This Week in Union College Hockey - January 14
Weekly Storyline
Union Returns Home, Finally – Union (10-7-4, 4-3-3 ECAC Hockey) returns to Messa Rink for the first time since Dec. 1 to face nationally-ranked Cornell (7-6-2, 3-3-2 ECAC Hockey) and Colgate (11-7-2, 3-4-1 ECAC Hockey) in two key league contests. The Dutchmen wrapped up an eight game stretch away from home with a record of 2-4-2, falling 3-2 to Quinnipiac on Saturday night to conclude the road swing. In that contest, power play goals by Wayne Simpson and Greg Coburn helped Union take a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. The Bobcats rallied for three unanswered goals to earn the victory and a regular season sweep of the Dutchmen. For Union, it’s just the third time in the last four seasons that an ECAC Hockey opponent has swept the regular season series from the Dutchmen (Quinnipiac-2012-13, Brown-2011-12, Harvard-2009-10).
Must Read/See/Hear Material
USCHO.com: Down two goals, Quinnipiac gets three in the third to down Union
Schenectady Daily Gazette: Union wastes opportunity, 3-2
Schenectady Daily Gazette: Gostisbehere back at Union after winning gold medal
Albany Times-Union: Hockey Junior Worlds good as gold
Fox Sports 980: Jan. 10 Slap Schotts – Pierre McGuire and EJ Hradek
Raleigh News & Observer: Fewer questions for Canes, but less time for answers
Union Hockey News: Zajac tallies first AHL goal, assist
NOTE OF THE WEEK
Home Is Where The Heart Is - Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Dutchmen have an impressive record (25-5-7) in their last 37 regular season home games at Messa Rink.
Not including exhibition contests, the Dutchmen are 153-139-46 all-time at home. Union has been even more dominant in ECAC Hockey play at Messa Rink. Over the past two plus seasons, the Dutchmen have compiled a record of 17-4-4 in ECAC Hockey regular season home games.
FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT
Wayne Simpson Joins Union College Century Club – Senior forward Wayne Simpson became the ninth Union player in the Division I era and 22nd Union player all-time to reach 100 career points on Saturday night at Quinnipiac. Simpson reached the milestone with a power play goal in the first period, and added his 101st point with an assist on Greg Coburn’s power play goal. Simpson (50 goals, 51 assists) is the fourth Union player in the last three seasons to reach 100 points, joining former teammates Jeremy Welsh (2011-12), Kelly Zajac (2011-12), and Adam Presizniuk (2010-11).
Nearly Perfect on the PK – Union is in the midst of a dominant stretch of play on the penalty kill. On Dec. 8, the Dutchmen held Yale scoreless in eight power play chances, the team’s best penalty killing effort since March 15, 2009, when Union held Princeton scoreless on nine power play opportunities. Over the last 12 contests, the Dutchmen have allowed just four power play goals, going 48-for-52 on the penalty kill. Union is ranked No. 5 in the nation on the penalty kill at 90.7% (78-for-86) on the season.
That’s a Plus – Union has three players among the top-15 in ECAC Hockey for plus/minus. Senior forward Kyle Bodie is third in ECAC Hockey at +12, while senior forward Wayne Simpson is tied for 10th at +10. Sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is tied for 12th in the league at +9.
Union in ECAC Hockey Play – At 4-3-3 in conference play, Union, the defending Cleary Cup and Whitelaw Cup champions, has continued a run of success in league play over the past three seasons. Union is 16-5-7 in its last 28 league games dating back to Nov. 12, 2011, when the Dutchmen fell 4-0 at home against Yale last season.
Bodie Nears Union Points Record By A Defenseman - Junior defenseman Mat Bodie (72 points) is just 7 points shy of the Union career points record by a defenseman in the Division I era record held by Lane Caffaro ‘09 (79 points). Bodie added an assist on Friday night in a 3-2 win at Princeton to add to his career point total.
