UConn hockey excited for first full season in new arena

STORRS, CT (WFSB) - UConn hockey is looking forward to the first full season of home games in the school’s brand new hockey building.

The Toscano Ice Forum opened in January, and both the men’s and women’s teams played a limited number of their remaining games there.

“I think it’s gonna be great, it’s always fun playing here in Toscano,” said UConn men’s hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh.

“You’re kind of pinching yourself, this is really your home,” said Chris Mackenzie, UConn women’s hockey head coach.

“Experience they have on game night is just first rate in college,” Cavanaugh said.

The UConn hockey teams played their first week of games on the road. The men got a win and a tie, the women did the same thing.

A hockey double header is set for Saturday, with a big crowd expected.

“Yeah, I think our energy is definitely elevated when we step on the ice and we’re like, wow, we get to come to this rink, we get to play our games here,” said Kart Stockdale, UConn women’s hockey forward.

“Just the other day, we brought a recruit through and they saw the rink from the football facility and you could just see the parents and the recruit, their eyes light up when they saw it,” Mackenzie said.

On Saturday, the women host Boston College at 2 p.m., and the men host Holy Cross at 7 p.m.