New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey

Last updated
New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey
Hockey current event.svg Current season
UNH Wildcats.png
University University of New Hampshire
Conference Hockey East
Head coach Michael Souza
7th season, 7810321 (.440)
Assistant coaches
Arena Whittemore Center
Durham, New Hampshire
ColorsBlue, gray, and white [1]
     
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
1999, 2003
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
1977, 1979, 1982, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003
NCAA Tournament appearances
1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
Conference Tournament championships
1979, 2002, 2003
Conference regular season championships
1992, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010
Current uniform
HE-Uniform-UNH.png

The New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats are a member of Hockey East. They play at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, New Hampshire. [2]

Contents

History

Early years

The first New Hampshire ice hockey team played in January 1925, winning its first two games in a contest held in Lewiston, Maine. [3] A year later, under the stewardship of Ernest Christensen, UNH played its first home game at the UNH ice rink, an outdoor facility that was completely dependent on cold weather for its surface. The Wildcats would play a small number of games for their first 15 seasons, fluctuating between an undefeated season in 1927 and a winless campaign in 1932. Christensen retired in 1938 and the team eventually came under the tutelage of Anthony Dougal but his tenure was suspended in 1943 due to the outbreak of World War II. The team finally returned to the ice in January 1947 with Dougal remaining for one year before handing the program over to Joseph Petroski. Horace "Pepper" Martin took over after four rather poor seasons and New Hampshire's fortunes began to change. By the mid-1950s the Wildcats started to play more and win more games than they ever had before and in 1955 an artificial ice rink was constructed on campus to help the team play more than a handful of home games. [4]

ECAC

In 1961 New Hampshire was one of 28 schools that were founding members of ECAC Hockey. Martin turned the team over to A. Barr Snively and plans were underway to replace the Harry C. Batchelder Rink with an indoor ice rink. In the offseason of 1964, two events happened that hampered the ice hockey program. First, in April, head coach Snively suffered a heart attack and tragically died. [5] With the school searching for a replacement the ECAC announced that it was dividing itself into two separate tiers. 'Major' programs would continue on with ECAC Hockey but 'minor' schools would be forced to join the newly-formed ECAC 2. Because their indoor facility had not yet been completed New Hampshire was forced out of the top tier. Rube Bjorkman was eventually named as head coach and he led the team for four years. During his tenure, the indoor arena was completed and christened as the Snively Arena after his late predecessor and a year later the program was readmitted into the top echelon of college hockey.

It was Bjorkman's successor, Charlie Holt, who put New Hampshire on the college hockey map. In Holt's first season UNH played its first postseason game, earning Holt his first of three Spencer Penrose Awards. In his first five seasons, the Wildcats finished with a winning record and then won the ECAC regular season championship in his sixth year. The Wildcats made their first NCAA appearance in 1977 and captured their first Conference championship two years later, but no matter how good Holt's teams were national success continued to elude him. under Holt the Wildcats went 0–6 in the frozen four and 2–8 in the tournament overall. While the wins started to come few and far between in the mid-1980s Holt continued to helm the program as it left ECAC Hockey to form Hockey East with six other northeastern schools.

Bob Kullen

Holt stepped down in 1986 and was replaced by long-time assistant Bob Kullen. In his first year the team saw marginal improvement but that summer Kullen was diagnosed with a rare form of heart disease that necessitated a transplant and his missing an entire season to recuperate. [6] Dave O'Connor served as the interim head coach for 1987–88 allowing Kullen to return in the fall of '88. In two years New Hampshire saw its wins total improve to 12 and then 17 but by 1990 Kullen started rejecting his new heart and was forced to resign. Another UNH assistant, Dick Umile, was named as his replacement and unfortunately, Kullen died in November 1990 at the age of 41. Hockey East swiftly renamed its coach of the year award in his honor while the team continued the upward swing he began, allowing Umile to be the first recipient of the rechristened award.

Umile years

In Umile second season New Hampshire made the NCAA tournament for the first time in almost a decade and retroactively finished first in the conference after Maine was forced to forfeit 13 games. The team continued to play well for several seasons but after a disappointing season in 1996, the team won its first Hockey East Championship and set a new program record with 28 wins. The following year the Wildcats made the Frozen Four for the first time in 16 years and then reached even higher in 1999. in the penultimate year of the millennium the Wildcats won 30 games for the first time, establishing a still-record of 31 victories (as of 2019), winning their second conference title (first outright) and were led by sophomore goaltender Ty Conklin and senior center Jason Krog, the latter won the NCAA scoring title by 16 points and captured the Hobey Baker Award (UNH's only recipient as of 2019). Despite losing in the Hockey East tournament finale The team received the #2 overall seed and a bye into the second round. The Wildcats defeated two Michigan schools to reach their first national championship game where they would ultimately fall in overtime to conference rival Maine.

UNH would continue to be a power in Hockey East, winning back to back conference championships in 2002 and 2003 and reached their second NCAA title game in '03 where they lost to Minnesota, 5-1. UNH would make the NCAA tournament every year from 2002 through 2011 but the team could not make it out of the Regionals after 2003. Starting in 2012 the program began a slow decline, ending up dead-last in the conference in 2017–18. After that season Umile decided to retire, leaving the school as the all-time leader in just about every coaching category and recording the third most wins all-time for one school at the Division I level.

Umile's final act for the program was to name his successor, allowing 1999 alumnus Michael Souza to become the 14th head coach in program history.

John "Jack" French

After his tour of duty in the US Navy, he worked at the UNH as the Athletic Equipment Manager for a total of 38 years from 1963-2001. He was beloved by the students and staff and holds the record for most games attended including hockey, football, baseball and basketball. He was a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association.

Seasons

[7]

Head coaches

As of the completion of 2023–24 season [8]

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1922–1923 Hank Swasey 12–2–0.500
1925–1936, 1937–1938 Ernest Christensen 1255–54–8.504
1936–1937 Carl Lundholm 13–5–0.375
1938–1939 George Thurston 15–4–0.556
1939–1943, 1946–1947 Anthony Dougal 515–28–0.349
1947–1951 Joseph Petroski 49–20–0.310
1951–1962 Horace "Pepper" Martin 1176–76–3.500
1962–1964 A. Barr Snively 223–22–0.511
1964–1968 Rube Bjorkman 457–40–0.588
1968–1986 Charlie Holt 18347–232–18.596
1986–1987, 1988–1990 Bob Kullen 437–66–8.369
1987–1988 Dave O'Connor 17–20–3.283
1990–2018 Dick Umile 28598–375–114.603
2018–Present Michael Souza 678–102–21.440
Totals14 coaches98 seasons1312–1039–175.554

Statistical Leaders

Source: [9]

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
Ralph Cox 1975–1979128127116243
Jason Krog 1995–199915194144238
Darren Haydar 1998–2002158102117219
Jamie Hislop 1972–197611977132209
Mark Mowers 1994–199814485112197
Louis Frigon 1967–1971899895193
Bob Gould 1975–197913591101192
Cliff Cox 1972–19761088788175
Jon Fontas 1974–197810772102174
Frank Roy 1975–197913171103174
Joe Flanagan 1988–19921408589174

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

minimum 30 games played

PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Ty Conklin 1998–20019355805723122021.9152.18
Kevin Regan 2004–200811265997029102509.9282.27
Casey DeSmith 2011–2014975637483682189.9232.32
Jeff Pietrasiak 2002–2006552904271361192.9172.46
Mike Ayers 2000–2004102575558251223912.9142.49

Statistics current through the start of the 2019–20 season.

Current roster

As of July 10, 2023. [10]

No. S/P/CPlayerClassPosHeightWeightDoBHometownPrevious teamNHL rights
1 Flag of Illinois.svg Jeremy FormanSenior G 5' 10" (1.78 m)150 lb (68 kg)1999-09-22 Northbrook, Illinois Corpus Christi  ( NAHL )
2 Flag of New York.svg Jack BabbageJunior D 6' 1" (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)2000-08-30 Tully, New York Quinnipiac  ( ECAC )
3 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Conor LovettJunior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)200 lb (91 kg)2001-04-07 Franklin, Massachusetts Cedar Rapids  ( USHL )
5 Flag of New York.svg Zach HahnFreshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg)2002-08-06 Huntington, New York P. A. L. (NCDC)
6 Flag of Latvia.svg Marty LaviņšFreshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)2003-04-10 Riga, Latvia Cedar Rapids  ( USHL )
7 Flag of Russia.svg Stiven SardarianSophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)2003-02-07 Saint Petersburg, Russia Youngstown  ( USHL ) BUF , 88th overall  2021
8 Flag of Minnesota.svg Nikolai JensonSenior D 5' 11" (1.8 m)193 lb (88 kg)2000-07-28 Cold Spring, Minnesota Youngstown  ( USHL )
9 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Connor SweeneyJunior F 6' 2" (1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg)2000-05-05 North Andover, Massachusetts Islanders  (NCDC)
10 Flag of New Hampshire.svg Ronan WalshFreshman F 6' 4" (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg)2002-05-03 Andover, New Hampshire Amarillo  ( NAHL )
12 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Liam DevlinJunior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)192 lb (87 kg)2001-01-07 Needham, Massachusetts Omaha  ( USHL )
13 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Nick CafarelliSenior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)182 lb (83 kg)2001-12-31 Middleton, Massachusetts Wenatchee  ( BCHL )
15 Flag of Austria.svg Luis LindnerJunior D 5' 11" (1.8 m)170 lb (77 kg)2001-05-16 Spittal an der Drau, Austria American International  ( AHA )
16 Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Luke ReidSenior D 6' 0" (1.83 m)192 lb (87 kg)2001-09-26 Warman, Saskatchewan Chicago  ( USHL ) NSH , 166th overall  2020
17 Flag of Latvia.svg Kristaps SkrastiņšSophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m)180 lb (82 kg)2001-11-20 Grobiņa, Latvia Amarillo  ( NAHL )
18 Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Harrison Blaisdell ( A )Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)190 lb (86 kg)2001-03-18 Regina, Saskatchewan North Dakota  ( NCHC ) WPG , 134th overall  2019
19 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Brendan FitzgeraldFreshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m)165 lb (75 kg)2003-03-06 North Reading, Massachusetts Cedar Rapids  ( USHL )
20 Flag of California.svg Colton HuardJunior D 6' 3" (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg)2000-11-27 Foothill Ranch, California Chicago  ( USHL )
21 Flag of New Hampshire.svg Cam GendronSenior D 6' 3" (1.91 m)181 lb (82 kg)1999-02-05 Hampstead, New Hampshire New Jersey  ( NAHL )
22 Flag of Massachusetts.svg J. P. TurnerFreshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg)2003-01-31 East Falmouth, Massachusetts Fargo  ( USHL )
23 Flag of New Jersey.svg Jason SiedemFreshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m)185 lb (84 kg)2002-10-17 Madison, New Jersey Blackfalds  ( AJHL )
24 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Robert CroninJunior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)187 lb (85 kg)2000-08-15 Plymouth, Massachusetts Dubuque  ( USHL )
25 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Nick RingFreshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m)180 lb (82 kg)2003-10-26 Abington, Massachusetts Sioux Falls  ( USHL )
26 Flag of Florida.svg Morgan WintersSophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m)165 lb (75 kg)2001-12-08 Osprey, Florida Omaha  ( USHL )
28 Flag of New Hampshire.svg Alex Gagne ( A )Junior D 6' 4" (1.93 m)207 lb (94 kg)2002-08-12 Bedford, New Hampshire Muskegon  ( USHL ) TBL , 192nd overall  2021
29 Flag of New Hampshire.svg Cy LeClercSophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m)180 lb (82 kg)2002-08-17 Brentwood, New Hampshire Janesville  ( NAHL )
30 Flag of New Jersey.svg Tyler MuszelikSophomore G 6' 3" (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)2004-07-01 Long Valley, New Jersey NTDP  ( USHL ) FLA , 189th overall  2022
35 Flag of New Hampshire.svg Rafe GaughanSenior G 6' 1" (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)2000-02-11 Somersworth, New Hampshire Northeast  ( NA3HL )
36 Flag of Virginia.svg Ryan ConmyFreshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m)190 lb (86 kg)2004-10-23 Alexandria, Virginia Sioux City  ( USHL ) LAK , 182nd overall  2023
37 Flag of Sweden.svg Jakob HellstenJunior G 6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)2000-02-02 Ljusdal, Sweden North Dakota  ( NCHC )

Awards and honors

NCAA

Individual awards

All-American teams

AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

ECAC Hockey

Individual awards

All-Conference teams

First Team All-ECAC Hockey

Second Team All-ECAC Hockey

Hockey East

Individual awards

All-Conference teams

First Team All-Hockey East

Second Team All-Hockey East

Third Team All-Hockey East

Hockey East All-Rookie Team

Program Records

Hockey East

Individual

Olympians

This is a list of New Hampshire alumni were a part of an Olympic team.

NamePositionNew Hampshire TenureTeamYearFinish
Bob Miller Center1974–1975, 1976–1977 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1976 5th
Steve Leach Right Wing1984–1986 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1988 7th
Adrien Plavsic Defenseman1987–1988 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CAN 1992 Silver medal icon.svg Silver
Jeff Lazaro Right Wing1986–1990 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1994 8th
James van Riemsdyk Left Wing2007–2009 Flag of the United States.svg USA 2014 4th
Bobby Butler Right Wing2006–2010 Flag of the United States.svg USA 2018 7th
Daniel Winnik Forward2003–2006 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CAN 2022 6th

New Hampshire Wildcats Hall of Fame

The following is a list of people associated with the New Hampshire men's ice hockey program who were elected into the New Hampshire Wildcats Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses). [13]

Wildcats in the NHL

As of July 1, 2023.

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star [14] = NHL All-Star [14] and NHL All-Star team = Hall of Famers

WHA

Several players also were members of WHA teams.