University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Set to Host 2001 Cingular/UConn Hockey Classic
12/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
The University of Connecticut men’s ice hockey team is set to host the ninth annual Cingular/UConn Hockey Classic on Saturday and Sunday, December 29 & 30. Joining UConn in this year’s field is the United States Air Force Academy, the College of the Holy Cross and Bentley College.
Bentley and Air Force will face-off in the classic’s first game on Saturday, December 29 at 2:00 pm at the UConn Ice Arena. Connecticut will then take-on Holy Cross in a MAAC League contest at 5:15 pm or at the conclusion of the first game. The Consolation and Championship game will be held on Sunday, December 30 at 2:00 and 5:15 pm, respectively.
The 2001-02 Air Force Falcons headed into this season looking to capitalize on last year’s near misses behind the leadership of 5th year head coach Frank Serratore. This season’s roster saw the return of 22 players, 70 percent of the team’s scoring from last year and all eight defenseman. Perhaps the biggest loss to this year’s team was the graduation of the 2001 CHA Player of the Year, goaltender Marc Kielkucki, who saw every minute in net in 2000-01. AFA holds a 7-7-0 record heading into the classic, marking the team’s first-ever trip to the Storrs campus.
After a 11th place league finish in 2000-01, the Bentley College Falcons returned 19 letterwinners to this season’s roster and looked to improve on last year’s record. At the midpoint last season, Bentley had only won one game, and to date the team has two wins and a tie, posting a 2-13-1 record to date.
Connecticut finds itself in the seventh place position, just three points out of fourth place, in the MAAC League standings heading into the holiday break. Behind 14th year head coach Bruce Marshall, the Huskies returned 17 players from last season and added 12 newcomers to the 2001-02 roster. UConn holds a 3-8-3 record heading into this year’s classic.
Holy Cross seventh–year head coach Paul Pearl returned 23 players to the 2001-02 squad including six of its top seven scorers. The Crusaders are off to one of their best starts in recent years. They headed into the holiday break with an overall record of 8-5-2, and a 5-2-2 record in the MAAC, and have been as high as No. 2 in the league standings this season.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under) and seniors (+65). Each ticket is good for both games that day.
