Tyler Muszelik likely out until second half; Callum Tung returns to practice

There’s good news and bad news with UConn men’s hockey’s goaltender situation. Starter Tyler Muszelik is likely to miss the remainder of the first half with a lower body injury suffered on Friday against Boston College, but freshman Callum Tung returned to practice on Monday after being out since the start of the season.

That means the Huskies will have two healthy goalies, Tung and fellow freshman Tommy Heaney, available ahead of a weekend series at UMass Lowell that begins on Friday. The two will compete for the starting job over the next few days in practice.

Muszelik had started 11 of UConn’s 12 games this season, missing the one contest — a loss at then-No. 3 Boston University on Oct. 28 — with another lower body injury unrelated to his current ailment. Late in the second period of the Huskies’ Friday night showdown with No. 2 Boston College, Muszelik skated out of net to play a puck and collided with an opposing skater. Though he stayed on the ice until intermission, he was replaced by Heaney at the start of the third.

The UNH transfer owns a 2.59 goals against average and .897 save percentage along with a 5-4-1 record. The team is cautiously optimistic he’ll be back for the start of the second half.

As for Tung, he was brought in to compete with Muszelik for the starting job but went out during the preseason. The freshman began individual work with goaltending coach Vince Stalletti last week before making a full return to practice on Monday. Last year with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he held a .280 GAA and .917 save percentage in 38 regular season games. He took his game to another level in the playoffs, putting up a 2.11 GAA and .940 save percentage.

With Tung unavailable, Heaney has served as UConn’s backup and has been thrust in two incredibly difficult spots. He made his first start on the road at then-No. 3 BU — a 4-2 defeat in which he held his own — then stepped in for the third period against No. 2 BC with the Huskies holding onto a 3-1 lead. Although the Eagles scored three goals, Heaney helped UConn come out on top and got his first career victory.

Now, the Huskies will have to turn to the freshmen for their final three games before the winter break. Tung has the talent to start but hasn’t played much over the last couple of months. Heaney has the edge in experience but doesn’t have as high of a ceiling.

UConn will play two games at UMass Lowell this weekend before finishing at BC on Wednesday, Dec. 4.