DURHAM, N.H. - Senior forward Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.), sophomore forward Ryan Conmy (Alexandria, Va.) and junior forward Kristaps Skrastins (Grobina, Latvia) all scored in the third period for the Wildcats as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team tied No. 16 UMass, 3-3, on Friday night at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex in Hockey East action.
After a scoreless overtime, junior forward Cy LeClerc (Brentwood, N.H.) scored in the shootout to give UNH the two Hockey East points.
Junior goalie Jared Whale (Calgary, Alberta) made 18 saves for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats are now 11-13-5 (3-12-4 Hockey East), while the Minutemen are 16-12-3 (7-9-3 Hockey East).
UP NEXT:
- The 'Cats will conclude the home-and-home series with UMass on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Mullins Center at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
- The Wildcats will take on No. 2 Boston College in a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-Mar. 1 at 7 p.m. The 'Cats will travel to Conte Forum on Friday as the game will be shown on NESN and ESPN+, while the teams will clash in Durham on Saturday presented by Kennebunk Savings Bank on ESPN+ as the Season Ticket Member Breakaway with the 'Cats event will take place after the game.
- 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 3, #16 UMass 3 OT UNH wins shootout, 1-0
Records: UNH 11-13-5 (3-12-4 Hockey East); UMass 16-12-3 (7-9-3 Hockey East)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex)
Date: Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
Attendance: 5,726
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- UMass took an early lead at 4:22 of the first period with a goal by Aydar Suniev.
- Suniev made it a 2-0 game at 8:02 of the second period when he fired a one-timer off a pass from Francesco Dell'Elce.
- UNH held a 19-14 shots on goal advantage through two periods.
- Cronin then put the 'Cats on the board at 4:36 of the third period when he blasted a shot into the top right corner of the net off a pass from LeClerc.
- At 10:54, the Minutemen went back up by two when Jack Musa added a power-play goal to extend the lead to 3-1.
- UNH quickly responded when senior defensemen Alex Gagne (Bedford, N.H.) sent the puck over to Conmy, who fired a one-timer into the net at 12:48 for the power play goal. LeClerc also posted an assist on the goal.
- UNH's momentum stayed strong when just 27 seconds later, Skrastins found the back of the net with a shot from the blue line to tie it up 3-3. Senior defensemen Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) and senior forward Connor Sweeney (North Andover, Mass.) were each credited with an assist on the goal.
- After a scoreless overtime, the Wildcats won the shootout, 1-0, with a goal by LeClerc in the third round.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- UNH outshot UMass, 31-21.
- The Wildcats went 1-4 on the power play, while the Minutemen went 1-2.
- Whale made 18 saves, while Michael Hrabal tallied 28 saves.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Skrastins, who has scored a goal in two straight games, is now on a three-game point streak with two goals and one assist for three points.
- Sweeney extended his point streak to four games. He has one goal and three assists for four points during this stretch.
- Conmy scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season which is now a career high as he netted 14 goals as a freshman.
