UNH Tradition Continues

January 19, 1925 — UNH plays first intercollegiate hockey game as part of a three day Bates/Colby “Winter Frolic” in Lewiston, ME. They defeat Bates 2-1 and follow it up the next day with a 5-0 shutout of Colby.

February 6, 1926 — UNH plays its first home game, behind New Hampshire Hall, defeating Colby 4-2.

February 13, 1928  — Ray Patten scores a record setting six goals in the midst of a 19-2 rout of St. Anselm’s College. The 19 goals is a scoring record that still stands, while the 17 goal margin of victory held up for almost 30 years. Patten’s performance has been matched twice since.

February 2, 1929 — Ed Hunt blanks UMass-Amherst 1-0. It is Hunt’s third shutout in five days, a stretch that sees the Wildcats score only two goals, as they sandwiched 1-0 victories over Bates and UMass around a 0-0 tie against Amherst College. Although matched four times since, Hunt’s record has never been broken.

January 25, 1941 — Donald Perkins scores 10 seconds into the game and UNH goes on to shut out Springfield College, 10-0. It is the fastest goal to start a game in UNH history, a feat later duplicated by Bob Brandt (vs. Dartmouth 12/4/68) and Glenn Hunter (@ Clarkson 1/25/75).

January 12, 1943 — UNH is defeated by Harvard 13-2. With war raging on several fronts around the world and all able-bodied men volunteering for duty, it is the last hockey game to be played by the Wildcats for four years.

January 12, 1947 — Hockey returns to UNH as they defeat host Bowdoin College, 5-3. The Wildcats finish the season 5-1 under the direction of Anthony Dougal.

February 12, 1955 — The Harry C. Batchelder Rink is dedicated and remains the skating surface for UNH Hockey for over 40 years, until the Whittemore Center opens in November 1995.

March 3, 1958 — Goalie John “Bozo” Kennedy is awarded the first Roger A. LeClerc Trophy as a team MVP.

February 23, 1960 — Co-captain Ray March tallies five points against Norwich to become the first 100-point scorer in UNH history. No other Wildcat reaches the century mark until Dude Thorn does it in 1966.

February 11, 1961 — Co-captain Ken McKinnon scores six against the University of Connecticut in a 10-4 win, tying the record also held by Ray Patten and Karl Adams.

February 7, 1962 — UNH routs Amherst College 13-0 as Doug Dunning records his fourth shutout of the season, tying the record held by Ed Hunt and William Wilson. Dunning had previously shut out Connecticut by the same 13-0 score on January 9th.

March 23, 1961 — Senior goalie Rod Blackburn is UNH’s first All-American as named by the American Association of Hockey Coaches. The Wildcat captain averaged over 42 saves per game and twice made over 60 saves in a game during the season. Despite being peppered with nearly 50 shots a game, he finished the year with a 2.98 goals against average and 90% + save percentage.

April 15, 1964 — “Whoop” Snively dies suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 65 that same day the University announces that an indoor hockey rink, with a total seating capacity of 3,600, will be built at a cost of $400,000-$500,000. Athletic Director James Long states that, with the building of the new arena, “UNH will attract better players and that there will be more interest shown both in hockey and general ice skating by the student body.” Long conjectures that “hockey will quite possibly become the most popular indoor sport at UNH.” A few days later it is announced that the facility will be named for the recently deceased coach, and with it, “Lively Snively” is born.

February 13, 1965 — After playing its first 11 games of the season on the road, UNH opens Snively Arena with a 4-3 overtime loss to Norwich University. Defenseman Brad Houston scores the first Snively goal for the Wildcats. The arena is formally dedicated on Feb. 20th, with a 5-1 victory over UMass-Amherst.

March 3, 1965 — Colin Clark sets a UNH record for most saves in a game, 65, with 25 in the first period alone, as the Wildcats are shut out by Boston University, 8-0.

February 16, 1966 — Dude Thorn scores three against Northeastern in a 5-1 victory. It is the seventh hat trick of the season for Thorn and the ninth of his career. He becomes the Wildcats’ second 100-point scorer.

November 29, 1967 — UNH defeats Colgate, 4-2, for their first win as a member of Division 1 of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC).

March 1968 — In his final season as Head Coach, Rube Bjorkman is named New England College Hockey Coach of the year. In his four years at UNH, he guided the transition from ECAC Division II to Division I.

December 28 & 29, 1968 — The Wildcats shock Michigan Tech (7-0) and Michigan State (4-3) to take the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit. Goalie Larry Smith is named the MVP of the tournament as he turns aside 39 shots by the Spartans in the final.

September, 1968 — A 19-year-old Umile arrives at UNH after a stellar four-year high school career at Melrose High School and a year at New Prep in Cambridge, Mass.

November 27, 1969 — With freshmen prohibited from playing varsity hockey, Umile plays his first varsity game against Minnesota-Duluth and scores his first career goal :07 into the second period. Although the Wildcats lose 7-5, Umile finishes his debut with two goals and an assist.

March 4, 1970 — Sophomore forward Dick Umile accepts the Roger A. LeClerc Trophy as the team’s Most Valuable Player from UNH Trustee Buck Buchanan.

February 27, 1971 — Louis Frigon has a hat trick and seven assists as UNH routs Colgate, 15-7. The seven assists and 10 points in the game still stand as UNH records. While at UNH he set single season records for goals, assists and points.

January 15, 1972 — With an overtime goal by Guy Smith, UNH upsets #1 in the nation Harvard, which had Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna in goal, 3-2.

1971-72 — Umile captains UNH to a 20-10 record and a berth in the ECAC Tournament. Umile finishes his career with 60 goals and 84 assists for 144 points.

September 1972 — The Friends of UNH Hockey is founded. From its humble beginnings, it has become the largest college hockey booster club in the East.

March 1974 — Gordie Clark and Cap Raeder are named First-Team All-American by the American College Hockey Association. It is the first time that two Wildcats are named All-Americans in the same season.

February 18, 1975 — Jamie Hislop scores twice in a 7-0 win over UMass-Amherst. It is the 31st straight game, dating back over a year to 2/15/74, in which Hislop has tallied at least one point. The record still stands.

March 2, 1976 — Jamie Hislop sets a UNH record with a goal and five assists in the first period of a 9-7 win over RPI.

January 20, 1977 — The Wildcats score a record three goals in 38 seconds during a 14-5 rout of St. Lawrence. The 1976-1977 edition of the Wildcats goes on to be the highest scoring team in the school’s history with the most goals (245) and assists (421).

March 8 & 11, 1977 — Dave Lumley’s goal at 5:31 of overtime gives UNH a 4-3 ECAC quarterfinal victory over Brown and their first trip to Boston for the semifinals in five years. Three days later Bob Gould scores at 19 seconds of the second overtime to give the ‘Cats a shocking 10-9, come-from-behind win over Cornell. The win earns the Wildcats their first trip to the ECAC finals, where they bow to Boston University 8-6 in another shootout.

March 1977 — For the third time in four years, UNH has two players named to the All-American team. Bob Miller, who was ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1975 and a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1976, finished second in league scoring. His 59 assists and 89 points still stand as UNH individual records.

January 30, 1978 — Junior Bob Gould scores a goal in his 12th consecutive game, a UNH record that still stands, in a 10-0 win over Bowdoin.

February 15, 17, & 18, 1978 — Captain Jon Fontas scores all 12 goals in three games, all on the road. After notching a hat trick against Providence, two nights later he scores four at Clarkson and then tops it off the next afternoon by getting five against Colgate. His four in one period against the Red Raiders still remains the UNH record.

February 2, 1979 — Ralph Cox pours in four goals in a 6-4 victory at Clarkson. Cox, from Braintree, MA, goes on to become UNH’s all-time leading scorer with 243 points. He was the first player in UNH history to score more than 100 goals in his career (127), the only 40-goal scorer in UNH history, having done it twice (1977-78 and 1978-79), and is the only Wildcat to amass at least 70 points in three consecutive years. Cox is named All-American for the second straight year.

March 6, 1979 — Freshman Dan MacPherson scores a UNH playoff record four goals as the Wildcats rout Yale, 9-2, in the ECAC quarterfinals.

March 10, 1979 — After defeating Cornell 5-2 in the semifinals, UNH edges in-state rival Dartmouth 3-2 to win the ECAC Championship. Captain Bob Gould scores at 17:17 of the third period to give the Wildcats what turns out to be their first and only league title. Goalie Greg Moffett is named tournament MVP.

November 9, 1979 — Facemasks come to college hockey, but the requirement is only for Eastern teams. UNH visits Ohio State, which is maskless, and fights break out. The Wildcats wind up forfeiting two games to the Buckeyes.  It’s an inauspicious start to the first losing season in Charlie Holt’s career.

July 11, 1983 — The athletic directors of UNH, Providence College, Boston College, Boston University and Northeastern announce the formation of a new “super college hockey league” to be called Hockey East.  Created in order to provide “a better brand of college hockey for our fans,” the league soon includes UMass-Lowell and Maine. An interlocking schedule with the Western Collegiate Association.(WCHA) is planned, with play to begin in the 1984-85 season. With the later addition of Merrimack (1989), Massachusetts (1993) and Vermont (2004) the league now has 10 members.

December 7, 1984 — UNH defeats Michigan Tech 8-2 for its first victory as a member of Hockey East.

January 12, 1985 — The Wildcats edge Northern Michigan 6-5 for Charlie Holt’s 400th career win.

March 1, 1986 — Charlie Holt, who had announced his retirement after 18 years as head coach of the Wildcats, wins his last game at Snively Arena, 7-4, over UMass-Lowell. On “Hats Off to Charlie Night,” Mike Rossetti notches a hat trick. Prompting the capacity crowd to throw their replicas of Charlie’s fedora onto the ice. Described as an innovator, visionary and “way ahead of his time” by a countless number of his former players and fellow coaches, Holt retires as a three-time winner of the Spencer T. Penrose Award as the nation’s outstanding college hockey coach. He has been an inspiration to dozens of his former players who have gone into the coaching ranks, including former NHL coach Bob Francis (Phoenix Coyotes) and college coaches Bruce Crowder (Northeastern), Joe Marsh (St. Lawrence), Mike McShane (Norwich), Bill Beaney (Middlebury) and UNH’s own Dick Umile. The legendary one finished his coaching career with 412 wins and in 1997 was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

April 1986 — Bob Kullen is elevated to the head hockey coach position. Within a year he develops a serious heart condition, which eventually requires a transplant. He misses the entire 1987-88 season and, although he is able to return to coaching the following two seasons, he never fully regains his health. Dick Umile began his UNH coaching career as an assistant to Kullen and describes him as “one of the great young coaches in the league. He coached in the style of Charlie Holt. Bob Kullen loved the game of hockey, he was a great teacher and a class guy.”

1988-89 — Umile returns to his alma matter and serves as an assistant coach under Head Coach Bob Kullen.

March 4, 1990 — Down by two with 11 minutes to go, UNH scores five straight goals to defeat Providence College, 7-4, in the third game of a best of three quarterfinal series. Sophomore Domenic Amodeo’s goal is the game winner. The victory secures the Wildcats’ first trip to the Hockey East semifinals and is the last win of Bob Kullen’s career.

October 9, 1990 — With Kullen weak from complications due to a heart transplant, Umile is named interim head coach and takes over the day-to-day operations of the program.

October 26, 1990 — Umile earns his first UNH win with a 5-4 victory at Vermont.

November, 1990 – After serving on an interim basis in place of Bob Kullen, Dick Umile is named Head Coach of the Wildcats.

November 3, 1990 — While the Wildcats are out in Colorado for a two-game series with Air Force, Kullen passes away in Durham at the age of 41.

November 28, 1990 — Umile earns his first Hockey East victory with a 7-3 win over Lowell at Snively Arena.

December 9, 1990 — The day after UNH posts a 5-4 victory over Boston College, and with UNH holding a 12-3 record, Umile is officially named the new head coach. The Wildcats finish the year 22-11-2 and 10-9-2 in Hockey East.

March 8, 1991 — Umile earns his first of five Hockey East Coach of the Year awards. Freshman goaltender Jeff Levy  is named Hockey East Rookie of the Year. The awards are the first Hockey East postseason honors for the Wildcats.

October, November 1991 — Umile guides the Wildcats to an 8-0 start for the 1991-92 season which begins UNH’s bid for a berth in the Hockey East Championships.

November 23, 1991 — Down 4-3, UNH scores four goals during a five-minute power play and skates off with a 7-4 victory over Boston University at Snively Arena.

March 12, 1992 — Captain Savo Mitrovic scores the game’s wining goal with 3:38 left in the third period and UNH goes on to defeat Providence College 5-3 to reach the Hockey East finals for the first time. The win guarantees the Wildcats a bid to NCAA tournament for the first time in nine years.

March 26, 1992 — The Wildcats earn their first NCAA bid under Umile’s tenure and the first berth in the national tournament since the 1982-83 season. Against Wisconsin, UNH and Scott Morrow strike first but the 1-0 lead could not hold up as the Badgers take a 4-2 win. Despite the loss, the 1991-92 season begins a stretch of nine national tournament berths in 12 years.

November 20, 1992 — Umile registers his 50th career victory with a 9-6 win at Boston College.

March 19, 1993 — UNH reaches its second straight Hockey East Championship at the Boston Garden after defeating Merrimack in the quarterfinals. Boston University keeps the Wildcats from reaching their second straight title game with a 2-0 win.

April 1993 — President Dale Nietzche announces plans to build a 6,000 seat multi-purpose arena and convert Snively Arena into a recreational facility for students. The entire complex is eventually named for UNH Trustee and benefactor Fred Whittemore and the rink after Robert Towse (’63), benefactor and former Wildcat hockey player.

March 12, 1994 — In the final game ever to be played at Snively Arena, Umile guides the Wildcats to a 6-5, double overtime victory over Boston College in the Hockey East quarterfinals. Eric Boguniecki breaks the deadlock at 10:28. It marks the second longest game in UNH history.

March 25, 1994 — Trent Cavicchi and the Wildcats overcome RPI and a partisan crowd to defeat the Engineers 2-0 in the NCAA Regional at Albany, NY. It is the only shutout by UNH in an NCAA tournament game and Umile’s first  NCAA Tournament victory.

January 13, 1995 — Umile earns his 100th career victory with a 6-5 overtime win at JFK Coliseum in Manchester — UNH’s home away from home as the Whittemore Center is constructed.

March 24, 1995 — Despite playing on the road the entire season as UNH’s Whittemore Center is constructed, Umile manages to guide his squad to yet another 20-win season and a third NCAA Tournament in his fourth year as head coach.

November 10, 1995 — In front of a standing-room-only crowd of 6,110, Umile and the Wildcats celebrate the grand opening of the Whittemore Center with a 6-5 overtime win against defending national champion Boston University.

December 27 & 28, 1996 — In the opening round of the Badger Showdown Classic in Milwaukee, UNH comes from behind to defeat host Wisconsin, 9-7, for their first win against the Badgers in 13 meetings. The next night the Wildcats take the tournament by edging Colorado College 4-3 for their 14th consecutive victory, a school record.

March 8, 1997 — Umile suffers a heart attack in the early morning hours. He undergoes surgery and misses UNH’s next three games. Assistant Coach Chris Serino takes over the head coaching duties in Umile’s absence.

March, 1997 — UNH shares the Hockey East regular season title with Boston University. It is the first time in school history that the Wildcats are crowned league champions.

March 13, 1997 — Umile earns his second Hockey East Coach of the Year Award.

March 14-15, 1997 — With Umile still sidelined following surgery, a sparked Wildcat squad shuts out Boston College 4-0 in the Hockey East semifinals. UNH reaches the championship game for the second time under Umile, but falls short with a 4-2 loss to BU.

March 21, 1997 — UNH earns the No. 4 seed in the NCAA East Regional but is upset by Colorado College 3-2 in the opening round.

October 18, 1997 — Umile earns career victory No. 150 with a 5-1 win against Vermont at the Whittemore Center.

February 14, 1998 — Umile earns his 100th Hockey East victory with a 5-0 shutout of Providence at Schneider Arena. In the same game, goaltender Sean Matile sets a new school and Hockey East record for career shutouts.

March 19, 1998 — UNH’s Mark Mowers and Jason Krog are named Hobey Baker finalists. It is the first time in school history that a Wildcat is named to the prestigious list of college hockey’s elite.

March 28, 1998 — UNH is awarded a No. 5 seed in the NCAA East Regional in Albany  N.Y. In the opening game of the tournament, UNH plays Wisconsin and falls behind 3-1. UNH rattles off six straight goals to defeat the Badgers 7-4.

March 29, 1998 — A heavy underdog, UNH takes on No. 1 seed Boston University in the NCAA East Regional final. The Wildcats come back to tie it up 2-2 late in the second period and head into overtime, but things look bleak as BU goes on a power-play midway through the overtime period. Mark Mowers, however, provides UNH with “The Goal” when he took a perfect pass from Mike Souza at 10:49 to give UNH a 4-3 victory. The win propels the Wildcats to their first Frozen  Four appearance since 1982.

April 2, 1998 — Playing at the FleetCenter in Boston, UNH takes to the ice for the national championship semifinals against powerhouse Michigan. Despite losing to the eventual national champions, UNH gains valuable experience for the 1998-99 season.

April 3, 1998 — Mark Mowers is named a first-team All-America selection and becomes the first Umile-coached player to earn the honor. Mowers, regarded as one of the best players ever to wear the Blue and White, finishes his career with 85 goals and 112 assists for 197 points.

April 14, 1998 — Junior Jason Krog is named captain of the Wildcats along with assistant captains Derek Bekar and Steve O’Brien. After the departure of Bekar to a pro contract in the summer, O’Brien is promoted to co-captain — and the foundation for the 1998-99 season is built.

November 13, 1998 — Umile decides to combine the skills of Jason Krog, Mike Souza and little-known freshman Darren Haydar on UNH’s top line. The result becomes the best line in college hockey as the trio combines for 88 goals and 123 assists for 211 points on the year.

March 5, 1999 — It was billed as THE showdown. Maine at UNH with the Hockey East regular season championship on the line. UNH needed to win both contests to win its first outright league title.  Another standing-room-only crowd arrived at the Whittemore Center more than three hours before game time and they were not disappointed. In the opening night UNH jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the Black Bears and never looked back, winning 6-1. The stage was set for a championship final.

March 6, 1999 — In the winner-take-all regular season finale, UNH and Maine were deadlocked at 1-1 after the first period. But in the second period it’s all UNH — and all Jason Krog — as the nation’s leading point scorer tallies back-to-back goals to lead UNH to a 4-1 victory and its first ever outright Hockey East regular season championship.

March 12-13, 1999 — UNH dismantles Merrimack in two straight games in the Hockey East quarterfinals at the Whittemore Center, which sets up another date for the Wildcats at the Hockey East Championship. The two wins at the Whittemore Center keep UNH’s home undefeated record for the season intact at 18-0-1.

March 18, 1999 — Although the event is titled “The Hockey East Awards Banquet” it could have easily been named “The UNH Awards Banquet” as several Wildcats are honored in the postseason event. Umile earns his third Hockey East Coach of the Year award, Jason Krog is the unanimous Player of the Year, Darren Haydar is unanimous Rookie of the Year, Ty Conklin is named Goaltender of the Year and Steve O’Brien is named Defensive Defenseman of the Year. Also it is announced that Krog is once again a Hobey Baker finalist.

March 19, 1999 — UNH earns its third trip to the Hockey East Championship game under Umile’s tenure with a commanding 6-2 victory over Providence in the semifinals.

March 20, 1999 — The Wildcats take on Boston College in one of the most memorable Hockey East Championships in league history. UNH trails 4-1, but rallies back on the two fastest goals in tournament history as David Busch and Jason Shipulski score :10 apart to bring UNH within one. Johnny Rogers ties the game and sends it into overtime but the Eagles notch the game-winner at 6:58 of OT.

March 21, 1999 — ESPN provides live coverage of the NCAA selection show from the Whittemore Center where UNH is awarded the No. 1 seed in the tournament for the first time in the expanded 12-team field.

March 27, 1999 — With a No. 1 seed in the NCAA East Regional and the coveted bye under their belt, the Wildcats take on Michigan in the East Regional Final. UNH jumps out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a goal by Mike Souza, but the Wolverines send it into overtime with a goal midway through the third. Just three minutes into the overtime period, Jason Krog sends a perfect pass from behind the Michigan net to Darren Haydar who scores the game winner to send UNH to the Frozen Four in Anaheim, Calif — it’s the Wildcats second Frozen Four appearance in three years.

April 1, 1999 — It might have been April Fool’s Day, but UNH was far from joking around when the Wildcats took on Michigan State in the national semifinals. The Spartans featured the toughest defense in the country and had allowed more than four goals just twice the entire season. UNH made that three times as the Wildcats, again led by the top line of Jason Krog, Mike Souza and Darren Haydar, took a 5-3 victory to head to its first national championship game in school history.

April 2, 1999 — In the Anaheim Marriott at noon, Jason Krog is awarded the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation’s most outstanding player in front of a packed auditorium. It is the first time in school history that a UNH player wins the prestigious award. Krog finishes his career as the all-time leader in assists at UNH (144) and second on the all-time point-scoring list (238). Krog becomes the second Umile-coached player named First Team All America.

April 3, 1999 — UNH plays in its first-ever national championship game against Maine at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim. And once again, the final is considered to be one of the best in history. The Black Bears skate to a 2-0 lead, but Darren Haydar gives the Wildcats some life with a shorthanded goal at 15:58 of the second period. Mike Souza ties things up early in the third period and UNH dominates the rest of the game, but cannot get the game-winner. The two teams skate into overtime and although UNH had its chances to win the game, it’s Maine that is crowned national champions with the game-winner at 10:50. UNH outshoots Maine 48-39 in the game.

April 9, 1999 — Umile earns the Spencer T. Penrose Award as the nation’s top Division I coach after guiding UNH to the school’s first-ever national championship game and a school-best 31-7-3 record.

October 16, 1999 — UNH raises the national championship finalist banner at the Whittemore Center and junior goaltender Ty Conklin plays his first of a record-breaking 37 games on the season in a 7-4 win against Vermont.

December 13, 1999 — The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in the nation in both the U.S. College Hockey Online and USA Today polls. It is the first time in school history the Wildcats are ranked first in either poll and it is a spot UNH will hold longer than any team in the nation.

February 6, 2000 — Umile earns career victory 200 with a 1-0 defeat of Maine at the Whittemore Center Arena.

March 9-10, 2000 — UNH plays in its 10th straight Hockey East Tournament and defeats Merrimack in two straight games at the Whittemore Center. On March 10, Mike Souza became the all-time leader in games played  and consecutive games played when he plays in his 154th game as a Wildcat.

March 16, 2000 — Ty Conklin is named Hockey East Player of the Year at the Hockey East Awards Banquet and becomes UNH’s second player in a row to earn the honor. It is also announced that Conklin is a Hobey Baker finalist and becomes just the 21st goaltender in the history of the award to be named a finalist.

March 17, 2000 — UNH plays in its second straight Hockey East Championship and sixth appearance under Umile. The Wildcats hold a 1-0 lead against Boston College ,but the Eagles come back to win 2-1 and head to the finals.

March 28, 2000 — UNH makes a commitment to Umile and inks the coach to a deal that would allow him to finish his coaching career at his alma mater.

March 16, 2001 — Ty Conklin is named a 2001 Hobey Baker Finalist. He becomes only the third goalie ever to be named a two-time finalist. In April, Conklin earns First Team All-America honors and is the 12th player in the history of UNH hockey to earn first team honors.

Oct. 13, 2001 — Coach Umile earns his 250th career win in a 7-1 victory over Vermont.

Jan. 28, 2002 — UNH ranked first in USA Today/ American Hockey Magazine polls for the first time since the 2000 season.

March 2, 2002 — UNH captures its third Hockey East regular season title  in school history and earns the number one seed heading into the Hockey East Tournament with a 5-2 victory over Boston College.

March 4-18, 2002 — UNH is ranked first in both US College Hockey Online and USA Today/American Hockey Magazine polls for three weeks straight.

March 14, 2002 — UNH sweeps the three major awards at Hockey East Awards banquet. Darren Haydar was named Player of the Year, Coach Umile earned his fourth Coach of the Year Award and Sean Collins took home Rookie of the Year honors. Captain Darren Haydar is named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

March 16, 2002 — UNH wins its first ever Hockey East tournament title with a 3-1 victory over Maine. Darren Haydar is named MVP of the 2002 Hockey East Tournament.

March 24, 2002 — Jim Abbott scores the game winning goal to put UNH up 4-3 over Cornell in the NCAA East Regional game to send UNH to the Frozen Four. Haydar plays in 157th consecutive game to surpass former Wildcat Mike Souza’s ironman record of 156.

March 1, 2003 — Coach Umile earns his 300th career coaching victory vs. Boston College at the Whittemore Center. The Wildcats defeat the Eagles 4-1 for a share of the Hockey East regular-season title.

March 13, 2003 — Junior goaltender Mike Ayers is named co-Hockey East Player of the Year on the eve of the Hockey East Championships.

March 15, 2003 — UNH wins the Hockey East Championship in the first shutout in championship game history, 1-0, on a goal by sophomore defenseman Tyson Teplitsky with 8:17 remaining in the extra session.

March 29, 2003 — Mike Ayers shuts out No. 7 Boston University, 3-0, for the third straight game and is named MVP of the Northeast Regional at the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Mass. The Wildcats head to Buffalo, N.Y. for their second straight Frozen Four appearance.

April 10, 2003 — UNH defeats No. 1 ranked Cornell, 3-2 in a battle of the nation’s top two goaltenders. The Wildcats face the Golden Gophers of Minnesota in the national title game.

March 13, 2004 — UNH wins 20 games for the eighth straight season vs. Providence. Senior goaltender Mike Ayers breaks the all-time school record with 58 career victories.

March 27 & 28, 2004 — UNH  hosts its first ever NCAA Regional at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.

February 16, 2005 — Coach Dick Umile becomes the winningest coach in school history with a 6-1 win against Merrimack at Thom Lawler Arena in North Andover, Mass. with career victory No. 348.

January 11, 2006 — UNH registers its 1,000th victory in the program’s history with a 4-1 win at Yale at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Conn.

November, 2006 — The Wildcats own the nation’s longest unbeaten streak going 8-0-1 in the month and earning the top spot in the USA Today and USCHO National Polls.

January 9, 2007 — Associate Head Coach David Lassonde was named the 11th recipient of the Terry Flanagan Award, awarded annualy to an assistant coach that has a superior body of work in his coaching career.

March 17, 2007 — Coach Dick Umile is named the 2007 Hockey East Coach of the Year. Umile is only the second coach in league history to earn the award five times (1991, 1997, 1999 and 2002).

March 24-25, 2007 — UNH  hosts  the NCAA Regional for the second time at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. The Wildcats earned the top seed in that region.

October 19, 2007 — Coach Dick Umile captures his 400th career win with a 4-1 win over BU in the season opener at Agganis Arena.

February 12, 2008 — Mike Radja named Inside College Hockey’s National Player of the Week. He had six points (4g, 2a) in a weekend sweep at Maine.

February, 2008 — The ‘Cats go 7-0-1 in the month of February for the first time in over 80 years and lock up their second-straight Hockey East regular season title with a 5-1 win over BC.

March 20, 2008 — Kevin Regan became the sixth player in school history to be named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Regan, UNH’s first Hobey Baker finalist since Steve Saviano in 2004, enjoyed not only his best season as a Wildcat, but arguably one of the greatest season by any Wildcat goaltender in school history. Later that day, Regan was unanimously selected as the Hockey East Player of the Year.

April 1, 2008 — Head Coach Dick Umile was selected as the New England’s Division I Coach of the Year, while Kevin Regan added to his list of lengthy accomplishments as he was named NE’s Most Valuable Player by the New England Hockey Writers and collected the Walter Brown Award.

April 12, 2008 — For the first time in program history, four players were selected as All-Americans Kevin Regan and Mike Radja were selected as first teamers, while Matt Fornataro and Brad Flaishans were second-team honorees.

December 11, 2008 — Mike Sislo propelled the Wildcats to a 9-4 win over Holy Cross, powered by a four-goal, six-point performance, which was a Whittemore Center record for points. The offensive outburst just scratched the surface of his impressive month as he also tallied a goal to help lead the Wildcats to a 2-0-road win against UMass Lowell on Dec. 5. All efforts combined, March 28, 2009 — Greg Collins and Thomas Fortney scored a goal apiece in the last 11 minutes of play, including the final goal with just under one second to play, to send the action into overtime against No. 2 seeded North Dakota. The Wildcats would take advantage of momentum in overtime as Peter LeBlanc netted the game-winner with just 45 seconds into the period to secure the win and advance to Northeast Regional Championship game against No. 1 seeded Boston University.

March 5, 2010 — Sophomore defensmen Blake Kessel scored the game tying goal with 3:55 left in play in regulation to cap a three goal comeback as the ‘Cats tied Boston College (3-3) to clinch their 8th regular season Hockey East title in school history.

March 18, 2010 — Senior forward Bobby Butler was named the 2010 Hockey East Player of the Year, while Head Coach Dick Umile was selected as co-Coach of the Year for a record sixth time, surpassing Boston University’s Jack Parker.

March 26, 2010 — Hobey Baker Finalist Bobby Butler and teammate Paul Thompson each scored two goals and tallied an assist to lead the ‘Cats past sixth-ranked Cornell University in the first round of the 2010 NCAA East Regional. Senior goaltender Brian Foster totaled 24 saves as UNH advanced to the Regional Championship game against RIT.

March 31, 2010 — Senior Co-Captain Bobby Butler became only the second player in school history to be named a Hobey Baker “Hat Trick Finalist,” capping off a season where he was tied for second in the nation with 53 points and took home the Walter Brown Award for the best American-born college hockey player in New England.

April 9, 2010 — Senior forward Bobby Butler was named a first-team All-American, while senior netminder Brian Foster and sophomore defensemen Blake Kessel are selected as second team All-American honorees.

April 9, 2010 — Senior forward Bobby Butler was at the 2010 Hobey Baker Award announcement at “Friday Night at the Frozen Four” in Detroit’s Ford Field. Wisconsin’s Blake Geoffrion captured the award.

May 11, 2010 — Coach Umile and members of the athletic staff are on hand at the Hobey Baker Awards banquet as legendary coach the late Charlie Holt was honored as the 2010 Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey recipient. Umile addressed the crowd at 317 On Rice Park in St. Paul, Minn.

December 2, 2010 — Led by Freshman Jeff Silengo’s two goals, the Wildcats captured a 4-3 OT win vs. heated rival, Maine. The win capped off a fantastic first half as the ‘Cats posted a 10-2-4 record and held the #2 ranking in the national polls.

Dec. 22, 2010 — Former standout Ralph Cox is named to ECAC’s 50th Anniversary team. Later in the year, Gordie Clark would be honored as part of the 50th anniversary team as well.

March 16, 2011 — Paul Thompson named Hockey East’s Player of the Year and was also named one of 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker award. He became UNH’s first home-grown finalist and the third in the last four years for UNH.

March 20, 2011 — UNH is named to the NCAA field for the 10th-straight year and are paired with Miami, Notre Dame and Merrimack at the Northeast Regional. UNH hosts this event for the fourth time at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.

March 26, 2011 — Freshman Kevin Goumas tallied 2 goals as the 11th ranked Wildcats upset the 6th ranked Miami Red Hawks 3-1 to advance to the NCAA Regional Championship game against Notre Dame.

April 8, 2011 — Senior Paul Thompson and Junior Blake Kessel selected as All-Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association. With his selection, Kessel becomes the 7th member in UNH history to earn All-American honors twice in a career.

August 25, 2011 — The Wildcats and Fenway Park announce the second annual Frozen Fenway on January 7th, 2012. This spectacle, which includes a Hockey East doubleheader, begins when the University of Vermont takes on the University of Massachusetts at 4pm, while The Wildcats take on bitter rivals Maine in the 7pm nightcap.

August 30, 2011 — Former Colby College Head Coach, Jim Tortorella joins the Wildcats as an assistant coach. Tortorella posted an impressive  230-138-33 record over the course of his 16 year tenure with the Mules.

January 7, 2012 — The Wildcats made UNH history when they traveled to Fenway Park to play in front of 38,456 hockey fans as a part of Frozen Fenway. Unfortunately, the Wildcats would fall to the Maine Black Bears 5-4 in overtime.

January 14, 2012 — Stevie Moses leads the Wildcats to a 4-1 victory  over Dartmouth College for the Riverstone Cup at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester by scoring all four Wildcat goals.

March 14, 2012 — Freshmen Casey DeSmith and Trevor van Riemsdyk were named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team to become the first Wildcats to earn that honor since van Riemsdyk’s brother, James, was named to the team in 2008.