UConn holds on to capture first CT Ice title with 1-0 win over Sacred Heart

UConn men’s hockey held on late to capture its first Connecticut Ice championship with a 1-0 win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers. The Huskies scored the lone goal in the first period then parked the bus. They had just seven shots over the final 40 minutes — and only one in the third period.

Sacred Heart pulled the goalie with 1:45 and spent almost the entire remaining time in its offensive zone. Still, the Pioneers struggled to corral pucks and only put one shot on net — though Tabor Heaslip and Jake Richard each came up with blocks.

Tyler Muszelik, who was named the most outstanding player and landed on the all-tournament team, put in a stellar performance between the pipes. He stopped all 23 shots that came his way — and also covered up a loose puck with nine seconds left — to record his first shutout of the season.

Ryan Tattle also earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

UConn opened the scoring courtesy of Filip Sitar’s first career goal. On a scramble near the net, the puck slipped out to the freshman and he buried it to make it a 1-0 game.

While the Huskies had most of the possession in the opening period, they didn’t do much with it outside Sitar’s score. Defensively, they limited Sacred Heart’s quantity of chances but allowed way too many dangerous look. UConn survived an early mishap when Trey Scott turned the puck over in front of his own net but Muszelik bailed him out with a save — which proved to be a theme in the first stanza.

The Huskies carried a power play into the second period but didn’t do anything with it. From there, the Pioneers seized control but couldn’t convert. The hosts had their first power play late in the frame and came inches away from scoring, only for Jake Percival to clear the puck off the goal line with his glove. On the ensuing scramble in front of net, the officials bailed UConn out by ending the danger with an inadvertent whistle.

That helped the Huskies take a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

UConn spent the final 20 minutes defending. The Huskies put just one of their 10 attempts on net — even with a power play — and never sustained much puck possession. They did limit Sacred Heart’s chances, though. UConn allowed just six shots on net and kept the puck away from the net.

The Huskies couldn’t get any clearances in the final moments but the buzzer eventually sounded on their first CT Ice title.

With the win, UConn improves to 14-8-2 on the season and moves up to No. 4 in Pairwise. Next, the Huskies return to Hockey East play for a home-and-home series with the Providence Friars starting on Friday night at Schneider Arena.