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FAIRFIELD, Conn.- After a thrilling three overtime playoff game back in March, the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team is back on ice. SHU opens the 2021-22 season at UConn, Saturday at 4:05 p.m. This is the 67^th meeting between both teams with SHU leading the series 31-29-6.
 
Last Time Out... The Pioneers are coming off a season unlike no other with stop and go's, a 3OT thriller in the final game of the season in the AHA playoffs, and taking advantage of the transfer portal acquiring eight players from across the college hockey spectrum. SHU returns it's top five point scorers from a season ago and Josh Benson the Pioneers top goaltender.
 
Last Meeting....The Pioneers last faced UConn back on October 5, 2019 at Webster Bank Arena as SHU began its 2019-20 record breaking season with a 3-3 tie against the Huskies. Matt Tugnutt scored his first career hat trick in which one of his goals was netted in the third period to send the game into overtime.
 
Scouting The Huskies... UConn is coming off a 2020-21 season with a 10-11-2 record overall for a third place finish in the Hockey East. The team returns top forward Jonny Evans who scored career high 14 goals, 15 assists for 29 points. The Huskies also return their top goaltender Tomas Vomacka.
 
Bringing the Experience......This years' incoming class is like no other as SHU acquired eight transfers from all spectrums of the college hockey world. The most transfers have been from colleges in the ECAC and NCHC which two have come from both conferences. Meanwhile there is one from each the Hockey East, BIG, WCHA and Independent league. The Pioneers welcome in 11 new members to the team while returning 19.
 
Oh Captains Our Captains!..... Defenseman Alex Bates and forward Braeden Tuck were tabbed co-captains for the upcoming season. Bates skated in 17 games last season, recording two points on two assists. He also served as the team's assistant captain. Throughout his career at SHU, he has played in 121 games recording nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points with a +/- of +9.
 
Tuck has been a rising star for the Pioneers throughout his first two years at SHU. Just last season he played in 18 games, recorded six goals and 10 assists for 16 points. He was the team leader in points and for the second straight season registered double-digit assists alongside a career-high in goals. He was also named to the All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team. In his freshman season, he was AHA Rookie of the Year, AHA All-Rookie Team, and an AHCA Academic All-Star.
 
Gone Pro....... The Pioneers had two seniors that continued their playing careers as Marcel Godbout and Marc Johnstone each signed with minor league hockey programs this spring. Godbout was signed by the SPHL's Pensacola Ice Flyers while Johnstone signed with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. They become the 84th and 85th alumni to sign with a professional hockey team.
 
On the Road....A lot..... In the Pioneers 2021-22 schedule, SHU hosts just 10 games this season with 22 games on the road. Two of the games will be at a neutral site which is the annual CT Ice Tournament on January 29-30. If you go back two seasons ago to 2019-20 the Pioneers were dominate on the road recording 13 wins with just three losses. Meanwhile in 2020-21 SHU went just 3-8-0.