Game Day: Winning in Wisconsin

**LATE BREAKING**

***10/31/2009 Update***

This game is being rebroadcast as of 7:00pm Eastern and is in progress (First Intermission) at the same link below.

You can watch this game (if you want, and that's a big IF) streamed online at 11:00pm Eastern time! Fifteen minutes from now!

Here's the link.



The Wildcats vs Wisconsin presents the most tantalizing match-up in college hockey this weekend. Can the high-powered undercats overcome their defensive nemesis in the Badgers.

Will the hometown kid wow with his return?

How many w's can I work into this writing?

The Official Site.

CHN's Tale of the Tape.

Check back tonight to see if I can pull off The UNH Men's Hockey Blog's first live-blog of the season!

Go 'Cats!

On The Net: Greg Burke

The College Hockey news is currently featuring a story with University of New Hampshire freshman and local, Greg Burke.

From the title-linked article:

"It's the little things, walking into the locker room and having jerseys to sign, seeing your jersey hanging up. I've waited a long time for this." - Greg Burke

Glad to have you, Greg!

Go 'Cats!

Wednesday's Wildcat Alumni Weekly

Feeling a bit under the weather here today but wanted to get this out to everyone in Wildcat Nation.

The Other UNH Men's Hockey Blogger Guy has come through with the names and locales of the guys playing over seas. Thanks Other Guy!

In brief:

Radja - TPS Turku FNL - GP 14, G 5, A 3
Kapstad - Riessersee SC 2.GBun - GP 11, G 1, A 4
Martz - Alleghe HC Italy - GP 6, A 5
Gare - Bad Nauheim GerObL - GP 2, G 3, A 2
Truelson - Cortina SG Italy, GP 7, G 1, A 4
Dzieduszycki - Hannover Scorpions DEL - GP 14, G 5, A 7
Mowers - Fribourg-Gotteron Swiss-A - No Stats Yet

Back on this side of the pond.

James van Riemsdyk nets his first NHL goal and maintains his point-per-game pace with 1 goal, 7 assists through 8 games. See his first goal in his NHL profile video.

Daniel Winnik recorded a multi-point effort this past week with two assists on terrific pressuring plays. He has a goal and three assists through ten games and a plus-two rating as does van Riemsdyk. Dan is back in action tonight as his Phoenix Coyotes pay a visit to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ty Conklin had an up and down week. First posting a shutout before coming in a backup for a period and then getting left out to dry against the Dallas Stars in an effort that saw him allow four goals. With Chris Mason, the other half of the St. Louis Blues' goaltending duo, coming up hot last time out - I wouldn't expect to see Ty tonight in Carolina.

Jason Krog is called up after a spectacular four point, +5 game as the Captain of his Chicago Wolves and an injury to the Atlanta Thrashers' superstar, Ilya Kovalchuk. The Thrashers will host the red hot Capitals and their superstar, Alexander Ovechkin who currently has 11 goals in 11 games as well as 8 assists and a +11 rating.

And one last AHL note.

Jacob Micflikier has already earned a recall to the AHL and scored in his first outing playing for the Albany River Rats.

That's all for this Wednesday's Wildcat Alumni Weekly! Be sure to comment if you have any UNH Men's Hockey Alumni stories that you want to share.

Go 'Cats!

Wildcat Hockey Monday

Well, well, well! I'm finally getting on the same page with the ongoing season - almost.

But it's all Wildcats all the time here and how about those Wildcats!?

More like Alleycats - rough, tough and reckless... and I like it!

This is Wildcat Hockey Monday!

The 2009-2010 Wildcats seem to be a team that hearkens back to Wildcat Teams of lore, piling on the offense, but with a brand new dynamic - mucking it up.

Dalton Speelman worked his way onto the first line this weekend with Bobby Butler and Peter LeBlanc and in the process got his first two collegiate goals with one simple philosophy - go to the net. Way to earn it, Dalton!

Mike Borisenok is well on his way to the upset in the Most Improved category or at least trying to prove that I was far too hasty in awarding it to Kevin McCarey. Setting a torrid pace to this point Mike has two multi-point games for a total a three goals and three assists in just five contests.

Blake Kessel. The dominating d-man will likely be looking forward to the trip home this weekend to Wisconsin where I'm betting he will pile up a couple more points on his team leading total of ten with just four games played. One starts to wonder, did we get Blake or his brother Phil!? One thing's for sure, Blake may just be looking to top his brother's 18 goal, 33 assist +22 season back in '05-06.

Brian Foster's numbers may have indicated some early struggles but between facing the number one ranked team in the country and a team in front of him that certainly puts the wild in Wildcats - things are only looking up for the solid netminder.

The Wildcats' play to date has been reckless, but it has paid off. They play with the abandon of a team with nothing to lose. They've been written off, put down and ignored - and they don't care. When they show up at the rink everything else goes away and there is only hockey. They want to win and they're willing to fight for it every night - with reckless abandonment.

Enjoy the new song from The Spill Canvas.(click the playlist to open in a new window and listen to the entire song)

Go 'Cats!

Game Day: Hockey East Weekend

Our University of New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team will drop the puck on their first league game versus Northeastern tonight on the New England Sports Network and follow it up tomorrow night with the annual White Out The Whit versus rival Maine. Both games are 7:00pm start times.

Full details from UNHWildcats.com

CHN: Tale of the Tape

And definitely watch:

The Concord Monitor's UNH hockey - Weekend preview - Oct. 23-24, 2009(YouTube)

Go 'Cats!

Wednesday's Wildcat Alumni Weekly

Ty Conklin improves to 2-0 on the season recording a 26 save shutout and his desperation save on Corey Perry earned him the nod for 5^th in the Top 10 Saves of the Week on NHL.com.

James van Riemsdyk stays on his pace of an assist per game - four in four - but has yet to put the puck in the net himself. In his latest outing after returning from a minor injury Big James created a turnover with a strong forecheck leading to the first goal of the game for his Philadelphia Flyers.

Daniel Winnik fed Scottie Upshall with a cross-ice, breakout pass through center-ice who ripped it over Tim Thomas' glove side shoulder giving the Phoenix Coyotes a 4-1 lead, their second goal in just 44 seconds at a crucial moment in the game from which the Bruins never recovered and giving Dan his second point of the year. The Coyotes' third goal came from a player with Wildcat ties - Bryan Yandle's younger brother, Keith - who nearly came to UNH himself - scored his first of the season on the powerplay.

Colin Hemingway has been signed by his old team, the AHL's Peoria Rivermen for whom he played for over the course of three years early in his professional career, but is still in Alaska with the ECHL's Aces on loan with four assists in three games.

Not to be outdone, Jacob Micflikier has four of his own but bests his fellow alum with one in the goal column.

And Josh Prudden has turned up on the roster of the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers in the place of Jerry Pollastrone.

Hopefully I will get to the guys overseas in next week's edition.

Go 'Cats!

Wednesday's Wildcat Alumni Weekly

Happy Wednesday Nation. I'm still trying to get back into the blog mode this season, so today, another installment in the Alumni review but expect spotty coverage this weekend with things hopefully normalizing next week.

The ECHL.

Colin and Brett Hemingway. The brother's from western Canada return to the team that they helped to within one win of the Clark Cup last season, the Alaska Aces. Colin finished the season 13th in league scoring, 67 points in 62 games. Brett fell behind due to injury, still finishing with 42 points in 58 games. There will likely be many more points and some call-ups for these two this season.

Jacob Micflikier. Practically made a mockery of the league last season in between bouts of injury and a longterm stint in the AHL. He will return to the Florida Everblades to start the season where he had 10 goals and 14 assists in just 10 games last season. Yes, you read that correctly. 2.4 points per game with a +8 rating and 21 penalty minutes which included a two goal, four assist performance on November 22^nd of last year. Oh, and he had a goal and two assists in the team's lone preseason game thus far.

Jaime Fritsch. Got a taste of the NHL last season by a stroke of luck and happenstance and it seems he wants some more. He's starting the season with the Gwinnett Gladiators.

Greg Collins, Jerry Pollastrone and Craig Switzer. The Las Vegas Wranglers are betting on Wildcats this season. Craig is coming off of his rookie professional season which saw him amass 17 points and a +9 rating. Greg and Jerry will be cutting their professional teeth with Collins having already racked up and goal and an assist in two preseason games and Pollastrone yet to play.

Kevin Regan. Reading Royals. Got moved down for what will hopefully be significantly more playing time. It is not unheard of for a goaltender to go from the ECHL to the AHL to the NHL in a single season.

Chris Murray. Trenton Devils. Like many of these Wildcat Alums Chris has seen some time in the AHL - I suspect we'll see numerous call-ups before long.

Sean Collins. Wheeling Nailers. The Reading, Mass native is back at it again with the Nailers where he has historically put up more than one point per game.

That's all I've got for now, if I missed any let me know. Up next, it's time to get our passports stamped - Wildcat alums overseas.

Go 'Cats!

Wednesday's Wildcat Alumni Weekly

I'm going to keep this week's installment brief for the most part as we get back into the swing of things.

NHL

Ty Conklin - St. Louis Blues

Entering his 9th NHL season (149 games played, 2.58 GAA, .909 save-percentage) Ty began the 2009-2010 season by defeating his most recent ex-employer, the Detroit Red Wings.

Dan Winnik - Phoenix Coyotes

In his third season Daniel Winnik has jumped out much as he did as a rookie, scoring in the Coyotes first game of the year. After a somewhat disappointing sophomore campaign that saw him add just three goals and four assists for a career total of fifteen goals and nineteen assists it looks like he just may return to the form that made him a keeper for the desert dogs.

James van Riemsdyk - Philadelphia Flyers

The rookie has already generated quite a buzz after tallying three assists in his first two games and he credits Coach Umile and the University of New Hampshire for helping him make the leap.

AHL

Trevor Smith - Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Listed fifth on the New York Islanders' depth chart at center, Trevor just missed making this years team but we will likely see more of him in the NHL this year compared to his seven games and one goal last season. In the meantime, look for him to terrorize the AHL ranks, improving upon his thirty goals and thirty-two assists - he has one goal already after his first game of the season.

Jason Krog - Chicago Wolves

Back in the city that saw some of the most dominating AHL play in decades thanks to Jason and his fellow alum, Darren Haydar - Krog will make yet another push for a regular spot in the Atlanta Thrashers line-up.

Darren Haydar - Lake Erie Monsters

Still looking for his first regular stint in the National Hockey League, Haydar joined the Colorado Avalanche but was initially denied and so, returning to what he does best, put up two assists in his first game of the season - seriously, when is someone going to learn and try to put Krog and Haydar on a line together in the NHL?

Garrett Stafford - Texas Stars

Another Wildcat alum that just missed making the cut for his NHL parent club, Stafford will return to his machine-like offensive production for the newly formed Texas Stars.

Kevin Regan - Providence Bruins

Record-setting Wildcat alum netminder has the deck stacked against him in the Bruins organization with two top tier goaltenders who have been groomed for years in front of him and on top of it all the B's manage to land longtime pro and NHL caliber goalie, Danny Sabourin - at least he won't lack for competition!

Matt Fornataro - Houston Aeros

This former Wildcat Captain will be looking to build on a solid AHL rookie year in which he scored ten goals and fifteen assists in just 51 games.

On Their Own

Mike Ayers - Best known for backstopping our Wildcats to two Frozen Fours and his incredible courage to come back and play the next night in Orono after suffering a sever laceration to his glove-hand wrist that left the ice around him covered in blood - Mike Ayers is among the very best in the tradition of excellence represented by the goaltenders who have taken the crease at the University of New Hampshire.

Now after a few years of professional hockey, Mike has begun the MVP Goaltending school in Minnesota along with taking up positions with the AHL's Iowa Chops as goaltending coach last year and becoming a volunteer coach this season with the St. Cloud State Huskies - a team that Ayers helped eliminate during the Wildcats' run to the 2003 Frozen Four.

Best of luck in your endeavors, Mike!

And since I'm already late getting this edition out, we'll wait until next week to identify those Wildcat Alums in the ECHL and over-seas!

Until then...

Go 'Cats!

Wildcat Hockey Monday

Wildcat Hockey Monday is back in Wildcat Nation!

It was a good night and I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.

Here's what I took away from Saturday night's display:

Brian Foster looked laser sharp except for managing only a slight piece on the lone Acadia goal that resulted from a long distance rising slapshot.

Kevin McCarey returns to the line-up a radically different player. Leaner, stronger, faster and with an incredible release that by my tally accounted for 5 posts on just three shots. McCarey's goal, which the Official Site records slightly incorrectly, came from one of a handful of terrific shots off of the sophomore's stick. His first two best attempts came early in the game when he straight-up beat the Acadia netminder on his glove hand, short-side, but both shots ended up being misguided by only the smallest of margins, clanging loudly off the near post. Kevin would attempt one shot to the glove hand, far-side, but it was snared and so returning to what worked in his next bid he rifled the puck short-side blocker with a rising snap shot that caught the left post before ricocheting up to catch the crossbar and then the far post before going in. Remind me never to play 'Post' with Kevin. Most Improved.

Then, how's that for leadership!? Peter 'Guns' LeBlanc just absolutely blasts home the first goal of the game on the one-timer from Blake Kessel (who had a few blasts of his own from the blueline). LeBlanc and Butler came onto and left the ice as real leaders in charge of a team that was disciplined and focused. They displayed a high-degree of unity and cohesiveness which leaves me unable to say enough about our Captains who maintained an obvious presence both on and off the ice throughout.

New guys! Showed some stuff. Of the freshmen that we saw the most of: Greg Burke has great size, speed and stick-handling once battling two Acadia Axemen at center ice and coming away with the puck - I think we'll see him in action as his strength and shooting power increase. Don't forget that this is a guy who had to sit out almost the entire season last year due to injury. Austin Block, smart with and without the puck, a nose for the net and a real ability to make things happen in the offensive zone - you can see why he was the NAHL's leading scorer and he's only going to get better. John Henrion great two-way play with strength beyond his size but a little penalty prone. Scott Pavelski. Led the exhibition game in points with three assists. An extraordinarily dangerous role-playing forward he is extremely sound with or without the puck and is willing to grind it out - it'll be hard if not impossible to keep him out of the line-up.

Missing - Stevie Moses. I'll see what I can find out... and I'm hearing a rumor of a groin injury - let's hope he's 100% soon. Get well, Steve!

Well, that's just the exhibition game - let's get this season underway!

Coming up this week, the season's first Wednesday's Wildcat Alumni Weekly and Friday's Pre-Game along with whatever other news is on the horizon!

Welcome back Nation!

Go 'Cats!

Tomorrow's Going to be a Good Night

We've made it to Friday and I can't wait any longer to get this post out.

I'm not guaranteeing victory tomorrow but UNH Men's Hockey returns once more - I'll let the video and the music speak for themselves...



Incredible. I still get goosebumps. And it's definitely worth a peek at this video to remember what the noise level in Verizon Wireless really was that day.



I'll see you at the game with a heartfelt thanks to a fellow member of Wildcat Nation for supplying me with the tickets! Thanks Tom!

Go 'Cats!

Tix On Sale For Saturday's Game

If you haven't been to the Official Site in a while, check it out!

Go 'Cats!