DURHAM N.H. - Junior forward Cy LeClerc (Brentwood, N.H.) recorded three goals as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated the U.S. Under-18 Team, 6-2, on Saturday evening in an exhibition game at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex. With UNH trailing 2-0 after the first period, the Wildcats scored six straight goals for the 6-2 win.
Freshman forward Ryan MacPherson (Windsor, Ontario) had a multiple point game with one goal and one assist, while senior assistant captain Connor Sweeney (North Andover, Mass.) and sophomore forward Marty Lavins (Riga, Latvia) both recorded a goal. Senior goalie Rico DiMatteo (Brasher Falls, N.Y.) recorded 20 saves on the night.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats return to action at RPI on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. The next home game for UNH is versus UConn on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.
- 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: UNH 6, U.S. Under-18 Team 2
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024
Attendance: 3,441
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Team USA took a 1-0 lead at 7:55 in the first period when Cole McKinney went on a breakaway and sent a shot from the slot to the lower stick side of the net.
- At 11:49, Richard Gallant found the back of the net with a pass from across the crease from McKinney to make it 2-0.
- Sweeney scored the first Wildcat goal at 3:04 of the second period when he went one-on-one with the goalie and lifted the puck to the upper glove side corner of the net. Freshman forward Connor MacPherson (Windsor, Ontario) posted an assist.
- With the puck behind the net, Ryan MacPherson threw it out in front to LeClerc who knocked the puck in the back of the net at 7:11 to tie the game at 2-2. Just 42 seconds later Ryan MacPherson tallied another point with a one timer from the slot with sophomore defenseman Brendan Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) gaining an assist to make the score 3-2.
- LeClerc posted his second goal of the night just 59 seconds after the opening faceoff of the third period with senior captain Alex Gagne (Bedford, N.H.) and senior assistant captain Nikolai Jenson (Cold Spring, Minn.) recording assists.
- At 2:39, Lavins blasted a one timer from the top of the slot to extend the lead to 5-2 in the third period. Senior forward Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.) tallied an assist.
- The Wildcats scored the last goal of the game when LeClerc found the back of the net for the third time. Sophomore forward Ryan Conmy (Alexandria, Va.) and sophomore defenseman Zach Hahn (Huntington, N.Y.) both earned assists.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- UNH outshot Team USA, 42-25.
- The Wildcats went 0-3 on the power play and Team USA went 0-2.
- DiMatteo tallied 20 saves and allowed two goals, and senior goalie Raphael Gaughan (Somersworth, N.H.) made three saves. Joey Slavick posted 36 saves and allowed six goals.
