UConn men’s hockey off to strong start with win, tie against Colgate

(WFSB) - UConn men’s hockey is now ranked in the top 20 after a strong opening weekend against Colgate.

Traveling to play two games on the road against a team that won their conference last year is no easy task.

Additionally, Colgate knocked off Ted Donato’s Harvard Crimson in the 2023 ECAC Tournament Final.

So this weekend’s first game, Saturday night at the Class of 1965 Arena in Hamilton, N.Y., was no easy task.

Matthew Wood, a Nashville Predators first-round draft pick, wasted no time getting on the scoresheet.

The 6′3, 190 lb sophomore forward buried a goal during the first period, giving the Huskies their first lead.

They didn’t slow down; Moments later, sophomore Samu Salminen scored, giving Connecticut a 2-goal lead.

The rest of the first contest was tight, and the Huskies were outshot 23-21 through two periods of play.

Strong goaltending from Calgary 7th-round draft pick Arsenii Sergeev helped the Huskies maintain their lead.

Samu Salminen buried his second of two goals during the final frame, and Jake Percival’s empty netter put the game out of reach.

Coach Cavanaugh’s squad went on to win their first game in his 10th season behind the Huskies bench, 4-2.

It didn’t get any easier during the Huskies’ second game against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies fell behind during the second period, trailing 3-1 after a late second-period goal.

After forty minutes of play, they regrouped in the locker room and dialed up the pressure in the third period, tying the contest at three.

Matthew Wood added his second goal of the season. Freshman forward Jake Richard, a Sabres draft pick, buried the game-tying goal.

The sides went to an overtime period, and no one scored, meaning the second game ended as a tie according to NCAA rules.

The two teams held an unofficial shootout afterward. The Huskies won, giving them a 1-0-1 record to begin the season.

Senior goaltender Ethan Haider started the second game and made 27 saves in his UConn debut.

The 2019 Nashville Predators draft pick transferred in from Clarkson University, where he posted a 2.36 goals against average and a .910 save percentage over 84 games.

UConn now holds a 3-1-2 record against Colgate.

According to the Hockey East preseason coaches poll, Connecticut enters the new season projected to finish fifth in the Hockey East.

UConn men’s hockey has a home-and-home series against Holy Cross this Friday and Saturday, October 13th and 14th.

Ticketing information for Saturday’s game against Holy Cross at Toscano Family Ice Forum can be found here.