UConn Rallies Past Quinnipiac to Win Second Straight CT Ice Title
NEW HAVEN - For two periods, it looked like the CT Ice Tournament championship was slipping away from UConn. But then came the third - and that’s when the Huskies flipped the script.
Down 2-1 heading into the final frame, UConn stormed back to beat No. 6 Quinnipiac, 4-2, and claim their second consecutive CT Ice title in dramatic fashion.
Jake Percival, the Avon native, delivered the game-winner with just 2:27 left on the clock, and Joey Muldowney sealed the deal with an empty-netter moments later. It marked just the second time all season the Huskies have come back to win after trailing through two periods - the other came against Northeastern.
But this one meant a little more.
Facing Their Demon, and Beating It
Head coach Mike Cavanaugh didn’t shy away from the team’s past struggles in this tournament - especially against Quinnipiac. UConn had lost to the Bobcats three times in previous CT Ice finals, all in tight games that were either tied or close heading into the third. This time, Cavanaugh made sure his team didn’t run from that history - they confronted it.
“We said, ‘We have to face it. That is kind of our demon,’” Cavanaugh said. “And we looked it square in the eye and we were able to overcome that tonight.”
That mindset showed up when it mattered most.
The Game-Winner: Hard Work Pays Off
On the decisive goal, it was all about persistence. Tristan Fraser fired a shot from the top of the right circle that Quinnipiac goalie Matej Marinov stopped, but the rebound bounced loose. Percival was in the right place at the right time, pouncing on the puck and burying it for the go-ahead score.
“It was kind of a culmination of the whole 60 minutes,” Percival said. “We knew we had to stay on them, and we kept forechecking until that rock broke.”
Third-Period Surge
UConn entered the third down a goal, but they didn’t waste time making their move. Just 4:36 into the period, Carlin Dezainde tied it up. Alexandre Blais created the chance, carrying the puck down the slot before sliding it across to Dezainde, who finished from just outside the left post.
That line - Dezainde, Fraser, and Tabor Heaslip - was electric, particularly in the third.
“All year long they have scored some big goals for us,” Cavanaugh said.
And when Quinnipiac tried to push back, UConn goaltender Tyler Muszelik stood tall. He made a pair of critical saves on Chris Pelosi and Ethan Wyttenbach to keep the game tied, giving his team the breathing room they needed to complete the comeback.
“When we had breakdowns, Tyler was there to make big saves,” Cavanaugh said. “If your goaltender can keep them at two, you’re going to win a lot of games.”
Early Momentum, Midgame Setback
Despite being outshot 20-8 in the first period, UConn came out of it with a 1-0 lead thanks to a short-handed goal from captain Tabor Heaslip. After Ryan Tattle was sent off for hooking, Heaslip beat everyone to a loose puck at the blue line and broke in alone on Marinov, finishing low for his sixth goal of the season - and his first shorty. It was only the second short-handed goal Quinnipiac had allowed all year.
But the Bobcats responded in the second. Markus Vidicek tied the game at 13:42, redirecting a Wyttenbach blast from the point past Muszelik. Less than a minute later, Chris Pelosi gave Quinnipiac the lead, getting just enough of a pass from Aaron Schwartz to slip the puck in from the edge of the crease.
Quinnipiac carried that 2-1 edge into the third, but a late second-period penalty opened the door for UConn. Victor Czerneckianair was called for interference with just 1.2 seconds left in the second, giving the Huskies a power play to start the third. Though they didn’t score on the man advantage, it seemed to shift the energy - and UConn never looked back.
Tournament Track Record Rewritten
Saturday’s win was more than just a trophy - it marked a turning point in the rivalry. Quinnipiac had dominated the all-time series, entering the game with a 22-8-2 advantage. They’d also won the first three CT Ice titles before UConn finally broke through last year, beating them in the opening round and going on to win the championship.
This year, both teams returned to the final after convincing semifinal wins - Quinnipiac handled Sacred Heart, 5-1, while UConn took care of Yale, 5-2. The final was a clash between two of the nation’s top 13 teams, with Quinnipiac entering on a tear, having won 14 of their last 15. UConn, meanwhile, came in hot themselves, 7-2-1 in their last 10.
Now, the Huskies sit tied for first in Hockey East with Providence, while Quinnipiac holds a slim lead atop the ECAC standings.
Sacred Heart Takes Consolation Game
In the earlier consolation matchup, Sacred Heart edged Yale, 3-2. Tied 1-1 entering the third, the Pioneers got goals from Ray Fust and Mikey Adamson to take control, then held on for the win.
Felix Trudeau also scored for Sacred Heart, while Donovan Frias and Ronan O’Donnell tallied for Yale. Both goalies - Teagan Kendrick for Sacred Heart and Jack Stark for Yale - finished with 30 saves.
Final Word
Saturday night was a statement from UConn - not just about where they are, but where they’re headed. Beating a top-10 team like Quinnipiac in a championship setting, after trailing through two periods, and exorcising some tournament demons along the way? That’s the kind of win that can define a season.
And if the Huskies keep playing like they did in that third period, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone the rest of the way.