University of Connecticut Athletics
XL Center Ready for Hockey Night in Hartford
10/24/2018 1:41:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
After a four game road stretch to start the season, the Huskies are heading back to the XL Center where 12 rookies have the opportunity to experience their first UConn home game while three seniors prepare for their first of many lasts this season.
"I've heard it's a great atmosphere," said freshman Carter Turnbull. "The crowd at the XL Center loves the Huskies and they usually get a lot of supporters from Hartford so I think it'll be a cool experience for our first collegiate home game."
As for the senior class, despite the fact that this is their last home opener as Huskies, they are heading into this game as they would any other game.
"It's always in the back of your mind that this is your last year," said senior Max Kalter, "but you don't really prepare any differently, it's just another game."
In 2014-15, the XL Center became not only the off-campus home for the UConn men's and women's basketball programs, but the men's hockey team as well. In the Huskies first season as a member of Hockey East, over 75,000 fans enjoyed a "Hockey Night in Hartford" as UConn led the league in home attendance, averaging 5,396 fans per game at the XL Center.
The last four years calling the XL Center home have been filled with countless memorable moments. From the first Hockey East win in 2014 beating then No. 3 nationally ranked Boston College, 1-0, in front of a sold out crowd. If you ask this years seniors, last season's 5-4 overtime win against Boston University was a win that nothing can compare to.
"That place was absolutely electric," said Kalter. "Letty (Maxim Letunov) scored backhand in the slot and it was great for our seniors. It was one of our goals to win an overtime game at home so I couldn't have been happier for that group of guys."
The Huskies finished this past season with 11 Hockey East wins and 23 points in the standings, good for a fifth place tie with Maine and the No. 5 seed, all program best marks in their fourth season of play in the league. UConn is 2-2-0 going into this weekend and continue to improve each day.
"I think we get better every game and now is the time to prove it, in front of our fans," said freshman Jachym Kondelik.
The seniors, however, are hoping that the weight of playing at home doesn't have an effect on the way the freshmen attack this weekend's series.
"One shift at a time," said senior Karl El-Mir. "Yes, it's a home game and yes, you have our home fans and it's going to be a lot of pressure but at the end of the day just one shift at a time, step by step."
For three Huskies in particular, the final stretch of being a college hockey player has begun which makes this season feel a bit different than seasons in the past.
"That's our home," said El-Mir. "It's been our home for four years. Playing in front of such a great crowd who is on our side, the incredible atmosphere, having our locker room and knowing that this is it makes this year feel different."
The Huskies will face Maine in a Hockey East weekend series starting on Friday night at 7:05 pm in Hartford.
