How UConn has evolved since its first trip to TD Garden in 2022

For the third time in program history, UConn is heading to the Hockey East semifinals at TD Garden. The Huskies will take on Boston College in the late game on Friday night, looking to keep their season alive and advance to the championship for the second straight season.

UConn made its debut in Boston back in 2022 and while just four years have passed, a lot has happened for the program since then.

When the Huskies first punched their ticket to the Garden, the team still practiced in Freitas Ice Forum. Toscano Family Ice Forum wouldn’t open for another 10 months. They had only been ranked for three weeks in program history, a number that is now up to 62. UConn has also made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time, set a school-best with 23 wins and captured two CT Ice crowns.

10 players on the 2021-22 squad were born before the turn of the century. Meanwhile, Anthony Allain-Samaké — the youngest member of UConn’s current roster — was born over a decade after Jonny Evans — the oldest player on the 2021-22 squad.

Most of all, UConn has significantly upped its talent in that time. Of the 14 players who have recorded 30+ points in a season under head coach Mike Cavanaugh, eight have come since 2022. Joey Muldowney became the Huskies’ goal-scoring leader in the Hockey East Era with 51 (and counting). All four lines have tallied 20+ goals this season.

“I tell the kids every year that my job is to go recruit kids that are better than you, and your job is to make sure they're not,” Cavanaugh explained. “I'd like to think that our talent is continuing to get better.”

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