Preview 

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Wildcats will face off in a weekend series against two different opponents, the Merrimack Warriors in North Andover, Mass. on Friday, and the UConn Huskies at home in Durham on Saturday. The Wildcats are coming off a bye week before they start their final nine-game Hockey East stretch to close the season.  

On Friday the Wildcats will take on the Merrimack Warriors for the first time in the 2021-22 season. Merrimack currently sits at sixth in Hockey East standings, five points ahead of UNH. The Warriors have turned things around after a slower start to the seasons having won five out their last six games. Merrimack isn’t currently ranked in the USCHO.com polls, however they did receive a plethora of votes that put them just outside the top-20.  

On Saturday the Wildcats will return home to the Whittemore Center for the first time in 22 days to take on the UConn Huskies for the third time in their last four games. UNH took home four out of six points in their first weekend series with the Huskies on January 21 and 22 in Hartford. New Hampshire won the first game 3-1 and lost the second game 3-2 in overtime.  

The Huskies are coming off a split last weekend where they lost in the championship of the Connecticut Ice Tournament, a four-team tournament which consists of the four Division I college programs in Connecticut (UConn, Yale, Quinnipiac, and Sacred Heart). UConn took care of Yale handily in the semi-finals 5-1 before losing to the second ranked team in the country, Quinnipiac, 2-0.  

Friday, Feb. 4th, 2022 

University of New Hampshire Wildcats (12-11-1, 6-8-1) at Merrimack Warriors (12-11-1, 7-8-0) 

When: 7:00 p.m. 

Where: Lawler Rink, North Andover, Mass. 

Watch: College SportsLive.  

Listen: WGIR 610 AM (Manchester); WQSO 96.7 FM (Seacoast), WPKX 930 AM (Seacoast) 

Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 

UConn Huskies (12-11-0, 8-6-0) at University of New Hampshire Wildcats (12-11-1, 6-8-1)  

When: 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Whittemore Center, Durham, N.H. 

Watch: College SportsLive. 

Listen: WGIR 610 AM (Manchester); WQSO 96.7 FM (Seacoast), WPKX 930 AM (Seacoast) 

UNH lines vs. UConn (Jan. 22) 

Forwards 

#26 Liam Devlin, #11 Jackson Pierson, #19 Eric MacAdams 

#14 Tyler Ward, #16 Filip Engarås, #12 Eric Esposito 

#29 Joseph Cipollone, #15 Chase Stevenson, #24 Robert Cronin 

#9 Connor Sweeney, #6 Lucas Herrmann, #13 Nick Cafarelli 

Defensemen 

#5 Will MacKinnon, #8 Nikolai Jenson 

#3 Ryan Verrier, #27 Luke Reid 

#8 Alex Gagne, #20 Colton Huard 

#10 Kalle Eriksson 

Goaltenders 

#31 Mike Robinson, #41 David Fessenden  

Key Players 

UNH’s senior goalie Mike Robinson has now made seven straight starts for the Wildcats, winning five. Robinson, who struggled at points during the early part of the season has now given up three goals or less in his last seven games, and two goals or less in the five wins during this streak.  

UNH first-year defender Colton Huard is also continuing his hot streak. The former Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week brings a six-game point streak to this weekend’s contests with four goals and six assists during this streak.  

Merrimack’s senior captain Max Newton will headline the Warrior’s offense in North Andover. This year Newton has collected 25 points in 24 games. Newton has recorded a point in seven out of Merrimack’s last eight games.  

UConn sophomore forward Jachym Kondelik will look to lead the Huskies on the heels of an impressive rookie campaign where he has registered 21 points in 23 games. Kondelik’s 21 points ranks him 12th in Hockey East for most points.  

Series History 

UNH All-Time vs. Merrimack: UNH leads series 78-28-13 

UNH at Merrimack: UNH leads series 28-15-8 

UNH Last Matchup vs. Merrimack: Merrimack defeated UNH 6-2 in North Andover, Mass. (2/20/2021) 

UNH All-Time vs. UConn: UNH leads series 18-12-1 

UConn at UNH: UConn leads 6-5-0  

UNH Last Matchup vs. UConn: UConn defeated UNH 3-2 (OT) in Hartford, Conn. (1/22/2022) 

Photo courtesy of Jack Bouchard