Game Report: Lalonde's first collegiate hat trick headlines Merrimack's win over UNH
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Parker Lalonde didn’t waste much time introducing himself to Lawler Arena. The freshman forward’s first collegiate hat trick powered Merrimack to a 5-1 comeback win over New Hampshire on Saturday night, completing back-to-back rally victories for the Warriors.
Lalonde, who also scored the game-winning goal in last week’s win over UMass Lowell, now has four goals through his first three NCAA games. It’s a continuation of the scoring touch he flashed late last season with the Brooks Bandits (BCHL), where his first junior-level hat trick came just months ago.
“Yeah, it’s kind of crazy,” Lalonde said. “I played four years in juniors, and got one right at the end of the season last year, but it happened a lot quicker here.”
The breakout began when Merrimack head coach Scott Borek shuffled his lines mid-game against Lowell. Lalonde was moved alongside Justin Gill and Trevor Hoskin in the second period of that 4-1 win — and the chemistry was immediate.
In the five periods since Borek made that change, Lalonde has five points (4 goals, 1 assist), Hoskin has four points (1 goal, 3 assists), and Gill has three points (1 goal, 2 assists).
“Parker is playing with two very good players,” Borek said. “Sometimes when you’re playing with two experienced guys they might not go through you as much but that line has really worked well together and if you look at his third goal, they were looking for him there. I thought that was really cool. They knew the situation and those guys wanted to make sure Parker ended up with the puck.”
Lalonde and Gill are freshmen, and Hoskin is a first-year transfer from Niagara. The trio has been learning the ropes together with their new team.
“We’re all new here, so we’ve been learning together,” Lalonde said. “Hoskin was here all summer, so I know how well he shoots the puck. But his playmaking goes under the radar — the pass he made on my first goal was unbelievable. That’s an amazing play by him. Gill brings that professional experience, plays hard, and has a ton of skill. He can really shoot it, too. We’ve just gelled together so far. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Flamand scores his first collegiate goal
Nolan Flamand didn’t just score his first collegiate goal on Saturday — he did it in style. The freshman forward deflected a Seamus Powell point shot past New Hampshire goaltender Kyle Chauvette on the power play in the second period.
“I just put my stick out hoping it would hit it,” Flamand said with a smile. “I was lucky enough there.”
The goal was a milestone, but Flamand’s impact has gone well beyond the scoresheet. Through three games, he’s earned trust in key situations, including centering Merrimack’s top power-play unit.
“He’s a very talented player,” Borek said. “He’s been really good on the power play, and he distributes the puck well.”
Flamand is one of four Warriors with CHL experience. The NCAA’s new eligibility rules have opened the door for CHL alumni to play college hockey for the first time, effectively making this group the first of its kind.
All of these players are learning on the fly. There’s no roadmap for these players to follow.
For Flamand, who spent his junior career in the WHL, the transition has been smooth, but there have been some adjustments he’s had to make. One of the biggest differences, he said, is the rhythm of the college schedule — fewer games, but higher stakes.
“The biggest adjustment is probably that we’re three games in, but they’ve been the biggest three games,” he said. “It’s a lot different than the Western League, where you play almost twice as many games. You have to be at your best right away. Every game feels really important. I’m glad I’m a part of it.”
Beyond the schedule, Flamand has noticed a faster pace and a heavier emphasis on systems play and details.
“At the end of the day, hockey is hockey, but the system here is a lot more important,” he said. “Every team adapts better, and if you aren’t playing your system, you could be in trouble. The thing I’ve noticed is I’m not skating as much because it’s more structured. The speed of the game has jumped up a whole lot, too. That’s probably been the biggest adjustment for me, the overall speed of the game and playing more in a system with structure.”
Notebook: Lundgren sharp again
— Max Lundgren was sharp again, stopping 20 of 21 shots in Merrimack’s win over New Hampshire. Through three games, the sophomore goaltender owns a 2.00 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Over the Warriors’ last two victories, he’s turned aside 54 of 56 shots (.964) and saved four goals above expected (2.8 vs. UMass Lowell and 1.2 vs. UNH).
“Max battled the whole game, especially in the third period,” Borek said. “We weren’t great in some stretches, but he covered up for us. He competed like an animal.”
Merrimack’s penalty kill was perfect on the night (3-for-3), with Lundgren playing a big role in that effort. For the season, he’s posted a .938 save percentage while shorthanded, and the Warriors’ PK has been stellar overall at 90.9 percent (10-for-11).
— Filip Nordberg appeared shaken up after blocking a late third-period shot off his leg, but Borek said afterward that the defenseman seemed fine.
“He’s good,” Borek said. “I thought he played really well tonight, too. We had a lot of guys eat pucks.”
Merrimack blocked 19 of UNH’s 51 shot attempts — an impressive 37.3 percent block rate. That follows a 25 percent rate in last week’s 4-1 win over Lowell and 22 percent in the opener.
— Hunter Mayo (21:27) and Seamus Powell (21:21) were nearly even as the team’s ice-time leaders on the back end, while Caelan Fitzpatrick (18:31) led all forwards.
— Daniel Astapovich dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 10 of 14 draws as Merrimack edged UNH 39-35 overall.