LIVE AUDIO | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTESDURHAM, N.H. — The seventh-ranked Wildcats (15-7-1, 11-4-1 HE) travels to Hockey East foe Vermont (6-9-7, 5-5-5) for a single game on Friday night. Puck drops at 8 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast live on CSTV. In addition, the game will be broadcast on the UNH Sports Radio Network (UNHSN) with live audio and live stats at www.unhwildcats.com as well as live video at www.b2livetv.com.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS: Vermont enters the weekend with a 6-9-7 overall record and a 5-5-5 record in Hockey East...The Catamounts currently own a season-best four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2)... This past weekend, UVM captured a win and a tie against UMass... On Friday night, the Catamounts built a 5-3 lead and held on for a 5-4 win and on Saturday night senior goalie Joe Fallon made 31 saves in a 2-2 tie against the Minutemen. Fallon hasn’t allowed an even strength goal since Jan. 11. Forwards Dean Strong and Colin Vock pace the Vermont offense. Strong has 18 points (4g, 14a), while Vock has 17 points (5g, 12a). Through 17 games in net, Fallon is 4-8-5 with a .307 GAA and a .894 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY VS. VERMONT: The Wildcats own the advantage in the all-time series vs. Vermont at 62-14-3 in 79 all-time meetings dating back to Dec. 14, 1963...In the first six meetings of between the two teams with Vermont as a member of Hockey East, the Wildcats are 4-0-2 against the Catamounts, including a season sweep last year... UNH owns a 29-9-1 all-time record vs. the Catamounts at Gutterson Field House and Coach Umile in his 16-year coaching career has registered a 18-4-2 mark against Vermont in 22 meetings...Overall, the Wildcats are 12-1-1 in the last 15 meetings with Vermont. Jerry Pollastrone is the leading active scorer against Vermont with six points (1g, 5a) in six games, while Kevin Regan is 4-0-2 with a 1.50 GAA and a .940 save percentage in six career starts vs. Vermont.
SCORING LEADERS VS. THE CATAMOUNTS:
Player GP G-A-P
Jerry Pollastrone 6 1-5-6
Matt Fornataro 6 1-4-5
Craig Switzer 7 0-4-4
Mike Radja 5 3-0-3
Jamie Fritsch 6 0-2-2
Kevin Kapstad 3 1-0-1
Brad Flaishans 7 0-1-1
Greg Collins 6 1-0-1
Thomas Fortney 6 0-1-1
Joe Charlebois 4 0-0-0
Bobby Butler 3 0-0-0
Peter LeBlanc 3 0-1-1
Danny Rossman 2 0-1-1
Goaltending Stats
Player GP/Min GA GAA W-L-T SV SV%
Regan 6/358:02 9 1.50 4-0-2 141 .940
Foster 1/11:58 0 0.00 0-0-0 2 1.000
Regan Game-by-Game vs. the Catamounts
Date Min Res. Svs. GA Shots
12/2/05 65:00 T 31 3 34
1/6/06 60:00 W 27 1 28
1/7/06 65:00 T 19 2 21
12/3/06 60:00 W 22 1 23
1/5/07 48:02 W 8 1 9
1/6/07 60:00 W 34 1 35
Totals 358:02 4-0-2 141 9 150
Foster Game-by-Game vs. the Catamounts
Date Min Res. Svs. GA Shots
1/5/07 11:58 N/D 2 0 2
Totals 11:58 0-0-0 2 0 2
REGAN GARNERS LEAGUE’S TOP DEFENSIVE HONOR:
Kevin Regan was named Pure Hockey Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week, for the fourth time this season. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon by the league office. Regan continues to excel in Hockey East earning his fifth- and sixth-straight wins against league foes with this weekend’s sweep of Boston University. Regan surpassed Mike Ayers as the all-time wins leader capturing his 59th win on Friday night. Regan recorded 28 saves, including 14 in the scoreless first period. He stopped 26 shots en route to Saturday night’s Hockey East victory as he improves to 13-5-0 overall. Regan ranks first in goals against average (2.09), save percentage (.932) and win percentage (.769) in Hockey East play.
FORNATARO JOINS CENTURY CLUB: With four points this weekend, Matt Fornataro became the 66th Wildcat to notch 100 career points. The last UNH player to record 100 points was Brett Hemingway, who earned his 100th on March 9, 2006.
REGAN PASSES AYERS TO BECOME WINNINGEST GOALIE AT UNH: Regan continues to excel in Hockey East play capturing five-straight in league play. With his win on Friday, he passed Mike Ayers as the program’s all-time wins leader with 59. He moved past former Wildcat and current Pittsburgh Penguin Ty Conklin, who had 57 wins during his time in Durham. Regan added this 60th win on Saturday night.
HOCKEY EAST STREAKING: The Wildcats have won six-straight in Hockey East play. There last Hockey East loss came on Dec. 8 at UMass.
RADJA CLOSES IN ON A PAIR OF MILESTONES: Mike Radja is just two goals away from 50 for his career. Jacob Micflikier and Brett Hemingway were the last two players to earn this milestone. In addition, Radja sits just three points shy of joining teammate and linemate Matt Fornataro in the century club. Radja is looking to become the 67th member in program history and first since Fornataro.
OFFENSIVELY DEFENSIVE: Defensemen Kevin Kapstad and Craig Switzer have been on fire offensively for the Wildcats. The pair have combined for six goals and five assists in the last six games.Kapstad owns a four-game scoring streak with three goals and an assist in the last four games. He had no goals this season prior to his three game streak. Switzer has a three game scoring streak and tallied a goal in three of his last six.
FIRST-EVER SWEEP OF BU: UNH earned its first-ever swept of BU since the formation of Hockey East. Its last season sweep of the Terriers came in in the 1981-82 season, a two-game sweep.
HOME SWEET HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The Wildcats improved to 4-0-2 at Agganis Arena since it open a few years ago.
UNFRIENDLY WELCOME TO CATAMOUNTS: Since Vermont joined Hockey East in 2005-06, the Wildcats are 4-0-2 against the Catamounts, including a season sweep last year.
PRODUCING ON THE POWER PLAY: UNH has scored at least one power-play goal in each of the last four games. Overall, the Wildcats have potted five power-play goals in the last four games.
WILDCATS POSTING BEST THIRD PERIOD PRODUCTION: UNH has a league-best 36 third-period goals this season. The next closest is Boston University with 27.
UNH FIRST TWO DOUBLE DIGITS FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT YEAR: UNH was the first team to double digit wins in Hockey East play for the second-straight season. The Wildcats have three more wins then their nearest competition with a game in hand on several league teams.
‘CATS GETTING DEFENSIVE IN LEAGUE PLAY: UNH boasts the best goals-against-average in Hockey East play this season. The Wildcats are allowing just 2.36 goals per game in Hockey East contests.
REGAN REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS: UNH has a rich goaltending tradition with greats such as Ty Conklin, Mike Ayers, Greg Moffett and Cap Raeder. However, Kevin Regan has been climbing the charts in every goaltending category and will leave as perhaps the best of the bunch. Recently becoming the all-time saves and wins leader, below is where Regan ranks in major netminding categories :
CAREER GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE
(50 or more games)
Player Years Games Average
1. Ty Conklin 1998-01 93 2.18
2. Kevin Regan 2005-present 98 2.33
3. Jeff Pietrasiak 2002-06 55 2.46
CAREER SAVES
Player Years Games Saves
1. Kevin Regan 2005-present 98 2,785
2. Greg Moffett 1977-81 101 2,602
3. Mike Ayers 2000-04 101 2,532
CAREER SAVE PERCENTAGE
Player Years Games Save%
1. Kevin Regan 2005-present 98 .926
2. Jeff Pietrasiak 2002-06 55 .917
3. Ty Conklin 1998-01 93 .915
CAREER GAMES
Player Years Games Played
1. Mike Ayers 2000-04 101
2. Kevin Regan 2005-present 98
Ty Conklin 1998-01 93
CAREER WINS
Player Years Wins
1. Kevin Regan 2005-present 60
2. Mike Ayers 2000-04 58
3. Ty Conklin 1998-01 57
COMING TO A TV NEAR YOU: The Wildcats are 9-4-1 in television games this season. They have outscored their opponents 53-40 in these 14 games.
WELL-BALANCED WINNING: With the wins over UMass, the Wildcats have a win over every HE foe they’ve played this season. Eleven league wins over eight different teams, UNH has yet to play Vermont in league play.
FORNATARO FOURTH NATIONALLY IN ASSISTS: Senior captain Matt Fornataro ranks fourth nationally in assists with 0.91 apg.
vanRIEMSDYK RANKS THIRD IN ROOKIE SCORING: Freshman James vanRiemsdyk ranks third nationally in rookie scoring with 1.22 ppg.
RADJA RANKS SIXTH IN GAME WINNERS: Senior Mike Radja is tied for sixth nationally with four game-winning goals this season.
‘CATS RANK FOURTH IN NATION OFFENSIVELY: The Wildcats are currently ranked fourth in the nation in scoring offense with 3.52 goals per game.
Finishing Strong: UNH is 7-1-0 when leading after two periods and 5-0-1 when tied after two.
A TWO POINT MINIMUM: UNH has tallied at least two points in all but one Hockey East weekend this season.
Nationally ranked opponents: The Wildcats are 7-2-0 when playing a nationally-ranked opponent compared to just 6-5-1 against unranked foes.
vanRIEMSDYK FINISHES AS LEADING SCORER AT JUNIOR NATIONALS: James vanRiemsdyk finished the 2008 Junior Nationals as the tournament’s leading scorer. vanRiemsdyk had 11 points (5-6-11), leading Team USA to a fourth-place finish and a 4-2 record.vanRiemsdyk scored a goal in five of Team USA’s six games during the tournament. vanRiemsdyk was named one of Team USA’s best three players in the tournament along with Boston University’s Colin Wilson and Michigan’s Chris Summers. Last year, he led the US Under-18 team in scoring and led the squad to a gold medal at the U-18 Championships in 2005-06. vanRiemsdyk was selected as the second overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 NHL Draft. vanRiemsdyk will rejoin the Wildcats this week in practice and should be available for the Wildcats’ Hockey East match up at Massachusetts on Friday night in Amherst.
Wildcat award winners: Here is a list of awards that Wildcat players have won to date this season:
Player Award Date
Kevin Regan HE Def. Player of the Week 10-22-07
Matt Fornataro HE Player of the Week 10-27-07
TEAM CHN Team of the Week 10-27-07
Matt Fornataro HE Player of the Month October
Paul Thompson HE Rookie of the Week 11-19-07
Paul Thompson HE Rookie of the Month November
Matt Fornataro Lowe’s Senior CLASS Nominee
Kevin Regan HE Def. Player of the Week 12-17-07
Kevin Regan HE Def. Player of the Week 1-7-08
James vanRiemsdyk HE Rookie of the Week 1-14-08
TEAM CHN Team of the Week 1-16-08
Kevin Regan HE Def. Player of the Week 1-28-08
Wildcats Among National leaders: Below is a list of where UNH players and team rank nationally.
Individual Rank Stats
Points Per Game:
Matt Fornataro 13th 1.26 ppg
James vanRiemsdyk 15th 1.22 ppg
Goals Per Game:
Mike Radja 13th 0.62 gpg
James vanRiemsdyk 23rd 0.56 gpg
Assists Per Game:
Matt Fornataro 4th 0.91 apg
Game-Winning Goals:
Mike Radja 6th 4 gwg
Defensemen Scoring:
Craig Switzer 18th 0.65 ppg
Brad Flaishans 25th 0.61 ppg
Freshmen Scoring:
James vanRiemsdyk 3rd 1.22 ppg
Goals Against Average:
Kevin Regan 28th 2.45
Save Percentage:
Kevin Regan 19th .921
Winning Percentage:
Kevin Regan 5th .722
Team
Winnning Percentage 7th .674 (15-7-1)
Scoring Offense 4th 3.52 gpg
Scoring Margin 9th +0.78
Umile captures 400th victory: Oct. 19 win at Agganis Arena marked Head Coach Dick Umile’s 400th of his career, ranking him third amongst active NCAA coaches with a .653 win percentage. Umile, a five-time Hockey East Coach of the Year, is in his 18th season as head coach of the Wildcats and ranks ninth all-time among NCAA coaches with his 400 wins. Coming into the 2007-08 season, he ranks third in wins amongst his Hockey East coaching peers. The last Division I coach to reach the 400 win plateau was UNH alum Joe Marsh (St. Lawrence).
HOME SWEET HOME: UNH is in its 13th season of play at the Whittemore Center in 2007-08.. UNH owns a 163-47-19 all-time record in 13 seasons of play at the Whittemore Center with 148 sellouts during that time.
WHERE UNH IS RANKED IN HOCKEY EAST:
Overall HE games
Goals/per game 3.52/2nd 3.19/4th
GAA 2.74/5th 2.38/1st
Power Play 17.1/5th 13.3/89th
Penalty Kill 84.6/5th 85.2/3rd
Special Teams Net 0/5th -4/8th
1st Period Scoring 19/3rd 14/4th
2nd Period Scoring 25/6th 18/4th
3rd Period Scoring 36/1st 18/2nd
WHERE IS UNH RANKED?: Here is a week-by-week look at the ‘Cats in the national polls and the HE standings:
Date USCHO UHM HE
10/1 6 6 t-1st (pre)
10/8 6 5 -
10/15 8 8 -
10/22 7 6 t-1st
10/29 4 4 t-4th
11/5 6 7 t-3rd
11/12 6 6 t-1st
11/19 8 8 3rd
11/26 6 6 3rd
12/3 8 7 3rd
12/10 10 10 5th
12/17 10 t-9 t-1st
12/24 no poll no poll t-1st
12/31 7 no poll t-1st
1/7 8 8 t-1st
1/15 5 5 1st
1/21 7 7 t-1st
1/28 7 7 1st
THE NATIONAL POLLS:
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine (Jan. 28)
Rk. Team (FPV) Pts. LW W-L-T WIP
1 Miami (Ohio) Univ. (34) 510 2 25-3-0 16
2 Michigan 442 1 22-3-1 16
3 North Dakota 420 4 16-8-1 16
4 Michigan State 410 5 17-5-5 16
5 Denver 392 6 18-6-0 16
6 Colorado College 341 3 18-7-0 16
7 New Hampshire 310 7 15-7-1 16
8 Notre Dame 261 9 20-9-1 16
9 Boston College 254 8 12-5-7 14
10 Clarkson University 218 10 15-7-2 16
11 Wisconsin 149 NR 11-10-5 13
12 Minnesota-Duluth 122 NR 10-8-6 7
13 Providence 80 NR 11-9-2 1
14 Northeastern 71 11 11-8-3 8
15 Minnesota 18 NR 12-11-5 12
USCHO.com/CSTV Division I Men’s Poll (Jan. 28)
Rk. Team (FPV) Record Pts LW
1 Miami (49) 25-3-0 999 2
2 Michigan (1) 22-3-1 915 1
3 North Dakota 16-8-1 854 4
4 Denver 18-6-0 839 5
5 Michigan State 17-5-5 819 6
6 Colorado College 18-7-1 757 3
7 New Hampshire 15-7-1 724 7
8 Notre Dame 20-9-1 631 9
9 Boston College 12-5-7 616 8
10 Clarkson 15-7-2 568 10
11 Wisconsin 11-10-5 425 16
12 Minnesota-Duluth 10-8-6 359 19
13 Northeastern 11-8-3 337 11
14 Providence 11-9-2 282 NR
15 Massachusetts 9-8-6 231 14
16 Mass.-Lowell 11-8-4 195 15
16 Quinnipiac 14-7-3 195 12
18 Minnesota 12-11-5 181 17
19 Princeton 10-8-0 125 18
20 St. Cloud State 11-12-3 120 13
FORNATARO NAMED NOMINEE FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD: Matt Fornataro was one of twenty collegiate hockey players, who have combined excellence in athletics, academics and community service, and were announced today as the official candidates for the men’s hockey division of the 2007-08 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Fornataro, who was one of two Hockey East players selected, is currently the team’s leading scorer and garnered Hockey East Player of the Month for October. In addition, the senior forward is quickly approaching the 100-point mark for his career. The award – presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports – focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition.
THE PROGRAM’S HISTORY: UNH has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 17 times in the 80-year history of the program...UNH has appeared in the Frozen Four seven times, including national championship game appearances vs. Maine in 1999 and Minnesota in 2003...UNH earned Hockey East Tournament titles in 2002 and 2003 and regular-season championships in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2007...The Wildcats won the ECAC regular-season title in 1974 and the tournament championship in 1979....UNH has posted 28 seasons with 20+ wins, including the last 11 consecutive seasons.
‘CATS SELECTED IN THE NHL DRAFT: Seven UNH players have been selected in the National Hockey League draft...Joe Charlebois (Chicago), Phil DeSimone (Washington), Brian Foster (Florida), Peter LeBlanc (Chicago), Kevin Regan (Boston), Craig Switzer (Nashville) and James vanRiemsdyk (Philadelphia) have all been taken.
WILDCATS SHARE TOP SPOT IN HOCKEY EAST POLL: UNH was picked to finish tied for first in the Hockey East preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was announced on Sept. 25.
Hockey East Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
Rk. Team (1st Place Votes) Pts
1. New Hampshire (5) 84
Boston College (5) 84
3. Boston University 77
4. Maine 61
5. Massachusetts 54
Vermont 54
7. Northeastern 43
8. Providence 39
9. UMass-Lowell 25
10. Merrimack 19
UNH HOCKEY ON TELEVISION: UNH will have 22 games broadcast live on TV in 2007-08...NHPTV will once again provide the 10-game package, while NESN will air three games, CSTV, WABI and FSSN will broadcast two, while ESPNU, COX-TV, CN8 and WMUR-TV will broadcast one game.
DATE GAME Channel Time/Result
OCT. 26 COLORADO COLLEGE NHPTV W, 5-3
OCT. 27 COLORADO COLLEGE NHPTV W, 4-2
NOV. 3 NORTHEASTERN NHPTV L, 1-2
NOV. 9 UMASS-LOWELL NHPTV T, 2-2
NOV. 10 BOSTON COLLEGE NHPTV W, 5-2
Nov. 17 @ Providence cox-tv W, 5-4 (OT)
DEC. 16 MAINE ESPNU W, 2-0
Dec. 28 @North dakota FSSN L, 1-3
dec. 29 @north dakota fssn W, 7-4
JAN. 6 ST. LAWRENCE NHPTV L, 5-6
JAN. 11 @ MASSACHUSETTS NESN W, 3-2
JAN. 12 MASSACHUSETTS NHPTV W, 5-3
JAN. 19 DARTMOUTH L, 3-5
@ VERIZON WIR. ARENA WMUR-TV
JAN. 26 @ BOSTON UNIVERSITY NESN W, 5-3
FEB. 1 @ VERMONT CSTV 8 P.M.
Feb. 8 @ Maine WABI 7 P.M.
Feb. 9 @ Maine WABI 7 P.M.
FEB. 16 PROVIDENCE NHPTV 7 P.M.
FEB. 22 @ BOSTON COLLEGE) NESN 7:30 P.M.
FEB. 23 BOSTON COLLEGE NHPTV 7 P.M.
March 7 vermont CSTV 8 P.M.
MARCH 8 VERMONT NHPTV 7 P.M.
‘CATS IN THE PROS: Here is a listing of former Wildcats playing professional hockey:
Justin Aikins: Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (CHL)
Mike Ayers: Charlotte Checkers (ECHL)
Derek Bekar: Jesenice (Aust)
Eric Boguniecki: Ingolstadt ERC (DEL)
Preston Callander: Florida Everblades (ECHL)
Josh Ciocco: Fresno Falcons (ECHL)
Sean Collins: Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)
Ty Conklin: Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Matt Dzieduszycki: Hannover Scorpions (DEL)
Lanny Gare: Lausitzer Foxes (2.GBun)
Darren Haydar: Atlanta Thrashers (NHL)/Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Brett Hemingway:Reading Royals (ECHL)
Colin Hemingway: Edinburgh Capitals (EIHL)
Jason Krog: Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Jacob Micflikier: Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Mark Mowers: Anaheim Ducks (NHL) SC Bern (Swiss NL)
Chris Murray: Phoenix Roadrunners (ECHL)
Bryan Muir: Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Eric Nickulas: Hannover Scorpions (DEL)
Jeff Pietrasiak: Texas Wildcatters (ECHL)
Josh Prudden: Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Steve Saviano: Tappara Tampere (FNL)
Trevor Smith: Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL)
Mike Souza: Cortina SG (Italy)
Garrett Stafford: Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Kevin Truelson: Bakersfield Condors (ECHL)
Daniel Winnik: Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Shawn Vinz: Charlotte Checkers (ECHL)
Brian Yandle: Augusta Lynx (ECHL)
UNH HOCKEY ON THE RADIO: UNH men’s hockey action this season can be heard live on the UNH Sports Network...In the summer of 1999, the University of New Hampshire Athletic Department formed the “UNH Sports Network” — the largest network ever to broadcast UNH sporting events. In 2001-2002, WTSN AM 1270 was introduced as the flagship station with the signal carried on several stations through New Hampshire. The network also consists of WTPL 107.7FM in Concord; WNTK 99.7 FM in New London; and WUVR-1490AM in Lebanon, NH. WNTK offers streaming audio of network broadcasts at www.wntk.com.
Games also can be heard on “Yahoo! Broadcast” by going to UNHWILDCATS.com, the official website for UNH athletics. Dan Parkhurst will be handling the majority of the play-by-play, while Pete Webster will once again be doingthe color commentating. Webster has been announcing Wildcat hockey for 14 years since the 1993-1994 season.
THE DICK UMILE SHOW ON WTSN RADIO: The Coach’s Show featuring UNH men’s hockey head coach Dick Umile with host Andy Schachat and D Ellis is broadcast on Mondays live from 6:30 to 7:30 on WTSN-1270 AM (Dover, N.H.) from Mike Libby’s Bar and Grill on Main Street in Durham...The show will start the Monday following the end of the UNH football season...The Coaches Show features coach Umile as well as a selected student-athlete each week from the men’s ice hockey team.
GRANITE STATE CONNECTION: The Wildcat hockey team features three players from New Hampshire with Brian Foster (Pembroke), Paul Thompson (Derry) and Alan Thompson (Gilford) all hailing from the Granite State.
LISTEN LIVE ON THE INTERNET: Yahoo Broadcast will carry all of the UNH men’s ice hockey action again this season...If you can not attend Wildcat hockey at the Whittemore Center, you can still tune into the game from anywhere you can gain access to the internet...Fans can get to the UNH men’s ice hockey Yahoo Broadcast site by going to the men’s hockey schedule page at www.unhwildcats.com.
WATCH ALL THE ACTION WITH THE ***ALL NEW*** UNHWILDCATS.TV: The UNH athletic department has announced a partnership with Pack Network to provide online video streaming of UNH’s seven ticketed sports for the upcoming 2007-08 season with UNHwildcats.TV.
Wildcat fans are encouraged to buy the “Wildcat All-Access Pass” which is an annual subscription for $79.95 that provides not only all the live coverage of UNH home athletic events, but also premium content not available to view without the All-Access Pass. The premium content includes a behind the scenes look at UNH athletics through player and coaches interviews, highlights, podcasts, select post-game interviews and an in-depth archive section of all video available on UNHwildcats.TV. Fans can also purchase home events on a per game basis of $6.95.
