HAMILTON, N.Y. – The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê men’s ice hockey team hosts the University of Connecticut in its home opener Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m
The Raiders are coming off two losses at the Maverick Stampede Tournament in Omaha, Neb. both of which were decided by one goal. On Friday, Oct. 11, Nebraska-Omaha scored the game winning goal at 18:45 of the second overtime period to give the Mavericks a 6-5 win. Down 5-1 in the second period, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê stormed back with four straight goals, including three on the power play to send the game into overtime. In just his second collegiate start, sophomore goaltender Steve Silverthorn made a career-high 44 saves.
In the consolation game against No. 6 Michigan State the following night, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê got on the board at 19:31 of the first period on a goal from junior Kyle Doyle before the Spartans scored two straight goals for a 2-1 win.
Saturday night’s game marks just the fifth meeting between the two schools and the first since 1985. The last time these two teams met, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê defeated the Huskies 9-3 in Storrs, Conn. The Raiders have won all four meetings.
Connecticut returns 23 letterwinners from last year’s team that finished with an overall record of 13-16-7 and an 11-10-5 mark in the MAAC. Senior forward Ron D’Angelo is the team’s top returning scorer as he amassed 17 goals and 16 assists last season.