Wildcats Host #5 UMass Lowell At The Whitt On Oct. 7

Friday, October 6

Lowell, Mass.

7:15 PM

University of New Hampshire

UMass Lowell

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Photo by: Joey Walker

10/5/2017 11:32:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

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#5 UMass Lowell (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East) vs. UNH (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East)

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 • Tsongas Center (6,500) • Lowell, Mass. • 7:15 p.m.
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Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 • Whittemore Center (6,501) • Durham, N.H. • 7:00 p.m.

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What You Need To Know:

The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team will kick off the 2017-2018 season when it takes on No. 5 UMass Lowell in a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6-7. Friday's game is at the Tsongas Center at 7:15 p.m., while the game on Saturday is opening night at the Whittemore Center at 7:00 p.m. and will be shown live on ESPN3. All fans can purchase tickets at the Whittemore Center Box Office, online at UNHWildcats.com or by calling 603-862-4000. UNH students can get their free tickets by signing up online here.
The Wildcats will be led by senior defenseman Dylan Chanter and senior goalie Danny Tirone. Chanter will serve as the team captain, while Tirone is the assistant captain.
Last season, the Wildcats went 15-20-5 overall and 7-11-4 in Hockey East.
UNH returns 21 letterwinners from a season ago, while six freshmen join the team. The Wildcats also return four of last season's top-five goal scorers with senior Jason Salvaggio who scored 23, sophomore Patrick Grasso who netted 20, senior Michael McNicholas who posted 13 and sophomore Liam Blackburn who recorded nine.
Tirone led the nation last year with 1,137 saves. He enters his senior season second all-time in program history in career saves with 2,705.
The 2017-2018 season marks the 28th and final year behind the UNH bench for head coach Dick Umile. The Wildcats are looking to earn their 19th NCAA bid during Umile's tenure. Umile enters the season with a 586-353-108 all-time record.
The River Hawks went 27-11-3 last year with a 14-7-1 Hockey East record as they won the Hockey East Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
After the UMass Lowell series the Wildcats will host Colgate on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14. Oct. 13 will be "Friday the 13th" night at the Whitt with a "killer" t-shirt giveaway.

All Home Games On ESPN3

Beginning on Opening Night (Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m.) every home UNH men's hockey game will be streamed live on ESPN3 allowing fans to follow the Wildcats on any device through Watch ESPN.

Promotional Schedule Announced

Whenever the Wildcats play the Terriers (Jan. 12) or Huskies (Jan. 26 and Feb. 24) fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs during Dollar Dog Night.
Fun themed nights will include Friday the 13th Night (Oct. 13) which will have a "killer" t-shirt giveaway, Star Wars Night (Dec. 10), Youth Hockey Night (Jan. 6) with a giveaway of hockey lace bracelets, Mascot Night (Feb. 3) and a weekend of celebrating Coach Umile (Feb. 9-10).
UNH continues to raise awareness of important causes through Real 'Cats Wear Pink (Oct. 21) with a pink sock giveaway, No-Shave November (Nov. 17), Salute to Service (Dec. 9) and First Responders Night (Jan. 26).
Fan favorites will include Blue Out BU (Jan. 12) and White Out The Whitt (Feb. 14).
Special giveaways to honor Coach Umile's final season will include a commemorative pin series (Nov. 10, Dec. 10, Feb. 3 and Feb. 24) and a Coach Umile Bobblehead (Feb. 10).

Keep Connected:

There are numerous ways to stay connected with the UNH men's hockey team. Follow the Wildcats on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Series History vs. UMass Lowell:

The Wildcats are 60-43-15 all-time versus the River Hawks. Last year these two teams met five times as UMass Lowell took the series, 4-1-0 including a 2-1 series win in the Hockey East Quarterfinal series.

Number 91:

The 2017-2018 season is the 91st year of men's hockey at UNH. The program has a record of 1,222-922-148.

Umile In 28th & Final Season At UNH:

UNH head coach Dick Umile is the second longest tenured coach at their current institution as he is entering his 28th season with the 'Cats. Rick Gotkin (Mercyhurst) is going into his 30th season. Umile has a 586-355-108 all-time record at UNH. The 586 wins are third among active Division I coaches.

Chanter Named Captain:

Senior defenseman Dylan Chanter will serve as the team captain. Chanter played in 37 games a year ago as a key member of the defense.

Tirone Second All-Time:

Senior assistant captain Danny Tirone is second all-time at UNH with 2,705 career saves. Kevin Regan (2005-2008) is first with 3,235 saves. Tirone's 1,137 saves last year led the nation and was third all-time at UNH.

Wildcats Return 12 Forwards:

The Wildcats return 12 forwards from last season as the returners were responsible for 88 of the team's 124 goals last season. Four of last season's top-five goal scorers return with senior Jason Salvaggio (23), sophomore Patrick Grasso (20), senior Michael McNicholas (13) and sophomore Liam Blackburn (9).

Granite State Connection:

Four Wildcats are from the Granite State; junior Chris Miller of Windham, sophomore Nick Nonis of Hampton Falls, sophomore Joe Lazzaro of Hampstead and freshman Mike Robinson of Bedford.

Welcome to Wildcat Country: UNH has added six freshmen to the 2017-2018 roster. Here is a look at the class:

Max Gildon (Plano, Texas, U.S. National Under-18)

Charlie Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass., Sioux City, USHL)

Benton Maass (Elk River, Minn., Fairbanks, NAHL)

Eric MacAdams (Salem, Mass., Dubuque-USHL)

James Miller (Spruce Grove, Alberta, Penticton, BCHL)

Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H., Springfield-NAHL)

Maass (Washington), Gildon (Florida) and Robinson (San Jose) are each NHL draft picks.

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. Goaltenders coach Brian Foster ('10) was an All-American at UNH. Assistant AD for Hockey Operations Colin Shank ('05) is also a graduate of UNH.

UNH Plays St. Francis Xavier In Exhibition:

Junior forward Marcus Vela, freshman defenseman Max Gildon and sophomore forward Brendan van Riemsdyk each scored a goal in the 3-3 tie versus St. Francis Xavier on October 1. UNH outshot the X-Men, 33-23. Senior netminder Danny Tirone made 14 saves in the first two periods. The Wildcats went a perfect 2-2 on the power play while the X-Men went 0-4.

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).

Wildcats Drafted by NHL Teams:

Five current Wildcats are NHL draft picks. Senior Shane Eiserman (Ottawa), junior Marcus Vela (San Jose), and freshmen Benton Maass (Washington), Max Gildon (Florida) and Mike Robinson (San Jose) have all been drafted by NHL organizations.