Title-starved UNH will lay it all on table
COLORADO SPRINGS - The Chili's near the World Arena Ice Rink was mobbed Wednesday night, filled with hungry University of New Hampshire hockey players, eager to gain a full helping of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats have been eliminated in the first round of the tournament the past two seasons, a fate considered unlikely tonight when fourth-seeded UNH (25-9-3) takes on 12th-seeded Notre Dame (24-15-4) in the first round of the West Regional.
Along with the vulnerabilities of the Fighting Irish, losers of three of their last five, the fifth-ranked Wildcats boast senior talent and leadership, a hot goaltender, skilled underclassmen, and experience. The Wildcats have qualified for the tournament seven straight seasons.
There's also an intangible: team chemistry.
Although Wildcats coach Dick Umile did not schedule a team dinner at Chili's, it became one.
"Everybody likes hanging out with each other," said senior defenseman Brad Flaishans, an all-Hockey East selection.
The usually reserved Flaishans sported a newly shaved Mohawk, a look adopted by several teammates. "This is really not me," he said, grinning. "But at this point in the season there's no holding back."
At this point last season, Flaishans feared the Wildcats were looking ahead. "Last year, we got caught in all this hype about a BC-UNH matchup," he said of a potential second-round contest that never materialized because of the Wildcats' 2-1 loss to Miami.
"And this year, all we're worried about is tomorrow. I could care less who the other teams are in the regional because we are strictly focused on tomorrow."
The senior class defeated Harvard, 3-2, in overtime in the first round of the 2005 tournament, then lost to eventual national champion Denver, 4-2, in the second round.
In 2006, Michigan State ousted UNH, 1-0, in the first round on a shot that was deflected from center ice. Last season, both of Miami's goals came off deflections.
"You have to be good, you have to stay healthy, and you have to have a little puck luck," said Umile, listing keys to advancing.
Umile views this squad as capable of winning the four games necessary to claim the title.
"No question this team is capable of winning the national championship," he said. "I think we have the experience, we have the leadership. It is a matter of playing well when you get here. I think we have a little bit of everything: Speed and skill and, most important, we have great leadership."
A factor in the Wildcats' favor is the Olympic-sized sheet of ice at the World Arena, the same skating space they are accustomed to at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
"I really think it is going to help us out a lot," said South Boston goaltender Kevin Regan, who was named the Walter Brown Award winner, presented to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. "It fits our style of play."
UNH is coming off a 5-4 triple-overtime loss to Boston College in the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament last Friday.
"We learned a lot about ourselves that night," said captain Matt Fornataro, who leads UNH with 46 points. "Some times, losses are good. It can show areas you need improvement."
Regan also pointed out that losses are reminders of the awful feeling losing engenders.
"Losing stinks," he said. "I don't think you learn too many X's and O's. You learn it is a tough feeling. And we don't want that feeling again."
Although all four teams in the regional, including Colorado College (28-11-1) and Michigan State (24-11-5), are coming off losses, Regan contends it is the toughest of the four regionals.
"Whoever comes out of this regional is definitely going to have to earn it," he said.
Notre Dame vs. New Hampshire
Regional: West
When, where: Today, 6:30 p.m., at Colorado Springs
TV, radio: Channel 9, 1270-AM
Records: Notre Dame 24-15-4; New Hampshire 25-9-3
