University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
2-1-0
Colorado College
2-1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Col. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| UConn | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Gardula 2 Goals Helps Huskies Upset #12 Colorado College
10/16/2026 10:36:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. — UConn men's hockey defeated Colorado College by a final of 3-2 Friday night in overtime. UConn scored twice in the first period and added the only goal of overtime after a scoreless third. UConn finished with a 36-29 advantage in shots, blocked 20 shots and held Colorado College scoreless on two power-play chances.
UConn put 14 shots on goal to the Tigers four in the first period. The Huskies jumped out to the early lead when Ethan Gardula was in the right place at the right time for the rebound goal, giving UConn the 1-0 lead. Colorado College offense didn't stay quiet for long as a shot from the point found its way past Kam Hendrickson tying the game at one. With under two minutes remaining in the first period, Jesse Heslop collected the puck in the Huskies offensive corner and circled to the blue line, firing a shot on goal which was redirected by freshman Lirim Amidovski for his first career goal in a UConn uniform, giving UConn the 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
Colorado College scored the second period's only goal, with Seth Constance finishing at 10:41 to make it 2-2, and the score remained tied through the end of the frame. UConn won 12 of 21 faceoffs and had two late power-play chances, but Colorado College kept UConn off the board in the period.
The third period was a back-and-forth battle, with Colorado College holding a 23-14 edge in shot attempts. Kam Hendrickson made 11 saves in the frame, while UConn blocked nine of the Tiger's attempts and killed off a power play to keep the visitors off the board.
In the overtime period, the Huskies pressure paid off as Ethan Whitcomb forced a turnover and Kai Janviriya fired a puck to Alexandre Blais which created a two on one break and with one pass to Ethan Gardula, the junior scored the backhand goal for his second of the night and the game winner.
UP NEXT: UConn will wrap up the two game series with Colorado College tomorrow, Saturday, October 17. Puck drop is scheduled for 5pm and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
