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The Forecheck: Wyatt Newpower comes close to NHL debut
Newpower got called up to the Red Wings and skated during warmups, but didn't ultimately play before getting sent back to the AHL.
Photo: Ian Bethune
Welcome to the UConn Hockey Hub newsletter, which catches you up on all the stories, trends, and anything else you might have missed, along with some quick takes and leftover notes from the weekend.
Wyatt Newpower comes close to NHL debut
In the first 64 years of UConn men’s hockey’s existence, five players made it to the NHL. Since the calendar flipped to 2024, the Huskies nearly had two earn their debut in the league. Yan Kuznetsov suited up for the Calgary Flames and this past weekend, Wyatt Newpower came tantalizing close to being the next player on that list.
On Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings called Newpower up from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. While he skated with the team during warmups, he didn’t ultimately make the lineup. He was a contingency plan in case Ben Chiarot couldn’t go due to injury, but the veteran ultimately played. Newpower got sent back to the AHL the very next day, so his debut will need to wait.
Newpower has spent the last four seasons in the AHL since he graduated from UConn. In that time, he’s played in 148 games with the Cleveland Monsters and Grand Rapids Griffins, collecting nine goals and 24 assists as a defensive defenseman. Through 20 contests this season, Newpower is +7.
During his time with the Huskies, he developed from someone who struggled to crack the lineup as a sophomore into the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman as a senior while collecting 19 points — which was then the most ever by a blue-liner in UConn’s Hockey East era.
Newpower is one of the top candidates to be the next Husky in the NHL alongside Ruslan Iskhakov, Chase Bradley and Matthew Wood.
Mahshie turns pro
After leaving the team for “personal reasons” last week, Ryan Mahshie signed with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears over the weekend. He’s played in just one game so far and did not record a point.
Mahshie follows a near identical path to Adam Dawe last season. The Maine transfer never found his groove with the Huskies, left the team in January then signed in the ECHL shortly after departing.
Headlines
Last week’s Forecheck
Three stars
First star: Tia Chan
The net-minder started both games on the weekend and recorded a pair of shutouts along with a shootout win on Saturday. She’s got five clean sheets on the year to go with a 1.59 GAA and .942 save percentage. Chan brought home Hockey East Goaltender of the Week honors.
Second star: Chase Bradley
Bradley had a four-assist game in the win over Sacred Heart and followed it up by scoring a shorthanded goal against Quinnipiac. He’s over a couple of big milestones on the season: Double-digit goals (10) and 20 points (21).
Third star: Hudson Schandor
Not only did Schandor have a three-point game on Friday night with two goals and an assist, he went 27-18 at the face-off dot as well. His 11 helpers are tied with Bradley for the most on the team.
Standings check
Women's #HockeyEast standings as of January 31st!
#WhereChampionsPlay
— Hockey East (@hockey_east)
5:00 PM • Jan 31, 2024
Men's #HockeyEast standings as of January 31st!
#WhereChampionsPlay
— Hockey East (@hockey_east)
6:00 PM • Jan 31, 2024
Play of the Week
WE HAVE A MICHIGAN GOAL IN CT‼️
Hello Samu Salminen🔥🔥
@hockey_east | @NCAAIceHockey
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC)
9:16 PM • Jan 26, 2024
HABISCH GOES COAST-TO-COAST😤
UConn up 1-0!
Watch: espn.com/espnplus/catal…
— UConn Women's Hockey (@UConnWHOC)
11:32 PM • Jan 26, 2024
In case you missed it…Check out our two goals that made the #SCTop10❄️🏒🚌
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC)
8:47 PM • Jan 29, 2024
It’s happening‼️
Come out and support Friday vs. #10 Providence❄️🏒🚌👀
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC)
10:51 PM • Jan 30, 2024
Saturday was special 💚 #PlayForGabby
— UConn Women's Hockey (@UConnWHOC)
9:20 PM • Jan 30, 2024
The week ahead
Both teams have home-and-home series with Providence this weekend. The women will be on the road for Friday night before hosting the Friars on Saturday, while the men will do the opposite.