Midnight puck drops and rowdy Cats fans filling the stands at the Lexington Ice Center are back on Friday, Sept. 6, as Kentucky is set to take on the Colorado Buffaloes at home in its season opener.
The men’s hockey team capped off its week-long tryout on Aug. 31 with a Blue vs. White game that saw 18 familiar faces returning to the ice this season.
Amidst those returning are junior captain Marc L’Heureux, who tallied 23 points last season. L’Heureux, Kentucky’s 24th captain in 41 seasons, has compiled over 60 points including 30 goals donning the blue and white.
Back in the cage this season is junior goaltender Riley Allen, who will be looking to reach his 30th career win this season. Allen, the record holder at UK for save percentage, ended with a 10-5-1 record last season, allowing just 2.49 goals per game with a .919 save percentage.
Aside from the guys fans already know and love, the Cats will also see a hefty new class of 19 recruits from 13 different states. This new crew makes up over half of the revamped roster and consists of 11 forwards, five defensemen and three goaltenders.
Head coach Tim Pergram, Kentucky’s second winningest coach of all time, has a consistent history of building winning teams in Lexington. With some key pieces returning, Kentucky hopes to be more than capable of surpassing 20 wins and qualifying for tournament play.
Pergram’s 2023-24 squad managed a 21-9-3 record but it came to an end in the ACHA Division-II Southeast Regional Final at the hands of national runner-up Miami (OH), which defeated Kentucky 3-1.
The Cats kick off their season with a five game home-streak before heading west to face in-state rival Louisville on Sept. 27.
Continuing into October, Kentucky has a pair of games against Miami (OH), national champion Indiana and non-conference powerhouse Liberty, each in just over a three-week span.
It will certainly be a tough test for the guys over the first few months but, regardless, fans are sure to have some entertaining hockey early into the a.m.
Game one against Colorado will begin on Friday*, Sept. 6, from the Lexington Ice Center. Fans should expect to arrive early to ensure they have a spot in the venue as lines begin as early as hours beforehand. The game itself is projected to begin at midnight.
