UConn men's hockey announce 2025-26 roster

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On Wednesday, UConn men’s hockey announced its official roster for the 2025-26 season, which features seven newcomers. In total, the Huskies will carry 25 players, one short of the newly-introduced roster limits introduced under the House Settlement.

UConn saw nine players depart over the offseason. Hudson Schandor, Hugh Larkin, Nick Carabin and John Spetz exhausted their eligibility, Callum Tung signed an NHL deal with the New York Rangers, while Filip Sitar (RPI), Jack Pascucci (Canisius), Bauer Swift (Hobart) and Tommy Heaney (Curry) all transferred out.

The incoming class consists entirely of freshmen; the Huskies didn’t bring in a single transfer. They added forwards Carlin Dezainde, Alexandre Blais and Joey Odyniec; defensemen Anthony Allain-Samaké and Brendan Dunphy; as well as goaltenders Kam Hendrickson and Ryan Sanborn.

Dezainde and Blais are the program’s first CHL recruits with the NCAA now allowing major-junior players into college hockey.

Dezainde (Calgary, Alberta) spent last season with the Swift Current Broncos and put up 28 goals and 34 assists in 60 games while Blais (Longueuil, Quebec) is a 2024 fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks who suited up for Rimouski Oceanic (Sidney Crosby’s junior team), totaling 20 goals and 53 assists in 60 contests.

As for Odyniec, he’s one of two Connecticut natives in the freshman class as a native of Wilton. He played Avon Old Farms, briefly overlapping with former UConn assistant Mike Pereira, and joins the Huskies after two seasons with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express.

UConn will be thin at forward with just 14 players, though it’s the same number the team carried during the second half of last season after Oliver Flynn transferred to Amherst College.

On the blue line, UConn brought in two draft picks. Allain-Samaké (Gatineau, Quebec) went in the sixth round of the 2025 draft to the Anaheim Ducks while Dunphy (San Diego, California) went one round later to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Allain-Samaké is an attacking offensive-minded defenseman with a high motor, though he likely needs to add some muscle to his 6-2, 183 pound frame. Meanwhile, Dunphy is a 6-5, 207 pound bruiser who excels on the defensive end.

In goal, Hendrickson is listed at 6-2, 185 pounds and catches with his right hand. Originally committed to Princeton, he hails from Chanhassen, Minnesota and spent last season in the USHL. He started the year with the Omaha Lancers but with the club in complete turmoil, he jumped ship to Waterloo Blackhawks. In 17 starts with the latter, he posted a 2.66 GAA and .881 save percentage.

Hendrickson is expected to push incumbent starter Tyler Muszelik and should see some action as a freshman.

As for Sanborn, he’s a native of Brookfield, Connecticut who projects to be the Huskies’ third-stringer. He spent most of last season with the OJHL’s Trenton Golden Hawks, posting a 1.76 GAA and .938 save percentage in 22 games.

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