UConn hockey stumbles in debut at XL Center in loss to Sacred Heart

UConn’s Trevor Gerling, who had a team-high four shots, is marked by Sacred Heart’s Ben Lake in Sunday’s UConn Classic game in Hartford. (UConn photo by Stephen Slade).

HARTFORD – There is some excitement around the University of Connecticut men’s hockey team. The Huskies are upgrading the program. They are moving to Hockey East next winter, one of the top conferences in the nation, and will play of their home games at the XL Center in Hartford. 

With that excitement comes expectations. The Huskies are playing their final season in the Atlantic Hockey Association but they moved their 21st annual UConn Hockey Classic to the XL Center this weekend and were looking to beat conference rival Sacred Heart to earn a spot in the tournament final for the third year in a row. 

But the Huskies gave up three goals in the second period and were blanked by the Pioneers Sunday night, 3-0, before about 2,400 fans at the XL Center. It will be Sacred Heart – not the Huskies – that will face No. 8 Quinnipiac University in the tournament finale on Monday night at 7 p.m. 

Quinnipiac, which played in the NCAA championship game last spring, beat UMass in a shootout, 3-2, in the other tournament contest. UConn (6-6-2, 5-3-1 AHA) will play UMass in the consolation game beginning at 4 p.m. 

Sacred Heart goalie Alex Vazzano of Trumbull made 29 saves to earn the shutout. “I was very happy with the level of competitiveness in our team tonight,” said head coach C.J. Marottolo following the shutout, Sacred Heart’s first since March 12, 2010. “I thought we did a good job of limiting UConn’s chances and when they did get us on our heels, Alex Vazzano made some key saves in crucial moments. Overall, I thought our guys were engaged and excited to play.” 

21st annual UConn Hockey Classic
At XL Center, Hartford
Monday, December 30
Final: No. 8 Quinnipiac (13-3-4) vs. Sacred Heart (5-12), 7 p.m.
Consolation: Massachusetts (6-12-3) vs. Connecticut (6-6-2), 4 p.m.

UConn had their moments – but not enough. The Pioneers (5-12, 4-7 AHA) had a pair of breakaways snuffed out by UConn, as shots by Mitch Nylen (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Coltyn Hansen (South Delta, B.C.) were stopped by Matt Grogan. UConn went 0-5 on the power play in the game. 

UConn outshot Sacred Heart in the third period 14-8, but still could not get on the scoreboard. The Huskies also had two power plays, but the Pioneers held UConn to zero shots on goal on those two power plays. 

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard 3:00 into the second period. Hansen shot home the rebound of a Spencer Graboski (Quesnel, B.C.) shot to give Sacred Heart a 1-0 lead. The goal was Hansen’s first of his career.

The Huskies went back on the power play with 13:02 to play in the period, but were held off the scoreboard as Vazzano made three saves and saw one shot hit the post.

Sacred Heart extended the lead with 7:29 left in the second as Chad Filteau (Regina, Sask.) knocked in a loose puck right in front of the UConn net to make the score 2-0. Ben Lake (Calgary, Alb.) put Sacred Heart up 3-0 with 1:50 to play with his fourth goal of the season.

Quinnipiac 3, UMass 2, SO
HARTFORD – No. 8 Quinnipiac eliminated Massachusetts in a shootout, 2-0, and earn a spot in the UConn Hockey Classic title game on Monday night at the XL Center. UMass (6-12-3) led 2-1 after one period on a goal from Troy Power with 19 seconds left in the first period. 

Early in the second period, Quinnipiac’s Matthew Peca Petawawa,Ontario) carried the puck into the UMass zone and fed Travis St. Denis (Trail, British Columbia) who skated into the right face-off circle and left the puck for Clifton. Clifton carried a UMass defenseman around the back of the UMass goal before reaching over the goal line and tucking the puck in off of Mastalerz’s skate to tie the game, 2-2. 

After a scoreless third period, Quinnipiac’s Sam Anas (Potomac, Md.) appeared to score the game winner early in overtime, but had the goal waved off due to a high stick 

In the shootout, Quinnipiac’s Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford) skated in an UMass goalie Steve Mastalerz pulled the stick back, faking the slap shot, before going five-hole to give Quinnipiac a 1-0 lead. UMass’ Michael Pereira then missed, setting up Anas as the Bobcats’ second shooter. 

Skated up center-ice, switching from his forehand to his backhand before a hard deke to Mastalerz’s right left Anas with a wide-open net to score and give Quinnipiac a 2-0 shoot-out lead. UMass’ Adam Phillips’ rebuttal sailed wide, giving Quinnipiac the shootout victory. 

The Bobcats finished the night with a 38-21 shot advantage. Both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play. 

NOTES: UConn has won the tournament three times (2003, 1999, 1995) and has played in the title game 14 times in the previous 20 years of the event. … UConn has made it to three-straight title games, losing last season to Minnesota State, 3-1. … Quinnipiac won the tournament in their only appearance in 2008, beating Air Force, 4-2, for the trophy. … UMass and Sacred Heart have played in two UConn Classics. The Minutemen first appeared in the 2005 field and then lost the title game to Bentley in 2009, 4-1. SHU was beaten in the 1999 title game by the host Huskies and also played in the 2003 classic. … UMass leads the all-time series against the Huskies, 24-8-2. … Since UConn made its transition to Division I in 1998-99, they have had little success against UMass, going 1-10-1 with its lone win the Division I level in October 2004. … The two teams played a year ago with UMass prevailing 4-1 in Amherst last year.  … It will be the first meeting between the two future Hockey East rivals in Connecticut since 1977-78.

Sacred Heart 3, UConn 0
At Hartford
Sacred Heart (5-12)           0  3  0  — 3
UConn (6-6-2)                    0  0  0  — 0
Goals: Coltyn Hansen (S) 1, Chad Filteau (S) 2, Ben Lake (S) 4; Assists: Spencer Graboski (S) 2, David Iacano (S) 4, Hansen 1, Brian Sheehan (S) 4, Jacob Brighbill (S) 2; Saves – Alex Vazzano (S) 29, Matt Grogan (C) 23; Shots – UConn 29-26; Power play – UConn 0-5, Sacred Heart 0-2; Att. – 2,423 

Quinnipiac 3, UMass 2, SO
At Hartford
Quinnipiac (13-3-4)     1  1  0  0  — 2
UMass (6-12-3)           2  0  0  0  — 2
Goals: Kellen Jones (Q) 10, Emerson Auvenshine (M) 1, Troy Power (M) 8, Tim Clifton (Q) 1; Assists: Zack LaRue (M) 1, Steven Guzzo (M) 2, Ray Pigozzi (M) 10, Colin Shea (M) 6, Travis St. Denis (Q) 4, Matthew Peca (Q) 9; Saves: Steve Mastalerz (M) 36, Michael Garteig (Q) 19
Quinnipiac wins in shootout, 2-0