Don’t be surprised if you see the University of New Hampshire start to push harder and harder to have the Frozen Four and a regional at the Whittemore Center, especially after this year’s disappointing opening round 7-3 loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament.

Two weeks ago the Wildcats were the on-paper favorites to win Hockey East, having wrapped up the regular season title and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament; to be held at the TD Banknorth Garden. Goaltender Kevin Regan was having a stellar season to add onto a phenomenal collegiate career, and the Wildcats were just cruising atop Hockey East since early in 2008.

Yet again the Wildcats took an amazing regular season and failed to convert it into a conference or national title. The Wildcats were defeated in the Hockey East semifinals last week in double overtime against Boston College, the eventual conference champions. This weekend, New Hampshire was wiped off the ice by a hungry Notre Dame squad by a score of 7-3.

New Hampshire has been one of college hockey’s most consistent programs in the last decade or so. Every year it seems, UNH is a regular season juggernaut that earns home ice advantage in the first round of the conference tournament. After they finish up in Durham though, the Wildcats appear a different team.

It’s somewhat understandable in the Hockey East tournament at least. Boston College and Boston University consistently make appearances in the New Garden, and those schools have a definitive home ice advantage in the conference tournament, as it’s hosted more or less down the street from these schools. Also, the Boston schools get the opportunity to get a feel for the ice where the tournament is held when they play in the Beanpot. New Hampshire came to the New Garden last weekend, where BC had a near home crowd and where they had already won two games this season in single-elimination format.

Still, there’s something more holding New Hampshire from postseason success, and part of that “something” might be the dimensions of their home rink.

The Whittemore Center has earned a nickname across Hockey East: Lake Whit. It’s so called because the dimensions of the sheet of ice are the Olympic dimensions of 200X100, opposed to the NHL’s regulation 200X85. Now, that’s not all that unheard-of in college hockey. The NCAA has no regulation for ice width, and in New Hampshire’s home conference this is well illustrated. The Whittemore Center is Olympic sized. Massachusetts plays on a 200X95 rink at the Mullins Center; both Boston University and Northeastern have the same 200X90 dimensions; and even Boston College plays on a quirky 200X87 sheet.

Seven times the Wildcats have won the regular season Hockey East title. Only twice has that translated into winning the conference tournament and title. Not once has the University of New Hampshire won the national championship in men’s ice hockey. Despite all the great players and great teams they’ve had, and despite some of college hockey’s most entertaining fans, the Wildcats will enter the 2008-2009 campaign still seeking their first title.

People who are neither architects or complete sports freaks might wonder what difference fifteen feet of width can make, and the answer is of course debatable. After all, defending champion Michigan State plays on an Olympic sized rink, and that hasn’t kept the Spartans from keeping alive through to the second round of the national tournament. And some schools that play on regulation NHL rinks such as Providence aren’t exactly title factories either. Still, the lack of fifteen feet can change a lot for New Hampshire.

The opposing offense can play along the boards in these arenas, and they’re 7.5 feet closer than they would be at Lake Whit. Fifteen feet can make cross-ice and centering passes that much easier, and about a tick faster. Conversely, an offense that has become used to a wide sheet of ice might feel a little more compact without those five yards. Shots from along the boards get to the goalie half a tick faster. It’s not much of a difference, but it is a difference and that’s what’s important.

Seems silly, right? UNH, after all, seemed to have no problem winning on the NHL-sized rinks at Mass-Lowell, Providence and Merrimack, and all three of those teams played at or above expectations this season. Yet there the Wildcats were, getting defeated by a Boston College team with big game experience in the Hockey East semis and by a Notre Dame team looking to avenge a disappointing finish to last season in the national tournament.

While the Hockey East loss by UNH wasn’t poorly-played, the Wildcats certainly had their share of opportunities to win the game. New Hampshire came late in regulation and throughout the extra time with extra-man rushes and scoring opportunities, only to be shut down by freshman goaltender John Muse. To do that, Muse had to come up with some inspired saves of course. Yet it seemed the Wildcats lacked that big shot at the right moment. And I don’t know if it was the crowd or the postseason history, but something made New Hampshire seem like an underdog throughout that contest.

Against Notre Dame, UNH came out slugging. Their first shot found the net. But then, so did Notre Dame’s. Trailing 3-2, New Hampshire found themselves lucky enough to gain a 5-3 powerplay in the second period that could have evened the score or even given the ‘Cats the lead. The Fighting Irish fought off the power play, and almost immediately thereafter scored their fourth goal of the game. Like that, Notre Dame—a four seed against the Wildcats’ top seed in the Colorado Springs region—had every bit of momentum you can have in a hockey game, and UNH never pulled themselves off the mat.

Look for New Hampshire to make strides to overcome their claustrophobia next season.