Official Blog of Union College Hockey

A couple more auction items of note at 2013 Garnet Blades Golf Outing (Not Pictured, Signed Sidney Crosby Jersey!)

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:27:36 -0400

The Union Hockey Class of 2013 poses at the end of the awards...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:58:08 -0400

The Union Hockey Class of 2013 poses at the end of the awards banquet last night.

Video

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:08:39 -0400

Grosenick Statement on Signing NHL Entry-Level Contract with San Jose Sharks

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:08:29 -0400

“I will be finishing my degree by taking additional courses over the summer. I truly value my education and a degree, especially from the great institution that Union College is. I would like to thank Coach Bennett, Coach Dumais, and Coach Beal for their hard work and dedication in making every one of their players not only better athletes, but better people. Of course, I worked most closely with Coach Tapp who has been incredible to helping me develop into the person and player I am today. I’d like to thank Jim McLaughlin and the rest of the athletic office and support staff, Dave Baglio and Cheryl Rockwood for everything they do behind the scenes to support student-athletes. I’d also like to thank every Union professor for their commitment to teaching, they are what make a Union education so special. I’d like to also thank President Ainlay for his support, it is truly a great feeling to see the President of the College sitting in the front row at almost every game. Lastly, and most importantly, I’d like to thank my teammates for being the best group of guys I could ask to play with. They are truly the reason this moment is bittersweet for me. Of course, I’m excited to continue my hockey career, but leaving that locker room is hard because every guy in it is a great teammate and friend.”

Congrats Union Hockey Class of 2013

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:08:17 -0400

95 wins, 3 NCAA Tournament bids, 2 Cleary Cups, 2 Whitelaw Cups, and a trip to the Frozen Four. Thank you Union Hockey class of 2013!

Union’s Morning Skate - Game Day vs. Boston College

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:21:20 -0400

Union’s Morning Skate - Game Day vs. Boston College

NCAA East Regional Semifinal: 3.30.13 Union Line Chart vs. BC

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:27:38 -0400

Head Coach Rick Bennett - Pre-Practice 3.27.13

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:59:53 -0400

Head Coach Rick Bennett - Pre-Practice 3.27.13

Dan Carr - Pre-Practice, 3.27.13

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:49:01 -0400

Dan Carr - Pre-Practice, 3.27.13

This Week In Union College Hockey - March 25

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:57:11 -0400

Weekly Storyline

Union Draws Boston College in NCAA Tournament After Winning ECAC Title – Coming off its second straight ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship, the Union College men’s ice hockey team (21-12-5, 10-8-4 ECAC Hockey) earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will take on No. 2 seed Boston College (22-11-4, 15-9-3 Hockey East). Union will travel to the East Regional at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI and will play on Saturday, March 30 at 9:00 p.m.

Saturday’s meeting will mark the first time in the program’s 22-year Division I history that Union and Boston College will meet. The Eagles earned an at-large berth after finishing second in Hockey East. Boston College fell in the Hockey East Semifinals to Boston University, 6-3. The defending national champions will be making their 32nd all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. Boston College has won five national titles in program history (1949, 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012). Union is 1-2-0 against Hockey East opponents this season, including a 4-1 win over Merrimack in the Catamount Cup on Dec. 30.

Must Read/See/Hear Material

USCHO.com: Division I Men’s Poll – March 25

USCHO.com: Three to get ready…

USCHO.com: Grosenick backstops title

USCHO.com: Atlantic City good to Union

College Hockey News: Union Peaks at the Right Time, Earns 2nd Straight ECAC Championship

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Dutchmen draw defending champ BC

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Back-to-back ECAC titles for Union

Albany Times Union: Union headed to NCAAs

Albany Times Union: Union to face champions

Press of Atlantic City: Union beats Brown for second ECAC title in a row

Union Hockey News: Video: Dutchmen hoist the cup

NBC 13: Video: Union Makes it Back-to-Back ECAC Championships

YNN: Video: Union to battle Boston College

CBS 6: Video: Union draws defending champ Boston College

NOTE OF THE WEEK

Union in the NCAA Tournament - 2013 will mark the program’s seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history and third straight in the Division I era. Union has earned an automatic bid to the tournament as ECAC Hockey Tournament champions for the past two seasons.

In 2012, Union earned a trip to the Frozen Four with wins over UMass-Lowell and Michigan State as the No. 1 seed in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Ferris State, 3-1, in the national semifinals.

In 2011, Union earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection but fell 2-0 to eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth in the opening round of the East Regional. The Dutchmen also earned a bid to the Division III NCAA Tournament four times, the last coming in 1989, when Union fell to Babson in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT

Grosenick Continues Run of Solid Play In Net – Junior goaltender Troy Grosenick has been at his best during Union’s six game winning streak, allowing just five goals in five starts during that span. Grosenick is 5-0-0 with a 1.04 goals-against average and .966 save % in his last five games.

Gostisbehere, Bodie, and Carr Named To ECAC All-League Teams - Sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (second team), junior defenseman Mat Bodie (third team) and junior forward Daniel Carr (third team) were each voted onto ECAC Hockey All-Star Teams, as voted by the league coaches. The announcement was made at the ECAC Hockey Awards Ceremony at the Trump Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ on Thursday night.

In ECAC Hockey play, Gostisbehere led all Union defensemen and finished third in the league with 18 points (three goals, 15 assists). Mat Bodie has put up impressive numbers with 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 32 games, fourth among ECAC Hockey defensemen in scoring. Carr led all Union skaters with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 22 ECAC Hockey contests, finishing tied for ninth overall in league scoring.

Carr and Simpson Chase Union’s Career Goals Record - Junior forward Daniel Carr (56 goals) and senior forward Wayne Simpson (56) are both within reach of Mario Valery-Trabucco’s ‘10 career goals record of 59. Simpson moved into second on the school’s scoring list with a goal against Yale in the ECAC Semifinals, and Carr joined him with a goal in Saturday night’s 3-1 win over Brown in the ECAC Championship Game.

Sullivan Continues Second Half Surge – Junior forward Kevin Sullivan has recorded 12 (five goals, seven assists) of his 14 points this season in the last 13 games. Sullivan is Union’s leading scorer in the postseason with six points (two goals, four assists) in four games. Sullivan also recorded two goals in Union’s series-clinching Game 2 win (4-2) over RPI last season in the ECAC Quarterfinals.

Three is the Magic Number - Union’s record when reaching three goals this season is impressive, a testament to the team’s strong defensive unit. Union is 18-0-2 this season when scoring three or more goals, but just 3-12-3 in games where they score two or fewer goals. Since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Union is 42-0-7 when scoring three or more goals in a game.

Barry Melrose mentions Shayne Gostisbehere as a player to watch...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:39:29 -0400

Barry Melrose mentions Shayne Gostisbehere as a player to watch on ESPNU NCAA Selection Show

3.23.13 ECAC Championship Union Line Chart

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:44:09 -0400

3.22.13 ECAC Semifinals Union Line Chart

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:11:49 -0400

Union-Yale Game Watch at Recovery Sports Grill in Rotterdam

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:23:27 -0400

Union Head Coach Rick Bennett talks to YNN before practice on...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:54:55 -0400

Union Head Coach Rick Bennett talks to YNN before practice on Monday.

3.16.13 Union Line Chart ECACH QF Game 2 vs. Dartmouth

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:30:12 -0400

3.15.13 Union Line Chart ECACH QF Game 1 vs. Dartmouth

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:45:21 -0400

Union players and head coach Rick Bennett discuss the...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:43:45 -0400

Union players and head coach Rick Bennett discuss the team’s upcoming ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal series against Dartmouth.

Senior forward Kyle Bodie talks about Union’s playoff...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:56:32 -0400

Senior forward Kyle Bodie talks about Union’s playoff matchup against Dartmouth.

This Week In Union College Hockey - March 11

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:17:51 -0400

Weekly Storyline

Union Set For Dartmouth In ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal Series – No. 20/RV Union (17-12-5, 10-8-4 ECAC Hockey) returns to action this weekend in an ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal series against Dartmouth (15-12-5, 9-9-4). Union, the No. 4 seed, and Dartmouth, the No. 5 seed, will meet for the first time in postseason play. The Big Green is coming off of a first round series win against No. 12 seed Harvard, needing a 6-3 win over the Crimson in a deciding Game 3 on Sunday afternoon to advance past the first round. In that contest, Brad Schierhorn had two goals and an assist, Alex Goodship had three assists and Charles Grant made 28 saves to help Dartmouth earn the victory. Union clinched home ice in the ECAC Hockey playoffs with wins over St. Lawrence and Clarkson on March 1-2 to earn a first round bye for the fourth straight season.

Union is seeking to advance to the ECAC Semifinals for the second consecutive year for the third time in the last four seasons. Dartmouth is seeking its first trip since the 2010-11 season, when the Big Green lost to Cornell (3-0), but earned a 5-3 win over Colgate in the third place game on March 19, 2011.

Must Read/See/Hear Material

USCHO.com: Division I Men’s Poll – March 11

New England Hockey Journal: Union’s Bennett grateful to have tourney bye

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Parting Schotts – Union defenseman Vasaturo’s season might be over

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Dutchmen fought hard for bye

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Kinkaid’s debut a lasting memory

Union Hockey News: ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals Capsules

Union Hockey News: Q&A with retired Union player Mike Ingoldsby

Union Hockey News: Welsh tallies first NHL point

New York Post: Devils switch to Kinkaid too late in loss to Lightning

NewJerseyDevils.com: Kinkaid makes NHL debut (video)

NHL.com: Keith Kinkaid stops Steven Stamkos (video)

CarolinaHurricanes.com: Canes’ Winning Streak Halted By Habs

NOTE OF THE WEEK

Union In ECAC Hockey Postseason Series Play - Union has played 15 ECAC Hockey postseason series since joining the conference in 1991-92 and has won three of them. The Dutchmen won their first ECAC Hockey series in 2008-09, defeating Clarkson in the first round, and have won three of their last five series.

FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT

The Union-Dartmouth Series – In a series that dates back to 1977, the Big Green own a 24-16-7 advantage over the Dutchmen and a 21-15 -7 record in the Division I era. Union is 3-4-3 against Dartmouth in its last 10 games, including a 0-1-1 mark this season. Union’s last win over Dartmouth came on Feb. 17, 2012. The Dutchmen are 8-10-5 all-time against Dartmouth at Messa Rink.

Welsh and Kinkaid Enjoy NHL Success – Former Union Hockey standouts Jeremy Welsh ‘13 and Keith Kinkaid both reached NHL milestones in early March. Welsh, who has seen action at center in five games with Carolina this season, recorded his first NHL assist on March 7 in a 4-2 loss against Montreal. Kinkaid made his first NHL appearance in relief of Johan Hedberg on March 5, stopping 12 of 13 shots, including a Steven Stamkos breakway, in a 5-2 loss against Tampa Bay.

Union Moves Up One Spot to No. 19 in USCHO.com Poll - Men’s ice hockey returned to the USCHO.com rankings at No. 20 last week and moved up one spot this week to No. 19, returning to the poll after falling out of the poll for just the second time this season.

Union, which defeated St. Lawrence and Clarkson on March 1 and 2, checked in at No. 19 in the latest USCHO.com Poll with 122 poll points. Union has been ranked in all but two editions of the poll this season, 21 out of 23 weeks this season.

Dutchmen Hot At Home – Union is 6-0-1 in its last seven home contests, the team’s longest home unbeaten streak since a 9-0-2 stretch late last season.

Three is the Magic Number - Union’s record when reaching three goals this season is impressive, a testament to the team’s strong defensive unit. Union is 14-0-2 this season when scoring three or more goals, but just 3-12-3 in games where they score two or fewer goals. Since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Union is 38-0-7 when scoring three or more goals in a game.