Pioneers Ready for 2022-23 Campaign
9/22/2022 12:20:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
New Arena in Sight for Team Seeking AHA Title
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team, which moves into its new home later this year, has begun preparing for an early October start to the 2022-23 season.
The Pioneers, who open the campaign on the road against Providence on Oct. 7, will soon be calling the Martire Family Arena home. Opening day for the West Campus rink is Jan. 14, 2023, against Boston College. In addition, the Pioneers are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the program.
Sacred Heart, which went 15-18-4 last winter under head coach C.J. Marottolo, returns its top seven scorers and 80 of the 95 goals scored in 2021-22. The new roster includes 15 forwards, 11 blueliners and four goalies, as well as players from eight states and four countries. This week's AHA pre-season poll had SHU as the No. 2 squad.
The Pioneers, who play an exhibition game against Western Ontario on Oct. 2 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, only played nine home games a year ago, while the team will host 17 this season. Eight games will be played in the Martire Family Arena in the new year. The Atlantic Hockey Association slate begins on October 13 against Holy Cross, and other highlights of the new season include a contest at Cornell on Nov. 22, a game against Northeastern (Dec. 6) and the annual CT Ice Tournament (Jan. 27-28) hosted by Quinnipiac.
Here is a brief positional outlook for the 2022-23 Pioneers.
FORWARDS
SHU outshot its opponents 30.9-27.1 a season ago with a strong offensive presence from the Pioneers' top line. Junior Neil Shea, one of three players picked as pre-season conference player of the year, is the top returning scorer and AHA co-scoring champion with 11 goals and 20 points last winter, while senior captain Braeden Tuck added 12-15-27.
DEFENSE
The Pioneers held the opposition to 2.7 goals per game, but the SHU defense could also put points on the board. Logan Britt, who made the pre-season All-AHA team, and Conner Hutchison led all blueliners on the team with a combined 13-17-20; sophomore Hunter Sansbury added 10 assists from the defense last season while senior Patrick Dawson recorded 2-3-5 last winter.
GOALIE
Sacred Heart had a pair of three-game win streaks in 2021-22 while the Pioneer got strong net minding from Justin Robbins. Two of four players who saw action last year are back. Robbins (2.38, .909) was in net for 29 games with 26 starts. Senior Luke Lush (2.37, .925) appeared in six games and started three contests, while Jack O'Dea returns to the team after serving as a backup a season ago. First-year Brandon Milberg joins the roster after playing for the Wichita Warriors in Iowa.
The Pioneers, who open the campaign on the road against Providence on Oct. 7, will soon be calling the Martire Family Arena home. Opening day for the West Campus rink is Jan. 14, 2023, against Boston College. In addition, the Pioneers are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the program.
Sacred Heart, which went 15-18-4 last winter under head coach C.J. Marottolo, returns its top seven scorers and 80 of the 95 goals scored in 2021-22. The new roster includes 15 forwards, 11 blueliners and four goalies, as well as players from eight states and four countries. This week's AHA pre-season poll had SHU as the No. 2 squad.
The Pioneers, who play an exhibition game against Western Ontario on Oct. 2 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, only played nine home games a year ago, while the team will host 17 this season. Eight games will be played in the Martire Family Arena in the new year. The Atlantic Hockey Association slate begins on October 13 against Holy Cross, and other highlights of the new season include a contest at Cornell on Nov. 22, a game against Northeastern (Dec. 6) and the annual CT Ice Tournament (Jan. 27-28) hosted by Quinnipiac.
Here is a brief positional outlook for the 2022-23 Pioneers.
FORWARDS
SHU outshot its opponents 30.9-27.1 a season ago with a strong offensive presence from the Pioneers' top line. Junior Neil Shea, one of three players picked as pre-season conference player of the year, is the top returning scorer and AHA co-scoring champion with 11 goals and 20 points last winter, while senior captain Braeden Tuck added 12-15-27.
DEFENSE
The Pioneers held the opposition to 2.7 goals per game, but the SHU defense could also put points on the board. Logan Britt, who made the pre-season All-AHA team, and Conner Hutchison led all blueliners on the team with a combined 13-17-20; sophomore Hunter Sansbury added 10 assists from the defense last season while senior Patrick Dawson recorded 2-3-5 last winter.
GOALIE
Sacred Heart had a pair of three-game win streaks in 2021-22 while the Pioneer got strong net minding from Justin Robbins. Two of four players who saw action last year are back. Robbins (2.38, .909) was in net for 29 games with 26 starts. Senior Luke Lush (2.37, .925) appeared in six games and started three contests, while Jack O'Dea returns to the team after serving as a backup a season ago. First-year Brandon Milberg joins the roster after playing for the Wichita Warriors in Iowa.
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