This Week In Union College Hockey - February 4
Weekly Storyline
Union Looks To Keep Unbeaten Streak Going In North Country – No. 18 Union men’s hockey (13-8-5, 6-4-4 ECAC Hockey) hopes to extend a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) with games against Clarkson (6-13-7, 5-6-3 ECAC Hockey) and St. Lawrence (12-10-4, 5-5-4 ECAC Hockey) this weekend in the North Country. Union has won nine games in a row against Clarkson and seven in a row against St. Lawrence, both streaks dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Dutchmen are coming off of a 2-2 tie against Dartmouth last Friday night in the first ever nationally-televised contest at Messa Rink. Junior forward Kevin Sullivan and junior defenseman Mat Bodie both scored for Union, which allowed the game-tying goal on the power play with just 4:55 to play in the third period. Union will take on Clarkson on Friday night at Cheel Arena at 7:00 p.m. The Golden Knights recorded a 6-3 win over Cornell at home on Saturday night and are 2-1-2 in their last five games.
Must Read/See/Hear Material
USCHO.com: On big runs, big slides, and big surges
USCHO.com: Division I Men’s Poll – Feb. 4
Schenectady Daily Gazette: Special Teams Fail Dutchmen in 2-2 Tie
Albany Times-Union: Dutchmen can’t hold edge
Fox Sports 980: SlapSchotts 1/31 – Guest NBC Sports Executive Producer Sam Flood
GoCheckers.com: Checkers Get Late Winner in OT
Union Hockey News: ECAC Hockey Power Rankings
Union Hockey News: Union, Dartmouth skate to 2-2 tie
NOTE OF THE WEEK
Coburn Among Nation’s Top D-Men - Senior defenseman Greg Coburn is enjoying his best season in a Union uniform as one of the team’s top offensive options on the blue line. Coburn is third on the team with 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists), and leads the team with five power play goals.
He has already surpassed his previous single-season high for points (16) and is tied for sixth in the nation in points per game by a defenseman (0.81).
FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT
Union’s Stellar Special Teams - The Dutchmen are off to a solid start in special teams play, bettering impressive numbers from a season ago. Through 26 games, Union is 94-for-105 (89.5%, 5th NCAA) on the penalty kill and 32-for-123 (26.0%, 2nd NCAA) on the power play. Union is the only team in the nation to have top-5 power play and penalty kill units.
Road Warriors - Union has established itself as one of college hockey’s toughest road teams over the past two seasons. Union is 17-10-6 in true road contests since the start of the 2011-12 season.
The Dutchmen are 15-4-4 in their last 23 ECAC Hockey road contests, dating back to the end of the 2010-11 season. Union will play 20 contests away from Messa Rink during the 2012-13 regular season, including a just-concluded season-long eight game stretch from Dec. 7-Jan. 12.
Mat Bodie Nears Career Points Record - After notching a goal against Dartmouth on Friday, junior defenseman Mat Bodie (77 points) is just 2 points shy of the Union career points record by a defenseman in the Division I era record held by Lane Caffaro ‘09 (79 points).
Leaders In League Play - Union’s senior leaders have played their best hockey in ECAC Hockey play so far this season. Through 14 league games, senior Greg Coburn leads all ECAC Hockey defensemen in scoring with 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists), while sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is third with 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists). Senior forward Wayne Simpson is tied for fourth with 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) on the power play, and senior forward Kyle Bodie is tied for eighth with Gostisbehere with 9 assists.
Union in ECAC Hockey – At 6-4-4 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 18-6-8 in its last 32 league games dating back to Nov. 12, 2011, when the Dutchmen fell 4-0 at home against Yale last season.
