UConn names Joey Muldowney captain, Mike Murtagh alternate

UConn men’s hockey named two captains for the 2026-27 campaign, with a third to follow at the end of the preseason. Joey Muldowney will wear the “C” on his sweater while Mike Murtagh will don an “A”.

Muldowney is one of two seniors on the team and served as an alternate captain last season. He’s been the Huskies’ leading goal-scorer in back-to-back years and ranks first in career goals during the program’s Hockey East era.

“We're excited about our leadership,” head coach Mike Cavanaugh said on Tuesday. “Joey Muldowney coming back for his senior season is something we weren't really necessarily planning on last year, but we're excited to have him back.”

“He just affects the game in so many different ways,” the coach added later. “He plays in all situations, so he's a guy that I know a lot of our younger guys will be able to look up to.”

As for Murtagh, he’s emerged as a leader after breaking out on the ice last season. As a freshman, the East Greenbush, New York native managed just one point in 27 contests. This past year, he jumped up to 21 points in 37 games, recording seven goals and 14 assists.

“Mike Murtagh has really developed into a terrific college hockey player,” Cavanaugh said. “He brings a lot of leadership with our team as well.”

UConn will vote for another captain at the end of the preseason, a traditional began in 2022. During an exit meeting with the coaching staff, Carter Turnbull mentioned that players who transferred into the program over the offseason didn’t have a chance to wear a letter because the captains were voted on at the end of the previous season.

Cavanaugh liked the idea and implemented it ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. It paid immediate dividends — Ty Amonte, a transfer from BU, was voted an alternate captain. Since then, Andrew Lucas (2023-24), Tabor Heaslip (2024-25) and Viking Gustafsson Nyberg (2025-26) have joined the leadership group at the end of camp.