University of Connecticut Athletics
Feature: UConn Honors a Past Champion
10/17/2019 1:04:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. - 20 years ago, the 1999-2000 UConn men's ice hockey team won the MAAC Championship for the first time in program history.
Last Saturday, the Huskies welcomed home most of the former student-athletes and coaches from that year for a special ceremony recognizing the team's accomplishments.
"It's surreal for me to be back especially," said assistant coach Peter Belisle ('95). "I played in an outdoor rink and then I was an assistant coach for 10 years. I saw the program go from that outdoor rink to the Freitas Ice Forum and then move to Division I hockey where Bruce Marshall started the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)."
Just one year after making the transition to Division I, the Huskies began their second season of play in the MAAC in 1999-2000. Although the team got off to a slow start the Huskies turned it on in December, winning the SNET UConn Classic, putting together a seven-game win streak, and winning 14 of their last 20 regular season games.
UConn ran through the MAAC playoffs with a 5-4 win over Sacred Heart, a 2-0 win over Mercyhurst, and of course, a 6-1 championship game win over Iona on campus in Storrs.
"Championship teams just have that chemistry and that year, we had it," said Belisle. "We had the right chemistry at the right time with a great staff and great leadership that really helped catch that lightning in a bottle and towards the end of the season, we found our way."
This program has made great strides over the last 20 years and these alumni are eager to see what's next for Coach Cavanaugh and the rest of the Huskies.
"It's a level playing field for everyone now," said captain Michael Narotski ('00). "They have the same amount of scholarships as everywhere else, we never had that. UConn has kids from all over the world and they can really play. I think as this team progresses, they'll get their chance and we'll be raising a Hockey East banner for them."
Over the last 20 years there have been marriages, children born and moves across the country. It's safe to say that life has gotten in the way of reuniting this group of hockey players.
"To come back and see them, talk to them and meet their children and wives is a great feeling," said Matthew Jarret ('00).
However, even 20 years later, nothing has changed.
"These are lifelong friends of mine," said Narotski. "Anything I've achieved in life has been with them and it all started with UConn hockey."
This is a team that's accomplishments will forever be remembered at UConn and will now be hanging in the rafters for us all to see.
