| Current: | 2022–23 Connecticut Huskies women's ice hockey season |
| Team Name: | UConn Huskies |
| Team Link: | |
| University: | University of Connecticut |
| Sex: | women's |
| Conference: | Hockey East |
| Conference Short: | Hockey East |
| Location: | Storrs, Connecticut |
| Coach: | Chris MacKenzie |
| Arena: | Toscano Family Ice Forum |
| Fight Song: | "UConn Husky" |
| Ncaatourneys: | 2024 |
| Conference Tournament: | Hockey East: 2024 |
| Conference Season: | Hockey East: 2024 |
The UConn Huskies women's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Connecticut. The Huskies compete in the Hockey East conference. The Huskies play in the Toscano Family Ice Forum.
The UConn Huskies women's ice hockey team began in 2000, under head coach Heather Linstad, in the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. In its first season, the team played as an independent team. In the 2001–02 season, the team joined the ECAC Hockey women's conference. Since the 2002–03 season, they have participated in the Hockey East (HEA), also known as the Women's Hockey East Association (WHEA), conference.
Forward Jaclyn Hawkins, who played during 2004 to 2007, is ranked 10th in career goals in the WHEA. She scored 51 goals and 43 assists in 81 games.[1] In 2006, she tied an NCAA record for 3 power play goals in a single game, setting the Hockey East record for that feat.[2]
A 1–0 shutout by Connecticut on November 13, 2010, ended the New Hampshire Wildcats’ 17-game unbeaten streak against the Huskies. The Huskies penalty kill was a perfect 6-of-6 on the weekend. The shutout marked the first time the Wildcats were shut out at home since November 28, 2004 (by the Mercyhurst Lakers), a streak of 109 consecutive home games.[3]
The Huskies played an outdoor game against the Providence Friars at Rentschler Field on February 13, 2011, as part of the Whalers Hockey Fest.[4]
After thirteen seasons as head coach, Heather Linstad left in 2013. Chris MacKenzie became head coach in May 2013.
Netminder Elaine Chuli holds the Hockey East record for all-time career saves, which she set in 2015–16 season with the Huskies.[5]
The 2017–18 season was the most dramatic in the history of women's ice hockey at UConn. The team was in last place at the end of January, but turned the season around. They upset the Boston College Eagles, ranked number 3, in the semi-finals of the Hockey East tournament, and went on to play in the league championship game. They lost in a close game to Northeastern Huskies, by a score of 2–1.[6] Senior goalie, Annie Bélanger, was selected as the Hockey East Goalie of the Year, and named to the Hockey East All-Star First Team.
In the 2019–20 season, the Huskies finished 5th in the league. They defeated Boston College in the quarterfinals, winning the third and deciding game 2–1. They went on to defeat the New Hampshire Wildcats 4–0 in the semi-finals to advance to the final against the Northeastern Huskies.[7] They were defeated in the championship game by a score of 9–1.[8]
In 2023, the Huskies moved to the new Toscano Family Ice Forum, adjacent to the Ice Forum. The 2,600-seat facility also hosts the UConn men's hockey team.[9]
During the 2023–24 season, the Huskies posted a program best 25–8–5 record, and won their first Hockey East regular season championship in program history.[10] The Huskies also won the Hockey East tournament and advanced to the NCAA women's ice hockey tournament for the first time in program history.[11]
| Won Championship | Lost Championship | Conference Champions | League Leader |
| Year | Coach | W | L | T | Conference | Conf. W | Conf. L | Conf. T | Finish | Conference Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
| 2023–24 | Chris MacKenzie | 25 | 8 | 5 | Hockey East | 19 | 4 | 4 | 1st HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. Holy Cross Won Semifinals vs. Boston College Won Championship vs. Northeastern | Lost First round vs. Minnesota Duluth |
| 2022–23 | Chris MacKenzie | 18 | 13 | 4 | Hockey East | 12 | 11 | 4 | 5th HE | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston College | Did not qualify |
| 2021-22 | Chris MacKenzie | 24 | 9 | 4 | Hockey East | 16 | 7 | 4 | 3rd HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. Boston University Won Semifinals vs. Vermont Lost Championship vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify |
| 2020-21 | Chris MacKenzie | 9 | 10 | 1 | Hockey East | 8 | 9 | 1 | 7th HE | Won Quarterfinal vs. Boston College Lost Semifinals vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify |
| 2019-20 | Chris MacKenzie | 19 | 18 | 2 | Hockey East | 13 | 12 | 2 | 5th HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. Boston College Won Semifinals vs. UNH Lost Championship vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify |
| 2018-19 | Chris MacKenzie | 14 | 18 | 4 | Hockey East | 9 | 14 | 4 | 7th HE | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston College | Did not qualify |
| Chris MacKenzie | 16 | 14 | 9 | Hockey East | 7 | 11 | 6 | 8th HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. Providence Won Semifinals vs. Boston College Lost Championship vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify | |
| Chris MacKenzie | 14 | 18 | 4 | Hockey East | 9 | 13 | 2 | 7th HE | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify | |
| Chris MacKenzie | 17 | 16 | 5 | Hockey East | 11 | 10 | 3 | 4th HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Semifinals vs. Boston College | Did not qualify | |
| Chris MacKenzie | 11 | 18 | 8 | Hockey East | 5 | 11 | 5 | 5th HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. Maine Lost Semifinals vs. Boston College | Did not qualify | |
| 2013–14 | 9 | 24 | 2 | Hockey East | 6 | 14 | 1 | 5th HE | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify | |
| 2012–13 | Heather Linstad | 3 | 29 | 3 | Hockey East | 1 | 19 | 1 | 8th HE | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston University | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | Heather Linstad | 4 | 23 | 7 | Hockey East | 3 | 15 | 3 | 7th HE | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | Heather Linstad | 13 | 19 | 3 | Hockey East | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4th HE | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Northeastern | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | Heather Linstad | 21 | 9 | 7 | Hockey East | 10 | 5 | 6 | 5th HE | Won Quarterfinals vs. Northeastern Won Semifinals vs. Providence Lost Championship vs. Boston University | Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | Heather Linstad | 19 | 12 | 4 | Hockey East | 10 | 8 | 3 | 4th HE | Lost Semifinals vs. Providence | Did not qualify |
| 2007–08 | Heather Linstad | 22 | 8 | 5 | Hockey East | 13 | 5 | 3 | 2nd HE | Lost Semifinals vs. Providence | Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 | Heather Linstad | 17 | 15 | 3 | Hockey East | 12 | 7 | 2 | 4th HE | Lost Semifinals vs. New Hampshire | Did not qualify |
| 2005–06 | Heather Linstad | 12 | 21 | 1 | Hockey East | 10 | 11 | 0 | 5th HE | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004–05 | Heather Linstad | 16 | 12 | 8 | Hockey East | 11 | 5 | 4 | 3rd HE | Won Semifinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Championship vs. Providence | Did not qualify |
| 2003–04 | Heather Linstad | 9 | 19 | 6 | Hockey East | 5 | 11 | 4 | 5th HE | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | Heather Linstad | 11 | 20 | 4 | Hockey East | 3 | 9 | 3 | 4th HE | Lost Semifinals vs. Providence | Did not qualify |
| 2001–02 | Heather Linstad | 11 | 21 | 3 | ECAC Eastern | 7 | 12 | 2 | 6th ECAC E. | Lost Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire | Did not qualify |
| 2000–01 | 3 | 10 | 0 | Independent | Did not qualify |
As of September 27, 2022.[13]
The following players have participated with national teams in international tournaments:
National development (under-22) team
A number of Huskies alumnae have pursued post-collegiate ice hockey careers in elite leagues around the world. In North America, Huskies have played in leagues and organizations including the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL; 1999–2007), the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL; 2007–2019), the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF since 2021; founded in 2015 as NWHL – not related to defunct league of same name), and the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA; founded in 2019). Additionally, many alumnae have played in international leagues including the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL), the German Women's Hockey Liga (DFEL), the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL), the Italian Hockey League Women (IHLW), the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL), and the Zhenskaya Hockey League (ZhHL).
The following list is not exhaustive, please assist by contributing missing content.
| = CWHL All-Star | = PHF All-Star | = Clarkson Cup Champion | = Isobel Cup Champion |