BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – UCONN’s Jachym Konedelik scored what would become the game-winner early in the third period as the UCONN Huskies snapped a seven-game (0-6-1) losing streak to Sacred Heart University (SHU) for a 6-3 win. The pesky Pioneers have been a thorn for UCONN in their non-conference meeting, but in a late Saturday afternoon contest, UCONN got their first win at the XL Center since 2019.
UCONN head coach Mike Cavanaugh was happy with the win but pensive about how it was so close to not going that way.
“They played hard, are a well-coached team, and got some big saves from their goalie.”
GAME WINNER
The game-winning goal with Carter Berger starting the play. Harrison Rees shot the puck which double-deflected off Carter Turnbull and Jonny Evans. Kondelik, a 6’6 Czech Republic native, came around the net and snared a loose puck, and used his large frame to shield SHU defenseman Alex Bates from the loose biscuit behind the net. Kondelik tucked a sweet backhander on the left-side past SHU goalie Josh Benson at 6:05 of the third period.
Scoring a goal in the first game for Konedelik must have been a relief. Last season, he didn’t score until the last game of the regular season against Providence College where he bagged a hat trick.
“That’s why I Iove this team, everybody stands up and contributes,” said Kondelik.
REST OF THE SCORING
UCONN scored two late empty-netters from Yale transfer Kevin O’Neil and the returning, Marc Gatcomb in the last minute of play 16 seconds apart. UCONN plays Boston University in a home-and-home set next weekend starting Friday at the XL Center.
For UCONN, Roman Tverberg, a late-round pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs, played like a first-rounder. He was a difference-maker all afternoon with a goal and two assists and solid hits. He had two early backhand chances on his own off the left-wing side at 2:07 and 4:04 of the third period that help set the table for Kondelik’s goal and helped them pull away from Sacred Heart.
“He was great for us, “said Cavanaugh. “He scored a great first goal for us on a great assist by Huddy (Hudson Schandor). (It was) a good finish. (He) got it off quick. He was physical and one of our best forwards all night.”
TVERBERG REACTION
Tverberg remained humble. “We’ve been working on the power play. We did last year as well. Hudson made a great play. We’ve been practicing being in our spots.”
SHU battled back from three one-goal deficits to tie the game at three. Grad transfer Logan Britt (one of three) saw his play start the tying sequence.
“That was a good win. That was a tough game to win for our team, all the credit goes to Sacred Heart. We’re up 3-1 and they scored two quick ones, but I like how we responded (to it). Jachym’s goals were big for us, and Derion (Hanson) make some big saves for us.”
HANSON
Hanson, a Post-Grad player from Union College made 22 saves against SHU. He opened the eyes of his coach with his play and some early leadership.
“He played well. I’m sure he would like the first goal back. To his credit, he came to the bench and said, ‘That’s on me guys.’ He didn’t shrink after the goal. I like how he responded. He made some big saves for us at the end of the first period.”
The Huskies shuffled the lines late in the second period and got a critical cycle shift that was led by Cassidy Bowes, which broke the SHU logjam.
“We changed things around. We weren’t getting offense from some guys and that’s gonna happen during a season. Tonight, it happened to work out,” Cavanaugh said after putting three seniors, Evans with Kondelik and Turnbull, together.
SHU GOALS
SHU’s Kevin Lombardi scored the team’s second goal tipping Britt’s shot past Hanson. Then, senior Ryan Steele tied the game at three from Rourke Russell. Steele came off the right-wing wall for his tally. Steele is a transfer from Quinnipiac and scored the game-tying goal from the point. His shot went off a skate in front and was backhanded in at 18:18.
Lost in the shuffle were the first two Huskies goals from sophomore Vladislav Firstov (Minnesota). The first was in the opening 65 seconds on the first shot of the game. He took a Ryan Wheeler feed to the right-wing faceoff dot and zipped it by Hanson to the far side. After Britt tied it at one at 5:03 beating Hanson coming off the right point low glove side.
FIRSTOV SCORES
Then Firstov took a lead pass from Tverberg behind the goal line and it banked it in halfway through the second period at 9:30 off of Benson for a 3-1 lead.
Tverberg tallied on a one-timer 16 seconds into a power play in the last minute of the first period.
Benson made a great save on a gorgeous attempt by Artem Shlaine in swiping a pass deep in the SHU end between defenders while Hanson swiped two from Sacred Heart, one from Britt (three shots in the first) and Troy Gonzo, a transfer from Colorado College (NCHC).
