Editor’s note: This article is a guest post from Zack Cox, a student at the University of New Hampshire and the school newspaper’s sports editor.
When the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team faces off against Merrimack in a home-and-home series this weekend, it will not see the same Warriors team it has seen in recent years. In fact, this year’s Merrimack squad is enjoying success not seen in North Andover in decades.
The No. 11 Warriors (17-5-4, 11-5-3 in Hockey East) are ranked in the national polls for the first time in school history, and have clinched the program’s first winning season since joining Hockey East 22 years ago.
“[They’re] not a surprise,” UNH head coach Dick Umile said. “Maybe early in the season, they might have surprised some people, but I don’t think they’re surprising anybody anymore.”
After floundering in the basement of the conference for years, the Warriors hit rock bottom in 2006-07 when they finished with a 3-27-4 record, good for last place. Merrimack showed signs of improvement last season, however, finishing sixth in the conference with 16 wins (including seven over ranked teams) and set a foundation for this year’s breakout campaign.
“They’ve done a much better job in the last three or four years in recruiting,” Umile said. “[Merrimack head coach] Mark [Dennehy] has brought in a system that they obviously have really bought into, and he has them playing it really well.”
Faced with challenge of competing with the likes of Boston College and Boston University for area recruits, Dennehy was forced to scout elsewhere. This is evident in this year’s roster, with four of Merrimack’s top scorers hailing from outside of the U.S.
Atop this list is sophomore Stephane Da Costa, a native of Paris, France, who leads the Warriors with 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists). Da Costa is tied for second in Hockey East in points with UNH’s Mike Sislo, trailing only UNH’s Hobey Baker hopeful Paul Thompson, who leads all scorers with 42 points.
“They’re getting balanced scoring, they’re big, they’re strong,” Umile said. “They’re a legitimate team that’s contending for the top spot . . . in Hockey East.”
The series will feature some of the best in the conference on both ends of the ice. The potent Merrimack offense has been devastating at times, pouring in goals in routs of Maine (7-1), Vermont (7-1) and UMass (11-2), while the Wildcats have legitimate scoring threats on all three lines.
Also on display will be two of the conference’s top netminders in UNH’s Matt Di Giorolamo (1.88 GAA, .938 save percentage) and Merrimack’s Joe Cannata. Cannata has thrived in his first year as the full-time starter, ranking in the top three in Hockey East in both goals against average (2.12) and win percentage (.731).
“It starts in goal,” Umile said. “[Cannata] has been there for them. He makes key saves at key times, and he’s been their guy.”
No. 6 UNH (17-5-4, 15-2-2 HE) will host the first game of the series Friday night at the Whittemore Center before traveling to Lawler Arena for Saturday night’s contest. Although Lawler has a seating capacity of only 3,000, Merrimack is known for having one of the best home-ice advantages in the conference. UNH suffered a 3-2 loss last season in its last trip to Merrimack.
“They’re playing great hockey, and they’re playing even better hockey at home,” UNH senior Phil DeSimone said. “So we really have to capitalize Friday night then go down there and steal one on Saturday.”
Game time for both nights is 7 p.m.
