BIG RAPIDS, MI – Behind a career-high 41 saves from junior goaltender Justin Mrazek (Regina, SASK), the Dutchmen opened the 2006-07 season with a 2-0 win at Ferris State.The season-opening shutout victory marks the first for the Dutchmen since a 9-0 exhibition win over Waterloo to start the 1994-95 campaign.

 

Union opened the scoring just under three minutes into the game with a power play goal by sophomore Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, ALB). With a two-man advantage, Josh Coyle (Brooklyn, OH) passed up from just below the left circle to Caffaro who had set up between the circles. Caffaro's shot found the top of the net, just to the right of Ferris State goaltender Mitch O'Keefe (Almonte, ONT).

 

Mike Schreiber (Sherwood Park, ALB) added a goal with 2:44 left in the first period on a shot from the low left. In a rare three-on-three situation, Schreiber carried the puck up the right side of the ice through the neutral zone, passed up to freshman Jason Walters (Renfrew, ONT), who fed the puck back to Schreiber as he crossed the slot.

 

The Bulldogs outshot the Dutchmen 12-2 in the second period, but Mrazek stopped all 12 shotss in the period to preserve the 2-0 lead. He added 17 saves in the third, earning his second career shutout and first career shutout win.  His last shutout came in a 0-0 overtime tie against Princeton on February 26, 2005.

 

Head coach Nate Leaman credits both Mrazek and the Dutchmen defense with the game's outcome, saying, "I thought our defense did a really good job of protecting our net and picking off their centers. Justin played well; he was attacking the puck well and I thought he played with confidence."

 

The Dutchmen (1-0) face Ferris State (0-1) again tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live on WRUC 89.7 and live on the web via Teamline.