ESPN and the American Athletic Conference have announced the kickoff time for the game between the UConn Huskies and Memphis Tigers at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on November 29.
The game will start at 4 p.m. and be televised nationally on ESPNews.
The first rankings of the very young 2014-2015 college basketball season are out and the Kentucky Wildcats remain as the No. 1 team in both polls.
In the top five of the AP Poll, the Wildcats are followed by the Arizona Wildcats, Wisconsin Badgers, Duke Blue Devils and Kansas Jayhawks. In the USA Today Coaches Poll, the top five is the same but Duke is third and Wisconsin fourth.
The UConn Huskies remain at No. 17 in the AP Poll and drop two spots in the Coaches Poll to No. 17.
The only other team from the American Athletic Conference that is ranked is the SMU Mustangs who come in at 22/23. The Memphis Tigers and Cincinnati Bearcats are the American teams among the others receiving votes in both polls.
| AP Top 25 | USA Today Coaches Poll | ||||||
| RK | TEAM | REC | PTS | RK | TEAM | REC | PTS |
| 1 | Kentucky (49) | 2-0 | 1,574 | 1 | Kentucky (25) | 2-0 | 787 |
| 2 | Arizona (4) | 2-0 | 1,491 | 2 | Arizona (3) | 2-0 | 754 |
| 3 | Wisconsin (7) | 2-0 | 1,475 | 3 | Duke (2) | 2-0 | 725 |
| 4 | Duke (4) | 2-0 | 1,422 | 4 | Wisconsin (2) | 2-0 | 718 |
| 5 | Kansas | 1-0 | 1,306 | 5 | Kansas | 1-0 | 654 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 2-0 | 1,254 | 6 | North Carolina | 2-0 | 609 |
| 7 | Louisville | 1-0 | 1,130 | 7 | Florida | 1-0 | 560 |
| 8 | Florida | 1-0 | 1,127 | 8 | Louisville | 1-0 | 557 |
| 9 | Virginia | 2-0 | 1,065 | 9 | Virginia | 2-0 | 543 |
| 10 | Texas | 2-0 | 1,061 | 10 | Texas | 2-0 | 497 |
| 11 | Wichita St | 1-0 | 1,002 | 11 | Gonzaga | 1-0 | 445 |
| 12 | Villanova | 1-0 | 858 | 12 | Villanova | 1-0 | 443 |
| 13 | Gonzaga | 1-0 | 841 | 13 | Wichita St | 1-0 | 438 |
| 14 | Iowa State | 1-0 | 746 | 14 | Iowa State | 1-0 | 340 |
| 15 | VCU | 1-0 | 654 | 15 | VCU | 1-0 | 299 |
| 16 | San Diego St | 1-0 | 564 | 16 | San Diego St | 1-0 | 278 |
| 17 | Connecticut | 1-0 | 525 | 17 | Connecticut | 1-0 | 269 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 1-0 | 466 | 18 | Oklahoma | 1-0 | 258 |
| 19 | Michigan St | 1-0 | 443 | 19 | Michigan St | 1-0 | 254 |
| 20 | Ohio State | 1-0 | 361 | 20 | Ohio State | 1-0 | 190 |
| 21 | Nebraska | 1-0 | 298 | 21 | Nebraska | 1-0 | 140 |
| 22 | SMU | 1-0 | 290 | 22 | Michigan | 1-0 | 127 |
| 23 | Syracuse | 2-0 | 190 | 23 | SMU | 1-0 | 112 |
| 24 | Michigan | 1-0 | 177 | 24 | Syracuse | 2-0 | 110 |
| 25 | Utah | 1-0 | 118 | 25 | Iowa | 1-0 | 64 |
| Dropped from rankings: | Dropped from rankings: | ||||||
| Harvard 25 | none | ||||||
| Others receiving votes: | Others receiving votes: | ||||||
| Stanford 63, Colorado 52, Iowa 48, UCLA 41, Kansas St 29, Arkansas 23, Minnesota 11, Memphis 11, Pittsburgh 10, Notre Dame 10, Louisiana Tech 9, Dayton 7, NC State 6, Oklahoma St 6, Florida St 6, LSU 5, George Washington 5, Cincinnati 5, Illinois 3, Maryland 3, Baylor 2, BYU 2, UTEP 2, Northern Iowa 1, Stephen F. Austin 1, Georgetown 1 | Utah 38, Kansas St 35, Stanford 29, UCLA 24, Pittsburgh 17, Notre Dame 11, George Washington 9, Louisiana Tech 9, Illinois 8, Memphis 8, Colorado 6, Arkansas 6, Baylor 5, UTEP 4, Minnesota 4, Georgetown 4, Toledo 3, LSU 2, Harvard 2, Cincinnati 2, Dayton 1, Miami (FL) 1, Oregon 1 | ||||||
From UConn and the Los Angeles Athletic Club:
LOS ANGELES — UConn senior guard Ryan Boatright (Aurora, Ill.) was among the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50, announced today by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor.
Many of last year’s NCAA Tournament stars were chosen to the Top 50, including Boatright, an All-Final Four team selection in 2014 when he helped lead his team to the NCAA title; three players from a Kentucky squad that fell to the Huskies in the title game, Willie Cauley-Stein, Aaron Harrison, and Andrew Harrison; Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky, the MVP of the 2014 West Regional; and Florida’s Michael Frazier II. Other returners of note include Tyler Haws of BYU, the nation’s No. 2 returning scorer (23.2 ppg), and Wichita State point guard Fred VanVleet, the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
Seven freshmen were named to the team: Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre, Jr. of Kansas; Stanley Johnson of Arizona, a high school Wooden Award honoree in 2014; Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor of Duke; Karl-Anthony Towns of Kansas; and Myles Turner of Texas.
Kansas (Alexander, Oubre, Jr., Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden, Jr.) and Kentucky (Cauley-Stein, the Harrison twins, and Towns) lead the honors with four players apiece, while preseason Top 5 Arizona boasts three (Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Johnson). Duke, Louisville, Texas, Wichita State and Wisconsin have two players each on the preseason Top 50 list.
In terms of conferences, the Big 12 leads the way with 10 picks, followed by the ACC (8), and the Big Ten (7), Pac-12 (7), and SEC (7). The American, the Missouri Valley, and WCC had two picks apiece, while the Atlantic-10, Big East, Horizon, Sun Belt, and Ivy League each had one selection.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2015 John R. Wooden Award. The Wooden Award National Advisory Board will select 25 players for the midseason list in early January. The leading candidates will be further pared to 20 in early February. Fifteen top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA will be placed on the ballot and submitted to voters prior to the NCAA Tournament and voting will take into account play during the opening rounds of the tournament. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.
| Name | School | Conference | Height | Class | Position |
| Cliff Alexander | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-8 | Fr. | F |
| Brandon Ashley | Arizona | Pac-12 | 6-9 | Jr. | F |
| Ron Baker | Wichita State | Missouri Valley | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Ryan Boatright |
UConn | The American | 6-0 | Sr. | G |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Virginia | ACC | 6-5 | Jr. | G |
| Willie Cauley-Stein | Kentucky | SEC | 7-0 | Jr. | F |
| Branden Dawson | Michigan State | Big Ten | 6-6 | Sr. | G/F |
| Sam Dekker | Wisconsin | Big Ten | 6-9 | Jr. | F |
| Perry Ellis | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-8 | Jr. | F |
| Yogi Ferrell | Indiana | Big Ten | 6-0 | Jr. | G |
| Marcus Foster | Kansas State | Big 12 | 6-3 | So. | G |
| Michael Frazier II | Florida | SEC | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Treveon Graham | VCU | Atlantic 10 | 6-6 | Sr. | G/F |
| Jerian Grant | Notre Dame | ACC | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Olivier Hanlan | Boston College | ACC | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Montrezl Harrell | Louisville | ACC | 6-8 | Jr. | F |
| Aaron Harrison | Kentucky | SEC | 6-6 | So. | G |
| Andrew Harrison | Kentucky | SEC | 6-6 | So. | G |
| Tyler Haws | BYU | WCC | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Buddy Hield | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Arizona | Pac-12 | 6-7 | So. | F |
| R.J. Hunter | Georgia State | Sun Belt | 6-6 | Jr. | G |
| Stanley Johnson | Arizona | Pac-12 | 6-7 | Fr. | F |
| Tyus Jones | Duke | ACC | 6-1 | Fr. | G |
| Frank Kaminsky | Wisconsin | Big Ten | 7-0 | Sr. | F |
| Caris LeVert | Michigan | Big Ten | 6-7 | Jr. | G |
| Jordan Mickey | LSU | SEC | 6-8 | So. | F |
| Nic Moore | SMU | The American | 5-9 | Jr. | G |
| Georges Niang | Iowa State | Big 12 | 6-8 | Jr. | F |
| Jahlil Okafor | Duke | ACC | 6-11 | Fr. | C |
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-7 | Fr. | G |
| Marcus Paige | North Carolina | ACC | 6-1 | Jr. | G |
| Kevin Pangos | Gonzaga | WCC | 6-2 | Sr. | G |
| Terran Petteway | Nebraska | Big Ten | 6-6 | Jr. | F |
| Bobby Portis | Arkansas | SEC | 6-11 | So. | F |
| Chasson Randle | Stanford | Pac-12 | 6-2 | Sr. | G |
| Terry Rozier | Louisville | ACC | 6-1 | So. | G |
| Wesley Saunders | Harvard | Ivy League | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Josh Scott | Colorado | Pac-12 | 6-10 | Jr. | F |
| Wayne Selden, Jr. | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-5 | So. | G |
| D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera | Georgetown | Big East | 6-3 | Jr. | G |
| Juwan Staten | West Virginia | Big 12 | 6-1 | Sr. | G |
| Keifer Sykes | Green Bay | Horizon League | 6-0 | Sr. | G |
| Isaiah Taylor | Texas | Big 12 | 6-1 | So. | G |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Kentucky | SEC | 6-11 | Fr. | F |
| Myles Turner | Texas | Big 12 | 6-11 | Fr. | F |
| Fred VanVleet | Wichita State | Missouri Valley | 6-0 | Jr. | G |
| Dez Wells | Maryland | Big Ten | 6-5 | Sr. | G/F |
| Delon Wright | Utah | Pac-12 | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Joseph Young | Oregon | Pac-12 | 6-2 | Sr. | G |
From UConn:
STORRS, Conn. — The UConn men’s basketball program has received signed Letters of Intent from two incoming student-athletes, guard Jalen Adams and forward Steve Enoch.
Adams is a 6-2 guard from Roxbury, Mass., who currently attends Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., while Enoch is a 6-10 forward from Norwalk, Conn., who currently attends St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn.
“We’re very excited to have both these young men coming into our program,” UConn Coach Kevin Ollie said. “Not only are they quality basketball players, but quality people and outstanding student-athletes. I know they will be great additions to our UConn family.”
Adams is a 170-pound combination guard who is consistently rated among the top 25 players in his class nationwide by most recruiting services. He is equally adept at getting to the rim and finishing, shooting the three-pointer, or as a playmaker at the point. He is at Brewster Academy for a prep year after graduating from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
Enoch, a 220-pound forward, blossomed this summer while playing AAU ball to jump into the top 75 on most recruiting service lists. The fast-improving big man is a solid rebounder, who shows strength around the rim and has developed a consistent short jump shot. He transferred to St. Thomas More this year after three years at Norwalk High School. As a junior, Enoch averaged 14.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks at Norwalk.
Adams and Enoch will enroll at UConn in the fall of 2015.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the 12th week of the college football season.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gunner Kiel • So. • QB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ind.
With questions abound as to whether he would start the game, Kiel played every snap on offense and helped Cincinnati win a 54-48 shootout against East Carolina, keeping the Bearcats even in the loss column atop the American Athletic Conference standings. Kiel completed 29 of 44 passes for a career-high 436 yards and four touchdowns, connecting on scoring strikes of 55, 17, 66 and 36 yards. After East Carolina took a two-point lead with 1:02 left in the fourth quarter, Kiel brought the Bearcats within field goal range on just three plays to set up the game-winning kick with 15 seconds left. Kiel leads the American Athletic Conference with 24 touchdown passes, while he ranks second in the conference in passing yards at 276.1 yards per game.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jacoby Glenn • So. • CB • UCF • Prichard, Ala.
Glenn led a UCF defense that limited Tulsa, which had ranked third in The American in passing offense (294.1 ypg) to just 72 passing yards and 201 total yards in the Knights’ 31-7 win. Glenn had four pass breakups to go with five tackles to help hold the Golden Hurricane to 222 yards below its average. Glenn is tied for the American Athletic Conference lead with 14 passes defended, while he ranks sixth nationally with 1.6 passes defended per game.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andrew Gantz • Fr. • K • Cincinnati • Dayton, Ohio
Gantz scored 12 points, connecting on a pair of field goals and going 6-for-6 on PATs to help Cincinnati to a 54-48 win against East Carolina, keeping the Bearcats even in the loss column atop the American Athletic Conference standings. After East Carolina had taken a two-point lead with 1:02 left in the fourth quarter, Gantz scored the game-winning points on a 47-yard field goal with 15 seconds left. He added a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter. Gantz, who has made his last 10 field goal attempts, ranks second in The American in scoring (8.2 points per game).
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Justin Holman • So. • QB • UCF • Snellville, Ga.
Completed 16 of 27 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 31-7 win against Tulsa.
Nick Temple • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Indianapolis, Ind.
Had 14 tackles with one tackle for loss in a 54-48 win against East Carolina.
Bobby McCain • Sr. • CB • Memphis • Oxford, Ala.
Had seven tackles to go with a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 38-7 win at Tulane.
Mattias Ciabatti • Jr. • P • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Averaged a career-best 49.0 yards on five punts, downing all five inside the 20-yard line, in a 14-13 win at SMU. Hit three punts of 50 yards or better.
Jalen Fitzpatrick • Sr. • WR • Temple • Harrisburg, Pa.
Had four receptions for 113 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, in a 30-13 loss at Penn State
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced winners of the league’s first weekly women’s basketball honors for games ending Nov. 16.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zykira Lewis * G * 5-8 * So. * UCF
Lewis scored a career-high 41 points in UCF’s season opening win over Florida Atlantic, the second-best scoring output in program history. The sophomore shot 73.7 percent from the field (14-for-19) in the win over the Owls and tied the school record for most 3-pointers in a game, connecting on eight of her 10 attempts from 3-point range. UCF defeated FAU 94-74, marking the best season opening performance for the Knights since 1988.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Kolby Morgan * G * 5-8 * Tulane
Morgan averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in a 2-0 week for the Green Wave. The freshman shot 12-for-21 (.571) from the field over the weekend and led all Tulane players with 16 points in the season opening win over Mississippi Valley State on Friday. She added 12 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench in a win at McNeese State on Sunday.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis * F * 5-11 * Sr. * UConn
Scored 30 points on 10-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc in win at UC Davis; tied the school record for most 3-pointers made in a game
Courtney Williams * G * 5-8 * Jr. * USF
Averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game in a 2-0 week for USF that included wins over top-50 RPI teams; pulled down a double-double against Villanova
DeVaughn Gray * F * 5-11 * Jr. * East Carolina
Scored a game-high 25 points off the bench in win over Fairfield on Friday; tied the school record with seven 3-pointers vs. the Stags
Mooriah Rowser * G * 5-9 * R-So. * Memphis
Averaged 19.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in an undefeated week for Memphis; scored a game-high 21 points in win over Missouri State
Feyonda Fitzgerald * G * 5-7 * So. * Temple
Had a career-high 29 points in win over La Salle; helped seal the win for the Owls by scoring the go-ahead jumper with 34 seconds remaining
UConn G #11 Ryan Boatright slams home two of his 24 points against Bryant in the second half at Gampel Pavilion on November 14, 2014.
Here is the intro video that will be played before all home UConn Huskies men’s basketball games at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT and the XL Center in Hartford, CT for the 2014-15 season.
photo credit: ian bethune
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.
Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.
It’s game day for the No. 1 UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they are in Palo Alto, CA for a matchup with the No. 6 Stanford Cardinal. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. You can also catch the game online at WatchESPN. If you can’t watch the game, you can always listen to Bob Joyce and Debbie Fiske on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
UConn Women’s Basketball links
UConn’s next California trip features Stanford, UCLA [carl adamec – sny uconn]
Notebook: Tuck says brace no reason for concern [carl adamec – sny uconn]
Could It Be “Mission Impossible” Again For Stanford [john altavilla – hartford courant]
News And Notes From Stanford [john altavilla – hartford courant]
No Worries For Tuck [rich elliott – ct post]
According To Auriemma, Nurse Is Different [rich elliott – ct post]
UConn-Stanford Series Has Staying Power [rich elliott – ct post]
Samuelson Has Full Support From Her Stanford Sisters [rich elliott – ct post]
California trip extra special for UConn’s Gabby Williams [jim fuller – new haven register]
UConn signee Samuelson getting support from sisters [jim fuller – new haven register]
No. 6 Stanford potentially a stern test for No. 1 UConn [ct post]
New-Look Stanford Has Same Old Goal: Take Down Goliath [hartford courant]
UConn, Stanford ready to write next chapter in rivalry [new haven register]
Advice and Accolades for UConn’s Breanna Stewart [new york times]
UConn women, as imposing as ever, visit Stanford [san francisco chronicle]
No. 6 Stanford women take on top-ranked Connecticut [contra costa times]
UConn Football links
UConn Football vs Cincinnati Kickoff Time For 11/22 Announced [sox & dawgs]
UConn Men’s Basketball links
For Well-Traveled A.J., Price Is Right In Indy [dom amore – hartford courant]
Kings, Rudy Gay agree to $40M, 3-year deal [ap]
Absent a Cause, Kevin Ollie Leads a UConn Team Motivated by Desire [new york times]
Other UConn related links
W. Volleyball. Maugle Picks Up 1,000th Career Kill In Five-Set Setback To East Carolina [uconn huskies]
Field Hockey. No. 3 UConn Advances to 2014 National Semifinals with 3-1 Win Over Stanford [uconn huskies]
Field Hockey. UConn Field Hockey Defeats Stanford, Advances To Final Four [hartford courant]
Field Hockey. Five Huskies Receive All-Mideast Region Honors on Monday [uconn huskies]
Field Hockey. UConn Field Hockey Returns to Final Four [uconn huskies youtube]
W. Ice Hockey. Knutson And Snodgrass Tally In 4-2 Loss at No. 6 Boston University [uconn huskies]
HARTFORD, November 17, 2014: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack has released defenseman Tomas Kaberle from his Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement.
Kaberle played two games with the Wolf Pack after signing Friday, and had two assists and four shots on goal.
The Wolf Pack’s next action is on home ice this Wednesday, November 19, as they host the Syracuse Crunch in a 7:00 PM game. That is a “Winning Wednesday”, as if the Wolf Pack win, each fan receives a free ticket to the Wolf Pack’s next home game, which is this Saturday, November 22 vs. Bridgeport. Wednesday’s game is also the next chance for fans to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Packs”, which feature two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.
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
By Zachary Grenier
Hartford, CT, November 16, 2014 – The Hartford Wolf Pack suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss at home Sunday afternoon against the Manchester Monarchs, 4-3. The loss was the third in a row (0-2-1-0) for the Wolf Pack, and gave the Monarchs their fifth consecutive win.
Hartford drew first blood when Chris Bourque ripped a one-timer, off of a Tomas Kaberle pass, that beat Manchester goaltender Patrik Bartosak over his shoulder, on a 5-on-3 power-play at 6:35 of the first.
“I think we were fortunate in the first period there, we got the quick 5-on-3 goal and we had a lot of power-play opportunities,” said Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander. “I think we kind of fooled ourselves or got tricked in to playing like we were constantly on the power play. We were getting away from any type of physical battles, finishing hits, forechecking, that type of thing, and just trying to do things through finesse and puck skills rather than some of the hard work.”
Manchester answered back with a goal of their own with 3:57 remaining in the first. Sean Backman fired a shot off of the post and the puck sat in the crease behind Hartford goaltender Mackenzie Skapski. Michael Mersch was the man in the right place, who was able to send the puck in to the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
It did not take long for the scoring to get going in the second period, as Manchester’s Nick Shore was able to get a bouncing puck past Skapski for his 13th point of the season just 2:29 into the period.
With just under five minutes gone in the second, the Wolf Pack power-play unit came up with another goal to tie the game at two. It was Kaberle again on the assist; this one on a shot on goal that was deflected by the stick of 6-4 left winger Justin Vaive.
“Justin Vaive I thought had a great night,” said Gernander. “He was one guy that wanted to get in on the forecheck and create those board battles or finish hits, and I think he did a nice job net-front. He has been doing a good job net-front on the PP and he got rewarded for it again.”
J.T. Miller gave the Pack a 3-2 lead heading in to the third, when he deflected Michael Kostka’s wrist shot from the right face-off dot past Bartosak. That goal lifted Miller into the Wolf Pack team points lead (5-8-13), one point up on Oscar Lindberg.
Manchester’s Jordan Weal tied the game up with 8:50 left in the third period, on a power-play goal. The goal came off of a Nic Dowd shot, as the rebound kicked to the side of the net and Weal jammed it home for his 14th point of the season, good for a tie for the Monarch team lead.
“We gave up that power-play goal in the third, and then from that point on I think, until the overtime, we really stopped making plays,” said Gernander. “We just allowed them to come at us, and I thought [Skapski] did a nice job in net. In overtime I think it was a little too much high-risk/high-reward type of hockey.”
In overtime, Skapski made some huge saves that kept the Pack alive for a while. It was not until there was 1:03 left in overtime that Brian O’Neill was able to find the back of the net to give the Monarchs their tenth win of the season. O’Neill patiently handled the puck in front of the net and was able to beat a sliding Skapski, who desperately threw his leg up in the air.
“If a player gets that kind of patience, then most of the time they’re going to capitalize on it because really they can do whatever they want to do,” said Skapski.
Skapski stopped 36 of the 40 shots that he faced in Hartford’s third loss of the weekend.
“We got one point, but that is another point that we need,” said Skapski.
The Wolf Pack are back on home ice this Wednesday, November 19, hosting the Syracuse Crunch in a 7:00 PM game. That is a “Winning Wednesday”, as if the Wolf Pack win, each fan receives a free ticket to the Wolf Pack’s next home game, which is this Saturday, November 22 vs. Bridgeport. Wednesday’s game is also the next chance for fans to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Packs”, which feature two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.
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.
Manchester Monarchs 4 (OT) at Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Sunday, November 16, 2014 – XL Center
Manchester 1 1 1 1 – 4
Hartford 1 2 0 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Hartford, C. Bourque 5 (Kaberle, Miller), 6:35 (PP). 2, Manchester, Mersch 2 (Backman, Dowd), 16:07. Penalties-Weal Mch (hooking), 5:41; Miller Mch (closing hand on puck), 6:17; Forbort Mch (delay of game), 7:57; Van der Gulik Mch (closing hand on puck), 10:02.
2nd Period-3, Manchester, Shore 8 (Ebert, O’Neill), 2:29. 4, Hartford, Vaive 3 (Kaberle, C. Bourque), 4:55 (PP). 5, Hartford, Miller 5 (Kostka, R. Bourque), 10:28. Penalties-Weal Mch (hooking), 4:05; Vaive Hfd (hooking), 7:06; Schultz Mch (hooking), 19:14; Kristo Hfd (diving/embellishment), 19:14.
3rd Period-6, Manchester, Weal 6 (Dowd, Miller), 12:10 (PP). Penalties-Haggerty Hfd (delay of game), 10:51.
OT Period-7, Manchester, O’Neill 4 (Shore, Backman), 5:57. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Manchester 10-9-14-7-40. Hartford 4-9-8-6-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 1 / 2; Hartford 2 / 5.
Goalies-Manchester, Bartosak 3-1-0 (27 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Skapski 3-1-0 (40 shots-36 saves).
A-2,557
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Glen Cooke (6).