March 29, 2003
NCAA Northeast Regional
UNH's No-Name Defense

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By Joe Gladziszewski

WORCESTER, Mass.– There's not much glory in blocked shots, safely clearing pucks off the glass to relieve pressure or getting a stick down to deflect a pass, but those are the types of things that an underappreciated defense corps does for the University of New Hampshire.

With the exception of Garrett Stafford, there aren't any standout names on the line chart. But when those little plays need to be made, you'll find Tyson Teplitsky, Mick Mounsey, Kevin Truelson, Mike Lubesnick, Robbie Barker or Brian Yandle in the right place at the right time.

New Hampshire 3, Boston University 0
Team	Goal	Str
Time	Assists
First Period
1-NH	Joshua Prudden (9)	PP
13:09	P. Callander, J. Abbott
Second Period
	No scoring
Third Period
2-NH	Patrick Foley (8)	EV
9:12	J. Aikins, J. Abbott
3-NH	Sean Collins (21)	EN
18:55
Goaltending
BU: Sean Fields, 58:19, 24 saves, 2 GA
NH: Michael Ayers, 60:00, 27 saves, 0 GA
Penalties: BU 5/10; NH 7/14
Power Plays: BU 0-5; NH 1-3
Attendance: 8,972
NCAA All-Northeast Regional Team
G: Michael Ayers, New Hampshire (MVP) D: Bryan Miller, Boston University D: Garrett Stafford, New Hampshire F: Colin Hemingway, New Hampshire F: Preston Callander, New Hampshire F: Dominic Moore, Harvard

Michael Ayers is a confident, skilled goalie but he deflects the praise to a defensive group that's been stellar in recent weeks, including three straight blankings of the Terriers.

"I think our defense has played great in the past three games against them. When we lost at BU 5-2 (on Jan. 23) we had a third period letdown, where we allowed three goals in the third period," Ayers said. "Ever since that game, I think the guys defensively have played very well. We're not giving up many power plays, or many opportunities, and I think that's a credit to our defense, and our forwards that are coming back to help out."

Boston University's Jack Parker also took note of the defensive effort.

"What impresses me most is their overall team defense," he said. "They've got the first two lines that can put the puck in the net, they can put pressure on you. They've got a good power play. In general, what's got them here is how hard they're playing defense and how they're killing penalties, and what great goaltending they're getting."

New Hampshire's recent reputation has the 'Cats pegged as a run-and-gun show. It's a lot more fun to think about the power-play blasts and give-and-go passing plays that end up in sports reports during the 11 p.m. news. This year's New Hampshire squad has a defensive efficiency to match its more-than-adequate forward lines.

RIDING THE HOT HAND

The Wildcats were forced to play without leading scorer Lanny Gare, who dislocated his right shoulder on the first shift of the game. The injury occured on a play when Gare missed a body check on BU's Mark Mullen. For other teams, it's a cause for concern, but not as much for these Wildcats.

Coach Dick Umile shuffled his lineup by moving Preston Callander to the left wing with center Josh Prudden and Colin Hemingway, and junior captain Patrick Foley slid into Callander's third-line role with center Justin Aikins and Jim Abbott.

For Umile, who has practically changed line combinations on a weekly basis this year, familiarity with different forwards turned into an asset. And Callander's outstanding game on Friday night made him a can't-miss candidate for the spot on the top line in Buffalo.

He effectively slid into Gare's spot, and continued his scoring streak this weekend with an assist on New Hampshire's opening goal. An overly-aggressive read by the Terriers gave UNH some space on a power-play chance, with Callander's shot deflecting in off of Josh Prudden. It turned out to be the winning goal in a 3-0 shutout, and Callander landed on the Northeast Regional All-Tournament team.

Foley responded to increased ice time with an important goal. He ended up out-hustling the pack and dove to poke in a loose puck halfway through the third period. It gave the Wildcats a two-goal lead, which was more than deserved. They controlled play for long stretches.

SEEN AND HEARD AT THE CENTRUM CENTRE

INCH's Northeast Regional Three Stars

3. Frantisek Skladany, Boston U. The most-dangerous scoring threat for the Terriers buzzed in the UNH zone. His shifty moves and quick hands were the only answer BU had for New Hampshire's competent defense.

2. Nathan Martz, New Hampshire With wingers Steve Saviano and Sean Collins, Martz centers an important number-two line for the Wildcats. Their point totals were unspectacular this weekend, but Martz was particularly effective in making the little plays and possessing the puck as UNH nursed a one-goal lead.

1. Dave Lassonde, New Hampshire Too often, the entire coaching staff doesn't get enough credit. UNH's associate head coach is in charge of orchestrating the defense and working with the goaltenders. He's got Boston University figured out, and has two weeks to game-plan for potential opponents in the Frozen Four.

• The Terrier penalty-killers helped keep BU in the contest, erasing a 1:22 span of play when they played with a two-man disadvantage during the second period. Mark Mullen and Brad Zancanaro were the penalty-killing forwards.

• Mike Ayers made the big saves, twice robbing Mullen, and making another nice save on Dan Spang in the second period.

• A larger ice sheet in Worcester than the one at Boston University's Walter Brown Arena gave New Hampshire's forwards room to operate. Forechecking quickness forced several turnovers by BU defensemen.

• When a student radio-station crew passed by the media workroom on
Friday night, one astute staff member star-struckedly pointed out to
his mates that Boston Globe columnest Dan Shaughnessy was hard at work inside. The student was, of course, tipped off by Shaughnessy's
curly locks.

PLUSSES AND MINUSES

It took one night of dress rehearsal, but the teams finally figured out that it's okay to stand near the bench during television timeouts. During Friday's games, all four teams spent the television breaks lined up for a face-off. The situation made assistant referees and players look confused.

Boston University's Ryan Whitney squandered puck possession and failed to spring any teammates for a game-breaking scoring chance when it was desperately needed. His lack of a physical presence in front of the net make me wonder what Pittsburgh's scouting staff saw when they made him the fifth overall pick in last summer's NHL Entry Draft. Harvard's Noah Welch appears to be a far-better defense prospect for the Penguins.

WHAT'S NEXT

The New Hampshire Wildcats effectively handled a two-week layoff between the Hockey East finals and the Northeast Regional. Umile noted after Friday's game that the staff learned some things in last year's hiatus before the one-and-done trip to St. Paul. Lessons learned in losses help teams grow into winners. This Wildcat team, with or without Gare, is going to be a tough out in Buffalo.