UNH Hockey 2023-2024 Season Thread - End Of The Cellar-Dweller Era??

[e.cat]

With 49 SOG’s, sooner or later at least some of them gotta get by the goalie.

One would think

[e.cat]

Long-time lurker, infrequent poster here ... It's a relatively short trip for me to Rochester, so I couldn't pass up a chance to see if this season's UNH resurgence was in fact for real or just a mirage. Late on Saturday night I thought I'd find myself driving home in a funk, but wow - did that change in a hurry! Way to go 'Cats! Probably way too much commentary follows - so sue me :-)

Unlike Chuck, I'm still not ready to go ALL IN on this team (even with qualifiers) as a potential NCAA participant, but I will say this - this squad is filled with *relentless* competitors that opponents underestimate to their peril. Digging themselves into an early 0-2 hole both nights was certainly not part of the game plan, but these 'Cats didn't panic, didn't fold, and came roaring back to tie each time; I don't think that earlier Souza teams would've had the intestinal fortitude to do that. Both early RIT goals on Friday Ken Dryden in his Cornell prime wouldn't have stopped: a point-blank roof job off a horrendous UNH D-zone turnover, then another top shelf rocket off a seeing eye tip at the face-off dot. On Saturday UNH switched to a more aggressive fore-check scheme from the git go and began peppering Scarfone with shot after shot ... which is fine if you don't neglect the defensive side of things. RIT jumped out again to an early lead with 2 goals off of well-executed odd-man rushes, as UNH was caught both times with too many guys too deep in the O-zone to counter. "Not again," thinks I, but when RIT's Catalano is sent off on a major penalty (more on this in a bit) for "contact to the head," UNH nets 2 on the ensuing PP, the first on a nice move by Cafarelli, and the equalizer on an absolute pea by LeClerc, a rising slapper from the top of the left circle that was in/out so fast Scarfone never moved. Game on! After a scoreless 2nd, RIT regained the lead on a PP goal midway thru the 3rd and it looked grim, especially after M. Winters was assessed a major of his own (spearing; more in a bit) with ~ 6 minutes to play. But the 'Cats held firm and successfully killed it off, setting the stage for not 1, but 2 last second heroics that turned all but sure defeat - and a weekend RIT sweep - into a most improbable split (well sort of, since ot wins are now considered just 2/3 of a victory in the PWR). The stakes were much less dire, but I'd like to think they were channeling 2009 all over again, with RIT orange/black filling in for NoDak green/white. Or going back even further, BU red/white from 1998 in Albany. Let me tell you, I jumped out of my seat just the same :-)

And now a word (OK, several words) on video review - I can't recall another series in recent memory that was defined so completely in my mind by video "reassessment" ... As we all know, unlike VAR in futbol, or video review as implemented by MLB and the NFL, the college hockey version is closer to that of the NBA, i.e, the same officials making the initial call during the run of play will review their OWN calls via video replay and render a follow-up judgement. In some sense it's a do-over, an opportunity to correct an egregious mistake or verify an on-ice call. All of that, and more, was on display in both these games this weekend ...

On Friday, late in the 2nd, with RIT nursing a 3-2 lead, LeClerc levels an RIT player as he crosses the UNH blue line, sending him sprawling. 2 mins. for interference thinks I, but no; AVR (After Video Review) the call is adjudicated up to a 5 min. major for "Blind Side Interference," a penalty I'd never even heard of in 40+ years of following hockey :-( OK rules experts - is that really a thing? RIT scores on the ensuing PP to pad their lead, and then another early in the 3rd on the back end of the wrap-around major, stretching the lead to 3. Grrrrr ... UNH gets one back on a PP goal of their own, then H. Blaisdell appears to net another 5x5, but wait - the official is waving it off! The crowd is buzzing - high stick? Goalie interference? AVR the call is overturned and UNH is back in it at 4-5 with just under 10 mins. to play - Game on! Soon after the ref's got his arm raised again, in fact, they both do, so I guess it was a pretty obvious RIT penalty. But wait - AVR not 1 but 2 separate penalties are assessed to 2 different players (slashing and holding), giving UNH a full 2 min. 5x3 to try and get the equalizer. Can't remember when I last saw that happen ... Good pressure by the 'Cats just couldn't do it, as Scarfone stood tall and turned aside all he saw; UNH falls 4-5 :-(

On Saturday it's more of the same ... RIT leads 2-0, but a seemingly routine elbowing call is elevated AVR to a 5 min. major for "Contact to the Head" and UNH quickly capitalizes; at penalty's end it's now 2-2: Game on! So far these video reviews seem to be benefiting both teams at various times, but then comes the Winters penalty ... Late in the game there's a scuffle near the net in the RIT D-zone; an RIT player cross-checks Winters into Scarfone and all 3 players end up sprawled atop one another in/around the cage. No call; play continues up ice ... Behind the play, as the players start untangling themselves, the same RIT player finds himself knocked to the ice again. No call; play continues. Now RIT coach Wayne Wilson starts going apoplectic on the bench, screaming along with the partisan crowd to do something, anything. At the next whistle it's announced that Wilson has initiated a Coach's Challenge re: the goalmouth scuffle; AVR Winters is assessed a 5 min. major for spearing. Did he do it? I didn't see it, but the officials clearly did. Two things: (1) I hadn't realized that a Coach's Challenge could be requested in circumstances like this, i.e, for a supposed uncalled penalty, and (2) if a call had been made on the initial RIT cross-check, the subsequent retaliation penalty never would've occurred. IMHO it was just the last in a long series of questionable calls - and non-calls - made both ways by the officials this weekend (UNH ended up 3 for 13 on the PP over 2 games; RIT 4 for 9). Keep out of the box boys, all of you ...

Anyway, now it's on to Orono for our first game with the Black Bears this season. I'm not making any predictions but this: they won't get out-worked no matter the score (especially given how Saturday's game ended), and with a little bit of puck luck - who knows? Go Blue!

Good post. Yeah the AVR were over the top.

[HockeyRef]

Long-time lurker, infrequent poster here ... It's a relatively short trip for me to Rochester, so I couldn't pass up a chance to see if this season's UNH resurgence was in fact for real or just a mirage. Late on Saturday night I thought I'd find myself driving home in a funk, but wow - did that change in a hurry! Way to go 'Cats! Probably way too much commentary follows - so sue me :-)

Unlike Chuck, I'm still not ready to go ALL IN on this team (even with qualifiers) as a potential NCAA participant, but I will say this - this squad is filled with *relentless* competitors that opponents underestimate to their peril. Digging themselves into an early 0-2 hole both nights was certainly not part of the game plan, but these 'Cats didn't panic, didn't fold, and came roaring back to tie each time; I don't think that earlier Souza teams would've had the intestinal fortitude to do that. Both early RIT goals on Friday Ken Dryden in his Cornell prime wouldn't have stopped: a point-blank roof job off a horrendous UNH D-zone turnover, then another top shelf rocket off a seeing eye tip at the face-off dot. On Saturday UNH switched to a more aggressive fore-check scheme from the git go and began peppering Scarfone with shot after shot ... which is fine if you don't neglect the defensive side of things. RIT jumped out again to an early lead with 2 goals off of well-executed odd-man rushes, as UNH was caught both times with too many guys too deep in the O-zone to counter. "Not again," thinks I, but when RIT's Catalano is sent off on a major penalty (more on this in a bit) for "contact to the head," UNH nets 2 on the ensuing PP, the first on a nice move by Cafarelli, and the equalizer on an absolute pea by LeClerc, a rising slapper from the top of the left circle that was in/out so fast Scarfone never moved. Game on! After a scoreless 2nd, RIT regained the lead on a PP goal midway thru the 3rd and it looked grim, especially after M. Winters was assessed a major of his own (spearing; more in a bit) with ~ 6 minutes to play. But the 'Cats held firm and successfully killed it off, setting the stage for not 1, but 2 last second heroics that turned all but sure defeat - and a weekend RIT sweep - into a most improbable split (well sort of, since ot wins are now considered just 2/3 of a victory in the PWR). The stakes were much less dire, but I'd like to think they were channeling 2009 all over again, with RIT orange/black filling in for NoDak green/white. Or going back even further, BU red/white from 1998 in Albany. Let me tell you, I jumped out of my seat just the same :-)

And now a word (OK, several words) on video review - I can't recall another series in recent memory that was defined so completely in my mind by video "reassessment" ... As we all know, unlike VAR in futbol, or video review as implemented by MLB and the NFL, the college hockey version is closer to that of the NBA, i.e, the same officials making the initial call during the run of play will review their OWN calls via video replay and render a follow-up judgement. In some sense it's a do-over, an opportunity to correct an egregious mistake or verify an on-ice call. All of that, and more, was on display in both these games this weekend ...

On Friday, late in the 2nd, with RIT nursing a 3-2 lead, LeClerc levels an RIT player as he crosses the UNH blue line, sending him sprawling. 2 mins. for interference thinks I, but no; AVR (After Video Review) the call is adjudicated up to a 5 min. major for "Blind Side Interference," a penalty I'd never even heard of in 40+ years of following hockey :-( OK rules experts - is that really a thing? RIT scores on the ensuing PP to pad their lead, and then another early in the 3rd on the back end of the wrap-around major, stretching the lead to 3. Grrrrr ... UNH gets one back on a PP goal of their own, then H. Blaisdell appears to net another 5x5, but wait - the official is waving it off! The crowd is buzzing - high stick? Goalie interference? AVR the call is overturned and UNH is back in it at 4-5 with just under 10 mins. to play - Game on! Soon after the ref's got his arm raised again, in fact, they both do, so I guess it was a pretty obvious RIT penalty. But wait - AVR not 1 but 2 separate penalties are assessed to 2 different players (slashing and holding), giving UNH a full 2 min. 5x3 to try and get the equalizer. Can't remember when I last saw that happen ... Good pressure by the 'Cats just couldn't do it, as Scarfone stood tall and turned aside all he saw; UNH falls 4-5 :-(

On Saturday it's more of the same ... RIT leads 2-0, but a seemingly routine elbowing call is elevated AVR to a 5 min. major for "Contact to the Head" and UNH quickly capitalizes; at penalty's end it's now 2-2: Game on! So far these video reviews seem to be benefiting both teams at various times, but then comes the Winters penalty ... Late in the game there's a scuffle near the net in the RIT D-zone; an RIT player cross-checks Winters into Scarfone and all 3 players end up sprawled atop one another in/around the cage. No call; play continues up ice ... Behind the play, as the players start untangling themselves, the same RIT player finds himself knocked to the ice again. No call; play continues. Now RIT coach Wayne Wilson starts going apoplectic on the bench, screaming along with the partisan crowd to do something, anything. At the next whistle it's announced that Wilson has initiated a Coach's Challenge re: the goalmouth scuffle; AVR Winters is assessed a 5 min. major for spearing. Did he do it? I didn't see it, but the officials clearly did. Two things: (1) I hadn't realized that a Coach's Challenge could be requested in circumstances like this, i.e, for a supposed uncalled penalty, and (2) if a call had been made on the initial RIT cross-check, the subsequent retaliation penalty never would've occurred. IMHO it was just the last in a long series of questionable calls - and non-calls - made both ways by the officials this weekend (UNH ended up 3 for 13 on the PP over 2 games; RIT 4 for 9). Keep out of the box boys, all of you ...

Anyway, now it's on to Orono for our first game with the Black Bears this season. I'm not making any predictions but this: they won't get out-worked no matter the score (especially given how Saturday's game ended), and with a little bit of puck luck - who knows? Go Blue!

Thanks for the great post of the games! Keep comin' back...(Oh and regarding the AVR...its a good thing Souza initiated one on that goal by
Blaisdell, as you point out)

[Snively65]

Agree with others, excellent post, jeteye.

Just a comment on your last paragraph is that we already have played one game against the Black Bears this season, although it was a pre-season game in Waterville, Maine, which apparently was a good one for those who could get tickets and make the long drive north (about an hour shorter than the drive to Orono).

[Snively65]

Looks like Chucks favorite coach will sign a long contract extension. Friday should be an interesting game.

Contract extension likely if we get to either the Garden or the NCAA’s, I think, but not sure how long that contract would be.

[Chuck Murray]

Next thing we might see is Chuck “buying in” to the importance of SOG’s, right, e.cat? :-)

No. But you knew that. :-)

[d.gerry]

Long-time lurker, infrequent poster here ... It's a relatively short trip for me to Rochester, so I couldn't pass up a chance to see if this season's UNH resurgence was in fact for real or just a mirage. Late on Saturday night I thought I'd find myself driving home in a funk, but wow - did that change in a hurry! Way to go 'Cats! Probably way too much commentary follows - so sue me :-)

Unlike Chuck, I'm still not ready to go ALL IN on this team (even with qualifiers) as a potential NCAA participant, but I will say this - this squad is filled with *relentless* competitors that opponents underestimate to their peril. Digging themselves into an early 0-2 hole both nights was certainly not part of the game plan, but these 'Cats didn't panic, didn't fold, and came roaring back to tie each time; I don't think that earlier Souza teams would've had the intestinal fortitude to do that. Both early RIT goals on Friday Ken Dryden in his Cornell prime wouldn't have stopped: a point-blank roof job off a horrendous UNH D-zone turnover, then another top shelf rocket off a seeing eye tip at the face-off dot. On Saturday UNH switched to a more aggressive fore-check scheme from the git go and began peppering Scarfone with shot after shot ... which is fine if you don't neglect the defensive side of things. RIT jumped out again to an early lead with 2 goals off of well-executed odd-man rushes, as UNH was caught both times with too many guys too deep in the O-zone to counter. "Not again," thinks I, but when RIT's Catalano is sent off on a major penalty (more on this in a bit) for "contact to the head," UNH nets 2 on the ensuing PP, the first on a nice move by Cafarelli, and the equalizer on an absolute pea by LeClerc, a rising slapper from the top of the left circle that was in/out so fast Scarfone never moved. Game on! After a scoreless 2nd, RIT regained the lead on a PP goal midway thru the 3rd and it looked grim, especially after M. Winters was assessed a major of his own (spearing; more in a bit) with ~ 6 minutes to play. But the 'Cats held firm and successfully killed it off, setting the stage for not 1, but 2 last second heroics that turned all but sure defeat - and a weekend RIT sweep - into a most improbable split (well sort of, since ot wins are now considered just 2/3 of a victory in the PWR). The stakes were much less dire, but I'd like to think they were channeling 2009 all over again, with RIT orange/black filling in for NoDak green/white. Or going back even further, BU red/white from 1998 in Albany. Let me tell you, I jumped out of my seat just the same :-)

And now a word (OK, several words) on video review - I can't recall another series in recent memory that was defined so completely in my mind by video "reassessment" ... As we all know, unlike VAR in futbol, or video review as implemented by MLB and the NFL, the college hockey version is closer to that of the NBA, i.e, the same officials making the initial call during the run of play will review their OWN calls via video replay and render a follow-up judgement. In some sense it's a do-over, an opportunity to correct an egregious mistake or verify an on-ice call. All of that, and more, was on display in both these games this weekend ...

On Friday, late in the 2nd, with RIT nursing a 3-2 lead, LeClerc levels an RIT player as he crosses the UNH blue line, sending him sprawling. 2 mins. for interference thinks I, but no; AVR (After Video Review) the call is adjudicated up to a 5 min. major for "Blind Side Interference," a penalty I'd never even heard of in 40+ years of following hockey :-( OK rules experts - is that really a thing? RIT scores on the ensuing PP to pad their lead, and then another early in the 3rd on the back end of the wrap-around major, stretching the lead to 3. Grrrrr ... UNH gets one back on a PP goal of their own, then H. Blaisdell appears to net another 5x5, but wait - the official is waving it off! The crowd is buzzing - high stick? Goalie interference? AVR the call is overturned and UNH is back in it at 4-5 with just under 10 mins. to play - Game on! Soon after the ref's got his arm raised again, in fact, they both do, so I guess it was a pretty obvious RIT penalty. But wait - AVR not 1 but 2 separate penalties are assessed to 2 different players (slashing and holding), giving UNH a full 2 min. 5x3 to try and get the equalizer. Can't remember when I last saw that happen ... Good pressure by the 'Cats just couldn't do it, as Scarfone stood tall and turned aside all he saw; UNH falls 4-5 :-(

On Saturday it's more of the same ... RIT leads 2-0, but a seemingly routine elbowing call is elevated AVR to a 5 min. major for "Contact to the Head" and UNH quickly capitalizes; at penalty's end it's now 2-2: Game on! So far these video reviews seem to be benefiting both teams at various times, but then comes the Winters penalty ... Late in the game there's a scuffle near the net in the RIT D-zone; an RIT player cross-checks Winters into Scarfone and all 3 players end up sprawled atop one another in/around the cage. No call; play continues up ice ... Behind the play, as the players start untangling themselves, the same RIT player finds himself knocked to the ice again. No call; play continues. Now RIT coach Wayne Wilson starts going apoplectic on the bench, screaming along with the partisan crowd to do something, anything. At the next whistle it's announced that Wilson has initiated a Coach's Challenge re: the goalmouth scuffle; AVR Winters is assessed a 5 min. major for spearing. Did he do it? I didn't see it, but the officials clearly did. Two things: (1) I hadn't realized that a Coach's Challenge could be requested in circumstances like this, i.e, for a supposed uncalled penalty, and (2) if a call had been made on the initial RIT cross-check, the subsequent retaliation penalty never would've occurred. IMHO it was just the last in a long series of questionable calls - and non-calls - made both ways by the officials this weekend (UNH ended up 3 for 13 on the PP over 2 games; RIT 4 for 9). Keep out of the box boys, all of you ...

Anyway, now it's on to Orono for our first game with the Black Bears this season. I'm not making any predictions but this: they won't get out-worked no matter the score (especially given how Saturday's game ended), and with a little bit of puck luck - who knows? Go Blue!

Great post, glad you were able to take in the games! I’m with you, still sitting in the I’M NOT ALL IN camp. Maybe it’s no longer a mirage, but I’m just not convinced they can maintain this level of play all season long. Change my mind! As you discussed, video review was definitely on display all weekend long. Not a fan of the “fix our mistakes approach”, on what seemed like every single penalty call. RIT definitely snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory on Saturday night, but credit to UNH for the effort and never give up attitude. First season in a many that I’m actually looking forward to weekend hockey!

[HockeyRef]

Sorry to hear about your Soccer Cats Chuck; I watched the 2nd half (missed the Clemson goal). 'Cats certainly looked to be in the game...
but just couldn't generate any decent chances it seemed. Clemson played fierce/stingy defense...Too bad considering the number one team was knocked out
(if I heard that right?)

At any rate another great season for them and they will continue to be able to recruit great players due to their success...coz as we know in the hockey
world...'success breeds success' and failure, well, we know all about that too (but we are coming up!!!)

[Ridge Rat]

@jeyeye1717 - “Blind Side Interference” Yup, it’s in the rule book (20-21 Edition). Minor or Major with possible game misconduct or DQ depending on severity, referee’s prerogative. I didn’t see Fri game so must have been semi-severe?
Also in the rule book are numerous examples of video review guidelines, main thing is some are automatic, most on-ice calls are subject to discussion and agreement amongst the on-ice crew that a review should be done.

[Chuck Murray]

Sorry to hear about your Soccer Cats Chuck; I watched the 2nd half (missed the Clemson goal). 'Cats certainly looked to be in the game...but just couldn't generate any decent chances it seemed. Clemson played fierce/stingy defense...Too bad considering the number one team was knocked out (if I heard that right?)

At any rate another great season for them and they will continue to be able to recruit great players due to their success...coz as we know in the hockey world...'success breeds success' and failure, well, we know all about that too (but we are coming up!!!)

Yup, the Soccer 'Cats did a very UNH thing tonight, ironically not a million miles removed from their 2010 Hockey 'Cats predecessors against RIT, who came up short when the door seemed to be wide open with an unexpected path towards the Final Four beckoning in their direction. And it was down to a single moment of individual excellence relatively late into the first half for Clemson, which was undaunted by the cold weather, and I think they parlayed an overall physical advantage, PLUS an official who was content to "let boys be boys", to a win over a physically lesser opponent.

C'est la vie.

In retrospect, UNH's best chance came very early, with just over 5 minutes played, and a loose ball deep in the Clemson box after a well placed free kick had the Tigers (more irony?) scrambling to avoid falling behind early. But after that, UNH's chances were few and far between, and an Elite Eight home match against Stanford next weekend for a trip to the Final Four in Louisville unfortunately was left unrealized.

Kind of a crappy ending to a great sports weekend, where even my thoroughly mediocre Giants posted wins, while UNH Hockey and DRW kept early season success going past the early Thanksgiving Day mileage marker. And since we're here for UNH Hockey, it'll be fascinating to see if the 'Cats can compete with the Black Bears next weekend in the decidedly unfriendly confines of Alfond Arena. But we gotta stop this letting the opposition get off to a 2-0 lead thingie. Coach Barr will grind UNH into the (ice?) dust if they try to pull that one again Friday night ...

[Chuck Murray]

Now onto the slightly UNH-related topic of Tommy DeVito, the latest paisan who is apparently the rage of The New Joisey Meadowlands after a pair of wins as the 3rd string QB of the (not-so-)Fabulous Football Giants. We've had some fun on here over the years about the paisan trends emanating from Main St. Durham from among the likes of former AD Marty "Blue Skies" Scarano, former Men's Hockey coach-for-life Dick "Captain Turtleneck" Umile, and most recently current Men's Hockey coach Mike "MS7" Souza. But the latest entry into the paisan Hall of Fame in these here parts (BTW that's Effingwoods, not Durham) has to be the Giants' namesake of the infamous Goodfellas character played by the great Joe Pesci, who has introduced the NFL world and beyond to the glory of what it is to be paisan. First, a primer on the screen version of "Tommy DeVito" ...

Goodfellas: How Tommy Knew He Was Being Whacked (screenrant.com)

The real-life DeVito has in recent weeks scrambled to some level of likely-temporary fame by managing to eke out a pair of wins against a pair of weak opponents on either side of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and by exploiting his awesome paisan heritage whenever and wherever he possibly can. The apex of DeVito's paisan schtick is the following gesture, which really requires no explanation (certainly not from an old Mick/Polack half-breed like myself), and is probably a gesture that was often seen over the last 20 plus years at certain athletics offices in and around Main St. in Durham - the perfect cover, actually, for a very paisan racket ...



... but just in case there are unexpected visitors to the WIS Estate in the coming days/weeks/years, I wanted to get this stuff posted so y'all know my admiration for all things paisan, in case some tragic accident happens.

Finishing up with a post-game interview of the man (kid) himself, who has managed to carpe diem. Kudos Tommy!!

[Darius]

As a frequent northern NJ visitor in the '80s I witnessed the Giant fan love for another local guy, Bill Parcells. Good for them having another in Tommy D. Local lad, born and raised, local HS, Syracuse U before wrapping up his college career with a solid season at IL. Unlike Pats fans, they have something to cheer for right now.

[Chuck Murray]

As a frequent northern NJ visitor in the '80s I witnessed the Giant fan love for another local guy, Bill Parcells. Good for them having another in Tommy D. Local lad, born and raised, local HS, Syracuse U before wrapping up his college career with a solid season at IL. Unlike Pats fans, they have something to cheer for right now.

And while Bill "Big Tuna" Parcells is definitely NOT paisan, the locals did gift him with an honorary paisan-like nickname.

FWIW, his ex-defensive coordinator (who has since redefined the term "defensive", in multiple ways) got no moniker.

[bakchk20]

I was wondering who that was. Huge play

Darius & e.cat, you guys nailed it. Stuffing the attempted clear was THE play of that possession, short of the goal, of course. Without it, game over...

I looked at the replay a dozen times and could get a clear view of the jersey number on the play. It looks like 28 (Gagne). Searching for "players on ice" intel, nothing at HockeyEast site, which apparently does not post a game sheet as they did in the past. However, the NCAA score site had this to offer:

GOAL by New Hampshire Conmy, Ryan (EXTRA ATTACKER), Assist by Sardarian, Stiven and Ring, Nick, On ice for UNH: Conmy, Ryan; Sardarian, Stiven; Ring, Nick; LeClerc, Cy; Huard, Colton; Cafarelli, Nick, On ice for RIT: Hobbs, Grady; Wilkie, Carter; Gonsalves, Elijah; Cassaro, Gianfranco; Hansen-Bukata, Aiden, goal number 6 for season.

So, I think it might have been LeClerc (29) on the point. Not 100% sure, but looks like it... Regardless, gold star to whomever it was!!

[Darius]

Darius & e.cat, you guys nailed it. Stuffing the attempted clear was THE play of that possession, short of the goal, of course. Without it, game over...

I looked at the replay a dozen times and could get a clear view of the jersey number on the play. It looks like 28 (Gagne). Searching for "players on ice" intel, nothing at HockeyEast site, which apparently does not post a game sheet as they did in the past. However, the NCAA score site had this to offer:

GOAL by New Hampshire Conmy, Ryan (EXTRA ATTACKER), Assist by Sardarian, Stiven and Ring, Nick, On ice for UNH: Conmy, Ryan; Sardarian, Stiven; Ring, Nick; LeClerc, Cy; Huard, Colton; Cafarelli, Nick, On ice for RIT: Hobbs, Grady; Wilkie, Carter; Gonsalves, Elijah; Cassaro, Gianfranco; Hansen-Bukata, Aiden, goal number 6 for season.

So, I think it might have been LeClerc (29) on the point. Not 100% sure, but looks like it... Regardless, gold star to whomever it was!!

You may be right. I looked at the replay a few times and also could not get a clear view of the number. Huard's number was easily visible at the other point. I went with Gagne because he is a defenseman, but LeClerc is often at the point. Viewing the replay frame by frame on a larger screen, the jersey is still not clear, but the name might be longer than Gagne(?) Either way a NH guy!