UConn adds two freshman to finalize 2026-27 roster

UConn men’s hockey’s 2026-27 roster is set. The Huskies finalized their incoming class with two additional freshmen: Forward Jesse Heslop and defenseman Jacob Reese.

That puts UConn at the 26-player limit with 15 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Defenseman Shayne Gould, who was initially slated to join the Huskies as a freshman this season, will return to juniors for another year to work on his strength and defense.

Heslop is listed at 5-11, 179 pounds with a left-handed shot out of Nanaimo, British Columbia — the same hometown as former UConn forwards Evan Richardson and Carter Turnbull. He spent four full seasons with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, where he wore an “A” on his sweater this past year. Heslop recorded at least 40 points in every season with the Silvertips, including 60+ over the last two.

Regarded as a smart, well-rounded forward with a good stick, Heslop’s main priority is winning. He spent two seasons as a first-liner in Everett but slid to the team’s second line in 2025-26 to help accommodate new talent. The move paid immediate dividends as the Silvertips won the 2026 WHL championship.

Heslop, born April 18, 2006, will have four years of eligibility. He’ll also wear No. 23 with the Huskies, which was most recently donned by the similarly-named-but-unrelated Tabor Heslip.

As for Reese, he’s a 6-0, 190-pound right-handed shot defenseman who hails from Boston, New York. A hard-nosed, physical blue liner, he spent last season with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. Unlike most players in the league, Reese wasn’t drafted but signed as a free agent last summer after two seasons with the NAHL’s Rochester Jr. Americans. He ultimately earned a spot in the lineup and played in 66 of 68 games with the Sting, recording five goals and 15 assists.

“He plays with a ton of jam and snarl, competes hard every night, and brings the kind of work ethic and character you can’t teach,” Sarnia general manager Dylan Seca said in a release after Reese signed. “He’s a proud player who holds himself to a high standard and is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He’s the kind of defenceman that’s hard to find, and we’re thrilled to be adding him to our group.”

Reese already has one connection with the Huskies: When back home in the Buffalo area, he skates with Joey Muldowney, a Lake View, New York native.

With Heslop and Reese in the mix, UConn will have 10 newcomers this season — one transfer and nine freshmen.

UConn’s 2026-27 roster

Forwards

Senior: Joey Muldowney
Juniors: Ethan Gardula, Mike Murtagh, Kaden Shahan, Ethan Whitcomb
Sophomores: Alexandre Blais, Carlin Dezainde, Jeremy Loranger, Joseph Odyniec
Freshmen: Lirim Amidovski, Brittan Alstead, Cole Davis, Colin Frank, Jesse Heslop, Carter Sproule (redshirt)

Defensemen

Senior: Owen Simpson
Juniors: Trey Scott, Kai Janviriya
Sophomores: Anthony Allain-Samaké, Brendan Dunphy
Freshmen: Will McIsaac, Charlie Morrison, Jacob Reese

Goaltenders

Sophomores: Kam Hendrickson, Ryan Sanborn
Freshmen: Veeti Louhivaara

Other notes

• UConn assistant Alex Westlund will serve as Team USA’s goalie coach at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. The eight-team tournament will run from Aug. 3-8.

• According to the ECAC’s composite schedule, the Huskies will open the Friendship Four in Belfast against Colgate on Friday, Nov. 27. If that holds true — it’s not official yet — they would then play either Providence or Minnesota Duluth in the second contest on Saturday, Nov. 28.

• UConn won’t add any additional non-conference matchups to its schedule. The Huskies could’ve played two additional contests since the Ice Breaker Tournament doesn’t count towards their total game limit, but they couldn’t find a matchup that made sense.

• UConn’s full non-conference slate, as pieced together from opposing schedules:

  • Friday, Oct. 9: Penn State (home)

  • Saturday, Oct. 10: Bowling Green (home)

  • Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17: Colorado College (home)

  • Friday, Nov. 27: Colgate (Friendship Four in Belfast)

  • Saturday, Nov. 28: Providence/Minnesota Duluth (Friendship Four in Belfast)

  • Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12: at Ohio State

  • Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30: CT Ice (TBA)