University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
University of Maine
Wildcats Resume Play Against Maine on Friday at SNHU Arena (7 PM)
12/28/2016 10:42:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Friday, December 30, 2016 at 7:00 PM
University of Maine (7-9-3, 1-6-1 HEA) vs. New Hampshire (8-7-2, 5-1-1 HEA)
SNHU Arena (Manchester, N.H.)
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- The University of New Hampshire finished its first half of the season with a record of 8-7-2 overall and a mark of 5-1-1 in Hockey East.
- The 5-1-1 mark in Hockey East is the best start to league play for UNH since 2012-13. The Wildcats are tied for the third most points in league play and are tied for the least amount of games played, earning 11 points in only seven league games.
- New Hampshire has allowed the second least amount of goals in league play (17) and are tied for second most goals for (31). BU has allowed 16 goals while BC has scored 40.
- Senior forward Tyler Kelleher is currently fourth in the country in points with 31 from 12 goals and a nation leading 19 assists.
- Against Maine this season, UNH is 2-0-0 with a 5-1 win at home on Dec. 2 and a 4-3 win on the road on Dec. 3. The 4-3 win was the first at Alfond Arena for UNH since Nov. 4, 2012 (4-0).
- The game on Friday, Dec. 30 will be a non-conference game.
- Kelleher has six points (4g, 2a) in two games against the Black Bears this season. In both games, he registered two goals and an assist.
- Maine finished the first half of the season with a record of 7-9-3 overall and a mark of 1-6-1 in Hockey East.
- At the SNHU Arena (formerly Verizon Wireless Arena), the Black Bears lead the five-game series, 3-2-0.
- The last time UNH faced Maine at the venue, the Wildcats took Maine down by a score of 7-0 with three goals in the first period, three in the second and one in the third.
- Junior netminder Danny Tirone made saves on all 21 shots faced in the game.
- UNH returns to the Whittemore Center on Friday, Jan. 6 when they take on the University of Massachusetts Lowell at 6 p.m. The game will air live on NESN and be produced by American Sports Network.
December Success: Since Dec. 31, 2014 when UNH beat Omaha 6-2, the Wildcats are 7-1-1 in the month of December.
Kelleher's November: Senior forward Tyler Kelleher was the nation's highest scoring player in the month of November with 15 points. He had four goals and a nation leading 11 assists. He is currently second in the country in points with 31 on 12 goals and a nation leading 19 assists.
Cleland's Offense: Senior captain Matias Cleland is tied for third in the nation in assists with 18. He has had at least one point in all but three games this season and has 19 total points.
Two Shutouts for Tirone: Junior netminder Danny Tirone made 25 saves in Tuesday's 5-0 win over RPI for his second shutout of the season. His first came when he made 14 saves against Mercyhurst (Nov. 5). He now has five shutouts in his career.
Five is Fine: Senior forward Tyler Kelleher recorded a career-high five points against the University of Massachusetts on Friday, Nov. 22 with one goal and four assists. He was the first 'Cat to record five points in a game since Kevin Goumas on Nov. 24, 2012.
Rookie of the Month: Freshman forward Patrick Grasso was named the HCA National Rookie of the Month as well as the HE Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month on Wednesday, Nov. 2. He was awarded the league Rookie of the Month accolade again on Thursday, Dec. 1.
Four-on-Four: Patrick Grasso scored four times on four shots against Merrimack in the 6-2 win on Saturday, Oct. 29. He was the first Wildcat to score four goals in a game since Steve Moses in 2012. He netted three goals in the first period in the span of 3:56.
Grasso's National Ranking (Updated 12/14):
Among Freshmen All Players Totals
Goals 1st T-13th 11 goals
Points T-4th T-26th 20 points
Power Play Goals 1st T-5th 6 goals
Power Play Points T-1st T-5th 13 points
Hat Tricks T-1st T-4th 1 hat trick
Weekend Warrior: Senior forward Tyler Kelleher was named the Warrior Hockey Player of the Week by the Hockey East Association on Monday, Nov. 21 for a stellar five-point (1g, 4a) performance against Massachusetts on Friday, Nov. 18.
Frozen Fenway: For the first time since Jan. 7, 2012, UNH will play an outdoor game when they take on Northeastern at Fenway Park on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 PM.
350 and Counting: Head coach Dick Umile recorded his 350th Hockey East win in the 6-2 triumph over Merrimack (Oct. 29). His league record is 353-189-89. He has the most wins among active HE coaches and is second all-time to Jack Parker (BU; 421).
Longevity: Umile is the third longest tenured coach at their current institution as he is entering his 27th season with the 'Cats. Red Berenson (Michigan) is going into his 33rd season while Rick Gotkin (Mercyhurst) is going into his 29th season.
'C' is for Captain, and Cleland: Senior blueliner Matias Cleland was elected captain by his teammates and is the first Wildcat to be a lone captain with no assistants since James Richmond in 1986-87.
Wildcat Blue Genes: The incoming freshman class has many NHL ties. Brendan van Riemsdyk is the youngest brother of James van Riemsdyk ('09) and Trevor van Riemsdyk ('14), both of whom play in the NHL. Joe Sacco is the son of Boston Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco, who played 738 games in the NHL. Patrick Grasso is the nephew of Joe Mullen, who won three Stanley Cups. He is currently an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Welcome to Wildcat Country: UNH added eight freshmen in the off-season: Liam Blackburn (F), Justin Fregona (F), Patrick Grasso (F), Joe Lazzaro (G), Nick Nonis (D), Joe Sacco (F), Brendan van Riemsdyk (F), and Anthony Wyse (D).
Wildcats Through and Through: Head coach Dick Umile ('72) and associate head coaches Glenn Stewart ('94) and Mike Souza ('00) are all graduates and former players of UNH. Assistant AD for Hockey Operations Colin Shank ('05) is also a graduate of UNH.
Three Coaches, 402 Points: Umile, Stewart and Souza are each members of the Century Club for the men's hockey program. Souza tallied 156 points (66g, 90a), Umile 144 points (60g, 84a) and Stewart notched 102 points (51g, 51a).
Where Kelleher Ranks in his Career Nationally (Updated 12/28):
Points:
1. Mike Vecchione - Union College - 150
2. Tyler Kelleher - UNH - 135
3. Justin Kloos - Minnesota - 125
4. Max French - Bentley - 122
5. Ryan Fitzgerald - Boston College - 117
Assists:
1. Tyler Kelleher - UNH - 90
Mike Vecchione - Union - 90
3. Justin Danforth - Sacred Heart - 73
Justin Kloos - Minnesota - 73
5. Alexander Kerfoot - Harvard - 72
Gavin Bayreuther - St. Lawrence - 72
Points Per Game (Min. 100 games)
1. Mike Vecchione - Union College - 1.15 (130 games played)
2. Max French - Bentley University - 1.05 (116 games played)
3. Tyler Kelleher - UNH - 1.04 (130 games played)
4. Justin Kloos - Minnesota - 0.94 (133 games played)
5. Zach Aston-Reese - 0.92 (124 games played)
Wildcats Drafted by NHL Teams: Junior Shane Eiserman and sophomore Marcus Vela have both been drafted by NHL organizations. Eiserman was taken by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round of the 2014 draft as the 100th overall pick. Vela was picked in the seventh round of the 2015 draft as the 190th pick.
Granite State Connection: Three Wildcats hail from the Granite State; Chris Miller of Windham, Nick Nonis of Hampton Falls and Joe Lazzaro of Hampstead.
