There’s no stat that measures how hard a team hits. But if there were, I’m convinced UConn would rank first in Hockey East.
Combine physical play with an all-out work ethic and good talent and you get a Huskies team that has 16 wins -- its most since joining Hockey East -- and is tied for third place heading into the third-to-last weekend of the regular season.
When it was suggested to senior captain Jachym Kondelik this week that the Huskies appear to bully their opponents at times, he agreed.
“It’s funny you say that because that’s kind of our thing going into games. My first year sometimes it would feel like teams were bullying us,’’ he said.
Now it’s the other way around.
“Basically, just try to run (the opponent) out of the building. Show them we can beat you guys with skill or beat you guys with hard work, whatever way you guys want to play. We’re going to match it and try to beat it. I think that’s kind of what our mentality is going into games. I believe that’s what makes us successful.’’
Big body checks and a heavy style of play are all well and good but will take you only so far. Coach Mike Cavanaugh is looking for more — and getting it.
“I don’t just want to be a physical team. I want to be a team also that can make plays and score. I want to be a team that skates and pressures the opponent. As I’ve said to my team, we fight for every inch of the ice.
“You have to have a combination of physicality and also skill. I’d like to think that when we’re playing really well both of those are evident,’’ he said.
Often leading the hit parade for UConn is sophomore winger Nick Capone, who was drafted in the sixth round by Tampa Bay in 2020.
“Obviously his physicality is at an elite level, an NHL level. He’s really, really strong and when he hits you, you know it. That does create room for other guys on the ice. His skill level is better than people give him credit for. As he keeps maturing as a player, I think you’ll see more of that come out,’’ said Cavanaugh.
Kondelik, who is a handful for any opponent at 6-foot-6 and 226 pounds, brings both size and skill. His stature has been an asset throughout his hockey career. As he puts it, “I’ve always been massive.’’
He leads UConn in scoring with 11-15-26 in 27 games. He is three points short of 100 points for his career and has played 117 of 118 games in four seasons. The only game he missed was when he left to play for the Czech Republic in the World Junior Championship as a freshman.
Kondelik came over to North America with the goal of playing college hockey. While with Muskegon of the USHL, his linemate Jordan Timmons was committed to the Huskies.
“I didn’t know much about it, but I just thought they have a logo that I really like. That was my first impression of UConn,’’ said Kondelik. “I had some schools talking to me and Tomas Vomacka,’’ a fellow Czech who played three seasons in Storrs before turning pro with Nashville.
“I liked the vision the coaching staff had for the program, that’s what I really liked about it. That definitely helped my decision,’’ Kondelik said.
Cavanaugh said Kondelik has made good progress in his four years in Storrs.
“He’s always had the size and he’s always had a good skill set. What Jachym has really done is mature as a person on and off the ice. I think he’s realized that his habits off the ice have gotten so much better over four years. His ability to understand that, ‘I’ve got to be a good two-way player’’ – he’s really matured and understood that part of the game. That’s where he’s made the greatest strides,’’ Cavanaugh said.
For the last month or so, Kondelik’s linemates have been Vladislav Firstov, a Minnesota Wild second-rounder, and Kevin O’Neil.
“They’re all pretty skilled players that can play off each other. Vlad’s really improved his game, too, as far as becoming a two-way player and Kevin’s just a hockey player. He’s one of those guys where, I don’t know if he does anything at an elite level, but he does everything really well,’’ said Cavanaugh.
“At the end of the day you’re watching him and saying, ‘Man, he’s making plays all over the ice.’ Defensively, his stick’s in the right position, he gets pucks out of the zone. He just does a lot of little things that hockey players do.’’
Kondelik likes the way his line is playing.
“It’s going great. We have natural chemistry. We have a lot of fun out there. That’s the most important thing for me. You go out there, you laugh a lot, you have fun. That’s why we all started playing hockey. It’s important for me to have fun,’’ he said.
“The whole team is playing great. No one can really play a shutdown game against us. If they’re going to shut us down, we have three more lines that can score.’’
Kondelik, drafted in the fourth round by Nashville in 2018, is looking forward to playing pro hockey, but not just yet.
The goal for him and the Huskies remains the same as it was when the season started — finishing first in Hockey East.
“I talk with (the Predators) quite a lot, but right now it’s important for me to finish strong here. I’m also in school right now so I want to do my job there. Whenever our season is over, then we’ll talk with them about what’s next,’’ he said.
