Riding a two-game winning streak, the No. 11 UConn Huskies men’s ice hockey team (16-10-3) looks to continue their winning ways in a Hockey East dual this Friday against the team up north, the fourth-ranked Maine Blackbears (19-5-5). This will be the third time the two have matched up against each other this season. While the Huskies won the first of the two games by a 4-2 margin, the second resulted in a 2-2 tie. Both games took place on Maine’s home rink, which could only mean one thing: the Blackbears must travel to the hallowed grounds of the Toscano Forum in Storrs.Â
Sophomore forward Joey Muldowney has continued to make his case as one of the best young talents in the conference, leading the team in goals scored with 19. To further his impressive stat line, Muldowney has also recorded 14 blocked shots and 13 assists, showcasing his ability to contribute on both sides of the ice. Muldowney has been instrumental to the Huskies’ success this season, which he’ll have to continue to produce to pull off a ginormous home victory.
British Columbia native Hudson Schandor has also put on a show for the Huskies this season, solidifying his case as a potential candidate for the Hobey Baker Award, the award given to the best NCAA men’s hockey player. The forward leads the team in total points, coming from his 7 goals and 17 assists. Like Muldowney, Schandor has been a crucial playmaker and will need to utilize his extreme mental toughness and high-hockey IQ to give the Huskies an edge over the Blackbears.
Looking at the opposing team, Maine is no joke. The highlight of this talented Blackbears squad is senior forward Harrison Scott, who was just recently named a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown award, given to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. Scott has amassed a whopping 31 points this season, comprised of 16 goals and 15 assists. To keep Scott at bay, displaying toughness and tenacity on the defensive end is critical for a much-needed Huskies victory.
Puck drop is scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Toscano Ice Forum. Not to mention, it’ll also be two-dollar beer night at Toscano, yet another challenging factor that Maine will have to face when taking on this young, yet talented UConn Huskies team.