#19 UNH Falls to Merrimack, 5-4

Saturday, February 8

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

11-12-3, 3-11-2

Merrimack

12-15-1, 8-9-1

Merrimack

New Hampshire

Photo by: Ryan Moran

2/8/2025 11:48:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

Gagne posts three points for the Wildcats.

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior captain Alex Gagne (Bedford, N.H.) recorded three points and sophomore forward Nick Ring (Hingham, Mass.) recorded two, but the No. 19 University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell to Merrimack, 5-4, on Saturday evening at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex in Hockey East action.

The Wildcats fall to 11-12-3 (3-11-2 Hockey East), while the Warriors improve to 12-15-1 (8-9-1 Hockey East).

Sophomore forward Marty Lavins (Riga, Latvia), senior alternate captain Connor Sweeney (North Andover, Mass.), sophomore forward J.P. Turner (East Falmouth, Mass.) and Gagne all scored goals for the Wildcats.

Hunter Wallace led the way for the Warriors with two goals. Michael Emerson, Vann Yuhas and David Sacco also scored goals for Merrimack.

 
UP NEXT:    

Next up for the 'Cats will be the Border Battle presented by Buffalo Wild Wings at No. 5 Maine on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15 at 7 p.m. Then the 'Cats will be back in Durham versus No. 18 UMass on Friday, Feb. 21, presented by ALKU.
Tickets can be purchased at UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000. Don't miss the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.

 
Score: Merrimack 5, #19 New Hampshire 4
Records: UNH (11-12-3, 3-11-2 Hockey East); MC (12-15-1, 8-9-1 Hockey East)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025
Attendance: 4,989

BOXSCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Wildcats struck first at 8:20 in the first period while on the power play. Lavins tipped a shot by Gagne into the stick side of the net from the slot.Ring also tallied an assist.
Sweeney knocked in a rebound from a shot by graduate alternate captain Nikolai Jenson (Cold Spring, Minn.) to increase the lead to 2-0 at 12:59.Gagne was also credited with an assist.
The Warriors got on the board at 14:04 when Emerson received a pass inside the defensive zone and then took the puck all the way to the attacking zone and scored from the slot.
Merrimack tied up the game at 15:39 when Wallace received a pass, stopped the puck with his feet, and then scored from the slot.
At 17:29, UNH took the lead on the power play when Gagne received a pass from Ring and then scored from the high slot into the glove side of the net.Senior defenseman Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) also recorded an assist.
Wallace struck again for the Warriors at 3:05 in the second period when he stole the puck and scored from inside the crease.
The Wildcats scored a shorthanded goal at 9:48 when Turner intercepted a pass inside the defensive zone and scored from the slot on a breakaway.
Yuhas tied it up for the Warriors yet again at 7:53 in the third period when he fired a one-timer from the slot.
The Warriors took the lead 5-4 at 10:08 when Sacco tipped in a shot from Zach Bookman.
With the Wildcats trailing 5-4, UNH went with an empty net at 18:28 to add an extra skater but were unable to score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

UNH outshot Merrimack, 34-19.
The Wildcats went 2-2 on the power play, while the Warriors went 0-1.
Junior goalie Jared Whale (Calgary, Alberta) made 14 saves, while Max Lundgren tallied 30 saves to earn the win.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

Gagne tied his career high with three points and recorded his eighth career multi-point game
Ring now has four career multi-point games
Turner's shorthanded goal was the first for the Wildcats this season and the first of his career.