Home Playoffs, Here We Come
The UConn Hockey team has just made a huge step forward. In just their second year in Hockey East, the Huskies have earned home playoffs, holding the opening round of the Hockey East tournament at the XL Center this weekend starting Friday March 4, as they will host the No. 9 seed Vermont Catamounts. This is a huge accomplishment for the Huskies who show they are already making strides toward becoming a Hockey East power as they continue to build their program as they finished in the No. 8 spot in the 12 team conference, ahead of UMass, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Huskies clinched home ice with an exhilarating final weekend. Coming into the weekend in 10th and two points behind New Hampshire for the No. 8 spot, who they were playing for their last two games, the Huskies needed a sweep to clinch home ice, something that seemed impossible against a team they went 0-4 against last year and were win less against them in their entire program history. Yet the Huskies made history by earning their first ever home ice playoffs as a Hockey East member with two exciting wins over the Wildcats. On senior night at the XL Center, the Huskies scored two goals early, never looking back as they held on for the 4-1 win in front of a huge crowd of over 6200 fans. The next night, in New Hampshire, the Huskies made college hockey headlines across the nation by coming back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period to score four unanswered goals to win 5-4 in overtime to bring the #IceBus back to Hartford. The Huskies now look to use their momentum to get past Vermont and advance to the quarterfinals and make a run in the playoffs. Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Friday March 4 and Saturday March 5, both starting at 7:00 pm, and March 6 is scheduled for a Game 3 at 5:00 pm if a Game 3 is necessary. See you all at the XL Center and let’s go Huskies!
Corey Ronan’s Shorthanded Goal Vs. UNH