University of Connecticut Athletics
Three Huskies to Finish Season the Next Level
3/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO (March 18) –Seniors Matt Herhal (Pottstown, PA) and Anders Johnson (North Kingston, RI) of the University of Connecticut men’s ice hockey team were selected by the Knoxville Speed in the United Hockey League’s (UHL) annual North American Amateur Draft on March 12. Also, senior Mike Boylan (Doylestown, PA) was picked-up as a free agent by the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) earlier in the week. The threesome completed their NCAA eligibility after playing four years as part of the Connecticut hockey team, and will return to the university upon completions of their respective teams seasons.
Players that are 19 years of age or older who play in North America during the 2001-02 season are eligible for the UHL’s draft. The draft consisted of six rounds, with each UHL team selecting in reverse order of their current standings. Knoxville had the first overall pick in round one, due to its current low winning percentage in the UHL standings.
Herhal, a forward, was picked up by Knoxville in the second round, 24th overall. He completed his four-year career as a Husky scoring 28 goals and 38 assists for 66 points, and ranks fourth among his teammates at the Division I level in points scored (66). Playing in 124 career contests at UConn, Herhal is sixth in overall games played. This season, he notched eight goals and nine assists for 17 points.
A forward, Johnson was selected in the second round, 15th overall by Knoxville. Playing in 131-career games, Johnson is second in all-time games played at Connecticut. He scored 33 goals and 36 assists for 69 points, and is third in overall points scored at the Division I level at UConn. This season he recorded seven goals and a single-season career high of 16 assists, being one of only four players to skate in all 36 games.
Boylan, a defenseman, was also picked up by the UHL’s New Haven Knights, but opted to play for Atlantic City. Boylan completed his four-year career at UConn having logged the most games played in hockey history (137 games). A strong presence on the blueline, Boylan scored a career 23 goals and 41 assists for 64 points, fifth at UConn in Division I scoring history. This season, Boylan was named to the 2002 All-MAAC First Team after recording eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points.
Connecticut completed its fourth season at the Division I level, earning a bid to the MAAC Championship for the fourth time in as many years. The Huskies completed the season with a record of 13-16-7 overall, 11-10-5 in the MAAC. UConn upset the No. 3 seed Holy Cross, 6-5, in the MAAC Quarterfinals, before dropping a 5-0 loss to the top-seed Mercyhurst in the semifinals.
