#16 Wildcats to Play Dartmouth & Yale at Ledyard Classic

2017-2018 New Hampshire Men's Hockey
Ledyard Classic; December 29, 2017
#16 New Hampshire (9-7-1, 4-5-1 HEA) vs.
Dartmouth (3-8-1, 2-4-1 ECAC); 7:00 p.m.
Thompson Arena (3,500); Hanover, N.H.

Ledyard Classic; December 30, 2017
#16 New Hampshire (9-7-1, 4-5-1 HEA) vs.
Yale (5-7-0, 4-6-0 ECAC); 4:00 p.m.

Series Records:
With Dartmouth: UNH leads 35-20-3
At Thompson Arena: UNH leads 8-6-1
At Ledyard Classic: DC leads 4-3-0
Last Meeting: DC 5, UNH 1 (12/10/2016; Hanover, N.H.)
Last UNH Win: UNH 6, DC 3 (12/11/2015; Durham, N.H.)
First Meeting: DC 4, UNH 1 (2/19/1936; Hanover, N.H.)
Current Series Win Streak: DC, one game

With Yale: UNH leads 19-12-0
At Ledyard Classic: First Meeting
Last Meeting: UNH 4, Yale 0 (11/25/2017; New Haven, Conn.)
Last Yale Win: Yale 4, UNH 3 OT (10/28/2006; Durham, N.H.)
First Meeting: Yale 11, UNH 2 (1/24/1928)
Current Series Win Streak: UNH, one game

UNH at Ledyard Classic: 12-8-0
Appearances: 10 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 2000, 2012)
Championships: Four (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986)

UNH All-Time Results at Ledyard Classic:
1980 First Game: St. Lawrence 6, UNH 0
Consolation: UNH 5, Merrimack 3
1981 Second Game: Dartmouth 6, UNH 5
Consolation: Vermont 8, UNH 4
1982 First Game: UNH 8, Maine 5
Championship: UNH 7, Dartmouth 0
1983 First Game: UNH 4, Vermont 1
Championship: UNH 5, Maine 4
1984 First Game: UNH 11, Vermont 4
Championship: UNH 9, Dartmouth 4
1986 First Game: UNH 3, Vermont 2 (OT)
Championship: UNH 4, Holy Cross 1
1988 Second Game: Dartmouth 4, UNH 3
Consolation: Vermont 7, UNH 4
1991 Second Game: UNH 8, Dartmouth 3
Championship: Boston University 3, UNH 2
2000 Second Game: Dartmouth 6, UNH 3
Consolation: UNH 4, Miami (OH) 1
2012 Second Game: Dartmouth 4, UNH 1
Consolation: UNH 3, Bemidji State 2 (OT)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The No. 16 University of New Hampshire men's hockey team (9-7-1, 4-5-1 HEA) will compete at the 29th Ledyard Classic on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 29-30 in Hanover, N.H., at Thompson Arena. The Wildcats will take on tournament host Dartmouth (3-8-1, 2-4-1 ECAC) on Dec. 29 at 7:00 p.m. and Yale (5-7-0, 4-6-0 ECAC) on Dec. 30 at 4:00 p.m. No. 17 Minnesota Duluth (8-9-2, 3-7-0 NCHC) is also in the tournament field and will play the Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and the Big Green on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
The Tournament Champion Award will be presented to the team that accumulates the most points in their two games according to the following: two points awarded for a win (in regulation or during the five-minute overtime period) and one point awarded for winning a shootout (which would occur if a winner is not determined after one five-minute overtime period). If a tie persists, the champion will be determined by comparing the tied teams' total goal differential in their tournament games. The team with the greatest goal differential will be the champion.
This will be the Wildcats' 11th appearance in the Ledyard Classic as UNH has a 12-8-0 record and has won four championships. The Wildcats are 3-4-0 all-time versus the Big Green at the tournament.
The Wildcats are off to their best start to a season in four years when they were also 9-7-1 in 2013-2014.
UNH is currently ranked second in the nation with a .920 penalty kill percentage.
UNH leads the all-time series versus the Big Green, 35-20-3. The Wildcats are 8-6-1 versus Dartmouth at Thompson Arena. Last season, the Big Green defeated the Wildcats, 5-1, at Thompson Arena on Dec. 10, 2016.
The Wildcats lead the all-time series versus Yale, 19-12-0. This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season as UNH defeated the Bulldogs, 4-0, in New Haven, Conn., on Nov. 25.
The Wildcats are 4-0-0 this season versus opponents from the ECAC.
UNH has outscored its opposition, 53-41, so far this season and have posted four shutouts. The Big Green have been outscored, 41-21, while Yale has been outscored, 34-31.

NEXT UP: The Wildcats will return to the Whittemore Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, to take on Brown at 7:00 p.m. The game will be "Youth Hockey Night" and there will be a hockey lace bracelet giveaway. Tickets can be purchased at the Whittemore Center Box Office, online at UNHWildcats.com or by calling 603-862-4000.

UNH AT THE LEDYARD CLASSIC: This will be the 11th time UNH has competed in the Ledyard Classic. The 10 previous appearances were 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 2000, 2012. The Wildcats are 12-8-0 all-time at the tournament. UNH has won the championship four times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986).

VERSUS ECAC: UNH is 4-0-0 so far this season versus the ECAC. The Wildcats swept Colgate, 5-0 and 5-3, on Oct. 13-14, while UNH defeated Yale, 4-0, on Nov. 25, and RPI, 6-3, on Dec. 6.

THE MATCHUPS: The Wildcats are 11th in the nation in scoring defense out of 60 teams with 2.41 goals allowed per game, while the Big Green are 50th with 3.42 goals allowed per contest and Yale is tied for 26th with 2.83. UNH is tied for 18th nationally in scoring offense with 3.12 goals scored per game, while the Big Green are 59th with 1.75 goals per game and Yale is 45th with 2.58. The Wildcats are second in the nation with a .920 penalty kill percentage, while the Big Green are 46th with a .784 percentage and Yale is 16th with a .841 percentage. UNH is tied for 21st with a .214 power play percentage, while the Big Green are 59th with a .091 percentage and Yale is 60th with a .073 percentage.

NATIONALLY RANKED: The Wildcats are ranked No. 16 in the latest USCHO.com Division I Poll as UNH was No. 13 in the previous poll.

#2 PENALTY KILL IN THE NATION: The Wildcats are second nationally with a .920 penalty kill percentage. UNH has not allowed a power play goal in 26 straight penalty kill opportunities. The last time the Wildcats allowed a power play goal was when Michael Kim scored for Boston College on Nov. 17. UNH is also ranked second in Hockey East and 11th in the nation in scoring defense with 2.41 goals allowed per game.

HOLDING ONTO THE LEAD: The Wildcats are 6-1-0 this season when leading after the first period. UNH is 9-0-1 when leading after the second period.

TIRONE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS: Senior assistant captain Danny Tirone (Trumbull, Conn.) is second all-time at UNH with 3,153 career saves as he is only the second UNH goalie to ever post 3,000 saves. Kevin Regan (2005-2008) is first with 3,235 saves. Tirone has played in 109 career games, which is second all-time in program history for a goalie. Regan holds the record with 112 games. Tirone's 47 career wins are seventh, and his 2.82 goals against average is tied for seventh and his .912 save percentage is sixth. He is 9-7-1 on the season. His .918 save percentage is fourth in Hockey East and his 2.49 goals against average is also ranked fourth. His four shutouts lead Hockey East and are tied for second in the nation.

STRONG OFFENSE: The Wildcats have outscored its opponents by a 53-41 margin so far this season for the second best scoring margin in the conference. UNH is fourth in Hockey East with 3.12 goals scored per game. UNH has had 16 different goal scorers with 19 players with at least one point.

MCNICHOLAS LEADING THE TEAM IN POINTS: Senior forward Michael McNicholas (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) leads the team with 17 points on five goals and 12 assists. For his career he has played in 98 games with 22 goals and 51 assists for 73 points.

NUMBER 91: The 2017-2018 season is the 91st year of men's hockey at UNH. The program has a record of 1,231-929-149.

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 now in his 28th season with the 'Cats. Rick Gotkin (Mercyhurst) is going into his 30th season. Umile has a 595-360-109 all-time record at UNH. The 595 wins are third among active Division I coaches.

CHANTER NAMED CAPTAIN: Senior defenseman Dylan Chanter (Armstrong, British Columbia) is the team captain for the 2017-2018 season. Chanter played in 37 games a year ago as a key member of the defense. This season he has appeared in all 17 games.

WILDCATS DRAFTED BY NHL TEAMS: Five current Wildcats are NHL draft picks. Senior Shane Eiserman (Ottawa-2014, Round #4, Pick #100), junior Marcus Vela (San Jose-2015, Round #7, Pick #190), and freshmen Benton Maass (Washington, 2017, Round #6, #182), Max Gildon (Florida-2017, Round #3, #66) and Mike Robinson (San Jose-2015, Round #3, #86) have all been drafted by NHL organizations.

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.

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).

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.

TICKETS FOR THE 2017-2018 SEASON: 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.

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

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