University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Merrimack
Huskies Host Merrimack Tuesday for Skating Strides Game
1/6/2020 3:31:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
| Â VIDEO STREAM | Â CBS All-Access |
|  LIVE STATS |  UConnHuskies.com (Statbroadcast) |
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|  GAME NOTES |  UConn Game Notes   Merrimack Game Notes |
Ice Chips
The Huskies are back home at the XL Center on Tuesday night to take on the Merrimack Warriors in a Hockey East match-up. Tuesday night's game is the UConn's last game at XL Center in the month of January.
The Huskies and Warriors split their previous two meetings back in November, each winning on the road. UConn's 3-2 win at Lawler Rink was their first win at Merrimack since joining Hockey East and since the 2012-13 season. Since joining Hockey East, the Huskies are 3-5-5 against Merrimack.
UConn heads into Tuesday night at 4-5-2 in Hockey East and tied for seventh in the standings with 10 points. Merrimack sits in 10th place at 2-6-2 with six points.
UConn is coming off a 5-2 loss at home on Friday night to nationally ranked Northeastern. The Huskies got goals from freshman Vladislav Firstov and sophomore Jonny Evans.Â
Firstov added an assist on Friday night, giving him three multi-point games this season. Firstov shares the team lead in scoring with 13 points on the season, on six goals and seven assists. He also shares the team lead in goals scored (6) with sophomores Jachym Kondelik and Carter Turnbull. Firstov is tied for eighth among Hockey East rookies in scoring.
Sophomore Carter Turnbull has had a point in four of the last five games (3g/2a) and has 11 points on the season (6g/5a). Turnbull has a pair of two-goal games this season (vs. Providence/Dartmouth) and is a +5 this season, tops among UConn forwards.
Senior Benjamin Freeman is tied for the team lead with 13 points (3g/10a). Freeman missed Friday's game (illness) but has had at least a point in seven of his last eight games (3g/6a). Freeman's 10 assists leads the Huskies.
Freeman is also one of the top face-off men in Hockey East, ranking fifth with a .592 win percentage (174-120).
Junior defenseman Adam Karashik is tied for third in Hockey East in blocked shots. Karashik has 25 blocks, an average 1.56 per game. Senior defenseman Wyatt Newpower is tied for seventh with 25 blocks (1.32 pg).
Sophomore Jonny Evans missed six games with injury during November. Since returning for the Vermont series, he has five points over the past five games, coming on four goals and an assist.
This Season vs. Merrimack
November 1, 2019 - W, 3-2 - at Lawler Rink
Sophomore Jachym Kondelik scored twice and classmate Tomas Vomacka turned in 36 saves as UConn posted a 3-2 win on the road at Merrimack in their Hockey East opener. The win was the Huskies' first at Merrimack's Lawler Rink since the 2012-13 season. For Kondelik, it was his first career multi-goal game as he collected his third and fourth goals of the season. The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the first period on freshman Liam Walsh's first career goal. The Huskies dominated the second period, putting three goals on the scoreboard to take a 3-2 lead. Kondelik's two goals were sandwiched around the first goal of the season for sophomore Jonny Evans. Vomacka was brilliant all night, stopping 17 shots in the first period, nine in the second and 12 in the third to keep Merrimack at bay. The Huskies were outshot on the night, 38-18.
November 3, 2019 - L, 3-2 - at XL Center
The Huskies were held to a then season-low 17 shots on the way to falling to Merrimack, 3-2, at home in the XL Center. The Huskies grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period but fell behind 3-1 heading into the third. UConn got their first power play goal of the season but continued to struggle on special teams, finishing 1-for-6 on the power play. Merrimack got goals from Liam Walsh, Mac Welsher and one on the power play from Tyler Irvine to provide all the offense. The Warrior defense clamped down on the Huskies and needed freshman goaltender Jere Huhtamaa to make just 15 saves in recording his first collegiate win. UConn's goals came from sophomores Kale Howarth and Ruslan Iskhakov. Sophomore goaltender Tomas Vomacka made 18 saves in taking the loss.
Last Time Out...
- UConn fell behind 3-0 in the first period on the way to a 5-2 Hockey East loss to the No. 12 nationally ranked Northeastern Huskies Friday night at the XL Center.
- Northeastern junior Zach Solow scored twice to help lead his team to a 5-0 lead late in the second period. Sophomore Tyler Madden scored a goal and picked-up an assist while freshman Aidan McDonough dished a pair of assists.
- NU put three on the board in the first period, the first coming just 30 seconds into the game from Matt Filipe and they never looked back. Northeastern was 1-for-3 on their power play chances and goaltender Craig Pantano stopped 26 shots to earn the win in goal.
- For UConn, sophomore Jonny Evans and freshman Vladislav Firstov scored the Huskies' goals. Firstov added an assist to his point totals. The Huskies were 0-for-6 on the power play in the loss.
Skating Strides...
Tuesday night's game will be their annual Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer Game as part of a Hockey East conference wide initiative. The UConn women's hockey team as well as the UConn club hockey program will be in attendance on Tuesday night to help support the cause. Here is what fans in attendance can look forward to at Tuesday night's game:
- A silent auction featuring items signed by Geno Auriemma, Dan Hurley and Randy Edsall, tickets for the Ice Lounge on February 1 vs. New Hampshire, a UConn team exclusive golf kit and driver with retro golf balls and much more.
- A 50/50 raffle
- Chuck-A-Puck
- 2020 Exclusive Pink & Blue UConn hats for $10
Now in its fourteenth season, the Hockey East Skating Strides program has raised nearly $400,000 for various breast cancer charities. Skating Strides has also given the student-athletes the opportunity to give back to the communities in which they study and play hockey. 100% of all Skating Strides fundraising at Tuesday night's game will be directed to the UConn Health Women's Center/Beekley Imaging Center.
