Three former UConn players make NHL season opening rosters

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UConn men’s hockey set a new program record with three players on NHL rosters at the start of the 2025-26 season: Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres), Marc Gatcomb (New York Islanders) and Matthew Wood (Nashville Predators)

Thompson enters his eighth year in Buffalo and will wear an “A” on his sweater. He’s the first superstar the Huskies have produced and leads program alumni in career goals (176), assists (149) and points (325). A first round pick of the St. Louis Blues back in 2016, Thompson is coming off a 44-goal, 28-assist campaign and will try to help the Sabres reach the postseason for the first time since 2010-11 — the longest playoff active drought in the league.

Meanwhile, Gatcomb will begin his first full season in the NHL. He began the 2024-25 campaign with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders but earned a call-up in January and never gave up his spot. Gatcomb finished with eight goals and an assist in 39 games — all of which are third-most in program history behind only Thompson and Todd Krygier.

As for Wood, he will begin the new season on injured reserve with a lower body injury. He’s considered week-to-week and could end up going to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals once he’s healthy. Wood spent 2022-24 at UConn before transferring to Minnesota for his junior season. He signed an entry-level deal with the Predators last spring and managed more penalty minutes (two) than points (one) in six NHL contests.

UConn has never had multiple players start the season on NHL rosters. In fact, Thompson and Krygier were the only ones to achieve the feat previously. 10 Huskies have appeared in the league all-time.

Ranking review

After splitting at Colorado College over the weekend, UConn dropped three spots to No. 13 in the USCHO Poll. The Tigers, meanwhile, were the top vote-getter outside the top 20.

On the women’s side, UConn moved up one spot to No. 11 after splitting at No. 9 Clarkson, which maintained its position in the poll.

Award winners

Tom Messineo garnered Hockey East Defenseman of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in the 5-1 victory at Colorado College on Saturday. He blocked seven shots, too. Along with Messineo, Joey Muldowney (two goals), Alexandre Blais (goal, assist) and Tyler Muszelik (2.02 GAA, .938 save percentage) were named weekly top performances.

Meanwhile, Tia Chan brought home Hockey East Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season. In Saturday’s win at Clarkson, she stood on her head with 37 saves — 19 of which came in the third period while protecting a one-goal lead. On the season, Chan owns a 1.76 GAA and .948 save percentage in four starts against top-15 competition. Brooke Campbell earned a spot among the weekly top performers after notching the game-winning goal along with an assist in the win.

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