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UNH Hockey Off Season Thread 2026

Snively65 said:
You are baiting and switching, JB. FlagUp17 wrote that UNH is stronger than BC in Earth/marine science and physical science (likely true), to which I responded that I doubted UNH has ever had any hockey players in those majors. Neither FlagUp17 nor I mentioned STEM or “hard science,” so you are being a jerk to attribute those words to us.
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Relax... never attributed anything to you. In most ways I am agreeing with you. STEM degrees for Hockey, most D1 athletes, are rare. The class requirements and the practice/game requirements are a very difficult mix.

I went STEM because that is the simplest way to see if anybody other than Dr. Fortney, again in the news recently, had a degree in the "hard sciences". Again right or wrong I don't "count" many of the healthcare degrees as "hard sciences" because personally I like my healthcare more care focused than technology focused. The second post you refence has nothing to do with you and more a commentary on AI tools.
 
Robert Balin said:
Program Overview
The UNH/Northeast Passage sled hockey program was a pioneer in the sport, launched in 1994 as one of only three such teams in the United States. Today, it features three distinct teams with a total of 40 athletes:
Facebook +2
  • NEP Wildcats: Competitive adult
  • Key Details About UNH/Northeast Passage Sled Hockey:
    • Elite Development: The program is a significant pipeline for the U.S. Men's Sled Hockey team, which has won multiple consecutive gold medals.
    • History: In 1994, UNH launched one of only three sled hockey teams in the entire country at that time.
    • Structured Play: The program provides opportunities for all levels, including a structured youth program, intermediate programs, and a competitive team that plays in the Northeast Sled Hockey League, as well as national tournaments.
    • High-Level Coaching: The program focuses on fast-paced, competitive, and tactical play, similar to the training used by U.S. Paralympic gold medal coaches.
  • that practice weekly and compete in the Northeast Sled Hockey League (NESHL) and the Midwest Sled Hockey League (MWSHL).
  • Youth Sled Hockey: A developmental program for youth ages 5–18 with physical disabilities.
  • National/Elite Teams: The program features a Tier 1 squad that competes in high-level national tournaments.
    Northeast Passage | University of New Hampshire +4 Never knew UNH was a pioneer for sled hockey it's actually quite enjoyable to watch.

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I think that UNH/Northeast Passage is a fantastic program!

About 25 years ago, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) rebuilt Galehead Hut, which lies at about 3800 ft elevation in the middle of a chain of eight huts without road access across the White Mountains. Galehead hut is 4.6 miles and about 3000 vertical feet from the nearest trailhead off U.S. Route 3.

The AMC was not allowed to expand the original hut’s footprint so adding an outside deck/porch to provide views of the Pemigewasett Wilderness was not allowed. But then the federal government stepped in, as he hut is located on U.S.F.S. land, and ruled that the AMC had to build a wheelchair-accessible ramp to access the hut to mitigate the 3- to 4-foot vertical in steps per ADA requirements. The minimum ADA-mandated width of the ramp allowed the AMC to add their outside deck/porch, which was immediately mocked online by the anti-ADA crowd.

So, in stepped UNH/Northeast passage, which got one of their paraplegic members up that 4.6 miles and about 3000 vertical feet of rough trail in a wheelchair, which took them about 12 hours, but they did it!
 
JB said:
Relax... never attributed anything to you. In most ways I am agreeing with you. STEM degrees for Hockey, most D1 athletes, are rare. The class requirements and the practice/game requirements are a very difficult mix.

I went STEM because that is the simplest way to see if anybody other than Dr. Fortney, again in the news recently, had a degree in the "hard sciences". Again right or wrong I don't "count" many of the healthcare degrees as "hard sciences" because personally I like my healthcare more care focused than technology focused. The second post you refence has nothing to do with you and more a commentary on AI tools.
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Thanks for the clarification, JB. I should have deleted the second part of your post, which got included automatically in my reply,

And I have the deepest respect for one of our greatest post-season goal scorers, Dr Thomas Fortney, and hope that if I ever need a shoulder replacement that I can get a referral to him. 🙂
 
HockeyRef said:
Was talking about this with someone's opinion that I trust...made the analogy of how we got Marty Lavins...he (Lavins) was told 1 more year in jrs which didn't
sit with him...UNH picked him up...same here with Henriquez but..I'm sure $$$ was a huge decision maker PLUS he wanted to play D1 now. Happens. UNH may have
their issues but it's still a great choice. BC..a great school to be sure. Can't blame him.. Sorry we lost him but think MS7 et al had choices to make for next season
and that was that. Onward!
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Is there any indication that UNH told Henriquez they wanted him to stay in juniors another season?
 
HockeyRef said:
That was my impression...but really dont have any facts to back it up? Sounds like what happened...but it could also be true BC dangled the $$ and away he went.
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I would imagine that UNH wanted him to enroll next year. I think BC came calling after the season he had and whether they offered money or not that was a more appealing prospect.
 
2013hockeyfan said:
I would imagine that UNH wanted him to enroll next year. I think BC came calling after the season he had and whether they offered money or not that was a more appealing prospect.
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I would have thought UNH initially wanted him to join this year, as that is what Heisenberg initially had. Once the two goalies came from the portal, Heisenberg changed it to 2027, and then crossed him off when he switched to BC.

I alluded to this a few days ago, and another poster said that his switch to BC happened before the portal opened up, hence why Souza recruited 2 goalies instead of one.

I would tend to think Souza, in his contract year and knowing a young/freshmen goalie may not be ready for prime time, took the safe route with getting two established goalies with NCAA/AHL experience to “ride/die” with. Souza then had the difficult conversation with Henriquez they wanted one more year in Juniors, and he reopened the door to other teams.

Seems like a chicken or the egg scenario with what actually happened first. Not sure if anyone has evidence to say one way or the other.

Either way. I think we are better set up for success at least this year with the two portal goalies. After next year… well we will cross that bridge when we get there. As others have mentioned you almost have to view the landscape (with NIL/the portal nowadays) as recruiting everyone for 1 year contracts. It’s getting more and more difficult to forecast beyond that.
 
Well the announcement came on April 19th via Henriquez's social media.

SI Roberto Leonardo Henriquez,

Simpson and Kendrick both appeared here on USCHO as transfers on April 15th, 3-4 days before that.

Nothing official and this looks suspiciously like Souza got two transfers and tried to push Henriquez out a year and 3-4 days later Henriquez had found a new home for this year. Seems not like $$$ rather a player who wanted to move his development forward from Juniors to College.
 
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JB said:
Well the announcement came on April 19th via Henriquez's social media.

SI Roberto Leonardo Henriquez,

Simpson and Kendrick both appeared here on USCHO as transfers on April 15th, 3-4 days before that.

Nothing official and this looks suspiciously like Souza got to transfers and tried to push Henriquez out a year and 3-4 days later Henriquez had found a new home for this year. Seems not like $$$ rather a player who wanted to move his development forward from Juniors to College.
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That's exactly what happened JB good leg work on your part.
 
Robert Balin said:
That's exactly what happened JB good leg work on your part.
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It doesn't seem to me like he was available to flip until UNH decided to push him back a year.

Since he is going to be at BC we will get to see if he is a college star like the few goalies with similar USHL numbers that have come along in recent years, if he is a Flower or Slukynsky it will be a good swift kick in the ...
 
JB said:
Well the announcement came on April 19th via Henriquez's social media.

SI Roberto Leonardo Henriquez,

Simpson and Kendrick both appeared here on USCHO as transfers on April 15th, 3-4 days before that.

Nothing official and this looks suspiciously like Souza got two transfers and tried to push Henriquez out a year and 3-4 days later Henriquez had found a new home for this year. Seems not like $$$ rather a player who wanted to move his development forward from Juniors to College.
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Good take and we (and him) move forward!
 
JB said:
It doesn't seem to me like he was available to flip until UNH decided to push him back a year.

Since he is going to be at BC we will get to see if he is a college star like the few goalies with similar USHL numbers that have come along in recent years, if he is a Flower or Slukynsky it will be a good swift kick in the ...
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While I agree in thinking his transfer likely came after the two portal goalies, I don’t think he ever signed financials with UNH and thus it was likely only a verbal commitment to attend UNH this fall. Im not as familiar with all the ins and outs of recruitment, but Doesnt he have all the power to reneg on his commitment if it’s just verbal?

Again, I don’t think this is what played out. As you posted earlier with his social media announcement. I originally labored the point because someone said it all went down before the portal, and said it was a difference in money being offered. They didn’t offer any evidence to back that point, so perhaps it was just conjecture.

Anyways, we will see how much time he gets in net as a freshmen this year in BC, and how well his USHL numbers translate to divison 1. Best of luck to him (except when he plays us, haha!)
 
Well the only 2 goalies with similar USHL numbers played in the national championship game their freshman year... One won it. All 3 basically the same height, with Henriquez being a bit lighter than the other 2.

Even as amazing as a hot goalie can be, I don't think UNH is a goalie away from the promised land.
 
JB said:
Well the only 2 goalies with similar USHL numbers played in the national championship game their freshman year... One won it. All 3 basically the same height, with Henriquez being a bit lighter than the other 2.

Even as amazing as a hot goalie can be, I don't think UNH is a goalie away from the promised land.
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Considering that Kyle Chauvette had 5 shutouts doesnt matter if you cant put the puck in the net...
 
So theres a few days left on the portal, and as expected it seems things have quieted down on that front after the “mad dash” of the first 48 hrs.

Even still, if Souza wanted to fill maybe 1 more roster spot, there appears to be a few interesting names remaining on the list.

Nolan Seed, a Dman from Lindenwood, has 1 year of eligibility left after spending his first two years at Carleton in USports. He finished with 3-19-22 and +6 after 38 points in 53 games at Carleton.

His teammate Louis Fontaine is also available. The short 5’9” forward finished 10-11-21 in 30 games as a freshmen after netting over a point per game his last year in the QMJHL.

Adam Barone, a Dman from LSSU, finished his sophomore year with 4-15-19 in 36 games, albeit with a less sightly -11. He did show marked improvement from his freshmen year though, where he only got 1 point in 17 games.

I’d lean more towards grabbing another forward vs. Dman if I was Souza. But perhaps he is satisfied with what he has got thus far.

We will see if any more big names enter over the next 5 days.
 
JB said:
Well the announcement came on April 19th via Henriquez's social media.

SI Roberto Leonardo Henriquez,

Simpson and Kendrick both appeared here on USCHO as transfers on April 15th, 3-4 days before that.

Nothing official and this looks suspiciously like Souza got two transfers and tried to push Henriquez out a year and 3-4 days later Henriquez had found a new home for this year. Seems not like $$$ rather a player who wanted to move his development forward from Juniors to College.
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The announcement came on the 19th but the deal with BC was in the works long before. It takes time to get to the right dollar amount.
 
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