THE PARTY BEFORE THE PARTY
On the eve of New Year's Eve, the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team dives into the second half of its season on Saturday night, as Hockey East opponent and No. 16/16 nationally ranked New Hampshire comes calling at Martire Family Arena. It is the first meeting with a nationally-ranked opponent this winter for the Pios, as well as the first of two Hockey East opponents on the schedule in the back half of the season. Saturday's contest will air live on SNY in the tri-state area and worldwide via FloSports. Randy Brochu has the call. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

LAST TIME OUT
SHU wrapped up the first half with a home-and-home series against ECAC member Princeton on Dec. 8-9. Princeton rolled to a 4-0 victory in Friday's contest in Fairfield, behind two goals and an assist from Brendan Gorman. Sacred Heart bounced back and forced a 2-2 (OT) tie on Saturday at Hobey Baker Rink, and then claimed a 2-1 shootout victory for good measure, as Cullen DeYoung made 32 saves in his first collegiate start.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
UNH was a consensus No. 16 pick in both national polls heading into the semester break, and the Wildcats have been an early-season Hockey East surprise, after being picked 10th by the league's coaches. New Hampshire headed into the break with a 1-0 victory over RPI on Dec. 9, courtesy of a Conor Lovett second-period goal. The Wildcats have an Atlantic Hockey double on the docket this weekend, as they visit Army on Friday night before traveling to SHU on Saturday. UNH split a pair at RIT over Thanksgiving weekend. Jakob Hellsten leads Hockey East and ranks fourth in the nation with a 1.83 goals-against average.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST NEW HAMPSHIRE
Saturday night is a return trip for UNH to Martire Family Arena, after Sacred Heart paid a visit to New Hampshire's Whittemore Center last January. A pair of first-period goals gave the home-standing Wildcats a lead they would never relinquish, and UNH got goals from four different players en route to a 4-1 victory. Austin Magera scored the lone goal for SHU.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The two teams have met just twice in their history, with both contests being played at UNH's Whittemore Center. In addition to the aforementioned meeting last season, SHU traveled to Durham in November of 2016, when the two programs played to a 2-2 (OT) tie. Austin McIlmurray and Jordan Minello gave Sacred Heart a 2-0 lead in the second, but New Hampshire roared back with goals from Tyler Kelleher and Liam Blackburn in the back half of the third period to force the tie.

UP NEXT
SHU wades back into Atlantic Hockey waters next weekend, as the Pios remain home for a pair of games against Mercyhurst on Jan. 5-6. Puck drop is 7 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday at Martire Family Arena. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster