University of New Hampshire Athletics
Colton Huard and the Wildcats take on Arizona State for games Friday night and Saturday at 3. (Rick Wilson photo)
Photo by: Rick Wilson
Insider Report: Toys & Pucks
12/8/2022 12:37:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey, UNH Insider
Sun Devils in Town for A Pair, Teddy Bear Toss Set for Saturday Afternoon
DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire men's hockey coach Mike Souza and his team, after a rough first semester of the season, are looking forward to turning things around in the second half.
First, they have a little on-ice business – with a dash of holiday festivities – on the docket for this weekend.
The Wildcats take on Arizona State University for games on Friday night at 7 and Saturday at 4 p.m. – note the matinee scheduling – for a Toys for Tots Weekend. Saturday's game is presented by Mass General Brigham/Wentworth Douglass Hospital.
The team's first-ever Teddy Bear Toss will be conducted during the first intermission Saturday. Fans are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear or other stuffed animal to chuck over the boards and onto the ice or they can bring another toy and swap it for one of the limited number of bears that will be available.
A toy drive will be held throughout the weekend and toys will be donated to Toys for Tots, Mass General Brigham/Wentworth Douglass and the Dover Children's Home.
Tickets for UNH hockey at the Whittemore Center may be purchased at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000.
The two games against Arizona State are the last for the Wildcats before their holiday break and they're looking to use them for a lift into the time off.
UNH has hit the halfway mark of its 34-game regular season schedule with a 3-13-1 record and is counting on bouncing back after the break.
"This is why we're optimistic here, we know that it can turn on you that quickly in a positive way," said head coach Mike Souza. "That's all we've talked about, that this thing is going to turn and hopefully it starts Friday and if it's not Friday, hopefully it starts Saturday."
The Wildcats have shown flashes of the team they can be – particularly in games against UMass and last Friday at home against Boston University – and want to build on those efforts, said sophomore defenseman Colton Huard.
Against BU, UNH trailed 2-0 after the first period and rallied to tie the game in the second period at 3-3.
Freshman forward Cy LeClerc of Brentwood, N.H. had two more power play goals in the second period and classmate Morgan Winters had a shorthanded goal. BU pulled away for the win in the second half of the third period.
LeClerc has four power play goals in the last four games and is tied for the team lead in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 10 points. Huard has a goal and nine assists for 10 points. Sophomore forward Liam Devlin is close behind with four goals and five assists for nine points.
Arizona State owns an 8-9 record and is coming off a tough stretch of games. The Sun Devils have played the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country the last two weekends.
They split a series at home against No. 2 Minnesota on Thanksgiving weekend, losing 3-2 and winning the next night 6-5 in overtime. Last weekend, they lost a pair of games at No. 1 Denver, 3-2 and 5-2.
"It's going to be a tall order," Souza said. "They're a heckuva team. We just watched them against Denver. We've got our hands full, certainly."
Arizona State swept the Wildcats in Tempe last season.
The Wildcats need to extend the flashes they've had, Huard said.
"We're going to have to play as hard as we did against BU on Friday, going to have to play a full 60," he said. "We're going to have to have confidence in making plays and holding onto the puck a little longer. I think there were times we kind of threw it away. We need to play hard and with more confidence.
"I think with confidence, it's the little simple plays," Huard said. "Those build into a good shift and that builds into another shift and then it's a pretty good game and you get some confidence."
After Saturday comes the break. The schedule resumes with games at Union on Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31.
UNH's next Hockey East game is at Providence College on Friday, Jan. 6.
The next home game for the Wildcats is Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. against Sacred Heart.
"I think it's just a very fitting time for us to have a break considering how much effort these guys have put in going back to July without a lot to show for it," Souza said. "I'm optimistic the fruits of their efforts will be shown in the second half."
Muszelik heads to camp
UNH freshman goalie Tyler Muszelik was named to the US National Junior team preliminary roster this week.
Muszelik, who turned 18 in July, will head to a training camp in Plymouth, Mich., next week. He will be one of four goalies competing for three roster spots for the IIHF World Junior Championships that will be held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Moncton, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
"It's a great honor for him," Souza said. "I have every bit of confidence he can go up there and make the team and then I hope he finds an opportunity to get in the net."
First, they have a little on-ice business – with a dash of holiday festivities – on the docket for this weekend.
The Wildcats take on Arizona State University for games on Friday night at 7 and Saturday at 4 p.m. – note the matinee scheduling – for a Toys for Tots Weekend. Saturday's game is presented by Mass General Brigham/Wentworth Douglass Hospital.
The team's first-ever Teddy Bear Toss will be conducted during the first intermission Saturday. Fans are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear or other stuffed animal to chuck over the boards and onto the ice or they can bring another toy and swap it for one of the limited number of bears that will be available.
A toy drive will be held throughout the weekend and toys will be donated to Toys for Tots, Mass General Brigham/Wentworth Douglass and the Dover Children's Home.
Tickets for UNH hockey at the Whittemore Center may be purchased at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000.
The two games against Arizona State are the last for the Wildcats before their holiday break and they're looking to use them for a lift into the time off.
UNH has hit the halfway mark of its 34-game regular season schedule with a 3-13-1 record and is counting on bouncing back after the break.
"This is why we're optimistic here, we know that it can turn on you that quickly in a positive way," said head coach Mike Souza. "That's all we've talked about, that this thing is going to turn and hopefully it starts Friday and if it's not Friday, hopefully it starts Saturday."
The Wildcats have shown flashes of the team they can be – particularly in games against UMass and last Friday at home against Boston University – and want to build on those efforts, said sophomore defenseman Colton Huard.
Against BU, UNH trailed 2-0 after the first period and rallied to tie the game in the second period at 3-3.
Freshman forward Cy LeClerc of Brentwood, N.H. had two more power play goals in the second period and classmate Morgan Winters had a shorthanded goal. BU pulled away for the win in the second half of the third period.
LeClerc has four power play goals in the last four games and is tied for the team lead in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 10 points. Huard has a goal and nine assists for 10 points. Sophomore forward Liam Devlin is close behind with four goals and five assists for nine points.
Arizona State owns an 8-9 record and is coming off a tough stretch of games. The Sun Devils have played the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country the last two weekends.
They split a series at home against No. 2 Minnesota on Thanksgiving weekend, losing 3-2 and winning the next night 6-5 in overtime. Last weekend, they lost a pair of games at No. 1 Denver, 3-2 and 5-2.
"It's going to be a tall order," Souza said. "They're a heckuva team. We just watched them against Denver. We've got our hands full, certainly."
Arizona State swept the Wildcats in Tempe last season.
The Wildcats need to extend the flashes they've had, Huard said.
"We're going to have to play as hard as we did against BU on Friday, going to have to play a full 60," he said. "We're going to have to have confidence in making plays and holding onto the puck a little longer. I think there were times we kind of threw it away. We need to play hard and with more confidence.
"I think with confidence, it's the little simple plays," Huard said. "Those build into a good shift and that builds into another shift and then it's a pretty good game and you get some confidence."
After Saturday comes the break. The schedule resumes with games at Union on Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31.
UNH's next Hockey East game is at Providence College on Friday, Jan. 6.
The next home game for the Wildcats is Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. against Sacred Heart.
"I think it's just a very fitting time for us to have a break considering how much effort these guys have put in going back to July without a lot to show for it," Souza said. "I'm optimistic the fruits of their efforts will be shown in the second half."
Muszelik heads to camp
UNH freshman goalie Tyler Muszelik was named to the US National Junior team preliminary roster this week.
Muszelik, who turned 18 in July, will head to a training camp in Plymouth, Mich., next week. He will be one of four goalies competing for three roster spots for the IIHF World Junior Championships that will be held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Moncton, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
"It's a great honor for him," Souza said. "I have every bit of confidence he can go up there and make the team and then I hope he finds an opportunity to get in the net."
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