TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State has added another high-profile home game to its inaugural NCAA season, as it will host Connecticut Jan. 5, 2016, head coach Greg Powers announced Thursday.
It will be one of three meetings after the Sun Devils play the Huskies in UConn’s home opener Oct. 16 in Hartford, Connecticut. Arizona State also hosts Connecticut in the Desert Hockey Classic.
“This is a great opportunity for our young team to gain valuable experience against a very good Hockey East program like UConn,” head coach Greg Powers said. “Equally as important, this gives our fans another opportunity to see NCAA Division I Hockey here in the Valley.”
UConn plays in the prestigious Hockey East Association, which includes 2015 national champion Providence and runner-up Boston University. The Huskies finished last season 10-19-7, including wins against Boston College and 2014 national champion Union (N.Y.).
The game against UConn will be the first NCAA home game in ASU history and the first NCAA game in Arizona since Northern Arizona stopped sponsoring hockey in 1985. It will not affect the Desert Hockey Classic played the following weekend which will also features Yale and Michigan Tech.
“That entire week, ending with the Desert Hockey Classic, will be a tremendous and pre-emptive look into the brand of hockey our fans and season-ticket holders will get every home weekend starting in 2016-17,” Powers said.
