The Forecheck: Andrew Lucas on pace to set records from the blue line this season
The Vermont transfer is already establishing himself as one of UConn's best offensive defensemen ever.
Welcome to the UConn Hockey Hub newsletter, which catches you up on all the stories, trends, and anything else you might have missed, along with some quick takes and leftover notes from the weekend.
One big thing
Andrew Lucas is just 13 games into his UConn career and he’s already established himself as one of the best offensive defensemen in the program’s Hockey East Era. He leads the team with 11 assists while his 12 points rank second. The latter is a mark only eight other blue-liners have ever reached in an entire season for the Huskies since 2014.
There have even been three seasons where UConn didn’t even have a defenseman reach 12 points on the season — 2020-21, 2018-19, and 2014-15. Joe Masonius did it three times (21 points in 2015-16, 13 points in ‘16-17, 16 points in ‘17-18) while Johnny Austin (19 points in 2018-19), Derek Pratt (12 points in 2018-19), Wyatt Newpower (22 points in 2019-20), Harrison Rees (13 points in 2021-22), and John Spetz (18 points in 2021-22) all did it just once.
Newpower’s 22 points are the top mark by any UConn defenseman in Hockey East but Lucas is primed to obliterate that record. Assuming he stays healthy and the Huskies play 37 games (34 regular season contests plus three in the postseason), the junior is on pace for 34 points.
Lucas isn’t just off to a hot start or is being boosted by one big game, either. He’s recorded at least a point in nine of 13 games but doesn’t have more than two in any single contest. Lucas has been a steady producer from the blue line all season long.
Not only is he coming for UConn’s record books, but Lucas is also setting some new personal records. His 11 assists are already a career-high and he needs just four more points to surpass his previous best of 15, which he set as a freshman at Vermont.
Early in the year, Mike Cavanaugh said it was “no question” that Lucas is the most skilled defenseman that the coach has had at UConn. The more games we see, the more that makes sense.
Week in review
From the UConn Hockey Hub:
No. 7 UConn earns valuable points in chaotic, physical tie with No. 9 Providence
"There was no panic at all": UConn mounts two comebacks in all-timer vs. Providence
From The UConn Blog:
No. 7 UConn men’s hockey defeats No. 9 Providence in a shootout
No. 7 UConn men’s hockey plays to wild tie with No. 9 Providence
Photo gallery: Providence Friars at UConn Huskies men’s hockey
Last week’s Forecheck:
Three stars
First star: Ryan Tverberg
Tverberg didn’t have the best numbers but he came through in the biggest moments. His goal at the end of the first period on Saturday helped spark UConn’s three-goal comeback and the game-tying score with 4.8 seconds speaks for itself. Tverberg should be a Hobey Baker candidate — not just a nominee — this season.
Second star: Samu Salminen
Not only did Salminen score his first collegiate goal on Saturday, but he’s also the main reason UConn came away with two extra points in the shootout. He scored the lone goal during the tie-breaker on Friday and then kept the Huskies alive in round three on Saturday.
Third star: Logan Terness
There are plenty of candidates for the third star, but Terness gets it for another standout performance on Friday night. He stopped 35 shots and turned away all three chances in the shootout to help UConn claim two of three points. Terness continues to play at an elite level as his 1.25 goals against average ranks third nationally and his .954 save percentage ranks second.
Play of the Week
Ice-cold capture
Best of social media
The team that can’t be killed:
Big honor for a UConn commit:
Really cool moment for Tage Thompson:
