University of New Hampshire Athletics
Mike Souza makes his Whittemore Center debut as UNH's head coach on Saturday night.
Insider Report: Souza, 'Cats Primed for Saturday Home Opener
10/25/2018 4:37:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey, UNH Insider
DURHAM, N.H. – As a player, Mike Souza left the Whittemore Center with a bang.
The team captain, he scored in overtime off assists from Darren Haydar and Matt Swain to lift the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team a 3-2 win over Merrimack College in his final game in the arena March 10, 2000 and the Wildcats moved on to the Hockey East championships in Boston and eventually another berth in the NCAA tournament.
This weekend, Souza will look to make his return to the Whitt as head coach of the Wildcats a rousing success as well.
UNH takes on Vermont in its home and Hockey East opener at the Whittemore Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The first 1,000 fans will receive an official game day t-shirt and young fans are encouraged to dress in costume and there will be Halloween trick or treating on the concourse.
Season, group and individual game tickets are available by calling 603-862-4000 or by CHECKING HERE.
Souza remembers well his playing days.
"We had some incredible crowds, some incredible games," he said. "It's what I want our players to experience. I remember my first game here coming out of high school hockey and playing against Vermont. They had a Final Four team that year. Martin St. Louis was on that team. And Tim Thomas and Eric Perrin."
Vermont and its future NHL standouts won that game.
UNH bounced back and Souza scored the opening goal and the Wildcats went on to an 8-6 win over Thomas and the Catamounts in Burlington over Thanksgiving weekend.
Vermont brings a 1-1-0 record into the Whittemore Center. The Catamounts won their opener at Michigan, 5-2, on Oct. 6 and lost a home game to Quinnipiac, 3-2, last Saturday.
UNH is 0-3-1 with three one-goal losses to go with a 3-3 tie at Colorado College last Friday night. The Wildcats lost a pair of 2-1 games at Colgate their opening weekend. They fell 4-3 at CC on Saturday.
Sophomore goaltender Mike Robinson had 34 saves to earn the tie Friday night. He came on in relief of Ty Taylor on Saturday and made 19 saves while allowing one goal.
Robinson has a 2.11 goals against average and a save percentage of .933.
Sophomore defenseman Max Gildon leads the Wildcats in scoring with a goal and five assists for six points.
Souza had five freshmen in the lineup last Saturday with forwards Angus Crookshank, Jackson Pierson and Eric Esposito along with defenseman Will MacKinnon and Taylor.
The players, along with Souza, are excited to play at home.
"It's just comfortable," said junior defenseman Anthony Wyse. "You practice here every day. You feel comfortable coming to the rink. You don't need to learn about the ice or the boards and stuff like that. Obviously the fans. . . . It's exciting to see the freshmen and how they react to playing at the Whitt. They hear so many stories before they get to play about how fun it is to play here. You practice here for two months and no one's in the stands and then it's exciting when there are people in the stands watching. I'm excited to play and I'm excited to see the freshmen and they're kind of excited. It's cool."
Souza's ready.
"I'm beyond excited," the coach said. "I do try to convey to our guys that we represent not only the 2018-19 team, but that we represent every player that's ever worn our jersey. I think sometimes we get tunnel vision and just focus on ourselves, but we have a bigger responsibility. I know I do in representing all those guys who care so much about our program. I think it's important that our players understand the history of our program. Just the guys who have reached out in the last couple of weeks is amazing."
Last week, Souza talked with Michael Ontkean, who starred at UNH through the 1969 season and moved on to an acting career with roles in television series such as "The Rookies" and "Twin Peaks" and the classic movie "Slap Shot."
"He called last week from Hawaii," Souza said. "It's letting our players know who he was and his impact not only on UNH as a player, but what he went on to do post hockey and the fact he still cares about our program. Yeah, we represent all those players and it's incredibly exciting and humbling for me to carry on the great traditions of this program. I'm excited and humbled and honored to do it."
UP NEXT
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
The team captain, he scored in overtime off assists from Darren Haydar and Matt Swain to lift the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team a 3-2 win over Merrimack College in his final game in the arena March 10, 2000 and the Wildcats moved on to the Hockey East championships in Boston and eventually another berth in the NCAA tournament.
This weekend, Souza will look to make his return to the Whitt as head coach of the Wildcats a rousing success as well.
UNH takes on Vermont in its home and Hockey East opener at the Whittemore Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The first 1,000 fans will receive an official game day t-shirt and young fans are encouraged to dress in costume and there will be Halloween trick or treating on the concourse.
Season, group and individual game tickets are available by calling 603-862-4000 or by CHECKING HERE.
Souza remembers well his playing days.
"We had some incredible crowds, some incredible games," he said. "It's what I want our players to experience. I remember my first game here coming out of high school hockey and playing against Vermont. They had a Final Four team that year. Martin St. Louis was on that team. And Tim Thomas and Eric Perrin."
Vermont and its future NHL standouts won that game.
UNH bounced back and Souza scored the opening goal and the Wildcats went on to an 8-6 win over Thomas and the Catamounts in Burlington over Thanksgiving weekend.
Vermont brings a 1-1-0 record into the Whittemore Center. The Catamounts won their opener at Michigan, 5-2, on Oct. 6 and lost a home game to Quinnipiac, 3-2, last Saturday.
UNH is 0-3-1 with three one-goal losses to go with a 3-3 tie at Colorado College last Friday night. The Wildcats lost a pair of 2-1 games at Colgate their opening weekend. They fell 4-3 at CC on Saturday.
Sophomore goaltender Mike Robinson had 34 saves to earn the tie Friday night. He came on in relief of Ty Taylor on Saturday and made 19 saves while allowing one goal.
Robinson has a 2.11 goals against average and a save percentage of .933.
Sophomore defenseman Max Gildon leads the Wildcats in scoring with a goal and five assists for six points.
Souza had five freshmen in the lineup last Saturday with forwards Angus Crookshank, Jackson Pierson and Eric Esposito along with defenseman Will MacKinnon and Taylor.
The players, along with Souza, are excited to play at home.
"It's just comfortable," said junior defenseman Anthony Wyse. "You practice here every day. You feel comfortable coming to the rink. You don't need to learn about the ice or the boards and stuff like that. Obviously the fans. . . . It's exciting to see the freshmen and how they react to playing at the Whitt. They hear so many stories before they get to play about how fun it is to play here. You practice here for two months and no one's in the stands and then it's exciting when there are people in the stands watching. I'm excited to play and I'm excited to see the freshmen and they're kind of excited. It's cool."
Souza's ready.
"I'm beyond excited," the coach said. "I do try to convey to our guys that we represent not only the 2018-19 team, but that we represent every player that's ever worn our jersey. I think sometimes we get tunnel vision and just focus on ourselves, but we have a bigger responsibility. I know I do in representing all those guys who care so much about our program. I think it's important that our players understand the history of our program. Just the guys who have reached out in the last couple of weeks is amazing."
Last week, Souza talked with Michael Ontkean, who starred at UNH through the 1969 season and moved on to an acting career with roles in television series such as "The Rookies" and "Twin Peaks" and the classic movie "Slap Shot."
"He called last week from Hawaii," Souza said. "It's letting our players know who he was and his impact not only on UNH as a player, but what he went on to do post hockey and the fact he still cares about our program. Yeah, we represent all those players and it's incredibly exciting and humbling for me to carry on the great traditions of this program. I'm excited and humbled and honored to do it."
UP NEXT
- The Vermont game starts a string of six straight Hockey East contests for the Wildcats.
- UNH plays Massachusetts at home Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
- The Wildcats play at UMass Lowell on Friday, Nov. 9.
- They are home against Boston University on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
- UNH has a game at Boston College on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. and is at Massachusetts on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
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