UConn men's hockey unveils new jersey numbers

After UConn men’s hockey announced its incoming class earlier in the month, it finally released the new jersey numbers for its 10 new players. All the Huskies’ returners stuck with their current digits.

Let’s take a look at the (Hockey East era) history behind the numbers.

No. 6 — Jacob Reese

Most notable: Andrew Lucas (2022-24)
Others: Jonny Austin (2014-18), Ryan Wheeler (2018-22), Viking Gustafsson Nyberg (2024-26)

Reese picks a staple for defenseman, which has been in continuous use since UConn joined Hockey East. The freshman has big shoes to fill — every player to don No. 6 for the Huskies has been a top blue liner.

No. 7 — Charlie Morrison

Most notable: Jonny Evans (2018-22)
Others: Joona Kunnas (2013-17), Huston Karpman (2022-26)

After wearing No. 27 with the Quebec Remparts, Morrison dropped the first digit and kept No. 7. It’s been represented well recently thanks to Evans, the program’s first Division I All-American, and Karpman, a highly regarded leader.

No. 9 — Cole Davis

Most notable: Ryan Tattle (2022-26)
Others: Shawn Pauly (2012-16), Alexander Payusov (2016-20), Cassidy Bowes (2020-22)

Davis has often worn high numbers throughout his career — he rocked No. 78 and No. 86 with the Windsor Spitfires — but drops all the way down to single-digits with the Huskies. Between Payusov and Tattle, a lot of goals have been scored by UConn’s No. 9.

No. 10 — Brittan Alstead

Most notable: Miles Gendron (2015-19)
Others: Vlad Firstov (2019-22), Tristan Fraser (2022-26)

Alstead picks up a number recently vacated by Fraser. He wore No. 20 in high school, but that was taken by junior Kaden Shahan. He chose to cut that number in half instead of sticking with No. 51, which he used in juniors. At 5-9, Alstead will comfortably be the shortest player to wear No. 10 at UConn, with Gendron (6-2), Firstov (6-1) and Fraser (6-0) all standing above six feet.

No. 15 — Colin Frank

Most notable: Tom Messineo (2022-26)
Others: Brad Smith (2011-15), Jordan Timmons (2018-20)

Frank has spent much of his career in No. 22, but couldn’t take it at UConn because of Alexandre Blais. So he picked No. 15, which he wore during his youth hockey days while blasting home slap shots.

No. 16 — Jeremy Loranger

Most notable: Karl El-Mir (2015-19)
Others: Jake Flynn (2019-24)

Like Frank, Loranger couldn’t go with his preferred No. 22. Instead of becoming the first player in the program’s Hockey East era to wear No. 86 by keeping his number from Omaha, he goes with the seldom-used No. 16. The only other digits below 20 that have been used less frequently is No. 14.

No. 18 — Will McIsaac

Most notable: John Spetz (2020-25)
Others: Trevor Gerling (2011-15), Max Kalter (2015-19)

McIsaac actually gets to keep his number from juniors, unlike most of his fellow newcomers. The last three UConn players to wear No. 18 appeared in a combined 423 games, an average of 141 per player.

No. 23 — Jesse Heslop

Most notable: Tabor Heaslip (2022-26)
Others: Kasperi Ojantankanen (2014-18), Carter Berger (2019-22)

This is going to cause some confusion. Heslop takes No. 23 from Tabor Heaslip, who wore it the past four seasons. At some point, someone is going to think that the name on the jersey is spelled wrong, not realizing that Heaslip graduated and Heslop came in. In fact, it’d be an upset if I didn’t actually type Heaslip instead of Heslop at some point this season.

Luckily, Joe Odyniec currently occupies No. 27, so Reese couldn’t have added to the chaos by picking the same number as Harrison Rees.

No. 29 — Lirim Amidovski

Most notable: Tage Thompson (2015-17)
Others: Kale Howarth (2018-21), Jake Veilleux (2021-24), Filip Sitar (2024-25)

In the Hockey East era, nobody who’s worn No. 29 has lasted four years, though all have left for different reasons. Thompson and Howarth both signed pro deals, Veilleux stepped away to focus on academics and Sitar transferred out. As a draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, Amidovski may aim to continue that trend.

No. 30 — Veeti Louhivaara

Most notable: Tyler Muszelik (2024-26)
Others: Adam Huska (2016-19), Arsenii Sergeev (2022-24)

After being recently vacated by Tyler Muszelik, No. 30 ends up with Veeti Louhivaara. He wore the number with the Chicago Steel last season. The freshman has some lofty standards to live up to. Huska and Sergeev have both appeared in the NHL, while Muszelik partly helped backstop the Huskies to the two best seasons in program history.

Other notes

• UConn commit Carl-Otto Magnusson is now in the BCHL with the Nanaimo Clippers. Not a great sign for the defenseman after a disappointing season in the BCHL.

• We’ll have a formal prospect preview soon, but here’s a breakdown of where UConn’s committed players are suiting up this season: OHL (five), QMJHL (three), WHL (one), USHL (one), BCHL (one).

• While not UConn-related, Northeastern is dealing with a major setback to its new arena project. According to the Huntington News, construction of the multipurpose athletics and recreation facility has been delayed nine months after asbestos was discovered. That means the school’s hockey programs are likely to be without a home for three full seasons. To be fair to Northeastern, who could’ve ever predicted that a century-old building would have asbestos issues?