Eric MacAdams Will Return to UNH Next Season

Eric MacAdams
Returning to UNH

"You see Eric MacAdams tonight, he wears his heart on his sleeve all the time and I thought he was outstanding tonight." UNH Head Coach Mike Souza, March 13, 2021

UNH senior forward Eric MacAdams, winner of the Robert A. Kullen Unsung Player Award for the second consecutive season, will return to the Wildcats in the 2021-22 season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all NCAA Division I hockey players were granted an extra year of eligibility. MacAdams joins goalie Mike Robinson as the only UNH seniors coming back for their 5th season.

With 5 goals, including 2 power play goals, and 5 assists in 17 games, MacAdams was the 6th leading scorer on the 2020-21 UNH squad. He also tallied the 6th most UNH points (33 Games, 7 Goals, 11 Assists) in the 2019-20 season.

MacAdams came up big in both 2021 Hockey East playoff games. In the opening round victory at the University of Maine, he gave UNH a 2-0 lead with a power play goal in the second period. Parked in front of the UMaine goalie, MacAdams banged a backhander and cleaned up the rebound. The 7-2 win against Maine set up a quarterfinal matchup against #1-ranked Boston College in Chestnut Hill.

BC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. MacAdams got UNH on the board early in the second period with a wrister from the top of the slot. Less than 3 minutes later, MacAdams deked past a BC defender along the halfwall and backhanded a centering pass to freshman defenseman Luke Reid who also ripped a wrist shot home. UNH outshot BC 28-22 over the final two periods but could not tie it up.

Here are the video highlights of Eric MacAdams scoring in the 2021 Hockey East playoffs:

Interview

I had an opportunity to interview Eric MacAdams, via email, about next season at UNH:

Mike Lowry: Congratulations on the decision to return to UNH for your 5th year of NCAA eligibility. What are the main reasons you chose to play one more season in Durham?

Eric MacAdams: Thank you. Being given the extra year of eligibility due to Covid was something when I first heard about, I was very excited. When given that opportunity I knew I had one more chance to develop my game, and make a Championship run, so I had to take it.

Lowry: Did you consider pursuing a professional hockey career next year and/or transferring to another college as a graduate student? If so, why did you decide against those options?

MacAdams: Pursuing a professional hockey career is definitely a goal of mine, but when given this opportunity I thought one more year of development and being with my coaches was the smart thing to do.

Entering the transfer portal was never a thought for me. UNH has always been home, and they've provided me with every resource and more I could've asked for so far in my four years. There's a lot of unfinished business here at UNH. We can compete with anyone, and I know we are excited to get it started.

Lowry: What academic opportunity will you pursue next year?

MacAdams: I am in the process of deciding on a certificate program. But, thanks to Joanne Maldari (Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support) it has been a smooth process.

Lowry: You played some of your best hockey of the season in the two Hockey East Playoff games. You scored a goal in the 7-2 win against Maine and sparked a comeback in the 3-2 loss to Boston College, scoring UNH's first goal and assisting on the second goal. UNH has had limited playoff success in your first four years. How do you plan to help turn that around and what will the team need to improve on to make a deep run in the 2022 Hockey East playoffs?

MacAdams: As a team we always say, "just one game at a time". Staying in the present moment is a huge key for us. We realize what it takes to make it to the Hockey East playoffs and take a deep run, we have a ton of leadership and heart, and the older guys lead by example. We are excited to get the season going because here at UNH, we have something to prove.