The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Men’s Hockey team has found itself in a midseason rut.
Friday, January 30 night’s 2-1 loss to Merrimack marked the Wildcats’ fifth consecutive loss; their longest losing streak of the 2025-26 season.
“We haven’t given our goalie a lot of run support,” said Head Coach Mike Souza of his team's recent skid. “We just haven’t created enough ways to get the puck in the back of the net.”
On Saturday, January 31st, the series shifted to the Whittemore Center in Durham, where Souza did not have to wait very long to see his offense finally break through.
Junior right wing Ronan Walsh successfully beat out an icing and played the puck behind the net to freshman Connor DeTurris, who moved the puck from low-to-high (collecting his first career collegiate point in the process), and defenseman Ryan Philbrick’s point shot was redirected in by senior center Kristaps Skrastins.
The goal, a product of a hard-working shift from UNH’s fourth line, was Skrastins’ second of the season. It provided UNH a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.
One shift later, the Wildcats got right back on the attack and stormed the crease of Merrimack goalie Max Lundgren. Cy LeClerc sent in the original shot from the left circle, captain Morgan Winters jarred the puck free, and junior forward Marty Lavins stashed home the loose puck.
The three forwards form an experienced top line for UNH – one that is still building chemistry as the team prepares for the home stretch of the season.
“You’ve got three experienced players,” Souza said. “Great speed on the wings, you have arguably one of the best forechecking forwards in college hockey [Lavins], and then you’ve got a real cerebral center [LeClerc] that knows how to find space and get open. Those guys complement each other well.”
The goal was Lavins’ second of the season, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Following Lavins’ goal, UNH began struggling to get through the neutral zone, and one of their center ice turnovers forced Wildcat goalie Kyle Chauvette to make a glove save on the ensuing rush for the Warriors.
Then, Merrimack center Justin Gill burned Wildcat defenseman Conner De Haro before scoring five-hole on Chauvette to make it 2-1 with 8:57 remaining in the first period.
Merrimack continued to push following Gill’s goal, but UNH hung on and took their one-goal lead to the dressing room.
Up a goal, The Wildcats controlled the play in the second period. Defensively, they stepped up and defended their blue line well, while offensively, they continued to drive the net hard and force Lundgren to make several key saves.
Acquiring an early lead helps Souza’s group play to their identity, without having to chase the score.
“Our identity is structured,” said Souza. “We want to play fast, and we want to be hard to play against. We want to be a hard out for whoever we play.”
Eventually, a furiously-paced second period concluded, and the Wildcats maintained their 2-1 lead heading into the third.
As UNH continued to cling to its lead, it faced its most unforgiving stretch of adversity of the game.
After blocking a shot in his lower body, which left Marty Lavins extremely hobbled, he was forced to stay on the ice for an extended shift because Merrimack still had the puck and was pushing for the equalizing goal. Then, another shot from a Merrimack defenseman, this time in the high slot, hit Lavins in the back of the head while he was already down on the ice, prone. As a result, the referee blew the play dead. Lavins was helped off the ice and into the locker room, though he later returned to the game.
It was a monster effort during a critical moment in the game. It did not go unnoticed.
“He drags our whole group into the fight,” Souza said. “He’s such a good example for all our players. I think he’s earned his stripes here at UNH; he’s a guy that you want on your team.”
Despite this defensive effort, Merrimack continued its relentless push. As UNH defender Nick De Angelis fell to the ice in the goal crease, a loose puck was located by Warriors forward Ryan O’Connell, who poked it through Kyle Chauvette to tie the game 2-2 halfway through the second period.
Then, during a 4-on-4, Merrimack center Parker Lalonde crossed the blue line unchallenged and stepped to the inside on Conner De Haro before sniping glove side high on Chauvette. The score made it 3-2 in favor of the visiting Warriors, with 6:13 remaining in the third period.
Minutes later, down a goal, the Wildcats pulled their goalie to try to find the equalizing goal. As time ticked down, the puck trickled to the side of the goal crease, where junior forward Nick Ring found it and banged it home. It tied the game with just 1:17 showing on the clock.
Ring’s sixth goal of the season forced a sudden-death overtime in this Hockey East matchup.
The teams traded scoring chances during the five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime frame, but both goaltenders stood tall and set the stage for a best-of-three shootout. After Cy LeClerc opened the scoring for UNH in round one, and Chauvette made a pair of saves, Nick Ring was again called upon in a big moment. This time, with the game on his stick.
The junior center skated the puck in with speed, froze in front of Lundgren and the anxious Saturday night student section, and pulled the puck to his backhand for the smooth finish.
Ring’s clutch goal, his second of the night, captured a 4-3 shootout win for the Wildcats. Though it goes down as a tie in the record book, Coach Souza did not undermine the importance that the shootout result had on his group.
“I know that goes down as a tie in the books, but a shootout win is as important as a regulation win for us,” Souza said.
Souza also had positive things to say about tonight’s hero, Nick Ring, whose two goals helped UNH capture its first win since January 4th.
“I think that he’s a versatile player. He can play center, he can play wing, he can beat a guy one-on-one… he’s a pretty tough player to cover.”
The following week's scores reported:
Feb. 6, Wildcats lose 1-6 to the Providence College
Feb. 13, Wildcats win 4-1 to Boston University
Feb. 14, Wildcats lose 3-5 to Boston University in Boston
The next game will be on Friday, February 20, at 7 pm at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
