UConn Game Notes for Sacred Heart
Ice Chips...
» The 2019-20 UConn hockey season gets underway on Saturday night at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport as the Huskies take on state-rival Sacred Heart.
» Since leaving Atlantic Hockey for Hockey East in the 2014-15 season, the Huskies and Pioneers have still faced-off each season. SHU has owned the series of late, winning six-straight and seven of the last eight heading into Saturday night.
» The Huskies were picked to finish ninth in the 2019-20 Hockey East Preseason Coach- es’ Poll released at Hockey East Media Day. UConn is coming of 12-20-2 season last year where they finished 7-15-2 and in ninth place in Hockey East, missing the postsea- son.
» UConn Head Coach Mike Cavanaugh begins his seventh season on the bench in 2019- 20. Cavanaugh will lead a young team this season with a combined 18 sophomores and freshmen on the roster.
» Seniors Benjamin Freeman and Wyatt Newpower will serve as captains for the 2019-20 season. Joining the duo in wearing a letter on their jersey is senior Alexander Payusov and junior Adam Karashik who are this year’s alternate captains.
» The Huskies do bring plenty of offensive punch back from last year with six of their top-eight point producers returning, including the top-goal scorer in senior Alexander Payusov.
» Payusov went from two points his freshmen year to back-to-back 20 point seasons. He led the Huskies with 16 goals including six on the power play and a pair of overtime game-winners.
» Sophomore Jachym Kondelik had a 26 point (4g/22a) rookie campaign last year and was also tops among Hockey East freshmen taking face-offs, winning .522 percent (277-254).
» Sophomore goaltender Tomas Vomacka came on strong in the second half of his rookie season and played his way on to the Hockey East All-Rookie team. Vomacka started 14 of 15 games, had a 2.32 goals against (6th/HEA) and a .922 save percentage (4th/HEA)