When the Wildcats face second-seeded Cornell in the first round of the East Regional at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., they will try to do just that — take the new opportunity they’ve been given and run with it.
Coach Dick Umile said they’ve put the past behind them. They’re revamped, refocused and eager to start up again. Their NCAA appearance will mark a new beginning and new opportunity for their team.
“We were obviously disappointed," Umile said. "It’s a new life and a new season. The guys are real excited and the attitude is very good and the guys are looking forward to playing. We are excited to be in the tournament. It’s always special."
Friday’s matchup will mark the third time that UNH and Cornell have faced off in the NCAAs, with UNH owning a 2-0 advantage. It will be their second meeting of the year. The Big Red dominated in a 5-2 win at UNH earlier this season and hold a slim 12-11 all-time edge. The Wildcats currently have the second-longest active NCAA appearance streak in Division I, as they've reached the big dance in nine straight seasons. They'll be making their 20th tournament appearance overall, 16 of which have come under Umile’s guidance.
UNH is led by Hobey Baker finalist Bobby Butler. The senior co-captain's 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists) rank second in Hockey East. His leadership on and off the ice plays a huge role in the Wildcats' success.
“He is a special kid who loves the game and has a great passion for it," Umile said. "He is a threat the whole time he is out on the ice. He is a very smart hockey player. He plays at both ends, he is always moving and he can play physical."
Though the Wildcats failed to advance to the semifinals in this year’s conference tournament, they’ve worked to correct some of their inconsistencies, starting with team defense, in hopes of generating a better NCAA run.
“It’s all going to come from good defense," Umile said. "That’s our goal. We have to play well defensively ourselves. [Cornell likes] to cycle when they get you in the zone, play along the boards and get to the net. You have to be committed to hard work."
The Big Red advanced to the NCAA tournament after winning the ECAC title with a 3-0 shutout of Union to earn the automatic bid.
UNH is eager to hit the ice Friday night and will face a team whose style it's familiar with. There shouldn’t be any surprises this weekend.
“They’re a typical Cornell team," Umile said. "They are tough to play against. They defy you to get to the net and they have an All-American candidate with [Ben] Scrivens in the net. It’s a challenge for us, but we're excited, we're fairly close to home playing in Albany and we're looking forward to it.”
The winner will advance to face the winner of the Denver-RIT game in the regional final on Saturday.
