UNH Goaltender Injured in Hockey East Matchup Against Boston College

DURHAM, N.H. — University of New Hampshire goaltender Jared Whale was injured during a Hockey East game against Boston College on Friday night, leaving the Wildcats with a crucial concern heading into their upcoming matches.

Whale suffered an upper-body injury after a collision with teammate Nikolai Jenson, who fell backward into him with 4:51 remaining in the second period. Medical personnel quickly attended to Whale, who was subsequently taken off the ice on a stretcher.

According to UNH athletics, Whale was evaluated at a nearby hospital and later discharged, resting comfortably at home in Durham the following morning. His status moving forward remains uncertain, raising questions about the team’s performance as they approach the playoffs.

“(Friday) was really scary,” said Rico DiMatteo, who replaced Whale in goal. “You could almost hear a pin drop in the Conte Forum, which is an eerie feeling.”

DiMatteo went on to lead the Wildcats in a closely contested rematch against Boston College on Saturday night. In his first start with UNH, he stopped 31 shots during a 1-1 overtime tie before the Eagles claimed an additional point in a five-round shootout.

Each team demonstrated strong performances, with the Wildcats outshooting BC 42-32. Kristaps Skrastins scored the Wildcats’ lone goal, while Gabe Perreault tied the game for BC on a power play.

“I thought it was a great performance by Rico,” said head coach Mike Souza. “His first start of the year against the No. 1 team in the country, and I thought he stepped up in a big way.”

The Wildcats will face UMass Lowell in their next games, a crucial series that may determine their playoff positioning. The first match will be held at UMass Lowell on Friday night, followed by a home game at the Whittemore Center on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Dartmouth College secured a victory over Brown, winning 4-2 after overcoming an early 2-0 deficit. John Fusco scored the game-winning goal in that contest.

With only one weekend left in the regular season, both UNH and Dartmouth will continue to compete for advantageous playoff positions, emphasizing the importance of their key players’ health and performance as they gear up for postseason play.