Union earns big non-conference win at Merrimack
Looking at Union’s schedule before the season, the eight game road gauntlet starting in mid-November to close out 2011 looked like a time we’d find out just how good the Dutchmen would be this season.
Six games into the trip, the Dutchmen are 4-0-2, with two wins against ranked opponents, at Michigan, and a win last night at Merrimack in front of a full house at Lawler Arena. (click here)
Last night’s game had a considerable amount of attention. One of 10 college hockey games this weekend, and the only one in the Boston area, the game was covered by 10 different news outlets and shown on national television. All those that tuned in were impressed by Union’s performance in what was probably the most hostile environment the team has played in to date.
Brion O’Connor of ESPN Boston chronicled the similarities between Union and Merrimack and notes that these teams might meet again in March (click here).
Long time Boston Herald writer John Connolly was on hand to cover the game (click here). Here are game recaps from the Boston Globe (click here), the Eagle Tribune (click here), the Albany Times-Union (click here), USCHO.com (click here), College Hockey News (click here) and Daily Gazette (click here).
Union moved into a tie for 18th in the Pairwise Rankings (click here). While this seems low for a team likely to be ranked in the top 10 of both national polls next week, consider that the Dutchmen have only played six games (2-1-3) against TUCs (teams under consideration), four shy of the minimum 10 for a comparison with other teams in that category. Thus, upcoming games against Denver, Colorado College and Harvard will be important in improving Union’s position in the rankings, which mimic the NCAA’s selection guidelines.
