After a thrilling victory over Vermont last Saturday, the UConn men’s hockey team is moving on to their series against Merrimack this weekend.
The two-game series will start in North Andover, Mass., on Friday, Nov. 8. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. to kick off the series. The Huskies will then travel back home to Storrs to wrap up the series on Saturday, Nov. 9. Puck drop is set for 3:30 p.m.
Merrimack enters this series with a 1-5-1 record. The Warriors won their second game of the season against Minnesota State University, Mankato, where they split the series, but have struggled to come out on top in every other contest. They were most recently shut out in a two-game series with Maine, where they gave up 11 total goals to the Black Bears.
At the end of October, Merrimack’s freshman goaltender, Ryan Keyes was named Hockey East Defender of the Week. In their contest against New Hampshire on Friday, Oct. 18, Keyes made 19 saves for his first career shutout and three more in the shootout to help the Warriors gain the extra point in the Hockey East standings in their tie.
Speaking of defense, after their weekend series against UMass, Huskies’ goaltender Tyler Muszelik was named Hockey East Goalie of the Week. In the victory on Saturday, Oct. 26, Muszelik had 27 saves to close out UConn’s 3-2 win over UMass at the Toscano Family Ice Forum. Following the UMass weekend, the junior goaltender made 18 saves in the opening game against Vermont and 32 saves in the Huskies thrilling win over the Catamounts the next night. This should make for an interesting goaltender battle between Muszelik and Keyes this weekend.
Another accolade for UConn announced at the end of October was junior Jake Percival was being named the Hockey East Player of the Month. In the month of October, the Huskies’ forward led Hockey East with six goals, two shorthanded goals and 29 shots on the net. He has been one of the offensive leaders for UConn, helping them to start the season with a 4-2-1 record. Percival’s eight total points were tied for third place, and he also had a plus-six rating, which is second among all skaters. He had one-game winning goal and gave blocks to his stat line in the first seven games of the season for the Huskies.
The Huskies have had many answers on offense and defense; everyone is doing their part. In their wild victory over Vermont, freshman Ethan Gardula scored two goals, along with Kaden Shahan with one, Ethan Whitcomb with one, junior Tabor Heaslip with one, and junior Tristan Fraser with the game winner in overtime. The Huskies have a mix of veteran and young talent, on top of consistently stout defense, and it’s been working for them so far this season.
UConn enters the weekend in third place in the Hockey East standings, currently behind Maine and Providence. The Huskies will open the series against their Hockey East foe on Friday at 7 p.m. in North Andover and finish it at home on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.