MASSACHUSETTS UPENDS NEW HAMPSHIRE, 3-2
Sophomore Jon Quick makes 34 saves for UMass

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of Massachusetts men’s hockey team scored three consecutive goals and Jon Quick recorded 34 saves to lead the Minutemen to Friday night’s 3-2 Hockey East victory against eighth-ranked University of New Hampshire at the Whittemore Center.

UNH is now 2-1-0 overall and 0-1-0 in Hockey East while UMass is 2-0-1, 1-0-0.

With the Minutemen leading 2-1 at the start of the third period, the visitors extended their advantage to two goals with a power-play goal at 15:25. David Leaderer initiated the sequence with a pass from the left half-boards to Justin Braun at the high slot. Braun moved the puck to P.J. Fenton at the top of the right circle and, after receiving a return pass, Braun’s slapshot was redirected in front of the net by Kevin Jarman.

UNH pulled goaltender Kevin Regan (South Boston, Mass.) in favor of an extra skater with 2:23 to play, then called time out with 1:06 remaining. The Wildcats generated pressure and it led to a goal by Trevor Smith (North Vancouver, British Columbia) at 19:37. Chris Murray (Dover, Mass.) intercepted a clearing attempt at the right point and fired a slapshot that was redirected in the low slot by Smith.

Regan remained on the bench but the ‘Cats did not record a shot in the final 23 seconds.

Regan finished with 18 saves while UMass netminder Jon Quick stopped 34 shots.

The teams skated to a 1-1 tie through one period of play. The Wildcats struck first at 13:23 – one second after their power play expired – when Mike Radja (Yorkville, Ill.) skated from the left corner behind the net and threw a pass in front, where Jacob Micflikier (Winnipeg, Manitoba) swept the puck into the net. Brett Hemingway (Surrey, British Columbia) was also credited with an assist.

UMass pulled even, 1-1, at 18:48. Will Ortiz skated down the slot and fired a low shot that was stopped by Regan, but Mark Matheson was in position down low to collect the rebound and fire a shot into the open net. Cory Quirk, with a pass through the neutral zone to Ortiz, also earned an assist.

The Minutemen took the lead with the lone tally of the second period at 14:20. In the neutral zone just outside the UMass offensive zone, Zech Klann touched a loose puck to Justin Braun, who skated down the slot and wristed a shot off Regan’s blocker into the net.

New Hampshire returns to action Oct. 28 at home vs. Yale University. Game time at the Whittemore Center is 7 p.m.