Coach Umile reaches 500

After a summer of waiting, UNH head coach Dick Umile finally reached the milestone of 500 wins as the Wildcats pounced on the visiting St. Cloud State Huskies Friday night, winning 5-3. With the win Umile becomes just the sixth active head coach in college hockey, and joins an elite company of just 12 coaches with 500 wins all-time.

The win was an offensive battle between UNH and St. Cloud State, and was played at the Whittemore Center.

New Hampshire struck first with a goal by alternate captain Greg Burke that came off an assist by captain Connor Hardowa just 16:54 into the first period. The Wildcats were not done there though, with another score coming less than two minutes later as UNH mustered up a short handed goal by defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk assisted by right winger Dalton Speelman and defensemen Connor Hardowa with 18:11 into the first period.

With the quick lead it seemed like the game was out of reach for the Huskies as they were being out played by an offense that out shot them 15-6 in the first period.

Yet the Huskies managed to fight back with a pair of two goals of their own in the second period.

The first came just 5:21 into the second period with a power play goal scored by defensemen Andrew Prochno with the assist from left winger and captain Ben Hanowski and center captain Drew LeBlanc. It seemed like a tale of two periods as St. Cloud managed to tally another off a short handed goal by center captain Ben Hanowski with assists by center Nic Down and alternate captain Nick Jensen with 19:26 into the second.

Costly penalties gave the Huskies the opportunities they needed and capitalize on to bring the game to a tie.

As the third period began, UNH came out rolling on all cylinders as they out shot the Huskies 15-7 in the third period. This edge would prove to be monumental as the game drew to a conclusion, as New Hampshire would end the game out shooting the St. Cloud State 39-23.

Right winger Dalton Speelman got the home crowd to its feet early with a power play goal that was fed by center Grayson Downing and left winger Nick Sorkin coming just 31 seconds into the period. Dalton Speelman came out with another offensive burst less than three minutes later with the help of teammates Trevor van Riemsdyk and Grayson Downing, who forced a turnover in the Huskies defensive zone that helped aid in the scoring-frenzy.

With that the flood gates were open, as UNH tallied yet another goal by center Austin Block with assists by Connor Hardowa and Kevin Gousmas 10:43 into the period.

St. Cloud State refused to give up however, as they matched with a goal less than a minute later off the stick of defensemen Tim Daly with assists coming from Garret Milan and David Morley.

Unfortunately for the opposition, St. Cloud State could not manage another goal as New Hampshire’s Casey DeSmith shut them out for the remainder of the game for a final score of 5-3. With the win the Wildcats are heading in the right direction, starting the season off 1-0.

UNH looks to replicate Friday’s success on Saturday, as the Huskies return to the Whittemore Center for the second part of their double header with New Hampshire. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

After a summer of waiting, UNH head coach Dick Umile finally reached the milestone of 500 wins as the Wildcats pounced on the visiting St. Cloud State Huskies Friday night, winning 5-3. With the win Umile becomes just the sixth active head coach in college hockey, and joins an elite company of just 12 coaches with 500 wins all-time.

The win was an offensive battle between UNH and St. Cloud State, and was played at the Whittemore Center.

New Hampshire struck first with a goal by alternate captain Greg Burke that came off an assist by captain Connor Hardowa just 16:54 into the first period. The Wildcats were not done there though, with another score coming less than two minutes later as UNH mustered up a short handed goal by defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk assisted by right winger Dalton Speelman and defensemen Connor Hardowa with 18:11 into the first period.