DURHAM, N.H. - Sophomore forward Nick Ring (Hingham, Mass.) scored the game winner in overtime as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated Bentley, 2-1, on Saturday evening in the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex in the season opener for the Wildcats.
Wildcat junior goaltender Jared Whale (Calgary, Alberta) made 23 saves to earn the win in his UNH debut, while sophomore forward Ryan Conmy (Alexandria, Va.) posted one goal and one assist for two points.
The Wildcats start the season 1-0-0, while the Falcons fall to 0-2-0.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats return to action when they start the Hockey East season at Merrimack on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
- The next home game for the 'Cats is on Saturday, Nov. 2 versus Providence at 4:30 p.m. on NESN and ESPN+.
- Tickets can be purchased at UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000. Don't miss the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.
Score: New Hampshire 2, Bentley 1
Records: UNH (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East), Bentley (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey)
Location: Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex
Date: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
Attendance: 4,372
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Conmy opened the scoring 6:41 into the first period as he deflected a pass in the slot from sophomore forward Marty Lavins (Riga, Latvia) to the back of the goal.
- Bentley struck back with a shorthanded goal at 13:15 in the first period. Kellan Hjartarson set up the play with a pass from behind the net, and Nik Armstrong-Kingkade finished it off with a wrist shot. The goal was also assisted by Colton Cameron.
- Ring netted the game-winner in OT at 2:06 on a backhander to win the game with a power play goal. Conmy sent the puck to Ring to record his second point of the night, while senior defenseman Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) also tallied an assist on the goal.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- UNH outshot Bentley, 28-24.
- The Wildcats went 1-6 on the power play, while the Falcons went 0-5.
- Whale saved 23 of 24 shots he faced to record a win in his UNH debut. For the Falcons, Connor Hasley saved 26 of 28 shots.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- The goal was Ring's first career game winner.
- Conmy's two-point performance was his 11th multiple point game of his career.
- The Wildcats are 5-0-1 over their last six season openers and have won four straight.
