DURHAM, N.H. - Scott Pavelski (Plover, Wis.) tallied a game-high three points, all on assists, to lead the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team to Saturday night's 8-1 victory against Acadia University in an exhibition game at the Whittemore Center.
A total of 15 Wildcats recorded at least one point with eight skaters recording multiple points. Brian Foster (Pembroke, N.H.) started the game and stopped 15 of 16 shots in 48:59 of action. Matt DiGirolamo (Ambler, Pa.) played the final 11:01 and turned aside all six shots he faced.
Acadia starting goalie Michael Chaisson played two periods and stopped 19 of 25 shots. Kristofer Westblom surrendered two goals on seven third-period shots.
The Wildcats skated to a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals 42 seconds apart. Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) had the first dangerous scoring opportunity of the game at 6:30 when his shot from the right circle caromed off the near post. UNH went on the power play 13 seconds later and needed just 10 seconds of the skater advantage to take a 1-0 lead. Matt Campanale (Chester Springs, Pa.) initiated the sequence with a pass from the left point to Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.) in the high slot. Kessel quickly moved the puck to the right point, where Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ontario) snapped a high shot inside the near post at 6:53.
The 'Cats struck again at 7:35 to take a two-goal advantage. Chaisson stopped the initial shot from the slot by Greg Manz (Wayne, Pa.), but Pavelski poked the puck across the crease from the left post and Austin Block (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) redirected a shot into the open net.
UNH pulled away with four second-period goals - courtesy of an 18-5 shot advantage in the frame. Kessel and Mike Sislo (Superior, Wis.) netted power-play tallies 3:48 apart to extend the advantage to 4-0. Sislo began the scoring sequence on the third goal with a pass from the top of the left circle across the slot to Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.) in the opposite circle. DeSimone swung the puck to the slot, where Kessel fired a shot into the upper-right corner at 2:02.
Sislo struck at 5:50 on a shot from the left circle. Nick Krates (Palos Park, Ill.), with the pass from the left point, and Damon Kipp (Salmon Arm, British Columbia) were credited with assists to produce the 4-0 lead.
The Axemen pulled within 4-1 on a power-play goal at 7:42 when Doug Clarkson's blast from the right dashers near mid-ice sailed into the upper-right corner. Scott Tregunna's outlet pass set up the goal.
New Hampshire reestablished a four-goal lead at 11:42 on Manz' goal. Pavelski's outlet pass sprung Manz through the neutral zone. Manz drove from the left circle to the front of the net for the close-range goal. Block was also credited with an assist.
UNH pushed the lead to 6-1 at 16:37. Pavelski, from behind the net, found Paul Thompson (Derrry, N.H.) in front and he snapped a shot past Chaisson. Brett Kostolansky (Denver, Colo.) also set up the tally.
The 'Cats carried that 6-1 advantage into the second intermission. LeBlanc potted his second goal of the game at 11:04 of the final frame. Bobby Butler (Marlboro, Mass.) initiated the sequence with a pass from the left corner to Connor Hardowa (Edmonton, Alberta) at the right point. His slap shot was redirected by LeBlanc into the net.
UNH closed the scoring with a power-play goal at 15:54 when McCarey's shot from the left circle found the upper-right corner. Thompson, with the pass from the corner, and DeSimone, set up the goal.
New Hampshire opens the 2009-10 season Oct. 10 (7 p.m.) at Rensselaer. The Wildcats play host to top-ranked Miami University for a two-game series Oct. 16-17. Both games begin at 7 p.m.