Here is a photo gallery from the Central Connecticut Blue Devils vs UConn Huskies men’s basketball game on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT won by UConn 81-48.
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photo credits: ©2014 Ian Bethune
UConn G Ryan Boatright (11) shoots a three-pointer in the second half against Central Connecticut at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
It was in a way a game of teacher versus the student. Or you could say it was the recruiter, Howie Dickenman, against the former recruit/player, Kevin Ollie. Their teams are mirror images of their styles.
And after a little wake up call from their head coach in the first half, the UConn Huskies seized control of the game with a 13-0 run and then a 20-2 run to start the second half. In the end, it was a UConn winning 81-48 over the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 81-48 in front of 13,315 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on Sunday afternoon.
The Huskies improve to 6-4 while the Blue Devils drop to 2-10.
Ryan Boatright led a balanced UConn scoring attack with 18 points with backcourt mate Rodney Purvis chipping in with 14. Amida Brimah added 12 points while Omar Calhoun came off the bench to score 11.
Kentan Facey picked up his first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Daniel Hamilton added a team-high six assists along with six points and seven rebounds.
Greg Andrade was the only CCSU player in double digits with 13 points. Matt Mobley added nine while Faronte Drakeford had eight and Brandon Peel finished with seven. Corey Barrett led the Blue Devils in rebounds with seven while scoring six points.
UConn is back on action on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve afternoon, when they’ll open up American Athletic Conference play against the Temple Owls at the XL Center. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils @ UConn Huskies 12/28/14 box score
Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.
Here are UConn’s postgame notes.
photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune
The UConn Huskies hockey team has one goal tonight. And that’s to win the Frozen Holiday Classic Trophy against the UMass-Lowell River Hawks.
Watch and/or listen below as head coach Mike Cavanaugh talks about the goal for the Huskies in the tournament.
Before Saturday night’s game against the Union College Dutchmen, it had been 24 days since the UConn Huskies played a hockey game. They were off for finals and a little part of the Christmas break.
The team returned back to practice on Christmas night and head coach Mike Cavanaugh was very pleased with what he saw.
Watch and/or listen below as Cavanaugh talks about the shape his team was in following the long layoff.
Here are photos from the UConn Huskies vs Union College Dutchmen men’s hockey game in the semifinals of the Frozen Holiday Classic at Webster Bank Arena on December 27, 2014. UConn won the game 3-2.
To see full size picture or slide show, please click on image
(mobile/tablet users: to scroll through photos, you can swipe left or right; to remove caption, tap photo.)
photo credits: ©2014 Ian Bethune
By Zack Grenier
Hartford, CT, December 27, 2014 – Shawn O’Donnell had a goal and an assist, and Mackenzie Skapski made 26 saves, Saturday night at the XL Center, as the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Portland Pirates by a score of 3-1.
O’Donnell’s two-point game was the first multiple-point effort of his AHL career, and the Wolf Pack also got goals from Joey Crabb and Mat Bodie. Jordan Martinook scored the only Portland goal, foiling Skapski’s shutout bid 36 seconds into the third period. Mike McKenna made 24 saves in the Pirate net.
The Wolf Pack drew first blood at 9:14 of the first period, when Crabb made an instant impact in his first game back with the team after battling the mumps. It was Michael Kostka who fired the puck on net from the blue line that lead to Crabb digging out a rebound. Crabb’s first shot was blocked, but he stuck with it and kicked the puck back to himself and beat McKenna to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
“We wanted to have more traffic and we wanted to put some pressure on our forwards to crash that net and get some rebounds, second and third chances,” said Hartford coach Ken Gernander.
With 14:30 left in the second period, Bodie was able to extend the Wolf Pack lead to two. O’Donnell left the puck for a trailing Bodie, who then fired a slap shot at McKenna. McKenna did knock the puck down, but it still trickled past him to give the Pack a 2-0 lead.
“It was a good pass by ‘Odie’ (O’Donnell),” said Gernander. “I think our bench gave him a little help to let him know that ‘Bodes’ (Bodie) was coming late. We really didn’t have a lot of offense the prior three games. You start looking to make plays or pass pucks, instead of just keeping it simple and just put that puck on net.”
Not long after, Ryan Bourque was at the side of the left faceoff circle and sent the puck to the net. O’Donnell, breaking towards the net, deflected the pass out of the air and into the net, for his first goal of the season at 8:54.
“It’s awesome to see a guy like that get rewarded,” said Bodie. “One of the harder workers on the team and making simple plays, going to the net hard and being able to get a stick on it.”
Just 34 seconds in to the third period, Martinook scored a similar goal to O’Donnell’s, to get Portland on the scoreboard. Justin Hodgman threaded a pass across the slot to find Martinook on the right side for an easy finish, making it a 3-1 game.
“I thought we were good systematically,” said O’Donnell. “We really paid attention to detail, and when you have all five guys working as a cohesive unit it makes for an easier game.”
The Wolf Pack’s next action is also against the Pirates, a trip to Portland this Wednesday night, New Year’s Eve. That game faces off at 7:00 PM, and all of the action can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, and on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.
The next home action for the Wolf Pack is this Friday, January 2, with the St. John’s IceCaps visiting the XL Center for a 7:00 game. All Friday-night Wolf Pack home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.
Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
Portland Pirates 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Saturday, December 27, 2014 – XL Center
Portland 0 0 1 – 1
Hartford 1 2 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Hartford, Crabb 4 (Kostka, Lindberg), 9:14. Penalties-Louis Por (hooking), 12:28; Shinnimin Por (boarding), 14:50.
2nd Period-2, Hartford, Bodie 3 (O’Donnell, Kristo), 5:30. 3, Hartford, O’Donnell 1 (R. Bourque, Mueller), 8:54. Penalties-Lindberg Hfd (closing hand on puck), 2:24; Spinell Hfd (holding), 11:24; Malone Hfd (hooking), 18:31.
3rd Period-4, Portland, Martinook 6 (Hodgman, H. Samuelsson), 0:36. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Portland 8-8-11-27. Hartford 12-8-7-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 3; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-Portland, McKenna 10-12-0 (27 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Skapski 7-5-1 (27 shots-26 saves).
A-3,987
Referees-David Banfield (77).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Brent Colby (7).
Here are the photos from the UConn Huskies 96-45 win over the SMU Mustangs in a women’s basketball game at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on December 27, 2014.
To see full size picture or slide show, please click on image
(mobile/tablet users: to scroll through photos, you can swipe left or right; to remove caption, tap photo.)
photo credits: ©2014 Ian Bethune
The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team have a big game coming up on Monday night against the Duke Blue Devils. But first they had some business to take care of on Saturday afternoon as they opened up American Athletic Conference play.
The SMU Mustangs were the opponent and by about 10 minutes into the first half, the game turned into a glorified scrimmage as the Huskies went on to a very easy 96-45 win in front of 9,972 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
UConn improves to 9-1 (1-0 American) while the Mustangs fall to 4-8 (0-1 American).
Moriah Jefferson led the Huskies with a career-high 24 points and had five steals. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis moved into second place all-time for three-pointers made as she hit three on her way to 19 points and six assists.
Kia Nurse added 13 points and seven assists with Morgan Tuck chipping in 12 points. Gabby Williams rounded out the Huskies in double-figures with 11 points and she pulled down seven rebounds.
Breanna Stewart had a rough game from the floor (2-of-9) and free throw line (2-of-4) for six points but had a game-high 13 rebounds.
Alicia Froling, Keely Froling and Raven Short all led the Mustangs with seven points. Destynee Hives-McCray had six points before fouling while Aurmani DeGar had six points as well. Gabrielle Wilkins led SMU with five rebounds.
Just one day of rest for the Huskies with the Blue Devils coming to town on Monday night at the XL Center. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m.
SMU Mustangs @ UConn Huskies 12-27-14 box score
Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.
Here are UConn’s postgame notes.
photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune
HARTFORD, December 27, 2014: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Jason Missiaen to the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.
Missiaen, who was reassigned to Greenville October 28, has appeared in four games with the Wolf Pack this season, going 1-2-1 with a 3.78 goals-against average and an 88.1% save percentage. The 6-8, 220-pound fourth-year pro has won his last five ECHL decisions, including a pair of shutouts, and is 6-0-1 in his last seven. All told, Missiaen is 8-4-1 in 13 appearances with the Road Warriors, with a 2.66 GAA, a 91.5% save percentage and two shutouts.
Missiaen, signed as a free agent by the Rangers March 24, 2011, is 13-21-4 in 43 career AHL appearances, with a 3.39 GAA, an 89.1% save percentage and two shutouts. In 79 career ECHL games, the 24-year-old Chatham, Ontario native is 48-24-5 with a 2.72 GAA, a 91.7% save percentage and six shutouts.
The Wolf Pack are in home-ice action at the XL Center tonight, hosting the Portland Pirates in a 7:00 PM game. Fans are encouraged to bring their skates to that game, as there will be a free postgame skate on the XL Center ice.
Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
UConn Huskies women’s basketball freshman Gabby Williams was recruited by Geno Auriemma to be a guard. But during her practice early in the season, he saw something in her athleticism that said she could play forward.
Plus with UConn a little short at the forward position as far as depth, it couldn’t hurt.
We all know Geno knows what he’s doing and it’s shown with Williams who continues to be a sponge and learn the forward position.
She’s seen action in eight of nine games this year and is averaging 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.3 minutes of action.
Kia Nurse withstanding, Williams has been impressive with her play all season long. And as long as she continues to get better, the Huskies will be fine down low this season.
Watch and/or listen below as Auriemma, Williams and Nurse talk about the improved play of Williams.
photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune