Photo: @UNH_football


The New Hampshire Wildcats have four new captains for the 2022 season and three of them are local guys.

Brian Espanet (Millis/Hopedale), Pat Flynn (Hanover), Niko Kvietkus (Southington, CT/Deerfield) along with Pop Bush have all been tasked with leading the team during head coach Ricky Santos’ first full season. All four guys are beyond thrilled for the opportunity that was voted on by their teammates, but don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what each of them had to say about the honor and the responsibilities that come with it…

ESPANET

“It’s the honor of a lifetime. Knowing all the guys in the locker room who I care deeply for selected myself and the other captains to lead them is what I’m most proud of. I know how much I’ve looked up to previous captains in years past, and to be part of that club is something I’ll always cherish. Niko, Pop, Flynny and I will do whatever it takes to lead this team back to the top. 

“With the title comes a bigger spotlight on how you approach the game and how you act on a day to day basis. Getting the younger guys on the team up to speed on how to play the game the right way and to be game ready is very important to us. I always thought your only as good as your ability to make others around you better. On top of that I view it as more pressure to take our games to a new level. Being selected as captain is a huge honor, but it’s an even bigger reason to perform night in night out.”

BUSH

“It’s not a title that is given to any player, a person must earn that over his years in a program. The guys before me have set a standard, and I strive to meet and exceed that bar. It’s an honor to see the fruits of your labor. I understand the work necessary to lead by example and build a memorable season for my last ride here at UNH.”

KVIETKUS

“As a member of any team its natural to have the desire to be valued, trusted, and respected by peers and coaches. Having strived for those characteristics since I stepped on campus at UNH, being elected captain means everything. Being something I have thought about for the past couple of years after stepping into a leadership role by knowing what to do and what standard is expected; having it etched in stone by my peers and coaches is truly an honor. We are fortunate to have so many guys take on leadership roles throughout our program and its those guys Pop, Brian, Flynn, and myself are going to need to lean on and work with to leave UNH better than we found it.”

FLYNN

“It’s been an honor to be named captain and it means the world to have been selected as one of the guys to represent the team. It has always been a goal of mine  ever since I arrived freshman year. The commitment I have to this team and sport has only grown over the past years and I cannot wait to be able to lead them this fall. We hope to set new standards enhance old ones and build upon a team that has been like family to me for the past 5 years. Being captain also comes with the responsibility of the team; having to accept responsibility of everything that is happening during the season  especially when times are tough.”

There is a ton of excitement around the UNH program despite a down year last season. With these four guys leading the way, the Wildcats’ return to contention not just in the CAA, but at a national level, is well within reach.