UNH Hockey Off Season Thread 2026

[Chuck Murray]

Is that an NCAA event? Could be that it is put on by USA Hockey or the Hobey Baker Foundation.

Fair point, could very well be the HBF? I'm not aware of any ties between HBF and USA Hockey??

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

You're making a pretty big assumption there Grouch ... not sure I'd bet the house on MS7 being in the office today ... I mean, what's the big hurry?!?

BTW gotta give props to "Emily the Flunky" who seems to have nailed this in advance, greatly enhancing her credibility, despite some doubters.

She certainly did!

 

[Dan]

Owen Murray @permurr02
Former UMass F Nick Vant Tassell headed to UNH out of the portal.

Nicholas Van Tassell - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Nicholas Van Tassell, 2004-04-18 Basking Ridge, NJ, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of New Hampshire. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Van Tassell is big (6-4, 200), experienced (87 career games), pedigreed (OTT 7th '23) and young (21), but he has just one year of eligibility remaining and was only 5-13--18, -18 in three seasons at Massachusetts (2-10--12 in 26 games as a junior). He was a big time scorer in midget hockey, before posting 30-25--55 in 120 games over two seasons in the USHL...

If Im being honest, I hope this is not the potential top-six transfer I've been clamoring for; perhaps there will be more defections among the forward group and Van Tassell slides nicely into the lower half of the line-up?

EDIT: And there you have it, he slides nicely into a bottom six center role with Ryan MacPherson's departure. (Hat tip Norbert, below).

--

Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Romeo - MacDonald - TRANSFER
Zebeski - Gagnon- Lavins
Oliver - Van Tassell - Turner
Walsh - Siedem - Hyles

DeTurris - R. MacPherson - C. MacPherson

--

UNH needs TWO goalies, but could be settled with EIGHT defenseman. That leaves SIXTEEN spots for FORWARDS, meaning at least one more opening for a playmaking talent (maybe two/three depending on DSA status at the bottom of the roster). Hopefully, they're still looking for another forward regardless of any additional pending departures...

 

[Potluck]

Nicholas Van Tassell - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Nicholas Van Tassell, 2004-04-18 Basking Ridge, NJ, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of New Hampshire. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Van Tassell is big (6-4, 200), experienced (87 career games), pedigreed (OTT 7th '23) and young (21), but he has just one year of eligibility remaining and was only 5-13--18, -18 in three seasons at Massachusetts (2-10--26 as a junior). He was a big time scorer in midget hockey, before posting 30-25--55 in 120 games over two seasons in the USHL...

If Im being honest, I hope this is not the potential top-six transfer I've been clamoring for; perhaps there will be more defections among the forward group and Van Tassell slides nicely into the lower half of the line-up?

--

Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Romeo - MacDonald - Gagnon
Zebeski - Van Tassell - Lavins
Oliver - MacPherson - Turner
Walsh - Siedem - Hyles
TRANSFER

DeTurris

--

UNH needs TWO goalies, but could be settled with EIGHT defenseman. That leaves SIXTEEN spots for FORWARDS, meaning at least one more opening for a playmaking talent (maybe two/three depending on DSA status at the bottom of the roster). Hopefully, they're still looking for another forward regardless of any additional pending departures...

Fans:

Ty Conklin is not walking through that door.
Kevin Regan is not walking through that door.
Mike Ayers is not walking through that door, although he may at the end of next season
Mark Mowers is not walking through that door.
Eric Boguniecki is not walking through that door, although he may at the end of next season.....

 

[Dan]

Fans:

Ty Conklin is not walking through that door.
Kevin Regan is not walking through that door.
Mike Ayers is not walking through that door, although he may at the end of next season
Mark Mowers is not walking through that door.
Eric Boguniecki is not walking through that door, although he may at the end of next season.....

And somewhere in the miles and miles and miles wide chasm separating those AA's from the bottom half of UNH's roster there are players with more eligibility, more proven offensive ability or both. Players like these - either looking to move up a level and prove themselves, or down a level to reestablish...

Erik Påhlsson - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Erik Påhlsson, 2004-04-09 Landskrona, SWE Sweden. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of Minnesota. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Ivan Zadvernyuk - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Ivan Zadvernyuk, 2004-04-12 Moskva, RUS Russia. Most recently in the NCAA with Brown Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Giovanni Morneau - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Giovanni Morneau, 2003-06-17 Ottawa, ON, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Lindenwood Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Charles Savoie - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Charles Savoie, 2003-01-14 St-Eustache, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Lindenwood Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Nic Chin-Degraves - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Nic Chin-Degraves, 2003-05-19 Edmonton, AB, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Penn State Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Jack Stockfish - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Jack Stockfish, 2002-09-30 North Bay, ON, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with College of the Holy Cross. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Kasper Magnussen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Kasper Magnussen, 2004-02-19 Düsseldorf, GER Norway. Most recently in the NCAA with Bemidji State Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Jérémy Loranger - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Jérémy Loranger, 2007-06-15 Trois-Rivières, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Daniel Shlaine - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Daniel Shlaine, 2005-10-30 Moskva, RUS Russia. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Diego Buttazzoni - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Diego Buttazzoni, 2006-01-13 Langley, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with UMass-Lowell. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Mirko Buttazzoni - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Mirko Buttazzoni, 2004-09-12 Langley, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with UMass-Lowell. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

David Klee - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of David Klee, 2005-05-10 Castle Rock, CO, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of North Dakota. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Cade Littler - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Cade Littler, 2004-07-12 East Wenatchee, WA, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of North Dakota. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Tanner Klimpke - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tanner Klimpke, 2002-12-13 Calgary, AB, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Robert Morris Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Drop the schtik.

 

[norbert]

With the other McPherson on the list the total is 7. Believe there is one more to come.

 

[2013hockeyfan]

Fair point, could very well be the HBF? I'm not aware of any ties between HBF and USA Hockey??

Are there other awards given out at the event besides the Hobey Baker? If so, that is what had me thinking it may be a USAH (or College Hockey Inc.) hosted event.

 

[emily422]

For those with more insight on the portal than me, if a player is planning to drop down to D3, do they still enter the portal? Wondering how that works. I know one of our guys will be but wasn't sure if we'll see that name in the portal.

 

[Dan]

For those with more insight on the portal than me, if a player is planning to drop down to D3, do they still enter the portal? Wondering how that works. I know one of our guys will be but wasn't sure if we'll see that name in the portal.

Yes, they’d still enter.

 

[Felger]

Tweet of the day from Mark Divver:

Transfer portal day

It's like Allston Christmas in April

https://x.com/MarkDivver/status/2043708848247042248?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Fans:

Ty Conklin is not walking through that door.
Kevin Regan is not walking through that door.
Mike Ayers is not walking through that door, although he may at the end of next season
Mark Mowers is not walking through that door.
Eric Boguniecki is not walking through that door, although he may at the end of next season.....

Bogie intrigues me and not because he lived next door to me (with Tom Nolan) freshman year at Lord Hall.

He brings the experience, the energy, the attitude and the gift of gab UNH desperately needs.

 

[JB]

Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Romeo - MacDonald - TRANSFER
Zebeski - Gagnon- Lavins
Oliver - Van Tassell - Turner
Walsh - Siedem - Hyles

I would hope Oliver finds his game and slides up to a 2nd or 3rd line role.

Serious question, are you placing based on stats/history and Oliver looks like the 4th best left wing?

 

[Snively65]

I think that Jack Stockfish from Holy Cross would be a good get. I have watched him play against Bentley in several games the past three seasons and he seemed to be on the ice all the time, first line center, PK, PP, and Captain. Good size at 6’4”, good at the dot, and 87 points over the past three years.

 

[2013hockeyfan]

I think that Jack Stockfish from Holy Cross would be a good get. I have watched him play against Bentley in several games the past three seasons and he seemed to be on the ice all the time, first line center, PK, PP, and Captain. Good size at 6’4”, good at the dot, and 87 points over the past three years.

Currently the second highest (and highest uncommitted) "CHIP" rated skater in the portal. Have to imagine he has a lot of suitors.

 

[Potluck]

FYI:
Owen Murray
@permurr02
Former UMass F Nick Van Tassell headed to UNH out of the portal.

Big body kid with some skills that scouts often use low round picks on because he could turn into a big body fourth line hustle guy and with any luck something better.

My guess is Carvel nudged him out at UMass and he found a home with Souza.

 

[Robert Balin]

Nick De Angelis is in Portal.

 

[Potluck]

Drop the sch

You don’t understand my reference. Hint: Pitino, Rick.

 

[Dan]

You don’t understand my reference. Hint: Pitino, Rick.

I understand your reference. And I recall his comments also landing with a large, poorly-received thud...

Nobody was clamoring for Larry Bird then, and no one is clamoring for Hobey Baker now. He didn't need HOFers to improve, and UNH doesn't need AAs to improve their offensive production, so arguing you don't have them/can't get them is irrelevant...

 

[RENCEB]

Carl clearly stayed sober, saved his money, stayed fit, and his continuous touring with his new guys over the last few years into his mid-'70's has allowed them to rebuild the ELP worldwide fanbase to some degree. At their peak, despite the headwinds from the music press, ELP was one of the biggest bands in the world.

December 10th, 1973, Boston Garden. I still have the Globe review by Ernie Santosuosso. Talks about Palmer's massive 2 1/2 ton percussion setup ($35,000....imagine!) all set upon a revolving rostrum. To this day, perhaps the best concert I have ever seen. Over 15,500 at the "Gahden"!

 

[Dan]

I would hope Oliver finds his game and slides up to a 2nd or 3rd line role.

Serious question, are you placing based on stats/history and Oliver looks like the 4th best left wing?

I hope so too.

Projected line-ups from me are often a Frankenstein combination of what I would do, what I expect the coaches would do and player's paired up based on complimentary skill sets. The line-up you quoted had two scoring lines, a match-up/defensive line and a third, emerging scoring line. I had Oliver on the fourth line mostly based on how he seemed to fall out of favor with the coaching staff as the season progressed, but also because I thought he paired well with a potential playmaker like MacPherson (who I always seemed to like more than the coaching staff)...

With MacPherson leaving that emerging offensive pairing is off the table. With Oliver's scoring past it has always maked sense to give him first shot on a top-six spot. He is certainly capable of more scoring alongside MacDonald, if UNH can find a pure playmaker to get the two of them pucks.

It was somewhat optimistic/hopeful to pencil Romeo into a top-six role right away anyway (probably for Tournas, also), but I'm desperate to see UNH generate offense. If Romeo moved down you'd have to high-energy buzzers flanking a gigantic center on a second match-up/defensive line...

--

DeAngelis' departure opens the door for a potential defensive transfer, with now just seven on the roster. He's in the portal with a No Contact tag, btw, so his destination is already picked out...

My estimation puts UNH with four open slots, and 1-2 more players potentially still departing per our fellow posters...

--

FORWARDS (14 / Want 1 / May Lose 1-2)
Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Oliver - MacDonald - TRANSFER
Zebeski - Gagnon - Lavins
Romeo - Van Tassell - Turner
Walsh - Siedem - Hyles

DeTurris - R. MacPherson - C. MacPherson

DEFENSEMEN (7 / Need 1)
Fitzgerald - VonRichter
Philbrick - Carr
DeHaro - Kennedy
Plandowski - TRANSFER

Conn - Player
Hahn - DeAngelis

GOALIES (1 / Need 2)
TRANSFER
Henriquez
WALK ON

Coombs