# 2020–21 New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey season

The 2020–21 New Hampshire Wildcats Men's ice hockey season was the 95th season of play for the program and the 37th season in the Hockey East conference. The Wildcats represented the University of New Hampshire and were coached by Mike Souza, in his 3rd season.

## Season

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of New Hampshire's players would lose a season of play. However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.
After a good start to the season, UNH was bit by the injury bug. The team lost several key upperclassmen for extended periods, including team captain Charlie Kelleher. The Wildcats were able to play well in some of their games but the team went through an 8-game stretch where they couldn't win a single match. By the end of the season the team had gotten healthy again, but they sat 10th in the conference. UNH came alive in the Hockey East Tournament, knocking off long-time rival Maine 7–2 in the opening round. The Wildcats then took on the top team in the nation, Boston College and came close to pulling off a stunning upset, falling 2–3 in their final game of the year.
Jeremy Forman sat out the season.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Liam Blackburn | Forward | Canada | Graduation (Signed with ERSC Amberg) |
| Matthew Dawson | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation |
| Justin Fregona | Forward | Canada | Graduation |
| Max Gildon | Defenseman | United States | Signed professional contract (Florida Panthers) |
| Robby Griffin | Forward | United States | Left program |
| Joey Lazzaro | Goaltender | United States | Graduation |
| Nolan McElhaney | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Long Island |
| Joe Sacco | Forward | United States | Graduation |
| Anthony Wyse | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (Signed with Indy Fuel) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Nick Cafarelli | Forward | United States | 18 | Middleton, MA |
| Jeremy Forman | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Northbrook, IL |
| Cameron Gendron | Forward | United States | 21 | Wilmington, MA |
| Nikolai Jenson | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Cold Spring, MN |
| Joe Nagle | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Weymouth, MA |
| Luke Reid | Defenseman | United States | 19 | Geneva, IL; 166th selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft |
| Carsen Richels | Forward | United States | 18 | Ham Lake, MN |
| Alec Semandel | Defenseman | United States | 19 | Waunakee, WI; transfer from Lake Superior State |
| Tyler Ward | Forward | Canada | 21 | Kamloops, BC; transfer from Denver |

## Roster

As of February 12, 2021.

## Standings

2020–21 Hockey East Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SOW | HEPI | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #6 Boston College | 21 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 58.61 | 82 | 46 | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 91 | 58 |
| #11 Boston University | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 56.36 | 49 | 37 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 45 |
| #1 Massachusetts * | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 55.44 | 76 | 42 | 29 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 103 | 48 |
| Connecticut | 22 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 52.01 | 69 | 63 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 70 | 69 |
| #16 Providence | 23 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 50.80 | 63 | 61 | 25 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 71 | 67 |
| Northeastern | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 49.94 | 68 | 60 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 69 | 64 |
| #19 Massachusetts–Lowell | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48.00 | 46 | 53 | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 59 | 63 |
| Maine | 15 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 46.66 | 41 | 61 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 43 | 68 |
| Merrimack | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45.38 | 47 | 66 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 47 | 66 |
| New Hampshire | 21 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 43.66 | 51 | 83 | 23 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 60 | 88 |
| Vermont | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38.02 | 17 | 37 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 20 | 42 |
| Championship: March 20, 2021 No Regular Season Champion Awarded * indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and Results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| December 11 | 7:00 PM | vs. Maine | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | NESN+ | Robinson | T 1–1 $^{SOW}$ | 0 | 0–0–1 (0–0–1) |
| December 12 | 7:00 PM | vs. Maine | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | NESN+ | Robinson | W 6–2 | 0 | 1–0–1 (1–0–1) |
| December 30 | 3:30 PM | vs. #9 Massachusetts | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Robinson | L 0–4 | 0 | 1–1–1 (1–1–1) |
| January 1 | 4:00 PM | vs. Connecticut | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | NESN | Robinson | L 1–2 | 0 | 1–2–1 (1–2–1) |
| January 2 | 4:00 PM | at Connecticut | XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut | | Robinson | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 2–2–1 (2–2–1) |
| January 6 | 3:30 PM | at #8 Massachusetts | Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts | | Robinson | L 0–4 | 0 | 2–3–1 (2–3–1) |
| January 8 | 7:00 PM | at #2 Boston College | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | NESN | Robinson | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 3–3–1 (3–3–1) |
| January 10 | 4:00 PM | vs. #2 Boston College | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Robinson | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 3–4–1 (3–4–1) |
| January 13 | 6:05 PM | at #14 Northeastern | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | NESN | Robinson | L 0–7 | 0 | 3–5–1 (3–5–1) |
| January 15 | 4:00 PM | at Connecticut | Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs, Connecticut | | Robinson | L 5–6 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 3–6–1 (3–6–1) |
| January 16 | 5:00 PM | vs. Connecticut | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Taylor | L 3–8 | 0 | 3–7–1 (3–7–1) |
| January 22 | 7:00 PM | vs. Merrimack | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Robinson | L 2–5 | 0 | 3–8–1 (3–8–1) |
| January 23 | 4:05 PM | at Merrimack | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | | Robinson | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 0 | 3–8–2 (3–8–2) |
| January 29 | 7:00 PM | at #17 Providence | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | NESN | Robinson | L 1–5 | 0 | 3–9–2 (3–9–2) |
| January 31 | 3:30 PM | vs. #17 Providence | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | NESN | Robinson | L 2–3 | 0 | 3–10–2 (3–10–2) |
| February 5 | 6:00 PM | at #20 Massachusetts–Lowell | Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts | | Robinson | W 2–1 | 0 | 4–10–2 (4–10–2) |
| February 6 | 5:00 PM | vs. #20 Massachusetts–Lowell | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Taylor | W 7–6 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 5–10–2 (5–10–2) |
| February 12 | 7:00 PM | vs. #18 Northeastern | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Robinson | L 2–6 | 0 | 5–11–2 (5–11–2) |
| February 13 | 6:05 PM | at #18 Northeastern | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | NESN+ | Taylor | L 4–5 | 0 | 5–12–2 (5–12–2) |
| February 19 | 6:05 PM | vs. Merrimack | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Robinson | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 0 | 5–12–3 (5–12–3) |
| February 20 | 4:05 PM | at Merrimack | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | | Robinson | L 2–6 | 0 | 5–13–3 (5–13–3) |
| Hockey East Tournament ||||||||||
| March 10 | 4:30 PM | at Maine | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine (Opening Round) | | Robinson | W 7–2 | 0 | 6–13–3 |
| March 14 | 4:30 PM | at #1 Boston College | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (Quarterfinal) | NESN | Robinson | L 2–3 | 0 | 6–14–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Jackson Pierson | F | 23 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 4 |
| Angus Crookshank | LW | 20 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 4 |
| Kalle Eriksson | D | 23 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 |
| Patrick Grasso | C | 23 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 2 |
| Filip Engarås | C | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 21 |
| Eric MacAdams | RW | 16 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 31 |
| Ryan Verrier | D | 23 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 24 |
| Luke Reid | D | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| Kohei Sato | LW | 22 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 33 |
| Lucas Herrmann | F | 17 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| Tyler Ward | LW | 21 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Cam Gendron | F | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Nick Cafarelli | F | 14 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| William MacKinnon | D | 22 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
| Benton Maass | D | 20 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Charlie Kelleher | RW | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| Joe Hankinson | F | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Nikolai Jenson | D | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Joseph Cipollone | C | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Eric Esposito | LW | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| Carsen Richels | LW | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Chase Stevenson | F | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ty Taylor | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drew Hickey | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Joe Nagle | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Alec Semandel | D | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike Robinson | G | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bench | - | 23 | - | - | - | 10 |
| Total | | | 60 | 109 | 169 | 251 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Mike Robinson | 21 | 1227 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 69 | 511 | 0 | .881 | 3.37 |
| Ty Taylor | 5 | 165 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 69 | 0 | .802 | 6.16 |
| Empty Net | - | 10 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 23 | 1403 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 88 | 580 | 0 | .868 | 3.76 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Patrick Grasso | Len Ceglarski Award |
| Jackson Pierson | Hockey East Second Team |
| Angus Crookshank | Hockey East Third Team |

## Players drafted into the NHL
### 2021 NHL Entry Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 3 | 88 | Stiven Sardarian$^†$ | Buffalo Sabres |
| 6 | 192 | Alex Gagne$^†$ | Tampa Bay Lightning |
† incoming freshman