UNH Freshman Stiven Sardarian: Buffalo Draft Pick Raises His Game

Stiven Sardarian
UNH Freshman Forward

UNH freshman Stiven Sardarian's remarkable journey from St. Petersburg, Russia to Durham, New Hampshire was recently chronicled by Matthew Fairburn in The Athletic. Sardarian was a rising star in the Red Army Moskow youth hockey program when he accepted an offer to further his education and pursue his hockey career at the University of New Hampshire. Shortly after his committment to UNH in May, 2021, he signed up to play for the Youngstown Phantoms in the 2021-22 USHL season. A month later, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 3rd Round (88th overall) of the 2021 Entry Draft.

Last season, Sardarian took on the challenge (and opportunity) of adapting to life in midwestern America, improving his command of the English language, and adjusting to the North American style of playing hockey. He showed some promise on the ice, scoring 8 goals and 17 assists in 48 games for Youngstown.

Sardarian's transition to NCAA hockey was not ideal. Because of issues with obtaining a visa to re-enter the United States, he was not able to participate in UNH's summer training program or attend the Sabres' player development camp. He didn't receive the visa until August, just in time to register for classes.

Sardarian got off to a slow start this season. Over his first 17 games, he hadn't scored. In The Athletic article in mid-November, head coach Mike Souza provided this assessment:

“I think that’s been the most eye-opening thing for him is the pace and you’re out there against kids who might be 24 or 25 years old. That’s been the biggest adjustment has been the pace and strength. When the game slows down, he’s really effective. What I’m excited about is seeing him get stronger so the pace picks up. He can see plays other guys can’t see. He sees the next play. He always sees the next play. When we can enhance his ability to do that by getting stronger, he’ll get quicker and he’ll make even more plays.”

Sardarian made his first goal-scoring play in his 18th NCAA game - a 3-1 win against 17th-ranked UMass on January 15th. As the first clip in the "Steven Sardarian Jan-Feb 2022" highlight video shows, Sardarian carried the puck wide on a 3-on-2 break, got past the UMass defender, and centered a cross-crease pass to fellow freshman Kristaps Skrastins for the game-winning one-timer.

Last weekend, in a 3-2 overtime defeat of 15th-ranked Merrimack and a 5-4 win over 16th-ranked UMass Lowell, Sardarian really broke through. The second video clip shows Sardarian's first NCAA goal. On a 3-on-3 rush, he gained a stride on a Merrimack defender and one-timed a backhand pass from senior captain Chase Stevenson.

Sardarian's ability to see the next play then use skating agility and deft passing skills to create a scoring attempt were key factors in UNH's road-game win at UMass Lowell last Saturday. In the third video highlight, Sardarian maneuvered around the net-front scrum, dug out the puck and chipped a quick pass to get it out to the point. As freshman defenseman Damien Carfagna snapped a wrister into the goal, Sardarian used his size to screen the Lowell goalie.

With the game tied 3-3 late in the 3rd period, Sardarian created two goal-scoring plays in quick succession to earn the UNH victory. With 7 minutes left in regulation, Sardarian lead a rush into the Lowell zone and skated wide around a defenseman (see video highlights). Just as he began carrying the puck behind the net, he slipped a pass back to Chase Stevenson parked on the doorstep and he converted it into a 4-3 lead.

On the very next play after the faceoff at center ice, UNH dumped the puck behind the Lowell defensemen, Sardarian hustled behind the net, stole the puck from a defender and feathered it to the open Stevenson. He buried it for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.



At the UNH midweek press conference on Wednesday, Coach Souza offered these observations on Stiven Sardarian's progress:

"One of the areas where he needs to improve, and he knows it, is getting stronger. And now, I know it's in-season, but he's had an opportunity to work with Will Morey, our strength coach. He does an extra lift each week with Will, beyond what is required of our guys, because he wants to be a player."

"I think his competitiveness has elevated and I think that's why he's having more success. What I mean by that is his competitiveness at practice, it's carried over to games. You know, he faced some adversity like a lot of guys do early on, where you're out of the lineup, your fighting to get back into the lineup."

"His natural ability to see the next play may be the best on the team. He's sees the next play as well as anyone we have."

Sardarian, and the UNH Wildcats, begin a 2-game, at home series against UConn tonight at the Whittemore Center. UNH's record over the last 6 Hockey East games is 4-2, including 1 overtime win and 1 overtime loss. All 6 games were against Hockey East teams ranked in the top 20 nationally. The Huskies are currently ranked 13th in NCAA Division I hockey and 4th in Hockey East.