Sunday, November 09, 2025
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Friar Coach Nate Leaman PHOTO: PC, file
The Providence College Hockey Friars (#15 ranked) played some of their most consistent hockey of the season in a home-and-home weekend series against the UCONN Huskies (#11).
The Friars played their best game of the season on Friday night, dominating the Huskies 4-1 in Storrs. PC almost had a weekend sweep, but UCONN, trailing 2-1 in the Saturday game at Schneider Arena, scored the tying goal at 18:35 in the third period to even the score at 2-2. Neither team scored in the 5-minute overtime period, but the Huskies won the shootout 1-0 to gain an extra point on the season.
Prior to the weekend series against UCONN, the Friars had been struggling with a 3-3-1 record. In the first seven games, the Friars gave up six short-handed goals, the most in Division One hockey. This was unheard of in the Nate Leaman coaching era. The short-handed goals deprived PC of a tie against Michigan and a win against St. Thomas.
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Equally troublesome for the Friars before the UCONN series was the play of senior net minder Phil Svedeback. The normally reliable goalie and Bruins draft pick had looked shaky all season giving up 3 goals per game with a modest .893 save percentage.
The Friars were a different hockey team against UCONN. In the 4-1 win over the Huskies in Storrs, Logan Sawyer scored two goals, freshman Alex Rybakov scored his first goal of his college career, and Tanner Adams scored the final goal on a penalty shot.
Going in on a breakaway, Adams was tripped by a UCONN player and was awarded a penalty shot at 13:57 of the third period. His goal was blasted over the UCONN John Muselik’s shoulder, hit the crossbar, and landed in the goal for PC’s 4th goal. It was the first successful penalty shot goal for a PC player since 2015.
Svedeback was back to his normal self all weekend. In the 4-1 PC win the Friar goaltender stopped 37 of UCONN’s 38 shots for an excellent .974 save percentage.
In the Saturday night game, PC continued its improved skating, forechecking, and defense, and looked like it might sweep the Huskies, leading 2-0 in the third period with goals from Kale McCallum and John Mustard, who leads the Friars with 6 goals on the season. But the Huskies, even though outshot by PC 39-27 in regulation, got on the scoreboard with a goal at 6:18 of the third period. UCONN pulled their goalie with 1:59 to play and scored the equalizer with an extra attacker at 18:35.
The OT produced no goals, and the game will go down as a 2-2 tie. The Huskies gain an extra point in Hockey East standings by winning the shootout.
The Friars have to feel good about the weekend: PC got a win and a tie against a very good Connecticut team; PC allowed no short-handed goals; and Phil Svedeback allowed only 3 goals in regulation over the two games; and Svedeback has an overall save percentage of .953.
The 4-3-2 Friars return to Hockey East play this coming Friday, November 14th, against the 3-5 Merrimack College team. Puck drop at Schneider on Pink Out night is 7 PM.
Bob McMahon is the former Director of Parks in the City of Providence and a lifelong Providence College Friar fan.
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