2011-2012 Membership Drive
The UNH Men’s Hockey program relies on the financial and emotional support of friends. Join today and help make it happen for the Cats!
2012 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Monday, May 7th, 6:00PM
This year’s annual general meeting of the Friends of UNH Hockey will be held on Monday 7th, at 6:00PM in the media room of the Whittemore Center Arena (ice level). All Friends of UNH Hockey Members in good standing are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The purpose of this annual meeting to to; hold elections for the Board of Directors, vote on any changes to the organization’s by-laws, including changes to the dues structure.
Each year 7 of the 21 Board seats are opened with each new or returning board member serving a three year term. The Board meets once a month, typically on the second Tuesday, to discuss how we are going to continue to support the UNH Men’s Hockey Program. In fact we will hold our May meeting immediately after the Annual Meeting. Any Friend member is welcome at any monthly meeting although they will not be permitted to vote.
2011-2012 UNH Men’s Ice Hockey Awards Banquet
On Saturday April 14th, The Friends of UNH Hockey will hold its annual Awards Banquet. We hope you will join us in celebrating the success of the 2011-2012 Wildcat Hockey Team. We will honor this year’s graduating senior class, and present the annual team awards.
DATE:
Saturday April 14, 2012
TIME:
5:30 p.m. Registration & Reception
6:00 p.m. Buffet Dinner
7:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
LOCATION:
Huddleston Hall Ballroom
73 Main Street
Durham, NH 03824
Map/Directions: Click HERE.
COST:
Adults: $50 Child 6-10: $25
Center Ice Members: Free
REGISTRATION:
Register securely on-line HERE
Credit cards and checks accepted. Alternatively, you may contact Kim Rhine (see below) to make your reservation.
RSVP:
By Monday April 9th, 2012
Tickets will not be sent to this event. We ask that you sign in when you arrive that day. Please visit the table set up inside the Hall entrance. Proper dress is required (no jeans, athletic wear, or baseball caps).
Walk-ins on the day of the event will not be accepted. Please respond by April 9th, 2012.
For questions contact Kim Rhine at kim.rhine@unh.edu or 603-862-1809.
LEGACIES of UNH HOCKEY: BRUCE GILLIES ‘85
Interview by Allie Ginwala, ‘14 Friends of UNH Hockey Board Member
As a young boy growing up in New Hampshire, Bruce Gillies aspired to play professional sports. He grew up in the Concord, N.H. area where he was able to play hockey throughout his young life. Gillies praised Concord as having a “great youth hockey program, a great pond in town (called White Park, beautiful in the winter months), two great high school teams and a semi pro team,” Gillies said. What more could a young boy ask for?
To add to his love for sports, Gillies’ father was a goaltender so it was “a natural thing for my brothers and I to spend time watching him and on the ice playing,” Gillies said.
Keeping up with the family tradition, Gillies’ oldest son John is looking to play college hockey as well. A goaltender, just like his father.
Once it came time for Gillies to choose which college to attend, he chose UNH. The main reason for his decision was that UNH was the only University that would allow him to play for both the football and hockey teams.
Originally, Gillies started his career at UNH on a football scholarship. During his freshman and junior years, he played on both teams, but unfortunately suffered a knee injury as a sophomore playing football.
This left Gillies with a decision to make. Since he was able to be red-shirted on the hockey team, he was left with two years of hockey eligibility and only one of football eligibility. Ultimately, Gillies had to decide. “I was asked to make a decision and chose hockey,” Gillies said.
We had just shut out Cornell, at Cornell. I had my head down in the locker room still dressed, soaked and drained. Coach Holt came over to me and quietly kicked my pads twice and padded my left shoulder. I took that as his way of saying good job.
BEHIND THE SCENES
CENTER ICE MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT ‘CATS VIDEO TECHNOLOGY
In preparation for the upcoming weekend against Boston College, Head Coach Dick Umile and Associate Head Coach Jim Tortorella gave a video presentation to the Center Ice Club highlighting the technology used leading up to each hockey game.
Chairs were assembled in the Wildcats’ locker room while Umile and Tortorella spoke to the group about the team’s “smart board” which was paid for by the Friends of UNH Hockey. The “smart board” is a video technology which allows the coaching staff to break down video of UNH and opposition teams. In the week leading up to every game, video of the opposing team is analyzed by the coaching staff.
CAT TRACKS: CATCHING UP WITH BOBBY BUTLER
by Adam Hardenbrook- Friends of UNH Hockey Board Member
During his stellar senior season in 2009-2010, Bobby Butler electrified Wildcats fans with his offensive performance, and racked up accolades and awards all season long. Among his honors were first-team All Hockey East, Hockey East Player of the Year, First-Team All-American, and Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalist. The honors continued as Butler moved on to the professional ranks. I caught up with Bobby Butler, to reflect on his time in Blue and White, and his first pro season with the Ottawa Senators franchise…
1. What was your fondest on-ice memory during your years at UNH?
I would have to say beating North Dakota in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
BOOSTER GUIDELINES
As a member of the Friends of UNH Hockey you are by definition a Representative of Athletic Interests. The NCAA has strict rules governing the actions of members of booster clubs when it comes to their interaction with student athletes and prospective student athletes. Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the following guidelines to ensure that your actions do not violate the NCAA’s regulations and therefore negatively impact UNH’s Athletic Programs. If you are ever in doubt about the permissibility of your actions it is always best to Ask Before You Act by contacting the UNH Compliance Office.
I. WHO IS A BOOSTER?
Are you a representative of athletic interests (i.e. booster)?
YES, you are if you…….
- Have ever been a member of any UNH sport booster club;
- Have made donations to a UNH men’s or women’s athletic program (including gifts of cash, goods or services);
- Have ever helped to arrange or have provided employment for enrolled student-athletes;
- Have assisted or been requested to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; or
- Have been involved in the promotion of UNH athletics in any way.
Once an individual has been identified as a “booster”, he or she retains the identity Forever. Read more »
