GORHAM, Maine – Welcoming alumni, family and Husky fans to campus, the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics will host a number of events as part of the University's Homecoming and Family Weekend October 14-16. 
 
With events on the Gorham campus and in the local community, activities range from music concerts, athletic contests, casino night, and more, and will include festivities for alumni, students, friends, and family. To find a full schedule of University of Southern Maine Homecoming check out: usm.maine.edu/homecoming
 
"Homecoming is a great opportunity to welcome our alumni, family, friends and fans onto campus and celebrate the past, present and future of the University of Southern Maine," said Director of Athletics Al Bean.  "A wonderful and integral tradition within USM Athletics, we are excited and happy to have an opportunity to host and sponsor a number of events throughout the weekend, including athletic contests, our annual Hall of Fame induction, various social gatherings and our professional development series Husky Pack Chats. Any chance to engage with our alumni is a great time, and it is always enjoyable to relive their memories – it is also a chance to apprise alumni, families and friends of the status of the present program, and our goals for the future. I look forward to seeing many former Huskies throughout the weekend."
 
Beginning with an alumni heavy Husky Pack Chat: Mocktail Social & Professional Networking event on Friday, October 14 and concluding with the 36^th Annual Husky Hall of Fame on Sunday, the weekend is full for USM Athletics, including alumni contests, and a new event the Huskies' Athletic Alumni Reunion at 7:00 pm on Saturday, October 15 at the Costello Sports Complex. 

Current Husky student-athletes will be in action during the weekend at Hannaford Field and at the USM Ice Arena.  Men's soccer, and field hockey kick off the action on Saturday with Huskies' men's soccer taking on Rhode Island College at 12 pm.  Field hockey follows at 3:00 pm against UMass Dartmouth.  At 6:00 pm up at the USM Ice Arena, men's ice hockey will host its annual Blue/White Scrimmage providing fans a unique first look at the 2022-23 team. Men's soccer is back in action on Sunday (1:00 pm) against Maine Maritime.
 
Alumni, fans, family and friends are also invited to partake in a variety of social events hosted by the Huskies' Athletic Department and teams.  In addition to the newly created tradition of the Alumni Athletics Social, men's lacrosse welcomes back its alumni for some friendly competition on Friday (6:00 pm) at Hannaford Field, while women's lacrosse invites its alumnae for a Saturday alumna game (6:00 pm). 
 
 
In addition to the games and Athletics Alumni Reunion scheduled for Saturday, Huskies' Athletics will host a pair of naming ceremonies to honor some key figures in University of Southern Maine Athletics history.  At 5:00 pm, the Athletic Healthcare Facility will be renamed the Dusty Drew Athletic Healthcare Facility, and at 5:30 pm the Fitness & Wellness Center will be named the Joey Bouchard Fitness and Wellness Center. Drew was a longtime baseball coach, instructor, athletic trainer and equipment manager at Southern Maine, while Bouchard coached both baseball and soccer but is best known as one of the Huskies' former men's basketball coaches.
 
If running (especially in costume from zombies) is your thing, USM women's cross country, track & field are hosting their third Zombie Run: Two Miles of Terror  on Friday, October 14 (6:30 pm, Kids Run; Zombie Run, 7:00 pm). Hosted at Shaw Cherry Hill Farm in Gorham, there will be prizes for the fastest, best costume and the event will include a Kids' Fun Run prior to the main event. The kid's race is free, while the main event is $10.
 
Friday night's Husky Pack Chat: Mocktail Social & Professional Networking is part of an ongoing series co-authored by the USM Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and USM's Career & Employment Hub. This installment of Husky Pack Chat will feature members of the USM Athletic Department and USM Alumni representing business from the greater Portland area.  Coaches will serve as hosts for the event in which participating students can practice the art of professional networking while engaging with alumni.  Following the networking segment, students will join career-related roundtable discussions with local employers and alumni. 
 
The weekend's athletic festivities conclude with the 36^th Annual Husky Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony. USM Athletics will recognize its Class of 2022 inductees with a celebration at the Sheraton Sable Oaks in South Portland, Maine.  An RSVP and tickets are required for attendance.  Joining the Husky Hall of Fame are former USM standout student-athletes Jamie Everhart '01 (soccer), Samantha Whitman '01 (soccer, hockey, lacrosse), Anthony D'Alfonso '10 (baseball); Dean Dumas '12 (track & field); Erin McNamara '14 (basketball), Sam Dexter '16 (baseball); Peyton Dostie Collins '16 (track & field, field hockey); Daniel Del Gallo '17 (wrestling) and Matt Gerken, long-time Husky Athletic Trainer (1999-2019).