December 28, 2005
UConn Hockey Classic
Mark Edward Frietas Ice Forum • Storrs, Conn.

Holiday Tournament Preview

THE FIELD

Thursday, December 29

Bowling Green vs. Massachusetts, 4 p.m.
Army at Connecticut, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, December 30
Third-Place Game, 4 p.m.
Championship Game, 7:15 p.m.

INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACT

The Mark Edward Frietas Ice Forum is the fourth home of the UConn Hockey Classic, but the building, previously known as the UConn Ice Arena, has now hosted more than half of the tournament’s 13 years. The Veteran’s Rink in West Hartford (one year), the International Skating Center in Simsbury (two years) and the Norwich Ice Rink (two years) each played host to the tournament before it moved on campus in Storrs seven years ago. The host school has won the event three times, most recently in 2003.

WHO TO WATCH

With all due respect to the Atlantic Hockey teams in the nightcap, the tournament’s best talent will be on display in the first game, featuring Bowling Green and Massachusetts. Up front, these coaches take different approaches to distributing their talent. The Falcons feature one of the most feared first lines in the nation with Mike Falk, Alex Foster and Jonathan Matsumoto leading the charge. The trio has accounted for 25 of the team’s 59 goals this season. Meanwhile, Massachusetts’ talented pair of Stephen Werner and Matt Anderson have recently been centering the Minutemen’s first two lines. Werner has enjoyed a fast start in 2005-06, averaging a point per game, but Anderson has just 3-4—7 through 15 games. More than half of those points came in an October win over Clarkson when he skated alongside Werner.

HOW WE SEE IT

While Alabama-Huntsville served notice in the 2002 UConn Hockey Classic that the CHA and Atlantic Hockey schools could surprise, Brown showed last year that the Big Four conferences are called that for a reason. Expect Bowling Green or Massachusetts, despite their sub-.500 records, to show similar strength this season. UConn enters with a three-game winning streak, and Army is 4-2-3 in its last nine, but the Falcons and Minutemen have shown an ability to play with anyone in the country – witness BGSU’s wins over Michigan State and St. Lawrence recently, or UMass’ win over Colorado College.