Wildcats Skate to 3-3 Tie at Merrimack, in Hockey East Opener

Thursday, October 8

North Andover, Mass.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

0-1-1, 0-0-1

Merrimack

0-1-1, 0-0-1

Team	1	2	3	OT 1	OT 2	F
New Hampshire	2	0	1	0	0	3
Merrimack	2	0	1	0	0	3

Nick Ring

Photo by: Ryan Moran

Wildcats Skate to 3-3 Tie at Merrimack, in Hockey East Opener

10/8/2026 11:56:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Nick Ring posts two points for the Wildcats

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Senior assistant captain Nick Ring (Hingham, Mass.) recorded one goal and one assist for two points as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team tied Merrimack, 3-3, at Lawler Rink in the Hockey East opener for both teams. The Warriors won the shootout, 1-0, to earn the extra point in the Hockey East standings.

The Wildcats are now 0-1-1 (0-0-1 Hockey East), while the Warriors are also 0-1-1 (0-0-1 Hockey East).

The two points by Ring was his eighth multiple point game of his career.

Senior assistant captain Brendan Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) and sophomore forward Félix Gagnon (Jonquière, Quebec) each scored their first goal of the season.

Freshman forward Émile Guité (Chambly, Quebec) recorded his first collegiate point with an assist, while junior forward Ryan Johnson (Calgary, Alberta) and senior forward Nick VanTassell (Warren, N.J.) each posted their first point as a Wildcat with assists.

UP NEXT:

UNH will conclude its four-game road trip top start the season with two at Colgate (Oct. 16-17) at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Home-opening weekend will be against No. 3 Michigan State on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24 at 7 p.m. Friday night's game presented by Northeast Delta Dental will feature Bruins national anthem performer Todd Angilly and a magnet schedule giveaway. Saturday will be Fall Fest presented by Fidium Fiber which will take place before the game from 4-6 p.m. and include food trucks, games and entertainment throughout the afternoon including the opportunity for fans to join the Beast of the East Pep Band in welcoming the Wildcats as they make their way into the Whittemore Center before taking the ice.
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: UNH 3, Merrimack 3 (OT-MC Wins Shootout, 1-0)
Records: UNH (0-1-1, 0-0-1 Hockey East); MC (0-1-1, 0-0-1 Hockey East)
Location: North Andover, Mass. (Lawler Rink)
Date: Oct. 8, 2026
Attendance: 2,549

BOXSCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Just 1:15 after the opening faceoff, Fitzgerald fired a one timer glove side off a pass from Johnson for his first goal of the season. Ring also recorded an assist on the goal.

Brendan Fitzgerald gets us started!! 💥 Watch on @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/pclj53gCnH #BeTheRoar | @HarvardPilgrim https://t.co/ZYo9pz4fWI
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 8, 2026

The Warriors tied the game at 5:40 of the first period when Caelan Fitzpatrick blasted a shot from the slot to the stick side of the net.
The Wildcats went up 2-1 at 13:54 when Ring knocked in a loose puck for his second goal of the year. Guité posted an assist for his first collegiate point.

Nick Ring just knows 😉 Watch on @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/pclj53hadf #BeTheRoar | @HarvardPilgrim https://t.co/RJsbJJgFDD
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 9, 2026

Merrimack evened the score with just 53 seconds left in the first period as Trevor Hoskin went on a breakaway for the goal.
Gagnon gave the Wildcats a 3-2 advantage when he sent a wrist shot from the slot to the upper stick side of the net at 9:19 of the third period off a pass from VanTassell for his first goal of the season. Sophomore defenseman Alex Carr (Sackville, Nova Scotia) also tallied an assist.

Felix Gagnon adds to the count ☝️ Watch on @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/pclj53gCnH #BeTheRoar | @HarvardPilgrim https://t.co/8EkHMByXm1
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 9, 2026

The Warriors responded at 13:11 as Simon-Pier Brunet scored from above the slot to tie the contest at 3-3.
After a scoreless overtime, Hoskin gave the Warriors the extra point when he scored in the third round of the shootout.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

UNH outshot MC, 27-21.
Each team went 0-3 on the man-advantage.
Senior goalie Michael Simpson (London, Ontario) made 18 saves, while Linards Feldbergs recorded 24 for the Warriors.

GO CATS TRAVEL:

Making the trip to cheer on the Wildcats? Book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — you'll get the same rate as Expedia or Booking.com, and 50% of proceeds goes straight back to UNH Athletics.