University of New Hampshire Athletics
Coach Umile's family joined him for the pregame tribute Saturday night.
Photo by: China Wong
What A Night: Honoring Coach Umile
2/10/2018 11:18:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey, UNH Insider, Athletics Development
DURHAM, N.H. – Oh, what a night.
The young hockey player and the veteran Hockey East commissioner stood on the concourse at the Whittemore Center and discussed hockey fashion between the first and second period of the New Hampshire-Vermont hockey game Saturday night.
In short order, commissioner Joe Bertagna proceeded to take off the special-order hockey jersey he had commissioned for a special occasion and handed it to the youngster with one provision: He had to share it with his cousins and siblings.
Quinn Haggerty was elated. He's one of the eight grandchildren of University of New Hampshire hockey coach Dick Umile and he scored himself a new jersey.
Saturday night Quinn became the proud owner of a vintage jersey featuring the No. 15 his grandfather wore when he played for Melrose High School in the 1960s, before he starred at UNH and well before he started a 28-year career as head coach of the Wildcats,
The jersey exchange was one more memorable moment in a night full of them as UNH celebrated Coach Umile Weekend, honoring the coach who is retiring after this season.
The night featured the introduction of more than 100 former Wildcats, among them some of the greatest players in program history, from Darren Haydar, Colin Hemingway and Sean Collins to Ty Conklin, Mike Ayers and Kevin Regan.
It featured Bertagna presenting the prestigious Hockey East Founders Medal to Umile – he's only the 12th individual, second coach and first active coach - to receive it.
And it featured Umile family moments galore, from the whole group joining him on the bench for a pregame video tribute, to his teenaged granddaughter Lily Rose Cook dropping a ceremonial first puck to Quinn's new jersey.
Oh, what a night, indeed.
"First, let me just say it was an incredible night, to have the people that were here and the recognition," said Umile in his opening remarks in a postgame press conference. "It was unbelievable. I can't thank the University and everybody that was involved enough for the effort they put on today and throughout the season."
Umile and his family soaked it all in.
"It was very emotional to be honest with you," Umile said. "They started bringing these players out there. The video was awesome. It just brings back what it's all about. It's the memories. I know we've had a tough time winning hockey games here, but it is all about the journey and the players and the coaches and the fans and the excitement of UNH hockey. It was on display on the video board. It was special."
The present-day Wildcats and even the visiting Catamounts appreciated the night.
"It was a very special night," said junior forward Marcus Vela, who scored a power play goal on a rebound with 2:34 left to earn the Wildcats a 2-2 tie. "He's a legendary coach and a great person and a great mentor. We were all excited for him. Really happy and really proud. Refocusing wasn't hard to do. We were ready to play."
Fellow junior forward Ara Nazarian scored the first goal of the game midway through the second period and agreed with his linemate.
"It was awesome to see all those alumni," Nazarian said. "With the video they had before the game, all the different winning goals. Coach on the bench. It was really cool to see and be a part of it."
Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon, long a fan of Umile, was in agreement as well.
"First and foremost, obviously there was a real good hockey game tonight but I certainly want to tip my cap to UNH for putting on what was just an amazing pregame salute to one of college hockey's finest gentlemen and coaches," Sneddon said. "I know he's got more games to coach, but he's always been one of my favorite guys in the game. I want to congratulate him."
At the close of the opening ceremonies, Sneddon's players lined up and one by one skated by to shake Umile's hand.
A 2-1 loss on Friday night and Saturday night's tie leave UNH sitting in 10th in the Hockey East standings, one point behind ninth-place UMass and two behind eighth-place Vermont.
The Wildcats now get right back to the nitty gritty of the Hockey East playoff race. They have just four games remaining in the regular season and play host to border rival Maine on Wednesday night at 7 in a special Valentine's Day edition of "Whiteout the Whitt."
The immediate challenge is to move up a couple of spots in the standings.
Teams that finish sixth, seventh and eighth in the standings will host the ninth, tenth and 11th teams in a best-of-three first-round series.
After the Maine game, UNH plays at Merrimack on Friday and then closes out the regular season with a home and home series against Northeastern. The teams play at Northeastern on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. and then are at the Whittemore Center to wrap up the regular season Saturday at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.
Then it's on to the playoffs with the goal of piling up a few more memories to close out coach Umile's impressive and memory-filled coaching career.
Tickets for Wednesday night's game and all UNH home games are available at www.unhwildcats.com, by calling 603-862-4000 or at the Whittemore Center box office.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
The young hockey player and the veteran Hockey East commissioner stood on the concourse at the Whittemore Center and discussed hockey fashion between the first and second period of the New Hampshire-Vermont hockey game Saturday night.
In short order, commissioner Joe Bertagna proceeded to take off the special-order hockey jersey he had commissioned for a special occasion and handed it to the youngster with one provision: He had to share it with his cousins and siblings.
Quinn Haggerty was elated. He's one of the eight grandchildren of University of New Hampshire hockey coach Dick Umile and he scored himself a new jersey.
Saturday night Quinn became the proud owner of a vintage jersey featuring the No. 15 his grandfather wore when he played for Melrose High School in the 1960s, before he starred at UNH and well before he started a 28-year career as head coach of the Wildcats,
The jersey exchange was one more memorable moment in a night full of them as UNH celebrated Coach Umile Weekend, honoring the coach who is retiring after this season.
The night featured the introduction of more than 100 former Wildcats, among them some of the greatest players in program history, from Darren Haydar, Colin Hemingway and Sean Collins to Ty Conklin, Mike Ayers and Kevin Regan.
It featured Bertagna presenting the prestigious Hockey East Founders Medal to Umile – he's only the 12th individual, second coach and first active coach - to receive it.
And it featured Umile family moments galore, from the whole group joining him on the bench for a pregame video tribute, to his teenaged granddaughter Lily Rose Cook dropping a ceremonial first puck to Quinn's new jersey.
Oh, what a night, indeed.
"First, let me just say it was an incredible night, to have the people that were here and the recognition," said Umile in his opening remarks in a postgame press conference. "It was unbelievable. I can't thank the University and everybody that was involved enough for the effort they put on today and throughout the season."
Umile and his family soaked it all in.
"It was very emotional to be honest with you," Umile said. "They started bringing these players out there. The video was awesome. It just brings back what it's all about. It's the memories. I know we've had a tough time winning hockey games here, but it is all about the journey and the players and the coaches and the fans and the excitement of UNH hockey. It was on display on the video board. It was special."
The present-day Wildcats and even the visiting Catamounts appreciated the night.
"It was a very special night," said junior forward Marcus Vela, who scored a power play goal on a rebound with 2:34 left to earn the Wildcats a 2-2 tie. "He's a legendary coach and a great person and a great mentor. We were all excited for him. Really happy and really proud. Refocusing wasn't hard to do. We were ready to play."
Fellow junior forward Ara Nazarian scored the first goal of the game midway through the second period and agreed with his linemate.
"It was awesome to see all those alumni," Nazarian said. "With the video they had before the game, all the different winning goals. Coach on the bench. It was really cool to see and be a part of it."
Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon, long a fan of Umile, was in agreement as well.
"First and foremost, obviously there was a real good hockey game tonight but I certainly want to tip my cap to UNH for putting on what was just an amazing pregame salute to one of college hockey's finest gentlemen and coaches," Sneddon said. "I know he's got more games to coach, but he's always been one of my favorite guys in the game. I want to congratulate him."
At the close of the opening ceremonies, Sneddon's players lined up and one by one skated by to shake Umile's hand.
A 2-1 loss on Friday night and Saturday night's tie leave UNH sitting in 10th in the Hockey East standings, one point behind ninth-place UMass and two behind eighth-place Vermont.
The Wildcats now get right back to the nitty gritty of the Hockey East playoff race. They have just four games remaining in the regular season and play host to border rival Maine on Wednesday night at 7 in a special Valentine's Day edition of "Whiteout the Whitt."
The immediate challenge is to move up a couple of spots in the standings.
Teams that finish sixth, seventh and eighth in the standings will host the ninth, tenth and 11th teams in a best-of-three first-round series.
After the Maine game, UNH plays at Merrimack on Friday and then closes out the regular season with a home and home series against Northeastern. The teams play at Northeastern on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. and then are at the Whittemore Center to wrap up the regular season Saturday at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.
Then it's on to the playoffs with the goal of piling up a few more memories to close out coach Umile's impressive and memory-filled coaching career.
Tickets for Wednesday night's game and all UNH home games are available at www.unhwildcats.com, by calling 603-862-4000 or at the Whittemore Center box office.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyOur Best 603 Challenge Yet!
Saturday, April 11
UNH Women's Lacrosse vs. Harvard Highlights 4-7-2026
Tuesday, April 07
UNH Women's Lacrosse vs Vermont Highlights 3-28-26
Saturday, March 28
UNH Athletics Introduces Sarah Mansfield‑Lahl as New Field Hockey Head Coach
Thursday, March 26