2023–24 UConn Huskies men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 UConn Huskies men's ice hockey season was the 64th season of play for the program, the 26th at the Division I level, and the 10th in Hockey East. The Huskies represented the University of Connecticut and were coached by Mike Cavanaugh in his 11th season.

2023–24 UConn Huskies
men's ice hockey season
Conference8th Hockey East
Home iceToscano Family Ice Forum
XL Center
Rankings
USCHONR
USA TodayNR
Record
Overall15–19–2
Conference9–14–1
Home7–11–0
Road8–8–2
Coaches and captains
Head coachMike Cavanaugh
Assistant coachesTyler Helton
Michael Pereira
Vince Stalletti
Captain(s)Jake Flynn
Hudson Schandor
UConn Huskies men's ice hockey seasons
« 2022–23 2024–25 »

Season edit

Hopes were high for UConn entering the season but the Huskies had trouble getting off the ground. While the goaltending rotation of Ethan Haider and Arsenii Sergeev performed well in the first month, the offense did not. Matthew Wood, the team's top prospect, had just 3 goals through the first eight games while the rest of the team wasn't much better. Then, when they least could afford it, the Huskies had to contend with a crisis in goal. Once November rolled around, Sergeev appeared to play properly in goal and a pair of very poor performances landed him on the shelf for two months.[1] Haider was able to shoulder the load in the interim thanks to a modest improvement in scoring.

Connecticut was unable to find any consistency in the first half and they were hoping to remedy that with a strong performance after the winter break. They were able to improve their position with a pair of split series against ranked teams, which included Sergeev's triumphant return against Maine. A second place finish in Connecticut Ice didn't do them many favors but the team had a great opportunity to make a charge for the postseason with six straight games against ranked opponents. Unfortunately, Connecticut won just one of those games and had no hope of securing an at-large bit by the end of the season.

UConn was given a date with Vermont to start the conference tournament and Sergeev, who had played very well down the stretch, was given the starting job in goal. UConn was able to use a pair of power play markers to capture the match and reach the quarterfinals. The nation's top team, Boston College, was their next opponent but the Huskies didn't appear to be intimidated in the least. Even when BC built a 3-goal lead just 8 minutes into the game, UConn didn't quit. Hudson Schandor got his team back in the game, contributing on a pair of goals, before Matthew Wood scored two in the third period to tie the game 4–4. However, UConn was unable to keep the momentum and a fifth goal from the Eagles was one too many for Connecticut.[2]

Departures edit

Player Position Nationality Cause
Ty Amonte Forward   United States Graduation (retired)
Adam Dawe Forward   Canada Graduation (signed with Newfoundland Growlers)
Ryan Keane Goaltender   United States Graduation (retired)
Roman Kinal Defenseman   United States Graduation (signed with San Jose Barracuda)
Aidan Metcalfe Defenseman   United States Left program (retired)
Justin Pearson Forward   United States Graduation (signed with Cleveland Monsters)
Logan Terness Goaltender   Canada Transferred to Ohio State
Ryan Tverberg Forward   United States Signed professional contract (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Recruiting edit

Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Oliver Flynn Forward   United States 20 Wolcott, CT
Ethan Haider Goaltender   United States 22 St. Louis Park, MN; transfer from Clarkson; selected 148th overall in 2019
Ryan Mahshie Forward   Canada 24 Stoney Creek, ON; graduate transfer from Rensselaer
Joey Muldowney Forward   United States 19 Lake View, NY; selected 176th overall in 2022
Jake Richard Forward   United States 19 Jacksonville, FL; selected 170th overall in 2022
Owen Simpson Defenseman   Canada 20 Toronto, ON
Bauer Swift Defenseman   United States 21 West Hartford, CT

Roster edit

As of September 21, 2023.[3]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1   Ethan Haider Senior G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 2001-09-04 Maple Grove, Minnesota Clarkson (ECAC) NSH, 148th overall 2019
2   Jack Pascucci Sophomore D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2002-02-15 North Andover, Massachusetts Des Moines (USHL)
5   Bauer Swift Freshman D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-06-17 West Hartford, Connecticut Lone Star (NAHL)
6   Andrew Lucas Senior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1999-02-05 Alexandria, Virginia Vermont (HEA)
7   Huston Karpman Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2001-02-07 Manhattan Beach, California Minot (NAHL)
8   Joey Muldowney Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 154 lb (70 kg) 2004-06-05 Lake View, New York Des Moines (USHL) SJS, 172nd overall 2022
9   Ryan Tattle Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-09-07 Port Moody, British Columbia Coquitlam (BCHL)
10   Tristan Fraser Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-11-13 West Vancouver, British Columbia Nanaimo (BCHL)
11   Jake Richard Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2004-08-15 Jacksonville, Florida Tri-City (USHL) BUF, 170th overall 2022
12   Oliver Flynn Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998-05-17 Wolcott, Connecticut Madison (USHL)
13   Samu Salminen Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-04-09 Helsinki, Finland Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-sarja) NJD, 68th overall 2021
15   Thomas Messineo Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-05-02 Westwood, Massachusetts Chilliwack (BCHL)
16   Jake Flynn (C) Graduate D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-05-26 Bridgewater, Massachusetts Thayer (USHS–MA)
17   Jake Percival Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-02-11 Avon, Connecticut Cedar Rapids (USHL)
18   John Spetz Senior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1999-12-01 Oak Ridge, New Jersey Chicago (USHL)
19   Jake Black Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-03-05 Pomfret, Connecticut Johnstown (NAHL)
20   Chase Bradley Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-01-09 St. Louis, Missouri Sioux City (USHL) DET, 203rd overall 2020
21   Nick Capone Senior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2001-12-17 East Haven, Connecticut Tri-City (USHL) TBL, 157th overall 2020
22   Hudson Schandor (C) Senior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2000-09-29 North Vancouver, British Columbia Surrey (BCHL)
23   Tabor Heaslip Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-12-17 Frisco, Texas Sioux City (USHL)
24   Mark D'Agostino Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-05-06 North Branford, Connecticut Powell River (BCHL)
25   Ryan Mahshie Graduate F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1999-04-05 Stoney Creek, Ontario Rensselaer (ECAC)
27   Harrison Rees Graduate D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-03-19 Oakville, Ontario North York (OJHL)
29   Jake Veilleux Junior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-01-19 South Windsor, Connecticut Victoria (BCHL)
30   Arsenii Sergeev Sophomore G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2002-12-16 Yaroslavl, Russia Tri-City (USHL) CGY, 205th overall 2021
31   Matt Pasquale Senior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2000-10-06 North Reading, Massachusetts Northeast (NAHL)
34   Owen Simpson Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2003-07-01 Toronto, Ontario Penticton (BCHL)
71   Matthew Wood Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2005-02-06 Nanaimo, British Columbia Victoria (BCHL) NSH, 15th overall 2023

Standings edit

Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#1 Boston College †* 24 20 3 1 1 0 1 61 105 56 39 33 5 1 179 87
#2 Boston University 24 18 4 2 1 1 1 57 104 53 39 28 9 2 162 95
#6 Maine 24 14 9 1 0 1 0 44 76 67 37 23 12 2 119 94
#16 Providence 24 11 9 4 3 1 2 37 66 58 35 18 13 4 100 83
#13 Massachusetts 24 12 10 2 4 2 0 36 57 62 37 20 14 3 108 105
#19 New Hampshire 24 12 11 1 1 0 0 36 69 56 36 20 15 1 106 90
Northeastern 24 9 14 1 1 3 0 30 65 71 36 17 16 3 113 97
Connecticut 24 9 14 1 1 1 1 29 49 77 36 15 19 2 90 105
Vermont 24 7 14 3 1 0 3 26 52 81 35 13 19 3 87 106
Merrimack 24 6 17 1 0 1 1 21 62 85 35 13 21 1 98 114
Massachusetts Lowell 24 4 17 3 1 4 0 18 39 78 36 8 24 4 72 113
Championship: March 23, 2024
† indicates regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO Division I Men's Poll; Updated: April 1, 2024

Schedule and results edit

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 7 7:00 pm at Colgate* Class of 1965 ArenaHamilton, New York ESPN+ Sergeev W 4–2  923 1–0–0
October 8 3:00 pm at Colgate* Class of 1965 ArenaHamilton, New York ESPN+ Haider T 3–3 OT 792 1–0–1
October 13 7:00 pm at Holy Cross* #20 Hart CenterWorcester, Massachusetts FloHockey, NESN+ Sergeev L 1–2  1,100 1–1–1
October 14 7:00 pm Holy Cross* #20 Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Haider L 0–2  2,296 1–2–1
October 20 7:00 pm at Union* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New York ESPN+ Sergeev L 1–4  2,100 1–3–1
October 21 4:00 pm at Union* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New York ESPN+ Haider W 5–0  1,821 2–3–1
October 27 7:15 pm at Massachusetts Lowell Tsongas CenterLowell, Massachusetts ESPN+ Sergeev W 2–1 OT 6,560 3–3–1 (1–0–0)
October 28 4:00 pm Massachusetts Lowell XL CenterHartford, Connecticut ESPN+ Haider L 0–1  2,902 3–4–1 (1–1–0)
November 3 7:00 pm at Vermont Gutterson FieldhouseBurlington, Vermont ESPN+ Sergeev L 1–4  2,796 3–5–1 (1–2–0)
November 4 6:00 pm at Vermont Gutterson FieldhouseBurlington, Vermont ESPN+ Haider W 5–2  3,235 4–5–1 (2–2–0)
November 10 7:00 pm Merrimack Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Sergeev L 3–6  2,630 4–6–1 (2–3–0)
November 11 7:00 pm at Merrimack J. Thom Lawler RinkNorth Andover, Massachusetts ESPN+ Haider W 4–3  2,432 5–6–1 (3–3–0)
November 17 7:00 pm at #4 Boston College Conte ForumChestnut Hill, Massachusetts ESPN+ Haider L 4–5 OT 6,127 5–7–1 (3–4–0)
November 18 7:00 pm #4 Boston College Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Haider L 0–3  2,630 5–8–1 (3–5–0)
November 25 3:00 pm Dartmouth* XL CenterHartford, Connecticut ESPN+ Haider W 6–1  3,582 6–8–1
December 1 7:00 pm Massachusetts Lowell Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+, NESN Haider W 2–0  2,630 7–8–1 (4–5–0)
December 3 4:00 pm at #11 Maine Alfond ArenaOrono, Maine ESPN+ Haider L 3–7  4,661 7–9–1 (4–6–0)
December 31 3:00 pm Harvard* Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPNU Haider W 4–2  2,630 8–9–1
January 5 7:00 pm at #13 Massachusetts Mullins CenterAmherst, Massachusetts ESPN+ Haider T 3–3 SOW 2,630 8–9–2 (4–6–1)
January 12 7:00 pm #7 Maine XL CenterHartford, Connecticut ESPN+ Haider L 3–5  4,377 8–10–2 (4–7–1)
January 13 3:00 pm #7 Maine XL CenterHartford, Connecticut ESPN+ Sergeev W 2–0  9,428 9–10–2 (5–7–1)
January 19 7:00 pm #17 New Hampshire Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+, NESN Haider L 0–5  2,691 9–11–2 (5–8–1)
January 21 4:00 pm at #17 New Hampshire Whittemore CenterDurham, New Hampshire ESPN+, NESN Sergeev W 2–1  5,482 10–11–2 (6–8–1)
Connecticut Ice
January 26 3:30 pm Sacred Heart* XL CenterHartford, Connecticut (Connecticut Ice Semifinal) SNY Sergeev W 6–2  4,633 11–11–2
January 27 7:30 pm #7 Quinnipiac* XL CenterHartford, Connecticut (Connecticut Ice Championship) SNY Haider L 3–4  6,429 11–12–2
February 2 7:00 pm #10 Providence Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Sergeev L 0–5  2,691 11–13–2 (6–9–1)
February 3 7:00 pm at #10 Providence Schneider ArenaProvidence, Rhode Island ESPN+ Haider W 2–1  2,870 12–13–2 (7–9–1)
February 9 7:00 pm #12 Massachusetts Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Sergeev L 0–2  2,691 12–14–2 (7–10–1)
February 10 7:00 pm at #12 Massachusetts Mullins CenterAmherst, Massachusetts ESPN+, NESN Haider L 1–3  6,342 12–15–2 (7–11–1)
February 23 7:00 pm #2 Boston University Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Sergeev L 1–6  2,691 12–16–2 (7–12–1)
February 24 7:00 pm at #2 Boston University Agganis ArenaBoston, Massachusetts ESPN+ Haider L 0–6  5,857 12–17–2 (7–13–1)
March 1 7:30 pm at Northeastern Matthews ArenaBoston, Massachusetts ESPN+, NESN+ Sergeev W 4–3  3,188 13–17–2 (8–13–1)
March 2 3:00 pm Northeastern Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Haider L 2–4  2,691 13–18–2 (8–14–1)
March 7 7:00 pm Vermont Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut ESPN+ Sergeev W 5–1  2,691 14–18–2 (9–14–1)
Hockey East Tournament
March 13 7:00 pm Vermont* Toscano Family Ice ForumStorrs, Connecticut (Opening Round) ESPN+ Sergeev W 4–1  2,021 15–18–2
March 16 7:00 pm at #1 Boston College* Conte ForumChestnut Hill, Massachusetts (Quarterfinal) ESPN+, NESN+ Sergeev L 4–5  6,705 15–19–2
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
Source:[4]

Scoring statistics edit

Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Matthew Wood C//LW 35 16 12 28 43
Chase Bradley C/LW 31 11 11 22 53
Hudson Schandor C 34 5 16 21 31
Jake Richard RW 36 7 11 18 6
Samu Salminen C/LW 35 7 10 17 35
Andrew Lucas D 36 5 11 16 16
Jake Percival F 36 7 7 14 18
Joey Muldowney RW 35 5 9 14 12
Ryan Tattle F 34 4 8 12 22
Tristan Fraser F 35 7 4 11 33
Tom Messineo D 36 0 11 11 2
Nick Capone RW 32 4 4 8 46
Tabor Heaslip F 36 1 7 8 16
Harrison Rees D 36 3 4 7 10
John Spetz D 36 2 4 6 18
Jake Flynn D 33 1 5 6 10
Ryan Mahshie F 21 2 3 5 4
Jake Black F 24 2 2 4 2
Oliver Flynn C 23 1 1 2 6
Owen Simpson D 14 0 1 1 4
Arsenii Sergeev G 16 0 0 0 0
Huston Karpman F 1 0 0 0 0
Jake Veilleux D/F 11 0 0 0 0
Ethan Haider G 21 0 0 0 0
Matt Pasquale G 1 0 0 0 0
Jack Pascucci D 24 0 0 0 6
Total 90 141 231 401

[5]

Goaltending statistics edit

Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Arsenii Sergeev 16 934:02 8 8 0 42 443 1 .913 2.70
Ethan Haider 22 1216:33 7 11 2 59 564 2 .905 2.91
Matt Pasquale 2 7:28 0 0 0 1 4 0 .800 8.04
Empty Net - 20:05 - - - 3 - - - -
Total 36 2178:08 15 19 2 105 1011 3 .906 2.89

Rankings edit

Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (Final)
USCHO.com NR 20 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
USA Today NR 20 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25.[6]
Note: USA Today did not release a poll in week 12.

References edit

  1. ^ "How Arsenii Sergeev bounced back from his early season struggles". UConn Huskies. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Boston College at UConn - 2024 Hockey East Semifinal Highlights". YouTube. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "2023-24 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY ROSTER". UConn Huskies. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023-24 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY SCHEDULE". UConn Huskies. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Univ. of Connecticut 2023-2024 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.