UConn to host CT Ice at XL Center

UConn men’s hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh wanted Connecticut Ice at his big home barn, and at least next year, he’s going to get it.

The Huskies’ seasonticket renewal pitch for next season says that the school will host the tournament’s fourth go-round at the XL Center on Jan. 26-27, 2024. Those who renew season tickets can receive tickets for the tournament at a reduced price.

The long-awaited tournament, pitting the state’s four Division I men’s programs in a two-day, fourgame event, began at Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena in 2020 and, after a year off amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022. The crowds only a little more than half-filled the 8,500-seat arena in 2020 and, with a winter storm holding them back, appeared smaller in 2022.

This year’s tournament moved to Quinnipiac’s M&T Bank Arena, and the Bobcats won for the second year in a row, defeating UConn in the final after Sacred Heart beat Yale in the consolation game.

Both days, Cavanaugh praised Quinnipiac but pitched playing the tournament in Hartford.

“Personally at some point, eventually, I’d like to see it at a neutral site. I’d like to maybe see the XL Center,” he said after his game on the first day. “I think it’d be a great venue for all four teams. That’s my personal feeling, that’s where I think the tournament should be played.

“I think we’re pigeonholing ourselves, limiting ourselves if we’re going to play it at UConn, if we’re going to play it here, in 3,000-, 4,000-seat arenas when we could have a crowd, I feel, of 8 to 9,000 at the XL Center if we build this the right way. We had 5,000 there for Long Island on New Year’s Eve. There’s no reason why we can’t get more, a great crowd at the

XL Center.”

UConn’s season-ticket post says the school anticipates playing about a dozen home games on campus and four to six at the XL Center.

Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said after the tournament that he preferred a rotation of campus arenas with an eye toward moving back to bigger buildings down the road. Sacred Heart and UConn opened their new buildings, Martire Family Arena in Fairfield and Toscano Family Ice Forum, a month ago.

“I think it’s great, if UConn is our host for next year,” Pecknold said, “they can do it at the XL or they can do it at the new rink they just built. I’m fine with either. I thought it was really important this year that we get momentum for the tournament. We sold out both nights . ... I think this gives us momentum into next year.”