2020–21 UConn Huskies men's ice hockey season
The 2020–21 UConn Huskies men's ice hockey season was the 61st season of play for the program, the 23rd at the Division I level, and the 7th season in the Hockey East conference. The Huskies represented the University of Connecticut and were coached by Mike Cavanaugh , in his 8th season.
Season
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Connecticut's players would lose a season of play.[1] However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.[2]
UConn began the season going through a gauntlet or ranked teams. The stiff competition handed the Huskies a 1–4–1 record and left the team with wallowing near the bottom of the conference standings. Despite the bad start, Connecticut turned its season around with a solid performance in January. While facing a slightly easier schedule, the Huskies ended the month a game over .500 and, after defeating Northeastern at the start of February, the team found itself in the top-20. The ranking didn't last long, however, and Connecticut's 4-game losing streak nearly ended any hope for the team. Winning the last two games of the regular season put the Huskies at .500 and, because Hockey East used a power index for ranking for the 2021 season, UConn finished 4th in the conference, the best result to date.
In spite of their mediocre record, Connecticut had a small chance to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament but it would need a good performance to make itself stand out from the other 'bubble teams'.[3] They got a good chance in the conference quarterfinals , facing Providence at home. The Huskies started slow and were badly outshot in the first period. When they did finally score the Friars had already built a 3-goal lead and their opponents cruised to a 6–1 victory.
Darion Hanson, Ryan Keane, Matt Pasquale, and Bradley Stone sat out the season.
Departures
Recruiting
Roster
As of February 12, 2021.[4]
No.
S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
Weight
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
NHL rights
1
Ryan Keane
Sophomore
G
5' 9" (1.75 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
1998-03-15
Lewisville, Texas
Jamestown (NAHL )
—
2
Yan Kuznetsov
Sophomore
D
6' 4" (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
2002-03-21
Murmansk, Russia
Sioux Falls (USHL )
CGY , 50th overall 2020
3
Adam Karashik (C )
Senior
D
6' 0" (1.83 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1998-01-15
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Chicago (USHL )
—
4
Roman Kinal
Junior
D
6' 2" (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1998-07-20
Waterford, Michigan
Dubuque (USHL )
—
5
Eric Linell
Sophomore
F
5' 8" (1.73 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
1998-09-17
Great Neck, New York
Penticton (BCHL )
—
6
Ryan Wheeler
Junior
D
6' 0" (1.83 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1997-08-24
Lancaster, New York
New Jersey (NAHL )
—
7
Jonny Evans
Junior
F
5' 9" (1.75 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1997-05-01
North Delta, British Columbia
Powell River (BCHL )
—
8
Carter Turnbull (A )
Junior
F
5' 8" (1.73 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-09-08
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Powell River (BCHL )
—
9
Cassidy Bowes
Freshman
F
5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1999-02-17
Sturgeon County, Alberta
Whitecourt (AJHL )
—
10
Vladislav Firstov
Sophomore
F
6' 1" (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2001-06-19
Yaroslavl, Russia
Waterloo (USHL )
MIN , 42nd overall 2019
11
Jáchym Kondelík
Junior
F
6' 5" (1.96 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1999-12-21
Budějovice, Czech Republic
Muskegon (USHL )
NSH , 111th overall 2018
12
Gavin Puskar
Freshman
F
6' 2" (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2001-06-21
Farmington, Connecticut
Hotchkiss (USHS–CT )
—
13
John Wojciechowski
Junior
F
6' 3" (1.91 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1998-02-18
Mamaroneck, New York
Langley (BCHL )
—
14
Zac Robbins (A )
Senior
F
5' 10" (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1996-10-03
Glenview, Illinois
Cedar Rapids (USHL )
—
16
Jake Flynn
Sophomore
D
6' 0" (1.83 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2001-05-26
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Thayer (USHS–MA )
—
17
Marc Gatcomb
Junior
F
6' 2" (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1999-07-22
Woburn, Massachusetts
The Gunnery (USHS–CT )
—
18
John Spetz
Freshman
D
5' 10" (1.78 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1999-12-01
Oak Ridge, New Jersey
Chicago (USHL )
—
19
Brian Rigali (A )
Senior
F
5' 8" (1.73 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1997-03-08
Libertyville, Illinois
Sioux City (USHL )
—
21
Nick Capone
Freshman
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
Freshman
F
5' 8" (1.73 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
2000-09-29
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Surrey (BCHL )
—
23
Carter Berger
Sophomore
D
6' 0" (1.83 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1999-09-17
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Victoria (BCHL )
FLA , 106th overall 2019
27
Harrison Rees
Sophomore
D
6' 2" (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2000-03-19
Mississauga, Ontario
North York (OJHL )
—
28
Ryan Tverberg
Freshman
F
5' 11" (1.8 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2002-01-30
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL )
TOR , 213th overall 2020
29
Kale Howarth
Junior
F
6' 4" (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1997-06-10
Red Deer, Alberta
Trail (BCHL )
CBJ , 148th overall 2017
31
Matt Pasquale
Freshman (RS )
G
6' 2" (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2000-10-06
North Reading, Massachusetts
Northeast (NAHL )
—
32
Artem Shlaine
Freshman
F
6' 1" (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2002-03-17
Moscow, Russia
Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS–MN )
NJD , 130th overall 2020
33
Tomáš Vomáčka
Junior
G
6' 3" (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1999-05-02
Trutnov, Czech Republic
Lincoln (USHL )
NSH , 154th overall 2017
35
Bradley Stone
Senior
G
6' 1" (1.85 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1996-07-14
London, England
Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL )
—
Standings
Schedule and Results
[7]
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
TV
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Regular Season
November 20
6:00 PM
at #7 Massachusetts
Mullins Center • Amherst , Massachusetts
NESN+
Vomáčka
L 1–5
0
0–1–0 (0–1–0)
November 21
4:00 PM
vs. #7 Massachusetts
XL Center • Hartford , Connecticut
Vomáčka
T 2–2 SOW
0
0–1–1 (0–1–1)
December 11
6:00 PM
at #2 Boston College
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill , Massachusetts
NESN
Vomáčka
L 3–4 OT
0
0–2–1 (0–2–1)
December 12
3:35 PM
vs. #2 Boston College
XL Center • Hartford , Connecticut
Vomáčka
W 3–1
0
1–2–1 (1–2–1)
December 21
5:00 PM
vs. #17 Massachusetts–Lowell
XL Center • Hartford , Connecticut
Vomáčka
L 1–2
0
1–3–1 (1–3–1)
December 23
3:30 PM
at #10 Massachusetts
Mullins Center • Amherst , Massachusetts
NESN
Vomáčka
L 2–6
0
1–4–1 (1–4–1)
December 28
3:00 PM
vs. #15 Providence
XL Center • Hartford , Connecticut
Vomáčka
W 2–0
0
2–4–1 (2–4–1)
January 1
4:00 PM
at New Hampshire
Whittemore Center • Durham , New Hampshire
NESN
Vomáčka
W 2–1
0
3–4–1 (3–4–1)
January 2
4:00 PM
vs. New Hampshire
XL Center • Hartford , Connecticut
Vomáčka
L 1–2 OT
0
3–5–1 (3–5–1)
January 15
4:00 PM
vs. New Hampshire
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
W 6–5 OT
0
4–5–1 (4–5–1)
January 16
5:00 PM
at New Hampshire
Whittemore Center • Durham , New Hampshire
Vomáčka
W 8–3
0
5–5–1 (5–5–1)
January 22
4:00 PM
vs. #1 Boston College
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill , Massachusetts
Vomáčka
T 3–3 SOW
0
5–5–2 (5–5–2)
January 23
4:00 PM
vs. #1 Boston College
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
L 2–4
0
5–6–2 (5–6–2)
January 29
3:05 PM
at Merrimack
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover , Massachusetts
Vomáčka
W 6–1
0
6–6–2 (6–6–2)
January 30
3:00 PM
vs. Merrimack
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
W 6–2
0
7–6–2 (7–6–2)
February 5
5:05 PM
at #14 Northeastern
Matthews Arena • Boston , Massachusetts
Vomáčka
W 4–1
0
8–6–2 (8–6–2)
February 9
5:00 PM
at Massachusetts–Lowell
#20
Tsongas Center • Lowell , Massachusetts
NESN
Vomáčka
L 2–3 OT
0
8–7–2 (8–7–2)
February 12
4:30 PM
at #16 Providence
#20
Schneider Arena • Providence , Rhode Island
NESN+
Vomáčka
L 0–4
0
8–8–2 (8–8–2)
February 20
4:00 PM
vs. #11 Boston University
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
L 2–3 OT
0
8–9–2 (8–9–2)
February 26
4:00 PM
vs. Maine
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
L 4–6
0
8–10–2 (8–10–2)
February 27
4:00 PM
vs. Maine
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
W 4–2
0
9–10–2 (9–10–2)
March 5
5:00 PM
vs. #15 Providence
XL Center • Hartford , Connecticut
Vomáčka
W 5–3
0
10–10–2 (10–10–2)
Hockey East Tournament
March 14
3:30 PM
vs. #17 Providence *
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum • Storrs , Connecticut
Vomáčka
L 1–6
0
10–11–2
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll . All times are in Eastern Time .
Scoring statistics
Name
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Jonny Evans
F
23
14
15
29
12
Jáchym Kondelík
C
23
4
18
22
6
Hudson Schandor
C
22
6
8
14
10
Carter Turnbull
RW
23
9
4
13
10
Marc Gatcomb
F
23
6
6
12
14
Vladislav Firstov
LW
13
3
9
12
12
John Spetz
D
22
3
8
11
10
Carter Berger
D
21
1
8
9
6
Adam Karashik
D
23
1
8
9
27
Artem Shlaine
C
23
1
8
9
16
Kale Howarth
LW /C
18
5
2
7
27
Ryan Tverberg
C
14
4
3
7
16
Roman Kinal
D
16
1
5
6
0
Yan Kuznetsov
D
16
1
5
6
4
Jake Flynn
D
23
1
5
6
12
Brian Rigali
F
23
3
2
5
16
Harrison Rees
D
21
2
3
5
8
Nick Capone
RW
20
1
4
5
8
Cassidy Bowes
LW
11
1
2
3
6
Ryan Wheeler
D
18
2
0
2
8
Zac Robbins
F
23
0
2
2
2
Eric Linell
G
14
1
0
1
0
John Wojciechowski
C
1
0
0
0
0
Gavin Puskar
C
3
0
0
0
0
Tomáš Vomáčka
G
23
0
0
0
2
Bench
-
-
-
-
-
6
Total
70
125
195
238
[8]
Goaltending statistics
Name
Games
Minutes
Wins
Losses
Ties
Goals Against
Saves
Shut Outs
SV %
GAA
Tomáš Vomáčka
23
1393
10
11
2
66
659
1
.909
2.84
Empty Net
-
7
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
Total
23
1400
10
11
2
69
659
1
.905
2.96
Rankings
Poll
Week
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 (Final)
USCHO.com
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
20
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
-
NR
USA Today
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
15
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20. [9]
Awards and honors
Players drafted into the NHL
† incoming freshman
[12]
References
^ "NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility" . CBS Sports . August 21, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021 .
^ "DI Council grants waiver to allow transfer student-athletes to compete immediately" . NCAA . December 16, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021 .
^ "Bracketology: With Selection Sunday around the corner, taking one last stab at how the NCAA hockey tournament field will look" . USCHO . March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021 .
^ "2020-21 Roster" . University of Connecticut. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2018 .
^ "Hockey East Unveils 2021 Tournament and Seeding Format - Hockey East Association" . hockeyeastonline.com . Retrieved February 10, 2021 .
^ "2021 Hockey East Women's Tournament Field Set" . hockeyeastonline.com . Retrieved March 13, 2021 .
^ "UConn Huskies (Men) 2020-2021 Schedule and Results" . College Hockey Stats . Retrieved December 5, 2019 .
^ "Univ. of Connecticut 2020-2021 Skater Stats" . Elite Prospects . Retrieved July 2, 2020 .
^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll" . USCHO.com . Retrieved November 26, 2019 .
^ "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season" . USCHO.com . April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021 .
^ a b "Hockey East Names 2020-21 Men's All-Star Teams - Hockey East Association" . hockeyeastonline.com . Retrieved March 17, 2021 .
^ "NCAA player rankings, selections in 2021 NHL Draft" . USCHO.com . Retrieved July 24, 2021 .
Formerly the Connecticut Agricultural College Aggies
Playing venues Head coaches Seasons Conference affiliations Culture & lore All-time leaders Conference Tournament titles