In October, the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team had the whole season laid out before them. It was supposed to be a fresh start after a dismal collapse in the second half of last season that led to the Wildcats earning their worst record since the late 1980s.
Fast forward to March and we’re hearing that same phrase again, “fresh start,” from Coach Dick Umile and his players as they prepare to open the Hockey East tournament with a best-of-three series at Merrimack beginning tonight at 7 p.m.
Call it a clean slate – all teams are back to even – but this one doesn’t leave as much room for error, and mistakes have cost the Wildcats recently with just one win in their last 13 games going back to mid-January.
“It’s frustrating, but it’s over – it’s done,” Umile told reporters Wednesday. “Now it’s a new season. All points aside, we’re playing in the first round … at Merrimack. We’re very familiar with playing there.”
That’s where the Wildcats saw their season end this time last year, down in North Andover, Mass., in a series that required all three games to decide after UNH took the first one. Tonight will mark UNH’s return to Lawler Rink since losing Game 3. The Wildcats beat Merrimack in Durham on Oct. 29 and tied in a rematch at the Whittemore Center on Nov. 13.
UNH could be in for another playoff exit at the hands of Merrimack this time if the Wildcats don’t fix the problems on defense that led to yet another collapse through January and February. Improved play in the third period will be necessary, as well.
The Wildcats have scored two first-period goals in four of their last five games, including twice against then-No. 4 Boston University. The Wildcats did not trail after the first period in any of those games. But UNH was outscored, 10-3, in the third period through that stretch, including two empty-net goals against.
Tighter defense in the third period could have made the difference between opening the Hockey East tournament on the road or in Durham. As regular-season standings closed, UNH was only three points behind eighth-seeded Northeastern, the last team to clinch a home-ice advantage.
UNH was 5-1-1 in Hockey East at the end of December. That record took a steep dive to 7-11-4 by the end of the season.
“It’s unfortunate. We were in a good position at one time in Hockey East and the second half hasn’t been great,” Umile said. “The onus is on us.”
Defenseman Anthony Wyse is questionable this weekend after he suffered a concussion against BU on Feb. 18, leaving Umile with another decision to make on his second pairing of defensemen. Dylan Maller and Dylan Chanter teamed up as the second pair against UConn last weekend.
As the rotation continues to turn beneath them, the first pairing of senior captain Matias Cleland and junior Cameron Marks continue to eat minutes consistently.
Cleland of Longmont, Colo., was elected the lone captain of this year’s team with no alternates, and it’s easy to see why. He doesn’t hesitate to lay down in front of the puck and leads the team in blocked shots with 74, three ahead of Marks at 71. In the offensive end, he’s second on the team with 31 assists. Only Tyler Kelleher, the nation’s leader in points, is ahead of Cleland with 37.
And as much time as the pair spends on the ice, neither Cleland nor Marks have missed a game this season.
“He’s been the ultimate all-time warrior … one of the greats that we’ve had here,” Umile said of the captain. “The way he competes, who he is … he’s a great teammate, he’s tough as nails. You coach a team of Matias Clelands, you’d be competing for it every year. He’s done it all for us.”
(Nick Stoico can be reached at 369-3339, nstoico@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @NickStoico.)