A-P Points to 100
Mike Sislo 46-54-100 Reached 1/28 at PC
Paul Thompson 49-50-99 1
Phil DeSimone 25-70-94 5
WILDCAT POINT SALE, 3 FOR 100?: UNH's top line is could all reach the 100-point mark this season with Sislo over 100, Thompson at 99 and DeSimone at 95. Sean Collins (173 pts.), Preston Callander (130 pts.) and Justin Aikins (103 pts) were the last trio of classmates to enter the century club. They were class of 2005.
'CATS OWN LEAGUE'S SECOND BEST POWER PLAY: UNH owns the league's second best power play overall with a 20.0 percent conversion rate. The 'Cats are 22-of-110 on the extra-man advantage this season.
HOME-SWEET-HOMESTAND: New Hampshire is in the midst of playing six of seven games at the friendly confines of the Whittemore Center. UNH is 7-2-3 overall at home and 7-1-1 against Hockey East foes at the Whitt.
'CATS HOPE TO RIDE GREEN LINE TO THE GARDEN: Dubbed the "Green Line" for the color they skate in during practice, UNH is hoping to continue to ride the unbelievable success of the "Green Line" to big things in 2010-11. The line has registered a point in 20 of 24 games and accounts for almost 44 percent of the UNH offense.
Green Line by the Numbers
Player Goals Assists Points PPG
Thompson 20 19 39 1.63
Sislo 10 23 33 1.38
DeSimone 5 22 27 1.13
Totals 35 (1.45) 64 (2.67) 99 4.13
THOMPSON FIRST IN HOCKEY EAST IN SCORING; SISLO RIGHT BEHIND: Paul Thompson ranks first in Hockey East in scoring with 39 points, while his linemates Mike Sislo (33 pts) is second in the leauge in scoring.
SISLO FIRST IN HOCKEY EAST IN ASSISTS; DeSIMONE SECOND: Mike Sislo is first in Hockey East with 23 assists this season, while Phil DeSimone is second in the league with 22 assists.
'CATS OFF TO BEST START SINCE 2006-07: UNH is off to its best start at 15-5-4 (.708) since the 2006-07 season when it was 19-4-1 (.813).
Year Record (Pct.) Final Record
2010-11 15-5-4 (.708) ---
2009-10 12-8-4 (.583) 18-14-7
2008-09 12-8-4 (.583) 20-13-5
2007-08 16-7-1 (.688) 25-10-3
2006-07 19-4-1 (.813) 26-11-2
DIGI LIGHTS OUT IN HOCKEY EAST PLAY: Matt Di Girolamo continues to be lights out in Hockey East play. Overall, Di Girolamo has allowed three goals or fewer in 16-of-17 conference games and two or fewer 13 times in league play. He is first in Hockey East in GAA (1.69), save percentage (.943), win percentage (.824) and wins (13).
11-0-1 WHEN LEADING AFTER TWO: UNH is 11-0-1 when leading after two periods.
BUTLER NAMED MVP OF AHL ALL-STAR GAME: Former UNH men's hockey standout Bobby Butler recorded a goal and three assists to lift the East team to an 11-8 win in the AHL All-Star game. For his efforts, Butler was named the game's Most Valuable Player on Jan. 31, 2011 in Hershey, Pa.
SCORING BY CLASS: 2010-11 breakdown of scoring by class.
Class G-A-P G-A-P %.
Seniors: 35-70-105 41-49-46
Juniors: 18-34-52 21-24-23
Sophomores: 26-32-58 31-22-25
Freshmen: 6-8-14 7-6-6
TO THIS POINT LAST YEAR: A comparison through 24 games between this season and last season.
09-10 10-11
Record 12-8-4 15-5-4
HE Record 11-3-3 13-2-2
Goals scored 82 85
Goals scored/PG 3.42 3.54
Goals Allowed 76 57
Goals Allowed/PG 3.17 2.38
Shots 711 842
Shots Allowed 791 740
Power Play 18.5% 20.0%
(20-108) (22-110)
Penalty Kill 80.6% 82.1%
(83-103) (69-84)
Top 3 Scorers Butler Thompson
18-17-35 20-19-39
Kessel Sislo
6-22-28 10-23-33
Thomp. DeSimone
14-12-26 5-22-27
COLLEGEHOCKEYNEWS.COM'S PAIRWISE RANKINGS (1/31)
Rk Team PCWs W-L-T Win % Rk RPI Rk
1 Yale 32 17-4-0 .8095 1 .5878* 1
2t North Dakota 30 19-8-2 .6897 10 .5767 4
2t Denver 30 16-5-5 .7115 4t .5787 3
4 Minn.-Duluth 29 17-5-3 .7400 3 .5825* 2
5 Boston College 28 18-6-0 .7500 2 .5766* 5
6 Rensselaer 27 17-6-3 .7115 4t .5557* 8
7 Wisconsin 25 19-8-3 .6833 11 .5566* 6
8t New Hampshire 24 15-5-4 .7083 6t .5559 7
8t Michigan 24 17-7-4 .6786 12 .5547 10
10 Merrimack 23 15-5-4 .7083 6t .5478 12
11 Western Mich. 22 14-6-8 .6429 13t .5383 15
12t Notre Dame 21 16-9-5 .6167 17 .5491 11
12t Union 21 18-7-3 .6964 8 .5551 9
14 Dartmouth 19 12-6-3 .6429 13t .5393 14
15 Boston Univ. 18 12-7-7 .5962 18 .5413 13
16t Princeton 16 14-6-1 .6905 9 .5356 17
16t Neb-Omaha 16 14-10-2 .5769 22 .5298 20
18 Colorado College 14 15-12-1 .5536 24 .5312 19
19t Miami 13 14-9-5 .5893 20 .5318 18
19t Maine 13 11-7-6 .5833 21 .5361 16
21 Alaska 12 12-10-4 .5385 26 .5287 21
22 Minnesota 10 11-10-3 .5208 27 .5199 22
23 Ohio State 9 13-12-2 .5185 29 .5078 24
24t Northern Mich. 8 11-13-4 .4643 35t .5041 27
24t Ferris State 8 12-12-4 .5000 30t .5036 28
26 Minnesota State 7 11-11-6 .5000 30t .5135 23
27t Robert Morris 6 15-8-4 .6296 16 .5023 30
27t Michigan State 6 11-13-4 .4643 35t .5041 26
27t Quinnipiac 6 13-10-4 .5556 23 .5009 31
30t Alaska 5 8-13-3 .3958 43t .5025 29
30t St. Cloud State 5 11-12-3 .4808 33t .5074 25
32 Brown 1 7-10-4 .4286 38 .5009 32
33 Niagara 0 15-8-3 .6346 15 .5005 33
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
9/27 8th N/P 3rd (pre)
10/4 N/P 10th 3rd (pre)
10/11 9th 9th 4th
10/18 7th 7th 6th
10/25 10th 10th 7th
11/1 10th 10th 9th
11/8 8th 9th 4th
11/15 8th 7th 3rd
11/22 6th 6th 3rd
11/29 5th 5th 3rd
12/6 3rd 3rd 2nd
12/13 2nd 2nd 1st
12/20 2nd NP 1st
12/27 NP NP 1st
1/3 4th 4th 1st
1/10 4th 4th 1st
1/17 7th 7th 1st
1/24 8th 7th 2nd
1/31 6th 6th 1st
THE NATIONAL POLLS:
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's Hockey Poll (Jan. 31)
Rk. Team, Points (FPV) Last Week Record Weeks
1 Boston College, 497 (26) 2 18-6-0 17
2 Yale University, 448 (3) 1 17-4-0 17
3 University of Denver, 445 (2) 3 16-5-5 17
4 Minnesota Duluth, 407 (3) 4 17-5-3 17
5 North Dakota, 393 5 19-8-2 17
6 New Hampshire, 325 8 15-5-4 17
7 University of Wisconsin, 272 7 19-8-3 12
8 Rensselaer, 259 10 17-6-3 9
9 University of Michigan, 258 6 17-7-4 17
10 University of Notre Dame, 197 9 16-9-5 14
11 Union College, 189 12 18-7-3 14
12 Merrimack College, 147 14 15-5-4 4
13 Miami University, 95 13 14-9-5 17
14 Boston University, 41 NR 12-7-7 14
15 University of Maine, 39 11 11-7-6 17
Others receiving votes: Western Michigan University, 37; Dartmouth College, 16; Princeton University, 10; University of Nebraska Omaha, 4; Robert Morris University, 1.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Hockey Poll (Jan. 31)
Rk. School (FPV) Record Points Lst Wk.
1 Boston College (41) 18-6-0 988 2
2 Denver (6) 16-5-5 922 3
3 Yale (2) 17-4-0 881 1
4 Minnesota-Duluth (1) 17-5-3 840 5
5 North Dakota 19-8-2 813 4
6 New Hampshire 15-5-4 745 7
7 Wisconsin 19-8-3 670 8
8 Michigan 17-7-4 629 6
9 Rensselaer 17-6-3 594 10
10 Notre Dame 16-9-5 549 9
11 Union 18-7-3 507 13
12 Merrimack 15-5-4 436 14
13 Miami 14-9-5 427 11
14 Boston University 12-7-7 314 16
15 Maine 11-7-6 289 12
16 Western Michigan 14-6-8 274 17
17 Dartmouth 12-6-3 177 18
18 Nebraska-Omaha 14-10-2 161 15
19 Princeton 14-6-1 157 19
20 Colorado College 15-12-1 80 20
Others Receiving Votes: Alaska 10, Providence 10, Robert Morris 7, Minnesota 4, Northeastern 4, Ferris State 3, Ohio State 3, Minnesota State 2, RIT 2, Niagara 1, Quinnipiac 1
Wildcats Among National leaders (THRU 1/31): Below is a list of where UNH players and team rank nationally.
Individual Rank Stats
Points Per Game:
Paul Thompson 3rd 1.62 ppg
Mike Sislo 10th 1.38 ppg
Phil DeSimone 33rd 1.12 ppg
Goals Per Game:
Paul Thompson 3rd 0.83 gpg
Mike Sislo 76th 0.42 gpg
John Henrion 76th 0.42 gpg
Assists Per Game:
Mike Sislo 4th 0.96 apg
Phil DeSimone 6th 0.92 apg
Paul Thompson 19th 0.79 apg
Power Play Goals:
Paul Thompson 43rd 9 ppg
Short-Handed Goals:
Dalton Speelman 37th 1 shg
Game-Winning Goal:
Paul Thompson 2nd 5 gwg
Mike Sislo 43rd 2 gwg
Defensemen Scoring:
Blake Kessel 15th 0.75 ppg
Goals Against Average:
Matt Di Girolamo 23rd 2.31 gaa
Save Percentage:
Matt Di Girolamo 14th .924
Winning Percentage:
Matt Di Girolamo 13th .708
Team
Scoring Offense 9th 3.54
Scoring Defense 14th 2.38
Scoring Margin 10th 1.17
Power Play 16th 20.0
Penalty Kill 30th 82.1
Combined Special Teams 47th 46.9
Winnning Percentage 6th .708
Among the League Leaders (THRU 1/31): Where some of the Wildcats rank in Hockey East.
Player All Games HE Games
Points Paul Thompson 1st(39 pts) 1st (32 pts)
Mike Sislo 2nd (33 pts) 5th (22pts)
Phil DeSimone 8th (27 pts) 8th (18 pts)
Goals Paul Thompson 1st (20 g) 1st (17 g)
Mike Sislo 13th (10g) 46th (4g)
John Henrion 13th (10 g) 28th (5 g)
Assists Mike Sislo 1st (23 a) 1st (18a)
Phil DeSimone 2nd (22 a) 3rd (15 a)
Paul Thompson 6th (17 a) 3rd (15 a)
PP Points Paul Thompson 1st (17pts) 1st (14 pts)
Mike Sislo 6th (12pts) 7th (8 pts)
Blake Kessel 14th (9 pts) 23rd (5 pts)
Phil DeSimone 19th (9 pts) 10th (7 pts)
Brett Kostolansky 20th (8 pts) 10h (7 pts)
PP Goals Paul Thompson 1st (9 ppg) 1st(6 ppg)
Mike Sislo 18th (3 ppg) 5th (22 ppg)
SH Points Four Tied 11th (1 shp) n/a
SH Goals Dalton Speelman 7th (1 shg) n/a
Stevie Moses 7th (1 shg) n/a
GW Goals Paul Thompson 1st (5 gwg) 1st(5 gwg)
Mike Sislo 9th (2 gwg) 14th(1 gwg)
Def. Scoring Blake Kessel 2nd (18 pts) 5th (10 pts)
Brett Kostolansky 5th (14 pts) 2nd 11 pts)
GAA Matt Di Girolamo 4th (2.31) 1st (1.69)
Save % Matt Di Girolamo 3rd (.924) 1st (.943)
Win % Matt Di Girolamo 2nd (.708) 1st (.824)
Saves Matt Di Girolamo 2nd (683) 3rd (479)
Minutes Matt Di Girolamo 1st (1456:54) 2nd (1027:50)
Wins Matt Di Girolamo 1st (15) 1st (13)
WHERE UNH IS RANKED IN HOCKEY EAST (THRU 1/31):
Overall HE games
Goals/per game 3.54/2nd 3.29/2nd
GAA 2.45/4th 1.71/1st
Power Play 20.0/2nd 21.1/2nd
Penalty Kill 82.1/7th 86.4/4th
Special Teams Net +6/3rd +6/2nd
1st Period Scoring 9/8th 14/5th
2nd Period Scoring 31/3rd 26/1st
3rd Period Scoring 16/1st 14/6th
Overtime Scoring 2/2nd 2/1st
'CATS IN THE PROS: Here is a listing of former Wildcats playing professional hockey:
Justin Aikins: Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs (CHL)
Bobby Butler: Binghamton Senators (AHL)/Ottawa Senators***
Joe Charlebois: Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)
Greg Collins: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
Ty Conklin: St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Matt Dzieduszycki: Hannover Scorpions (DEL)
Matt Fornataro: Norfolk Admirals (ECHL)
Thomas Fortney: ESV Buchloe (GER)
Brian Foster: Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Jamie Fritsch: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
Darren Haydar: Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Brett Hemingway: Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Colin Hemingway: Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Kevin Kapstad: Landshut Cannibals (2.GBun)
Jason Krog: Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Peter LeBlanc: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Nathan Martz: Szekeshfehervar Alba Volan HC (Aust)
Jacob Micflikier: Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Mark Mowers: Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss-A)
Jerry Pollastrone: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
Josh Prudden: Belfast Giants ( EIHL)
Mike Radja: Augsburg Panthers (DEL)
Kevin Regan: Valpellice (Italy)
Steve Saviano: Vaxjo HC (SWE)
Trevor Smith: Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Garrett Stafford: San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
Craig Switzer: Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
James van Riemsdyk: Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Daniel Winnik: Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
***=spent time in Ottawa in 2010-11
UNH HOCKEY ON TELEVISION: UNH will have nine games broadcast live on TV in 2010-11. NESN will air five games, three will air on CBS College Sports, while one will air locally on ONN (Ohio).
DATE GAME Channel RES.
Oct. 8 at Miami CBS-College Sports L, 3-6
Oct. 9 at Miami ONN (OHIO) W, 6-3
Nov. 19 Boston U. NESN W, 5-2
Dec. 10 at Maine CBS-College Sports W, 4-3 OT
Jan. 22 Boston U. NESN L, 1-2
Feb. 4 Maine NESN
Feb. 5 Maine NESN
Feb. 18 at Vermont CBS-College Sports
March 4 at Boston College NESN
ALL IN THE FAMILY: UNH junior defenseman Blake Kessel is the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel, while sophomore forward Scott Pavelski is the younger brother of Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks.
WILDCATS PICKED THIRD IN HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL:
Rk. Team (FPV) Pts.
1. Boston College (9) 90
2. Maine (1) 80
3. New Hampshire 76
4. Boston University 59
5. Northeastern 54
6. Vermont 53
7. Merrimack 48
8. UMass-Lowell 33
9. Massachusetts 26
10. Providence 21
THE DICK UMILE ERA: Dick Umile, a six-time Hockey East Coach of the Year, enters his 21st season as the head coach of the UNH Wildcats. He passed both Jerry York and Jack Parker in becoming the first coach in league history to six coach of the year honors. After signing a long-term contract in 2008, Umile will conclude his coaching career at his alma mater.
During his time spent at UNH, Umile has molded UNH hockey into one of the top programs in all of Division I hockey, guiding the Wildcats to four Frozen Four appearances, 16 NCAA tournament appearances and 20 Hockey East championship tournament showings in his 20-year career in Durham.
In addition, Umile has posted 17 20-victory campaigns over the span of 20 seasons. Umile is now the winningest coach in the history of UNH hockey with 462 career victories. He surpassed legendary coach Charlie Holt on Feb. 16, 2005 in a 6-1 victory at Merrimack at Thom Lawler Arena in North Andover, Mass. Umile ranks fifth among active NCAA coaches with a .645 winning percentage and on the active victories list his 462 victories ranks seventh among NCAA coaches. He has been named Coach of the Year a total of 11 times in his career, including New England honors four times and Hockey East Coach of the Year six times Last year, Umile guided the Wildcats, who were picked fourth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, to their eighth regular season championship including the third in the last four years. The Wildcats led the Hockey East standings for an eye-popping 16-straight weeks, taking over the league lead Nov. 23, 2009 and never relinquishing that position. UNH went unbeaten at home in Hockey East play for the first time since the 1999-00 season and won the regular season series with six of nine league foes. Umile helped guide a team that lost 10 players, including Hockey East All Star and leading scorer James van Riemsdyk, from the 2008-09 squad to its 22nd straight trip to the Hockey East playoffs and home-ice advantage in the quarterfinals for a league-best 14th-straight season. After going just 2-6-2 over its first 10 games, Umile's Wildcats responded with a 10-1-2 mark over the next 13 games, including a 12-game unbeaten streak in Hockey East play. Umile's run in the regular season was capped by a dramatic 3-3 come-from-behind deadlock with Boston College that clinched the league's crown in front of the home fans on Senior Day at the Whittemore Center. The 'Cats earned an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament for the ninth-straight season and captured a convincing 6-2 win over favored Cornell in the opening round, advancing to the regional final for the second-straight season.
'CATS SELECTED IN THE NHL DRAFT: Four current UNH players have been selected in the National Hockey League draft...Greg Burke (Washington), Phil DeSimone (Washington), Blake Kessel (N.Y. Islanders) and Eric Knodel (Toronto) have all been taken.
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 affiliate stations on the Wildcat Sports Network, joining flagship WGIR-AM 610 (Manchester), which was added in 2008. All three stations are part of the Clear Channel family. These three aforementioned stations -- along with WUVR-AM 1490 (Lebanon), WNTK-FM 99.7 (New London), WASR-AM 1420 (Wolfeboro) 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. Dan Parkhurst will be handling the play-by-play for the fourth-straight season, while Pete Webster will once again be doing the color commentating. Webster has been announcing Wildcat hockey since the 1993-94 season.ouncing 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 11th season in 2010-11. The Coach's Show is broadcast Mondays beginning in January (7 p.m. to 8 p.m.) 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.
UNH Coach's Show
2/7 Ballard's - Durham, NH
2/14 Kelley's Row - Dover, NH
2/21 Ballard's - Durham, NH
2/28 Kelley's Row - Dover, NH
3/7 Ballard's - Durham, NH
3/14 Kelley's Row - Dover, NH
WILDCAT AWARDS: Here is a list of awards that Wildcat players have won to date this season:
Player Award Date
Blake Kessel INCH Preseason All-America First Team 10/7
Blake Kessel InsideHockey.com's Hobey Watch 10/7
Matt Di Girolamo HE Defensive Player of the Week 10/18
UNH Wildcats HE Team of the Week 11/8
Matt Di Girolamo HE Player of the Week 11/8
Matt Di Girolamo INCH National Player of the Week 11/8
Paul Thompson HE co-Player of the Week 11/22
Paul Thompson HE Player of the Month (November) 12/1
Mike Sislo HE co-Player of the Week 12/6
Matt Di Girolamo HE Defensive Player of the Week 12/6
Jeff Silengo HE Rookie of the Week 12/13
UNH Wildcats HE Team of the Week 12/13
Matt Di Girolamo HE Goalie of the Month (December) 1/4
Paul Thompson HE Player of the Week 1/10
Paul Thompson HE Player of the Week 1/31
Paul Thompson HE co-Player of the Month 2/1
GRANITE STATE CONNECTION: The Wildcat hockey team features a pair of players from New Hampshire with Greg Burke (Lee) 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 2010-11 season with UNHwildcats.TV.
Wildcat fans are encouraged to buy the "Wildcat All-Access Pass" which is an annual subscription for $89.95 that provides all the live coverage of UNH home athletic events. Fans can also purchase home events on a per game basis of $7.95.
