Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/16

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

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UConn Women's Basketball links

KML all in on developing all-around game [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Auriemma at his best against the best [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Rutgers’ Stringer seeks history against UConn [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Rebecca Lobo Misses Hall Of Fame Cutdown For 2013 [john altavilla – hartford courant]

UConn’s Annual Play4Kay Game Is Monday Vs. No. 1 Baylor [rich elliott – ct post]

Lobo Not Among List Of Hall Of Fame Finalists [rich elliott – ct post]

Magnitude Of UConn-Rutgers Series Has Diminished [rich elliott – ct post]

Auriemma Has Dominated Match-Ups Of Hall Of Fame Coaches [rich elliott – ct post]

Shea Ralph on Brianna Banks "she has grown up a little bit" [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn youngsters ready for first game at the RAC [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn commit Saniya Chong not selected for McDonald's game [jim fuller – new haven register]

Help Women's Hoops Raise Money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund [uconnhuskies.com]

Freshman Jefferson showing improvement for UConn [ct post]

UConn Women's Rivalry With Rutgers Has Lost Some Steam [hartford courant]

Freshman Moriah Jefferson getting plenty of veteran help [new haven register]

Geno Auriemma talks about C. Vivian Stringer and Rutgers (Watch The Geno Auriemma Show at 10PM) [snyuconn.com]

UConn women can't afford to look too far ahead [the day]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Even The Rebounding Is Reason For Ollie To Smile; Notes, Quotes from UConn Practice [dom amore – hartford courant]

It's a Mutual Admiration Society Between Kevin Ollie and Jay Wright [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from Feb. 15: “I don’t know the last time we saw man-to-man” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Motivated Huskies chasing title, ready for Villanova (video) [gavin keefe – the day]

Men's Basketball Takes On Villanova; 1,800 Tickets Remain [uconnhuskies.com]

Villanova now the focus of UConn men [ct post]

Napier, Boatright Exude Confidence Going Into Villanova Game [hartford courant]

UConn, Villanova swap traditional roles [new haven register]

UConn men hope to keep rolling against Villanova [the day]

UConn Football links

Recruit Lagow Confirms Commitment To UConn [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Former NFL general manager raves about Sio Moore [jim fuller – new haven register]

Former UConn DE switches CFL teams [jim fuller – new haven register]

Sources: Deadline for ESPN on Big East TV [brett mcmurphy – espn.com]

QB Richard Lagow Coming To UConn After All [hartford courant]

 

Other UConn related links

Softball. Softball Season Opener Postponed Due to Inclement Weather [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Baseball Comeback Falls Short in Opener vs. Purdue [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men's Hockey Falls To Holy Cross in Storrs, 4-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Tennis. Women's Tennis Falls to Cincinnati, 6-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

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Connecticut Whale 4, Portland Pirates 1

By Wil Goldsholl

Hartford, CT, February 15, 2013 – In their sixth of eight matchups for the 2012-2013 season, the Connecticut Whale skated to a 4-1 victory over the Atlantic division-leading Portland Pirates Friday night at the XL Center.

CT WhaleLed by two scores from young gun Christian Thomas, Connecticut shot early and often, and were stingy on the defensive side of the puck. With help from veteran blueliner Steve Eminger, who has 457 career NHL games under his belt, the Whale allowed just six shots in the first period; Cam Talbot would finish with 23 saves.

Portland backstop Chad Johnson, who signed with the Pirates’ NHL parent club, the Phoenix Coyotes, over the summer after playing 49 games with Whale last season, saw a lot of action early. After surrendering two goals in the first 20 minutes, he was replaced by Mike Lee, who had made only three AHL appearances in the season prior to Friday. Johnson retired with 12 saves.

In a chippy first period, the Portland offense was quiet. The Coyotes’ top affiliate couldn’t get the puck to Talbot on their first power play, when Chris Brown drew a hooking call on Kris Newbury.

The teams exchanged checks and chances near the 12-minute mark, and as Kelsey Tessier got hammered by Boris Valabik behind Johnson’s net, the New Brunswick-born Tessier found Thomas for his first of the night at 8:49. Mark Louis would sit for roughing on the same play.

After a successful penalty kill, Portland replied. Alexandre Bolduc found the rebound of a Michael Stone shot to net his 18th of the season at 11:40. Andy Miele earned the secondary assist on the game-tying goal.

Play got hairy late in the first, as a series of Portland penalties gave Connecticut sustained five-on-three time. The Pirates’ kill unit came up with another successful effort, but with 1:50 to play in the period, Newbury fought off Louis on the wall and fed Brandon Mashinter on the doorstep for an easy put away. Mashinter went on to say, “It was a good 60 minutes,” with a passing nod to Head Coach Ken Gernander’s mantra for the season. “Eminger is poised back there, (Chris) Kreider (returned to the Whale by the parent New York Rangers Friday afternoon) has great hands and he’s fast. Both those guys are NHL ready and it’s good to have them.”

The second period went by in the same fashion for just over 10 minutes. At 10:44 Louis got his stick in the midsection of a Whale forward for another hooking minor. Kreider sat for hooking moments later to negate the power play. Talbot came up with his 10th and 11th saves on Stone shooting from the circle, and the period went by without a score.

Opening the third, Lee came up with a sprawling save.  Micheal Haley went off for boarding Valabik 51 seconds in. Connecticut killed off the man-down situation and Nick Palmieri had two great looks at the net, as Lee was stretched out on scrambles in front immediately after play returned to even strength.

Thomas struck again at 4:43 for his 12th of the season. Blake Parlett fed Sam Klassen and Klassen found Thomas in the neutral zone. Thomas walked in and let go an absolute bomb from the right circle to give the Whale a 3-1 edge. Thomas said after the game, “I’m feeling good, better than in the beginning of the season and things are just starting to click. We got a lot of shots and that’s something G (Gernander) always tells us before games.”

Gernander spoke highly of Thomas and the team as well, “The Thomas-Hales (Haley)-Tess (Tessier) line has been important to our success as of late. Thomas is more proactive, taking more initiative. Our younger kids are making strides, trades are giving us a new look, we have size and a different dynamic to the club. We’re meshing. One of our more complete games.”

Physicality stayed high in the third; Dylan McIlrath crushed Phil Lane in the defensive end but was called for charging at 8:57. All of nine seconds later, Klassen and Haley combined to feed Tessier. Breaking in alone, Tessier was, as he said after the game, “thinking five-hole the entire way,” and converted exactly that way for his season’s 11th.

With a handful of penalties and misconducts handed out after a scrum with 3:48 left, the Whale was able to shut down and finish off Portland, 4-1. Lee would finish with 24 saves on 26 shots faced in 40 minutes.  Talbot got his 18th win of the season with 23 saves in the Whale net.

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Portland Pirates 1 at Connecticut Whale 4
Friday, February 15, 2013 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Portland 1 0 0 – 1
Connecticut 2 0 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Thomas 11 (Tessier, Haley), 8:39. 2, Portland, Bolduc 18 (Stone, Miele), 11:40. 3, Connecticut, Mashinter 6 (Newbury, Vernace), 18:10. Penalties-Newbury Ct (hooking), 5:09; Valabik Por (roughing, roughing), 8:05; Mashinter Ct (roughing, roughing), 8:05; Louis Por (roughing), 8:39; Rechlicz Por (interference), 12:17; Stone Por (delay of game), 14:02; Bolduc Por (closing hand on puck), 14:46.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Louis Por (hooking), 10:44; Kreider Ct (hooking), 12:11; Jean Ct (tripping), 15:22.

3rd Period-4, Connecticut, Thomas 12 (Klassen, Parlett), 4:43. 5, Connecticut, Tessier 11 (Haley, Klassen), 9:06 (SH). Penalties-Haley Ct (boarding), 0:51; McIlrath Ct (charging), 8:57; Shinnimin Por (goaltender interference), 11:27; Rechlicz Por (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:24; Goncharov Por (slashing), 14:47; Bolduc Por (slashing, misconduct), 16:12; Valabik Por (roughing, misconduct), 16:12; Haley Ct (roughing, misconduct), 16:12; Tessier Ct (hooking), 18:29.

Shots on Goal-Portland 6-9-9-24. Connecticut 14-12-14-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 6; Connecticut 0 / 8.
Goalies-Portland, Johnson 14-10-0 (14 shots-12 saves); Lee 3-0-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Connecticut, Talbot 18-19-1 (24 shots-23 saves).
A-4,441
Referees-Ryan Fraser (14).
Linesmen-Jim Briggs (83), Brent Colby (7).

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Richard Lagow Signs Letter Of Intent With UConn Football

After initially not signing his letter-of-intent on signing day, Richard Lagow has finally decided to honor his verbal commitment to the UConn Huskies football team by signing his LOI.

Here's the release from UConn:

UConn Huskies footballSTORRS, Conn. – Richard Lagow, a 6-6, 213-pound quarterback from Plano, Texas, and Plano Senior High School has signed a National Letter of Intent to enroll at the University of Connecticut. Lagow becomes the 23rd member of UConn’s incoming class of freshmen.

Lagow was named 2012 All-District 10-5A first team at Plano. He was 109 for 182 in passing as a senior for 1,968 yards and eight touchdowns. Plano played in Conference 5A Division I playoffs. As a junior, Lagow was 119 for 221 in the air for 1,653 yards and 13 TDs.

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Rangers Assign Chris Kreider to Whale

NEW YORK, February 15, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned forward Chris Kreider to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).

CT WhaleKreider, 21, has registered one goal and one assist for two points, along with four penalty minutes and a plus-two rating in seven games this season. He tallied a point in consecutive games, including his first career regular season point with a goal on February 5 at New Jersey and his first career regular season assist on February 7 against the New York Islanders, after missing the previous five games, including four games due to injury. Kreider made his NHL regular season debut in the season opener on January 19 at Boston.

The 6-3, 230-pounder established an NHL record for most postseason goals (five) and points (seven) by a player before skating in a regular season game during the 2012 playoffs. Kreider tied for first among NHL rookies in goals and power play goals (two), second in game-winning goals (two) and power play points (two), and ranked fourth in points during the playoffs. He also tied for third on the team in playoff goals, first in power play goals and second in game-winning goals. Kreider made his NHL debut on April 16, 2012, at Ottawa in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, becoming the first player to win an NCAA title and make his NHL debut in that year’s playoffs since 1990.

The Boxford, Massachusetts native was originally selected by the Rangers as a first round choice, 19th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/15

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women's Basketball links

Notebook: Not a perfect end to UConn practice [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Auriemma’s Change Of Approach Impactful [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Kara Wolters On Brittney Griner [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Anne Donovan On Brittney Griner [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Some Thoughts From Coach Auriemma On Monday’s Event [john altavilla – hartford courant]

It Hasn’t Been Easy For Brittney Griner [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Times Are Tough For Rutgers And Stringer [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Another Game, Another Hartley Discussion [rich elliott – ct post]

Huskies Struggle Offensively As Auriemma Ends Practice Early [rich elliott – ct post]

Jefferson Warming Up To The Sight Of Snow [rich elliott – ct post]

Geno voices his displeasure following practice [jim fuller – new haven register]

No.3 UConn Heads to Rutgers on Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

After Scare At St. John's, Geno Has UConn Women On A Roll [hartford courant]

UConn Men's Basketball links

UConn Very Much in Big East Regular Season Title Hunt [david borges – new haven register]

Amida Brimah Shines in Playoff Victory [david borges – new haven register]

Ollie’s case for Big East Coach of the Year [kevin duffy – ct post]

The day after: Winning in the backcourt [john silver – snyuconn.com]

It Starts And Stops With The Guards [uconnhuskies.com]

Villanova's Wright Impressed With UConn's Ollie [hartford courant]

Phil Nolan Was Ready, And Helped UConn Take Down Syracuse [hartford courant]

Big East regular-season title very much in play for Huskies [new haven register]

UConn Football links

UConn Quarterbacks Coach Shane Day Talks About Scott McCummings, The Complete QB [desmond conner – hartford courant]

DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Jimmy Bennett says he plans on returning for UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

Lineman Jimmy Bennett granted sixth season of eligibility [new haven register]

Other UConn related links

W. Track. Women's Track & Field Prepares for BIG EAST Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Danielle Dakin Awarded BIG EAST Institutional Scholarship [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Huskies Open 2013 Season Against Big Ten Foes [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men's Hockey Plays Host To Holy Cross Friday; At Holy Cross Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Track. Men's Track & Field Heads to Ohio for BIG EAST Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/14

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn freshman Jefferson stepping up [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Donovan Working To Master Her Juggling Act [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Huskies Got To The Line Early And Often At Providence Tuesday [rich elliott – ct post]

Huskies Have Been Overly Impressive As Auriemma Pretends [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn commits open state tourney play Friday [jim fuller – new haven register]

Less Than 500 Tickets Remain for Women's Basketball's Showdown vs. No. 1 Baylor [uconnhuskies.com]

Even Auriemma Impressed With Kelly Faris' Endurance At UConn [hartford courant]

Providence no longer a challenge [journal inquirer]

Three Points from Tuesday's win over Providence [new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Checking In From XL: Jim Calhoun On The End of A Rivalry [dom amore – hartford courant]

Kevin Ollie’s Take [dom amore – hartford courant]

Wrapping Things Up From XL [dom amore – hartford courant]

Enosch Wolf Apologetic After Court Date [david borges – new haven register]

Jim Calhoun: 'I Don't Think, in a Year, We're Going to be (in the Big East)' [david borges – new haven register]

Jim Boeheim Blasts ESPN Reporter, Talks UConn-Syracuse Rivalry [david borges – new haven register]

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim calls ESPN’s Andy Katz names in UConn postgame (updated) [sean patrick bowley – ct post]

Notes/Quotes from Syracuse: “They get to leave with the taste of UConn in their mouth going to the ACC.” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Post-game breakdown, video: Syracuse [gavin keefe – the day]

UConn win a fitting end to rivalry [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Squeezed [uconn huskies basketball]

The Syracuse-UConn Rivalry is Over…For Now [zagsblog.com]

UConn hoops player gets case continued [ct post]

UConn defeats No. 6 Syracuse [ct post]

UConn shows America it can win with heart [ct post]

Post-rivalry, it's UConn's goal not to move in opposite direction from Syracuse [ct post]

At least one last time, UConn-Syracuse "a really big deal [ct post]

Game in a nutshell: Napier, Boatright key shocking win [ct post]

UConn Men's Basketball Team Stuns No. 6 Syracuse [hartford courant]

Calhoun Recalls Highlights Of 'Best Rivalry' [hartford courant]

UConn Carving Out A Memorable Season [hartford courant]

Wolf case continued to March [journal inquirer]

Going out in style [journal inquirer]

Huskies stun No. 6 Syracuse [new haven register]

Jim Calhoun calls Syracuse the Huskies' No. 1 Big East rival [new haven register]

UConn men upset No. 6 Syracuse 66-58 [the day]

If charges are proven, Wolf should never play for UConn again [the day]

A great story just got better [the day]

Orange Crushed: UConn beats Syracuse [the hour]

UConn eyes Big East title after Cuse upset [andy katz – espn.com]

UConn Football links

Meet the new Big East members [andrea adelson – espn.com]

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Video: UConn Men Knock Off No. 6/7 Syracuse

Former UConn head coach Jim Calhoun and Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim before the final regular season game between the two Big East teams at the XL Center Wednesday night.

Unless they move to the ACC, the only chances of the UConn Huskies and Syracuse Orange playing again would have to come in the postseason. And we all know that's not happening this season.

While it would have been more fitting that Jim Calhoun faced Jim Boeheim in the final Big East game between the two teams, Kevin Ollie couldn't have made a better game plan then he did on Wednesday night.

Using a 13-4 run late in the second half, the Huskies were able to upset the Orange 66-58 in front of 13,518 and nationally televised audience on ESPN at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

The Huskies improve to 17-6 (7-4 Big East) while the Orange fall to 20-4 (8-3).

Ryan Boatright led the Huskies with 17 points, three steals and had four rebounds and four assists. Omar Calhoun added 15 points and six rebounds while Shabazz Napier had 10 points and a team-high seven assists.

DeAndre Daniels led the Huskies with eight rebounds and had eight points.

Michael Carter-Williams paced the Orange with 15 points before fouling out. James Southerland had 14 points while C.J. Fair had 10 points. Jerami Grant led all rebounders in the game with nine while adding six points.

It was a tightly played game in the first half as neither team led by more than three points and there were six ties until UConn took a five point lead at the break at 29-24. To say it mildly, it was a typical Syracuse-UConn game.

Syracuse would take the lead early in the second half at 30-29 as the opened up on a 6-0 run. Boatright would put the Huskies back in front right away though with back to back three-pointers. The Orange once again rallied with a 5-0 run to tie the game up.

UConn would go back up again by four points before Syracuse had another 5-0 run to take their final lead of the game. Behind the three-pointing shooting of  Calhoun, the Huskies took control with a 13-4 run and held off the Orange down the stretch.

We all know the Huskies have had troubles with the zone, especially when they play with Syrause. And playing with a limited front court which is essential to attack the zone, Ollie's game plan was perfect and executed to perfection.

UConn has a chip on its collective shoulder since they can't play in the postseason and this was just another way of them showing it to the world.

It was absoutely great win for the Huskies.

Next up for UConn are the Villanova Wildcats who will come to the XL Center on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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Syracuse Orange @ UConn Huskies 2.13.13 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.

Here are UConn's postgame notes.

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photo credit: john woike – hartford courant