Reinette LeJeune
The University of New Hampshire named its new captains for the men’s hockey program. Senior forward Chase Stevenson has been named captain, while senior forward Harrison Blaisdell, along with senior defenseman Kalle Eriksson and sophomore defenseman Alex Gagne, have all been named as alternate captains for the 2022-2023 season.
As a Wildcat, Stevenson has had eight goals and seven assists for 15 points over 61 games. From West Kelowna, British Columbia, he is a two-time Krampade All-American Scholar and a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society. He also earned his Hockey East All-Academic Team accolades twice so far in his career.
From Regina, Saskatchewan, Blaisdell is a new addition to the Wildcats – last season being his first at UNH. In the last season, he posted two goals along with six assists for eight points over 25 games. At his previous school, the University of North Dakota, he played in 52 games, acquiring two goals and 14 assists for 16 points over two seasons. During the 2019 NHL draft, Blaisdell was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round as the 134th overall pick.
Hailing from Leksand, Sweden, Eriksson has made six goals and 30 assists for 36 points over 88 games as a Wildcat. Last season alone, he tied for third on the team for 12 assists, and while he was a sophomore he was responsible for scoring six goals and collecting 12 assists for 18 points. He was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on January 11, 2021, while also being awarded the team’s 2021 Rod Langway Best Defenseman Award.
The only New Hampshirite, from Bedford, Gagne played on the team his freshman year in 33 games, gaining one goal and seven assists for eight points, also earning the Hockey East All-Academic Team recognition the same season. On February 21, 2022, he was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week. He was selected in the sixth round in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning as the 192nd overall pick.
The Wildcats’ 2022-2023 season will begin on Friday and Saturday October 7th-8th, taking to the road for matchups against Clarkson University on October 7th and St. Lawrence University on October 8th. The home opener game will be on Saturday, October 15th at 7 p.m. versus Boston College.
