University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies to Play Host to Free Exhibition Game This Weekend
10/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, CT (Oct. 1) - The University of Connecticut men’s and women’s ice hockey teams open their seasons this weekend with exhibition games which are free to the public. Admission will be charged at all other home games for the men’s team, while women’s games will continue to be free of charge. On Saturday, October 4, the women’s team hosts Etobicoke (Ontario) at 2:00 p.m., and on Sunday, October 5, the men’s team will host the University of Ottawa at 3:00 p.m. Both games will be held at the UConn Ice Arena.
The men’s hockey team, led by 16th-year head coach Bruce Marshall, will have a fresh start as a member of the newly-formed Atlantic Hockey Association, which includes nine former members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. UConn was picked to finish eighth in the AHA Preseason Poll. Senior team captain Eric Nelson (Big Lake, MN) will be a vetaran leader of the squad this year, and was recently selected to the All-Atlantic Hockey Preseason Second Team.
Led by fourth year coach Heather Linstad, the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team is brimming with potenital this season. The Huskies return all but four players from the 2002-2003 seaon and added a highly touted group of newcomers. In only its third year of existance, the women’s ice hockey team advanced to the Hockey East Tournament semifinals last season. Senior Sarah Mahoney (Lynn, MA) led the Huskies in scoring last seaosn with 11 goals and five assists for 16 points, and looks to have an even more productive 2003-2004 season. The Huskies were picked to finish fifth in Hockey East this season, but have the talent to place much higher in 2003-2004.
