Marc Gatcomb makes NHL debut with New York Islanders

Marc Gatcomb made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders in a 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. He got 11 shifts for 7:27 of ice time. He didn’t record a point but did rack up four hits on the night.

“I thought he had a really good start. That line had some energy at the beginning,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said, according to the New York Post. “I thought he did a really, really nice job. He was physical, he was good for his first game.”

Gatcomb is the ninth UConn player to reach the league, joining Chase Bradley, Ruslan Iskhakov, Yan Kuznetsov, Adam Huska, Max Letunov, Tage Thompson, Cole Schneider and Todd Krygier. He’s one of two undrafted players in that group alongside Schneider.

“It just goes to show you don't have to be an NHL draft pick to make it,” UConn head coach Mike Cavanaugh said.

With an illness going around the Islanders locker room, Gatcomb got the call-up on Tuesday afternoon. As he drove to Long Island, he told his parents the news along with other friends. A contingent of 12 or so — including his parents — made the drive from Woburn, Massachusetts to watch his debut. His old coach watched on from afar.

“I was so proud of him and happy for him,” Cavanaugh said. “Even when he was here, I thought he was going to have a chance to be a pro just because of the way he skated, the way he competed, and he understands that, ‘If I have to be a fourth line or a third liner to make it, I'll do it.’”

After spending his first three professional seasons in the Vancouver Canucks organization, he signed an entry-level contract with the New York Islanders this summer. In 34 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders, Gatcomb has recorded nine goals and eight assists.

UConn first discovered Gatcomb on the recruiting trail by accident. Cavanaugh went to go watch a different player on another team but during the course of the game, Gatcomb caught his eye.

“I was there to watch a player on the Salisbury team,” the coach said. “The advisor was at the game and he was pushing this kid from Salisbury. I said, ‘I don't really like him, he's not doing it for me. The kid who's doing it for me is number 19 on Gunnery.’ The advisor says, ‘Well, I have him too.’ So I was like, ‘Okay, I'm interested in him.’”

The Huskies brought Gatcomb in for 2018-19 season straight from prep school — forgoing the standard season or two in juniors. They feared they’d lose him to a bigger program if they didn’t.

As a freshman, he had points one goal and no assists in 31 games but steadily development throughout his time in Storrs. The next season, he recorded 12 points in 34 games then matched that total as a junior in just 23 games. As a senior, Gatcomb donned an “A” on his sweater and finished with eight goals and 13 assists.

The final goal of his collegiate career came in a 4-1 win over Northeastern in the Hockey East semifinal at TD Garden. He secured the victory by notching the last tally with 2:08 remaining.

Polls and POTWs

After sweeping UNH over the weekend, UConn debuted in the USCHO Poll at No. 17. The Wildcats, who previously occupied that spot, dropped to No. 19. The Huskies were last ranked on Oct. 9, 2023 following a series win at Colgate. They entered at No. 20 then immediately fell out after being swept by Holy Cross.

UConn has now been ranked in five consecutive seasons.

With five points on the weekend, Hudson Schandor earned Co-Hockey East Player of the Week honors alongside BU’s Quinn Hutson, who also had five points. On Friday night, Schandor became the second Husky to surpass 100 career points in the program’s Hockey East Era.

New commit

Back in December, UConn landed a commitment from William Schneid. An ‘07 forward out of Camillus, New York with a right-handed shot, he currently plays for Northwood School in Lake Placid — whose home arena is where the 1980 Miracle On Ice took place. This season, he has 36 goals and 25 assists in 39 games.

Schneid started his high school career at West Genesee, where he helped win a state championship as a sophomore in 2022-23.