UNH Hockey Off Season Thread 2026

[Jellsville USA]

It's a tough time for UNH to recruit with Souza unlikely to return after the 2026 season. It's a little unfair for the next coach to have to potentially reneg on committed players. That's an ugly start but that's part of the deal. Anyone worthwhile will likely be quick to turn the roster many players transferring or being pushed out.

A coaching change doesn’t have to hurt recruiting—there are plenty of recent examples that show the opposite. Look at Maine under Ben Barr, where a new staff quickly re‑energized the program and gave incoming players clear opportunity and momentum. Providence under Nate Leaman, UConn under Mike Cavanaugh, and Penn State early under Guy Gadowsky all benefited from coaching changes that stabilized recruiting and accelerated roster buy‑in. In each case, recruits weren’t scared off by transition—they were drawn to the chance to play early, fit a new vision, and help define the program. UNH could see the same effect with the right hire. for a fan trying to weed out the negative, this take feels awfully pessimistic... (Forever Optimistic)

 

[Jellsville USA]

OA D Wyatt Kennedy commits to UNH, plays for Windsor Spitfires. 6’5 RHD, not big offensive producer but he’s steady as they come on the blue line. +/- isn’t a perfect stat but he leads his team with +37, only guy close is his D partner i’m guessing with +36.

this season- 66 games, 3-23-26 which is a season high

Windsor is playing Guelph in the first round of the OHL playoffs, they’re up 2 games and game 3 is tonight

Appreciate these updates and look forward to your analysis later in the year!!

 

[Dan]

The new defensive recruit leaves them with the following, pre-transfer portal, roster...

FORWARDS
Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Romeo - Gagnon - TRANSFER
Zebeski - MacDonald - Lavins
Oliver - MacPherson - Turner
DeTurris - Siedem - Walsh

DEFENSEMEN
Fitzgerald - VonRichter
Philbrick - Carr
DeHaro - Kennedy
DeAngelis - Plandowksi
Player - Conn
Hahn

GOALIES
TRANSFER
Henriquez
Coombs

The forward group NEEDS a top-six playmaker. I suspect Henriquez only commits to UNH because they agreed to bring him this season (We'll see). Obviously another transfer goalie will join the team to compete for starts.

A second defensive commitment brings the blue line to 11 bodies. That's too many. It was probably already too many with just VonRichter joining the team. I'd guess this commitment means the staff is already aware of at least a couple defensive departures...

 

[HockeyRef]

The new defensive recruit leaves them with the following, pre-transfer portal, roster...

FORWARDS
Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Romeo - Gagnon - TRANSFER
Zebeski - MacDonald - Lavins
Oliver - MacPherson - Turner
DeTurris - Siedem - Walsh

DEFENSEMEN
Fitzgerald - VonRichter
Philbrick - Carr
DeHaro - Kennedy
DeAngelis - Plandowksi
Player - Conn
Hahn

GOALIES
TRANSFER
Henriquez
Coombs

The forward group NEEDS a top-six playmaker. I suspect Henriquez only commits to UNH because they agreed to bring him this season (We'll see). Obviously another transfer goalie will join the team to compete for starts.

A second defensive commitment brings the blue line to 11 bodies. That's too many. It was probably already too many with just VonRichter joining the team. I'd guess this commitment means the staff is already aware of at least a couple defensive departures...

Thanks Dan...the new D man Wyatt Kennedy has size at 6'5....will be interesting to see who departs on the D.

 

[2013hockeyfan]

The new defensive recruit leaves them with the following, pre-transfer portal, roster...

FORWARDS
Newcomb - Ring - Tournas
Romeo - Gagnon - TRANSFER
Zebeski - MacDonald - Lavins
Oliver - MacPherson - Turner
DeTurris - Siedem - Walsh

Don't let the grumpy cat see you putting Lavins on the third line.

 

[JB]

Looking at Heisenberg lists ... Does Maine actually have 19 players lined up to come in next year???

 

[JB]

OK - do they need a goalie transfer?

Goalie	USHL Team	Season	USHL Sv %	College Team	1st Year NCAA Record	1st Year NCAA SV%
Leonardo Henriquez	Green Bay	2025–26	.920	New Hampshire	TBD (2026–27)	TBD
Hampton Slukynsky	Fargo	2023–24	.923	Western Michigan	19–5–1	.922
Jacob Fowler	Youngstown	2022–23	.921	Boston College	32–6–1	.926
Akira Schmid	Sioux City	2020–21	.921	N/A (Signed Pro)	0–4–0 (NHL)	.833 (NHL)

.920 save percentage is not common in USHL. Here is Henriquez company the last 5 years. (according to AI, I didn't double check)

Let the kid alternate with Coombs. I mean what is the worst that will happen finish 11th?

 

[HockeyRef]

OK - do they need a goalie transfer?

Goalie	USHL Team	Season	USHL Sv %	College Team	1st Year NCAA Record	1st Year NCAA SV%
Leonardo Henriquez	Green Bay	2025–26	.920	New Hampshire	TBD (2026–27)	TBD
Hampton Slukynsky	Fargo	2023–24	.923	Western Michigan	19–5–1	.922
Jacob Fowler	Youngstown	2022–23	.921	Boston College	32–6–1	.926
Akira Schmid	Sioux City	2020–21	.921	N/A (Signed Pro)	0–4–0 (NHL)	.833 (NHL)

.920 save percentage is not common in USHL. Here is Henriquez company the last 5 years. (according to AI, I didn't double check)

Let the kid alternate with Coombs. I mean what is the worst that will happen finish 11th?

I mean...what do we have to lose right!?!

 

[JB]

Note: Coombs had really good numbers in the SJHL however those numbers don't seem to translate as well in NCAA D1. Honestly most don't seem to have any impact other than John Kotai from Augustina and his first NCAA D1 year was rough.

 

[Felger]

Looking at Heisenberg lists ... Does Maine actually have 19 players lined up to come in next year???

According to the Maine thread there's going to be a house cleaning up there.

I think the recruiting lists are as real as the NFL salary cap numbers

 

[HockeyRef]

Note: Coombs had really good numbers in the SJHL however those numbers don't seem to translate as well in NCAA D1. Honestly most don't seem to have any impact other than John Kotai from Augustina and his first NCAA D1 year was rough.

Would love to see him get a shot at it! As far as not translating in D1 we saw this for sure in other players..not to be a jerk..Hopefully next season! Could def see the talent was there...

 

[JB]

Would love to see him get a shot at it! As far as not translating in D1 we saw this for sure in other players..not to be a jerk..Hopefully next season! Could def see the talent was there...

Well I worry about Henriquez a little in this regard.

"... take that talent and use it inside a system that's designed for the betterment of the team." Herb Brooks

I think UNH is starting to come around a bit on the D side in having a system... maybe, just maybe. If there aren't a pile of defections one would hope that the D has grown together. It would be nice to see year to year progression (although not common under MS7). That could make for a good year 1 for Henriquez.

BUT
“It’s not about trying to win zero-zero,” Cam Nealy

The bigger system gap I see is on the offense side. I see a UNH team playing the 98-99 offense with out a Jason Krog (not that they grow on trees). I watched Denver, young team up front and they manufactured goals all weekend on tip plays. Even Michigan with all that offensive talent against UMD 1st goal was a nice tip play setup. Just watching the UM players move the plan was to take the goalies eyes away and maybe get a tip, ended up back of the net, goalie had no chance, off the shaft of a stick down, bounced off the ice and changed direction. These NCAA tournament teams had clear intent to beat these fantastic goalies with structured tip plays, and a number of shots that forced rebounds that turned into goals. I don't see that as part of UNH's current offensive system.

 

[RENCEB]

Looking at Heisenberg lists ... Does Maine actually have 19 players lined up to come in next year???

JB, would you mind posting a link to the overall 2026 Heisenberg list? I can't find it anywhere. Appreciate it.

 

[FlagUp17]

OA D Wyatt Kennedy commits to UNH, plays for Windsor Spitfires. 6’5 RHD, not big offensive producer but he’s steady as they come on the blue line. +/- isn’t a perfect stat but he leads his team with +37, only guy close is his D partner i’m guessing with +36.

this season- 66 games, 3-23-26 which is a season high

Windsor is playing Guelph in the first round of the OHL playoffs, they’re up 2 games and game 3 is tonight

Thank for sharing! Love the size. 6’5” is a big guy! Reminds me of Eric Knodel and Harry Quast as fellow taller D men.

 

[FlagUp17]

JB, would you mind posting a link to the overall 2026 Heisenberg list? I can't find it anywhere. Appreciate it.

Here you go RENCEB.

Chris Heisenberg's 2026 List.xlsx

docs.google.com

 

[FlagUp17]

Looking at Heisenberg lists ... Does Maine actually have 19 players lined up to come in next year???

I read earlier that freshmen Miguel Marques is entering the portal for Maine. Had a decent first year for Maine with 10G and 13A (more goals than I think anyone for UNH…). He’s from BC so maybe he’s looking at one of the schools out west?

I also think Maine had a number of guys leave to go pro which may contribute to their big incoming class. I did hear though that Boija is returning for his senior year, albeit I don’t think he had as good a year this year so he probably feels he has a lot to prove.

I imagine as we get closer to the portal opening we will hear more of these rumors across college hockey.

 

[FlagUp17]

OK - do they need a goalie transfer?

Goalie	USHL Team	Season	USHL Sv %	College Team	1st Year NCAA Record	1st Year NCAA SV%
Leonardo Henriquez	Green Bay	2025–26	.920	New Hampshire	TBD (2026–27)	TBD
Hampton Slukynsky	Fargo	2023–24	.923	Western Michigan	19–5–1	.922
Jacob Fowler	Youngstown	2022–23	.921	Boston College	32–6–1	.926
Akira Schmid	Sioux City	2020–21	.921	N/A (Signed Pro)	0–4–0 (NHL)	.833 (NHL)

.920 save percentage is not common in USHL. Here is Henriquez company the last 5 years. (according to AI, I didn't double check)

Let the kid alternate with Coombs. I mean what is the worst that will happen finish 11th?

I’d love it if they just went with Henriquez and Coombs. Given recent history though, and the fact this is again a contract year for MS7, I think he tries to find someone with more experience in the portal.

In the post-Muszelik years, Souza has seemed to stick with one guy for the most part (barring injury or atrocious play). I fear if Henriquez doesnt get adequate playing time he may bolt in the portal, perhaps to haunt us down the line just like Muszelik…

It’s still early in the “pre-portal”, but I wonder if Souza would have interest in Mercyhursts goalie Charles-Edward Gravel. He will be an incoming sophomore, and played in 27 games last year. Mercyhurst was pretty bad, but he still managed a save % of 0.907, despite 3.22 GAA (this tells me he likely saw a ton of shots every game).

Perhaps behind a more stout D he can really shine? He did pretty well prior to joining Mercyhurst in the BCHL (save % of 0.930) and in the QMJHL (save % of 0.914).

He will be a sophomore though, and may not jive with the future of Henriquez and Coombs. He will likely go with a head transfer or senior like KC. Maybe a junior like Whale/Hellsten if it’s a good fit…

I imagine UNH will focus their portal offers on finding the top studs in Atlantic hockey, and maybe the ECAC. I’m not sure they will be able to get the top guys/draft picks from other conferences. Bur who knows - looking forward to the portal officially opening soon!

 

[Snively65]

I read earlier that freshmen Miguel Marques is entering the portal for Maine. Had a decent first year for Maine with 10G and 13A (more goals than I think anyone for UNH…). He’s from BC so maybe he’s looking at one of the schools out west?

I also think Maine had a number of guys leave to go pro which may contribute to their big incoming class. I did hear though that Boija is returning for his senior year, albeit I don’t think he had as good a year this year so he probably feels he has a lot to prove.

I imagine as we get closer to the portal opening we will hear more of these rumors across college hockey.

Ha, ha, ha. That is what happens when you name your season thread after an incoming first year player.

 

[Dan]

Note: Coombs had really good numbers in the SJHL however those numbers don't seem to translate as well in NCAA D1. Honestly most don't seem to have any impact other than John Kotai from Augustina and his first NCAA D1 year was rough.

UNH will definitely need three goalies. The issue is, I haven't seen any indication that UNH views Coombs as more than a typical number three. If anyone has any real insight or indication that the coaches view him as even a back-up (or not) that would certainly help clarify the team's true depth chart moving forward...

There were spots to get him into the net this season, but he wasn't given a single opportunity. If UNH thought he had a real role in 2026-27 you'd think they'd have made a point of getting him into some game action. Or better still, they'd have left him in juniors to play regularly.

As you state, his SJHL numbers are hard to translate and a .926 in that league doesn't indicate a sure role. Until I see any evidence to the contrary its hard for me to assume his role will be any different than it was last season...

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I make the assumption Henriquez will attend UNH this fall, because I think he'd have waited to commit - and entertained additional offers - if he wasn't planning to enroll in Fall 2026 (though I don't believe that has been confirmed yet, either). He'd make one rotational goaltender. And I do think UNH goes to the portal to either find a lead goalie, a time-splitting goalie or an experienced back-up goalie...

 

[Dan]

Don't let the grumpy cat see you putting Lavins on the third line.

There is no bigger indication for how far UNH has fallen than what passes for a top-six forward now as compared to then...

Honestly, in retrospect, I'd probably flip Gagnon & MacDonald in my previous post as the former seems a bit better defensively and the latter better offensively. That gives you a third line of Gagnon, Lavins and Zebeski (scouting report below) that can win possession, forecheck, defend and chip in a bit of offense.

Lavins is a great player but he'd be best served on a good NCAA team in a checking/match-up role. Its not an insult to suggest he play with these two, on this type of line; A line that would quickly become a lot of fans' favorite.

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Zebeski is a wrecking ball on the ice, using both his motor and physicality to make an immediate impact on shifts. He hounds puck carriers, is a menace on the forecheck and in battles, and makes life miserable for (the opposition)...