University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Name 2020-21 Captains; Karashik to Wear "C"
4/17/2020 1:57:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – UConn men's hockey head coach Mike Cavanaugh announced the team captains for the 2020-21 season. Rising senior Adam Karashik (Ridgefield, Conn.) has been elected the team's captain for the upcoming season while classmates Brian Rigali (Libertyville, Ill.) and Zac Robbins (Glenview, Ill.) and rising junior Carter Turnbull (Nanaimo, British Columbia) will be alternate captains.
Adam Karashik – Defenseman
Karashik will wear a letter on his jersey for the second-straight season after serving as an alternate captain during 2019-20. He has appeared in 96 games over his three years in Storrs and has collected 15 points (4g/11a) on the blue line. This past season, he was one of the top defensemen in Hockey East blocking shots, with 51 on the year, ranking second in the league (1.55 blk pg). During his UConn career, he has blocked 147 shots.
"It is an amazing honor to be selected as captain by my teammates and coaches," commented Karashik. "Since I have been here, not only have amazing players worn the 'C' but they were also amazing people. It is something I take great pride in. I can't wait to represent my team and the University of Connecticut next season."
Karashik reflected on what he thinks makes a good leader. "I know it takes being a great teammate on and off the ice," commented the rising senior. "I believe in every single guy on this team and making sure they know that is important. As leaders we have to bring a great work ethic every single day and an appropriate attitude, it is infectious."
"After being an assistant last year and watching how Wyatt (Newpower), Ben (Freeman), and Sasha (Payusov) led as seniors I know it is important to appropriately handle all of the highs and all of the lows. Their intensity and focus is something I will make sure isn't lost. They were amazing captains and we will do our best to follow in their footsteps."
Brian Rigali – Forward
Rigali enters his senior season having played in 98 career games over three years. He has 29 career points on 13 goals and 16 assists. This past season, he finished with 10 points on five goals and five assists and had the game-winners in road wins at RPI and at No. 12 nationally ranked UMass Lowell. Defensively, Rigali was fourth on the team and second among UConn forwards in blocking shots with 23 on the year, and he took just one penalty on the year.
"It means everything," stated Rigali. "To be selected by your peers as a leader is one of the highest honors you can receive and I am very grateful and excited to have the opportunity. I think we had really strong leadership this season and it's up to us to follow what we had with the guys last year. We definitely have some unfinished business to take care of this upcoming year."
Looking back on his three years in the program, Rigali can use the lessons from previous captains to help shape him as a player and make him into the leader he is today. "I think staying true to who you are as a person, not trying to be someone you're not. Do what you do that makes you a leader and what got us all elected in the first place. Whether that's being the vocal guy in the room or the guy who picks his spots to be vocal and does more leading by example.
"Just the right ways to act and handle certain situations, there will be tough conversations that will have to be had. And just how to handle yourself as a leader, I think my three years we have had outstanding guys in these positions."
Zac Robbins – Forward
During his three years at UConn, Robbins has played in 89 career games with 13 points on five goals and eight assists. During 2019-20, he appeared in 33 games, posting a career-best seven points on three goals and four assists. Played alongside his fellow alternate captain Brian Rigali with senior Justin Howell for 16 games this year. He took just one penalty on the year, in the season's opening game at Sacred Heart.
"It means the world to me that my teammates and coaches selected me to wear a letter next season," Robbins stated. "I am very grateful that I have earned their respect, and I am excited for this opportunity. I believe a leader is one who leads by example, and for me the most important trait in a leader is how they act when things go bad. Will they panic or will they adapt and react."
"The previous captains that I have played under have taught me so much on and off the ice, but my biggest take away from them is how they always left the program in a better place," commented Robbins. "They all took pride in the Husky logo, and their team spirit was contagious. Being a captain in hockey is so unique because of the teamwork that is needed in every aspect of the game. Unlike other sports where certain players carry more responsibility, hockey is a game where everybody needs to be pulling the rope."
Carter Turnbull – Forward
Turnbull will enter his junior season coming off a break-out season offensively in 2019-20 where he finished second on the team in scoring and shared the team-lead in goals scored. Turnbull had seven points (2g/5a) as a rookie in 2018-10 and saw those numbers jump this past year to 24 points on 12 goals and 12 assists in 31 games. He went from a -14 as a freshman to finishing as a +13, third on the team. He had six multi-point games and a pair of multi-goal games on the year.
"I am truly honored to be selected to wear a letter for the upcoming season," commented Turnbull. "I think being picked by teammates makes it much more gratifying because you know that your peers respect you as a leader and chose you as someone they will follow. I think we have a full locker room of leaders on our team and I am super happy to be one of the few selected to lead this team to a championship."
Turnbull shared his thoughts on what makes a good leader as well, "I think good leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Some leaders can be vocal, some can lead by example and some are just someone you know you can talk to about anything. I think the best leaders have all three of these traits. They not only vocalize what we need to do but they act upon their own words and show younger guys what it takes to win. Great leaders also show empathy for everyone on their team and provide companionship when it is needed in tough times."
"I have been lucky to have such good captains the last two years because they have set such a good example for me as to what I need to do to help make this team successful," said Turnbull. "They taught me what you have to sacrifice to win and how hard you have to work every day to be successful."
