DURHAM, N.H. - Freshman Angus Crookshank (North Vancouver, British Columbia) scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated Merrimack, 2-1, on Friday night at the Whittemore Center. With the victory, the Wildcats have won four straight games and are 5-1-2 over their last eight games. UNH improves to 6-7-5 overall (2-4-3 HEA) while the Warriors fall to 4-15-1 (2-9-0 HEA).
Tonight's game was Crohn's Disease Awareness Night in support of senior Richard Boyd (Delray Beach, Fla.). Boyd was diagnosed with the disease when he was 14 years old. Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. Recognizing and learning to live with this disease while also playing Division I hockey is a challenge Boyd has learned to not only overcome but does to show young athletes that they can do the same.
UP NEXT
- On Saturday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., UNH will play No. 15 Yale (7-4-2, 6-2-1 ECAC) at the Whittemore Center at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. On this Cats 'n' Dogs night versus Yale, the Wildcats will be collecting pet food and supplies for the Cocheco Valley Humane Society and the NHSPCA. Bring an item to receive a voucher to a future game. Plus, it's Dollar Dog Night. Also our friends from Hockey East will be on hand to help us raise money for breast cancer awareness as part of the Hockey East Skating Strides initiative. All proceeds are going to the Ellie Fund.
SKATE WITH THE 'CATS:
- Back by popular demand is the annual Skate with the 'Cats in Portsmouth, N.H. Join members of the men's and women's hockey teams and the UNH mascots at Labrie Family Skate at Puddledock Pond in Strawbery Banke on Sunday, Jan. 6 from 9:30-11 a.m. Enjoy hot chocolate and a poster signing. Regular admission rates apply (include link to rates). Rentals available on site.
Score: New Hampshire 2, Merrimack 1 (OT)
Records: New Hampshire (6-7-5, 2-4-3 HEA), Merrimack (4-15-1, 2-9-0 HEA)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center)
Date: Friday, Jan. 4, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Attendance: 3,108
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Merrimack opened the scoring just 1:46 into the first period after Tyler Irvine passed the puck to Michael Babcock at the top of the circle, who sent a wrist shot past the glove side into the upper corner of the net.
- The Wildcats outshot the Warriors 11-6 in the first period. Sophomore Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) made five saves while Drew Vogler recorded 11. Both teams went 0-2 on the power play.
- At 10:00 of the second period, the Warriors went on their second 5-on-3 power play of the game for 1:23 but the Wildcats were able to keep them off the scoreboard.
- During the second period each team took 11 shots while Merrimack went 0-2 on the man-advantage and UNH went 0-1.
- At 8:18 of the third period the Wildcats tied it up 1-1 after senior Ara Nazarian (Boxford, Mass.) came from behind the net to poke the puck past Vogler during a scramble in front of the net.
- The score remained 1-1 at the end of the third period to send the two teams into overtime.
- Just 53 seconds into overtime junior Liam Blackburn (Prince George, British Columbia) caused a Merrimack turnover in front of the net to give Crookshank a clean shot that he blasted past the stick side of Vogler.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Robinson made 24 saves to improve to 5-5-4 on the season, while Vogler posted 33.
- UNH outshot Merrimack by a 35-25 margin.
- The Wildcats went 0-4 on the power play and the Warriors went 0-5.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- The Wildcats have won four straight games and are 5-1-2 over their last eight. UNH has outscored its opposition by a 22-14 margin over this stretch.
- This is the Wildcats' second overtime win this season. Eight of the 18 games have gone to overtime. UNH is 2-1-5 in those games which included a 3-2 win versus Vermont at the Whittemore Center on Oct. 27. The most overtime games played in a season for UNH is 12 in 2009-2010. And the most ties are seven also in 2009-2010.
- This is Crookshank's second game-winner of the season.
- Nazarian scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season. That is the 29th of his career.
- Sophomore Charlie Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) is now on a six-game point streak with one goal and eight assists for a total of nine points.
- Blackburn extends his point-streak to eight games with three goals and eight assists for 11 points. This is the longest point streak of the season.
