The Yale men's hockey team opens their season tonight when they host

ECAC rival Brown at Ingalls Rink. First puck drops at 7 p.m. NEW HAVEN—The 2019-20 ECAC hockey season begins Friday night when the Yale Bulldogs host their conference travel partner, the Brown Bears. First puck drops at Ingalls Rink at 7 p.m. This will be the 182nd meeting of the Ancient Eight schools, and is the first of a weekend set with both contests airing live on ESPN+. The series shifts to Providence on Saturday night when the Bears host the Bulldogs at Meehan Auditorium. Saturday’s game will also start at 7 p.m. The 2019-20 ECAC hockey season begins Friday night when the Yale Bulldogs host their conference travel partner, the Brown Bears. First puck drops at Ingalls Rink at 7 p.m. This will be the 182nd meeting of the Ancient Eight schools, and is the first of a weekend set with both contests airing live on ESPN+. The series shifts to Providence on Saturday night when the Bears host the Bulldogs at Meehan Auditorium. Saturday’s game will also start at 7 p.m.





About The Bulldogs





Evan Smith, who chipped in 15 points for a squad that finished 15-15-3 in 2018-19. The Elis have two blueliners this season with Team USA experience. Junior Phil Kemp and sophomore Jack St. Ivany, a pair of NHL draft picks, skated for the silver medal winning U.S. Team at last year’s junior world championships. The Elis also have experience between the pipes. Senior Corbin Kaczperski has 28 career games after recording a 2.47 goals against and a .908 save percentage with an 8-5-2 record last season. Yale has plenty of experience returning to Ingalls Rink this season, which is one reason the ECAC Hockey Coaches have picked the Bulldogs to finish fifth. The Bulldogs return nine of its top 10 point producers from last winter, while six of the eight regulars on defense jump on the ice at the Whale again. One of the forwards is senior captain, who chipped in 15 points for a squad that finished 15-15-3 in 2018-19. The Elis have two blueliners this season with Team USA experience. Juniorand sophomore, a pair of NHL draft picks, skated for the silver medal winning U.S. Team at last year’s junior world championships. The Elis also have experience between the pipes. Seniorhas 28 career games after recording a 2.47 goals against and a .908 save percentage with an 8-5-2 record last season.





About The Bears





Brown, picked seventh by the ECAC coaches, is coming off its most successful campaign in recent years, including ECAC Playoff series wins over Princeton and Quinnipiac before finishing 15-14-5 overall.





About The Series





Yale leads the series 99-74-8 and has won three of the last four meetings between the schools, including a pair of one-goal decisions in 2018-19. This is the second time in three years that Yale and Brown have opened with a home-and-home series.