Dom Amore: As college hockey grows in CT, UConn carries momentum back to downtown Hartford
UConn brought men’s hockey games to Hartford as a necessity. The old on-campus rink didn’t fit the bill for high- profile games as the program began stepping up in class.
Now, with its lavish and still relatively new campus rink, and the program’s break-through success in 2025, the “Ice Bus” won’t be rumbling into the refurbished, renamed Peoples Bank Arena unnoticed.
“When we first built Toscano (Family Ice Forum), we were all excited, but I wanted to play some games in Hartford, I thought that was important for our fan base,” UConn coach Mike Cavanagh said. “I’m hoping when we play downtown, it’s an opportunity for a lot of people who have a hard time getting tickets on campus to come and watch us play.”
The on-campus rink is an intimate setting and is growing into a daunting homefield advantage for the Huskies. But it only holds about 2,600. Last Feb. 1, with UConn surging toward the NCAA Tournament for the first time, 11,781 showed up for a game against Providence at the building then known as the XL Center.
The Huskies, currently ranked 12th nationally, split two games at Colorado College Oct. 3 and 4 — yes, the college hockey season really sneaks up on you — and now open the home schedule with two games against No. 16 Ohio State this weekend, Friday at 7 p.m. in Storrs, Saturday at 4 p.m. in Hartford.
As of Wednesday, the game at Toscano was sold out, and only about 300 lower-bowl seats were unfilled for Saturday’s game in Hartford, which would indicate about 5,000 will eventually come out, even with football in midseason and basketball starting up.
“I’ve heard the lower bowl is almost sold out, which has never happened in October for a hockey game,” Cavanaugh said.
“I’ve always thought this would be a great way to do a weekend series, especially with a team you’re playing on Friday and Saturday at home,” Cavanaugh said. “To be able to play Friday night on campus and Saturday afternoon downtown, it’s going to be pretty interesting.”
