NORTH ANDOVER — The Warriors play a shootout game in practice every week called “Squid.”
“The winner gets a nice golden bucket,” Trevor Hoskin said, “and the loser gets a Squid football helmet. I actually had the Squid helmet this week.”
Well, Hoskin probably earned himself an upgrade to the golden bucket Thursday night.
He scored the only goal of the shootout as Merrimack came from behind to beat New Hampshire at Lawler Arena.
Hoskin also scored in the first period to tie the game 2-2.
In all, the Warriors trailed three separate times — 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 — but found the equalizer each time before Hoskin’s shootout goal gave Merrimack the extra point in its Hockey East opener.
“I just came in and picked a side,” Hoskin said. “I saw a hole open up and I went for it. This was a big night for our team, and [Linards Feldbergs] kept us in it all night.”
Linards Feldbergs made 24 saves in his Lawler Arena debut. The freshman was tested repeatedly but kept the Warriors within striking distance.
“He stands on his head every day in practice,” Caelan Fitzpatrick said. “He brings it every day. He has a way about him. He really wants it. He has something about him that we really just trust him back there.”
Lalonde alert and responsive
Parker Lalonde was taken off the ice on a stretcher during overtime after taking a hit from UNH forward Marty Lavins near the penalty boxes.
Lalonde was tended to by medical personnel and EMTs for several minutes before being transported to a nearby hospital.
Merrimack officials said after the game that Lalonde was “alert and responsive” at the hospital. Members of Merrimack’s coaching staff went to the hospital immediately following Thursday night’s game.
Lalonde had been held overnight for observation and was expected to undergo further testing, but he was doing better as of early Friday, we’re told.
Banner night at Lawler
The Warriors unveiled their 2026 Hockey East championship banner during a special pregame ceremony.
Nearly 100 alumni returned to campus for the occasion, including members of Merrimack’s first Hockey East team in 1989-90. One of that team’s captains, Andy Heinze, dropped the ceremonial first puck alongside Ron Anderson, who coached Merrimack during its first Hockey East season.
“It was a very emotional night,” Scott Borek said. “What we did before the game was unbelievable. I actually had tears in my eyes. To have so many alums back here in the building. I looked down at the goal line and there were so many alums there.
“To me, that was my Hockey East championship. Having all of those guys back and having all of those guys care about us and our program as much as they do.
“If the 1989-90 team doesn’t jump in, if Ronny Anderson doesn’t take that team to Hockey East, we’re not sitting here. If they didn’t have as much success as they did in Division 2, we’re not sitting here. That’s what it takes to win this championship.
“I can admit I’ve gotten emotional a few times this summer watching highlights from those games. What makes me emotional is watching someone like [Ryan O’Connell] have those moments in the playoffs last year. I think he was as surprised as anyone when I picked him to go in the shootout tonight, but I believe in him. He’s just someone who gets the job done.
“Everyone has their own emotional story about that night. But to share it with this group of players, and to have Max back in the building and hear the ovation he got, I mean, come on. That’s Merrimack hockey right there. It takes everyone. It’s our team and everyone around us that makes it so special.”
Notebook: Brunet scores his first goal, Green picks up his first point
Trevor Hoskin, Caelan Fitzpatrick and Simon-Pier Brunet scored for the Warriors. Parker Lalonde, Caden Cranston, David Green, Ethan Beyer and Austin Oravetz added assists. Brunet’s goal was the first of his collegiate career, while Green’s assist marked his first collegiate point.
Oravetz led the Warriors with 25:16 of ice time.
Fitzpatrick led Merrimack at the faceoff dot, going 7-1.
What are your thoughts on the Lalonde hit? Clean play with an unfortunate result, or did you think it was worthy of a penalty?