The Forecheck: Breaking down UConn men's hockey's schedule

Looking at the toughest stretches, the most anticipated games and everything else with the Huskies’ 2022-23 schedule.

September 23, 2022

Welcome to the UConn Hockey Hub newsletter, which catches you up on all the stories, trends, and anything else you might have missed, along with some quick takes and leftover notes from the weekend.

Breaking down UConn’s schedule

UConn men’s hockey finally announced its Nov. 26 matchup at Madison Square Garden with Cornell, which means the entire slate is finally out. The Huskies will play 34 contests, including 24 in Hockey East play.

Toughest stretch: Jan. 7-Feb. 3

UConn faces a gauntlet once the calendar flips to 2023. It starts with two exciting games against Northeastern — beginning at Fenway Park and then followed by the first game at Toscano Family Ice Forum — on Jan. 7 and 14 before a home-and-home with UMass. After that, the Huskies will play in CT Ice (with Quinnipiac the favorite to be the opener) before finishing the stretch at Northeastern.

Easiest stretch: Feb. 10-Feb.25

Are there really any easy stretches in Hockey East? Probably not. Regardless, after UConn gets through the tough start to 2023, the schedule lightens up with three games against UNH and another against Alaska Anchorage. We have the Wildcats finishing last in Hockey East while Alaska Anchorage returns after a two-year hiatus, so it’ll be at the start of a rebuild.

Trap games: Oct. 1-2 at Vermont

Season openers are always difficult, especially on the road. UConn also has a lot of new faces that it’ll be working in, especially up top, and will be playing a Vermont team that showed flashes of its potential down the stretch last season. The Catamounts may ultimately remain towards the bottom of the Hockey East standings, but this won’t be an easy series for the Huskies.

Most anticipated game: Jan. 14 vs. Northeastern

If all goes according to plan, UConn will open the Toscano Family Ice Forum on that day. After nine and a half long years, men’s hockey will finally be returning to Storrs.

Best venue: Fenway Park

One week prior to the grand opening, UConn will take on Northeastern at Frozen Fenway. Outdoor games are rare and the fact that the Huskies were one of four men’s teams selected says a lot about how the program is viewed. Our second choice is Madison Square Garden, where UConn will play Cornell on Nov. 26.

Important dates

Oct. 1: UConn begins the regular season at Vermont.

Oct. 7: The Huskies’ home opener will come against Union at the XL Center.

Nov. 26: UConn will take on Cornell in the Frozen Apple at Madison Square Garden.

Dec. 11: The first half will close against BU at the XL Center.

Dec. 29: The Huskies kick off the second half with a road trip to LIU.

Feb. 7: UConn heads to Boston for Frozen Fenway.

Feb. 14: Toscano Family Ice Forum will open with a men’s and women’s doubleheader.

Mar. 4: The Huskies’ regular season ends against Boston College in Storrs.

By the numbers

0 — UConn does not have to get on a plane for a single game this season.

2 — Only two of the Huskies’ contests will even come outside New England — the Frozen Apple and the road trip to LIU.

242 — UConn will get its longest journey out of the way in the first weekend when it travels 242 miles to Burlington, Vermont to take on UVM.

12 and 5 — Assuming all goes according to plan, the Huskies will play 12 games at the XL Center and five at Toscano Family Ice Forum. The final five home games of the regular season will all be in Storrs.

3 — UConn will play four Hockey East opponents three times — BC, BU, Northeastern and UNH.

Week in review

From the UConn Hockey Hub:

From The UConn Blog:

Last week’s Forecheck:

Elsewhere:

Best of social media

College hockey rankings in a nutshell:

UConn visited Fenway last week:

UConn’s new signees:

Carter Turnbull is re-upping with the Stingrays:

The week ahead

UConn women’s hockey opens its season on Friday against RIT as part of a two-game series at Freitas Ice Forum. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

On Tuesday, UConn will hold a media day for both its men’s and women’s programs that features a tour of Toscano Family Ice Forum.