The UConn Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Connecticut. The Huskies are a member of the Hockey East conference. The Huskies play in the on-campus Toscano Family Ice Forum, having moved from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut during the 2022–23 season.[3]
UConn Huskies men's ice hockey | |
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University | University of Connecticut |
Conference | Hockey East |
Head coach | Mike Cavanaugh[1] 12th season, 158–182–38 (.468) |
Assistant coaches |
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Arena | Toscano Family Ice Forum Storrs, Connecticut |
Colors | National flag blue and white[2] |
Conference Tournament championships | |
MAAC: 2000 |
History
editThe Huskies men's ice hockey program began in 1960 under head coach John Chapman. UConn began NCAA competition at the NCAA Division III level in the ECAC East.[4]
Prior to 1998, the Huskies played all home games outdoors at a partially enclosed rink on-campus near Memorial Stadium. The UConn Hockey Rink had a roof but was open on the sides.[5] However, in preparation for the upgrade to Division I, the University built the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. Construction began in 1996, and the first indoor home game for UConn was on November 7, 1998.[6][7]
The move to NCAA Division I status allowed the team to join other Husky athletic programs. In 1998 they joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, after previously playing for 38 years in the Division III ECAC East.[8] At the time, head coach Bruce Marshall was in his tenth season at the position. In its 2nd season in the 2000 MAAC Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, UConn beat Iona 6-1 to win its 1st league championship. However, due to a 2-year probationary period placed on the MAAC for an automatic bid to the NCAA Ice Hockey championship by the league champion, UConn was unable to participate in the NCAA tournament that year. It has been the only championship Uconn has won since moving to Division I. But when the athletic department was forced to remove all athletic scholarships from the sport in order to comply with Title IX,[9] and the Huskies consistently finished in the bottom few spots of the national computer rankings before the most recent season.[10] In 2003, the MAAC formed a new league called Atlantic Hockey.
In June 2010, the University announced that the team would face Sacred Heart at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on February 13, 2011, as part of a doubleheader also featuring a game between the women's team and the Providence Friars.[11] The Huskies won this game 3-1, in front of 1,711 fans. The Huskies also played their first ever game at the XL Center in downtown Hartford that year, though this was not originally scheduled. Due to heavy snow accumulation on the Freitas roof, the team's February 5 game against Army was moved to the off-camps arena, also home to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.[12] In spite of free admission, only 891 fans turned up on short notice to watch the Huskies lose 5-3.[13] As a whole, the 2010-11 season was also a major improvement for the Huskies, who advance to the Atlantic Hockey Tournament semifinals at Blue Cross Arena before being eliminated. They finished with a final record of 16-18-4. One of the major factors in the turnaround was the young recruits the Huskies had signed. Freshman Cole Schneider led the team with 32 points, while sophomore Sean Ambrosie finished second with 29.[14] Meanwhile, sophomore Garrett Bartus set a school record with 1,085 saves.[15] The 2011-12 AHA preseason rankings reflected the newly gained reputation, with the Huskies ranked fifth out of twelve teams.[16] The Huskies posted a winning record once again in the 2012-13 season.
On June 21, 2012, UConn announced the program would join Hockey East as the conference's 12th member beginning in the 2014-15 season.[17] Prior to the move into Hockey East, on January 7, 2013, head coach Bruce Marshall resigned after 25 years [18] and was replaced in interim by Asst. Dave Berard.[19] The season ended with a record of 17-13-4. The team finished 4th in the AHA, drawing a crowd of 1438 for their final home game of the season against Sacred Heart. As part of the move from Atlantic Hockey to Hockey East, the university added 18 scholarships for the men's ice hockey team and additional scholarships to existing women's sports programs to meet Title IX gender equity requirements.[17] The university also investigated options to significantly renovate the Freitas Ice Forum, which has a seating capacity around 2,000 fans, and mostly consists of metal bleachers; or build a new, larger ice arena on-campus.[17] As a new member of Hockey East, the team played home games at the 15,635-seat former NHL arena, the XL Center in downtown Hartford, with other select (home) games at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. A study by the university projected a cost around $20,000 a game to play at the XL Center.[17]
Head coach Mike Cavanaugh, who spent 18 seasons as an assistant at Boston College, was hired to guide UConn into their new era of scholarship hockey in the Hockey East. He coached Uconn's final season (2013–14) in Atlantic Hockey to a record of 18-14-4, with wins over future Hockey East opponents Providence and Umass, while playing to a 2-2 draw with eventual 2014 NCAA Champ Union . Uconn made a successful transition to Hockey East in 2014-15 as they finished in the top 10 nationally in home attendance (5,396) while also leading their new conference . They were also competitive on the ice as their transition year resulted in 4 wins over top 20 teams while gaining ties with national championship game finalists Providence and Boston University. Starting in the 2015-16 season all home games were played at the XL Center, which drew a much better attendance per game (5,879) than those at the Webster Bank Arena (2,900) in which UConn appeared during the 2014-15 season.
Groundbreaking took place on May 22, 2021 to start construction for UConn's new $48 million ice hockey rink at the Storrs campus, for an opening in fall 2022. The 2,600-seat Toscano Family Ice Forum opened in January 2023 adjacent to the current Freitas Ice Forum in the Athletics District on Jim Calhoun Way. The team facilities will also include team lounges; dry locker area and locker rooms with video displays; training space with a hydrotherapy area; strength and conditioning room; and other areas such as coaches' offices. The new 97,300-square-foot facility will meet all NCAA Division I ice hockey requirements and all Hockey East regulations, which the Freitas Ice Forum does not.[20]
Season-by-season results
editSource:[21]
Coaching staff
edit[22] The Huskies are coached by Mike Cavanaugh, the fourth head coach in program history.
All-time coaching records
editAs of completion of 2023–24 season[4]
Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1960–1981 | John Chapman | 21 | 196–221–7 | .471 |
1981–1988 | Ben Kirtland | 7 | 85–98–2 | .465 |
1988–2012 | Bruce Marshall | 25 | 332–377–69 | .471 |
2012–2013 | David Berard | 1 † | 19–10–3 | .641 |
2013–present | Mike Cavanaugh | 11 | 158–182–38 | .468 |
Totals | 5 coaches | 64 seasons | 790-888-119 | .473 |
† David Berard served as an interim head coach after Bruce Marshall took a medical leave of absence.
Awards and honors
editNCAA
editAll-Americans
editAHCA Second Team All-Americans
- 2020–21: Jonny Evans, F
- 2021–22: Ryan Tverberg, F
ECAC East
editAll-Conference Teams
editFirst Team
- 1991–92: Chris Potter, D; Bryan Krygier, F
- 1992–93: Chris Potter, D
- 1994���95: Bryan Quinn, F
- 1995–96: Ryan Equale, F
Second Team
- 1987–88: Todd Krygier, F
- 1989–90: Bryan Krygier, F
- 1990–91: Bryan Krygier, F
- 1991–92: Mike Krygier, F
- 1993–94: D. J. LeBlanc, F
- 1997–98: Eric Linkowski, D
MAAC
editIndividual awards
edit
MAAC Defensive Rookie of the Year
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MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player
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All-Conference Teams
edit- 1998–99: Geoff Angell, F
- 2001–02: Mike Boylan, D
- 1998–99: Rob Martin, D
- 2000–01: Michael Goldkind, F
- 1998–99: Jon Chain, G; Mike Boylan, D
- 2000–01: Eric Nelson, D
- 2001–02: Adam Rhein, D
Atlantic Hockey
editIndividual awards
edit
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Regular Season Goaltending Award
|
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All-Conference Teams
edit- 2003–04: Eric Nelson, D; Tim Olsen, F
- 2004–05: Tim Olsen, F
- 2011–12: Cole Schneider, F
- 2006–07: Matt Scherer, F
- 2007–08: Beau Erickson, G
- 2008–09: Sean Erickson, D
- 2011–12: Alex Gerke, D
- 2006–07: Sean Erickson, D
- 2012–13: Matt Grogan, G
- 2013–14: Brant Harris, F
- 2003–04: Scott Tomes, G; Matt Scherer, F
- 2004–05: Brad Smith, G
- 2005–06: Sean Erickson, D
- 2009–10: Alex Greke, D
- 2010–11: Cole Schneider, F
Hockey East
editIndividual awards
editAll-Conference Teams
edit- 2021–22: Ryan Tverberg, F
- 2015–16: Maxim Letunov, F
- 2017–18: Maxim Letunov, F
- 2021–22: Jáchym Kondelík, F
- 2016–17: Tage Thompson, F
- 2018–19: Karl El-Mir, F
- 2015–16: Maxim Letunov, F
- 2022–23: Matthew Wood, F
Statistical leaders
editSource:[21]
Career points leaders
editPlayer | Years | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryan Krygier | 1988–1992 | 92 | 127 | 219 | ||
Todd Krygier | 1984–1988 | 99 | 101 | 200 | ||
Ryan Equale | 1992–1996 | 79 | 109 | 188 | ||
Brian Sutherland | 1990–1994 | 61 | 92 | 153 | ||
Jeff Ray | 1988–1992 | 78 | 73 | 151 | ||
Bryan Quinn | 1991–1995 | 64 | 85 | 149 | ||
D. J. LeBlanc | 1990–1994 | 68 | 80 | 148 | ||
Harry Geary | 1984–1987 | 70 | 87 | 148 | ||
Dave L'Ecuyer | 1979–1983 | 66 | 79 | 145 | ||
Mark Kosinski | 1982–1986 | 59 | 77 | 136 |
Career goaltending leaders
editGP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Minimum 50 Games
Player | Years | Games | Minutes | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matt Grogan | 2010–2014 | 59 | 3082 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 119 | 2 | .926 | 2.32 |
Rob Nichols | 2013–2017 | 93 | 5386 | 31 | 46 | 15 | 239 | 10 | .918 | 2.66 |
Tomáš Vomáčka | 2018–2021 | 71 | 4195 | 32 | 33 | 5 | 201 | 2 | .906 | 2.87 |
Marc Senerchia | 1996–2000 | 93 | 3.02 | |||||||
Garrett Bartus | 2009–2013 | 111 | 6353 | 40 | 58 | 9 | 320 | 5 | .911 | 3.02 |
Statistics current through the start of the 2021-22 season.
Current roster
editAs of September 21, 2023.[23]
No. | S/P/C | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ethan Haider | Senior | G | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 209 lb (95 kg) | 2001-09-04 | Maple Grove, Minnesota | Clarkson (ECAC) | NSH, 148th overall 2019 | |
2 | Jack Pascucci | Sophomore | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 2002-02-15 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Des Moines (USHL) | — | |
5 | Bauer Swift | Freshman | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2002-06-17 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Lone Star (NAHL) | — | |
6 | Andrew Lucas | Senior | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 179 lb (81 kg) | 1999-02-05 | Alexandria, Virginia | Vermont (HEA) | — | |
7 | Huston Karpman | Sophomore | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 2001-02-07 | Manhattan Beach, California | Minot (NAHL) | — | |
8 | Joey Muldowney | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 154 lb (70 kg) | 2004-06-05 | Lake View, New York | Des Moines (USHL) | SJS, 172nd overall 2022 | |
9 | Ryan Tattle | Sophomore | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2001-09-07 | Port Moody, British Columbia | Coquitlam (BCHL) | — | |
10 | Tristan Fraser | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2001-11-13 | West Vancouver, British Columbia | Nanaimo (BCHL) | — | |
11 | Jake Richard | Freshman | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | 2004-08-15 | Jacksonville, Florida | Tri-City (USHL) | BUF, 170th overall 2022 | |
12 | Oliver Flynn | Freshman | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 1998-05-17 | Wolcott, Connecticut | Madison (USHL) | — | |
13 | Samu Salminen | Sophomore | F | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2003-04-09 | Helsinki, Finland | Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | NJD, 68th overall 2021 | |
15 | Thomas Messineo | Sophomore | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2002-05-02 | Westwood, Massachusetts | Chilliwack (BCHL) | — | |
16 | Jake Flynn | Graduate | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2001-05-26 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Thayer (USHS–MA) | — | |
17 | Jake Percival | Sophomore | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-02-11 | Avon, Connecticut | Cedar Rapids (USHL) | — | |
18 | John Spetz | Senior | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 1999-12-01 | Oak Ridge, New Jersey | Chicago (USHL) | — | |
19 | Jake Black | Sophomore | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-03-05 | Pomfret, Connecticut | Johnstown (NAHL) | — | |
20 | Chase Bradley | Junior | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-01-09 | St. Louis, Missouri | Sioux City (USHL) | DET, 203rd overall 2020 | |
21 | Nick Capone | Senior | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2001-12-17 | East Haven, Connecticut | Tri-City (USHL) | TBL, 157th overall 2020 | |
22 | Hudson Schandor | Senior | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2000-09-29 | North Vancouver, British Columbia | Surrey (BCHL) | — | |
23 | Tabor Heaslip | Sophomore | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2001-12-17 | Frisco, Texas | Sioux City (USHL) | — | |
24 | Mark D'Agostino | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2001-05-06 | North Branford, Connecticut | Powell River (BCHL) | — | |
25 | Ryan Mahshie | Graduate | F | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 1999-04-05 | Stoney Creek, Ontario | Rensselaer (ECAC) | — | |
27 | Harrison Rees | Graduate | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2000-03-19 | Oakville, Ontario | North York (OJHL) | — | |
29 | Jake Veilleux | Junior | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2000-01-19 | South Windsor, Connecticut | Victoria (BCHL) | — | |
30 | Arsenii Sergeev | Sophomore | G | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 2002-12-16 | Yaroslavl, Russia | Tri-City (USHL) | CGY, 205th overall 2021 | |
31 | Matt Pasquale | Senior | G | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2000-10-06 | North Reading, Massachusetts | Northeast (NAHL) | — | |
34 | Owen Simpson | Freshman | D | 6' 5" (1.96 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2003-07-01 | Toronto, Ontario | Penticton (BCHL) | — | |
71 | Matthew Wood | Sophomore | F | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2005-02-06 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | Victoria (BCHL) | NSH, 15th overall 2023 |
As of July 1, 2023.
= NHL All-Star team | = NHL All-Star[24] | = NHL All-Star[24] and NHL All-Star team | = Hall of Famers |
|
Source:[25]
References
edit- ^ ""/> <meta property="og:description" content="". Archived from the original on 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- ^ "University of Connecticut Brand Colors" (PDF). Brand.UConn.edu. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "An inside look at UConn's new hockey arena". December 22, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "Connecticut Huskies Men's Hockey Team History". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ Newell, Bill (12 September 1956). "Hockey Rink, Arena Planned at Uconn". Hartford Courant. Ebsco. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "UConn Facilities - Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum". Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "New covered ice arena now ready for play". Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "UConn Hockey Record Book" (PDF). University of Connecticut. 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ McDonough, Matt (October 19, 2011). "Hockey needs more support". Daily Campus. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ "UConn Hockey: Enough is Enough". 9 February 2010.
- ^ "University of Connecticut Official Athletics Site - Women's Ice Hockey". www.uconnhuskies.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-11.
- ^ "CBS Local - UConn Hockey Games Moved to XL Center". Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "UConn-Army Box Score, UConnhuskies.com" (PDF). Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Connecticut Huskies 2010-11 Stats". Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Garrett Bartus - UConn Huskies.com". Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Bentley Falcons: Atlantic Hockey Preseason Poll Released". 20 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d Associated Press Staff (June 21, 2012). "Connecticut joins Hockey East". ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "Bruce Marshall Resigns As UConn Men's Hockey Head Coach". www.uconnhuskies.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "UConn Hockey Coach Bruce Marshall Resigns; Dave Berard In On Interim Basis". Archived from the original on July 27, 2014.
- ^ "UConn Hockey Holds Topping-Off Ceremony for New Arena" (Press release). UConn Huskies. December 10, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "Connecticut Men's Ice Hockey 2016-17 Media Guide section 3" (PDF). Connecticut Huskies. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
- ^ "Bruce Marshall". University of Connecticut. 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ "2023-24 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY ROSTER". UConn Huskies. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
- ^ "Alumni report for U. of Connecticut". Hockey DB. Retrieved November 26, 2018.