BURLINGTON, VT – The no. 6-ranked St. Cloud State men's hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to 12 games with a 4-2 win over Union College in the opening day of the Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamount Cup at Gutterson Field House Friday afternoon. The game marked the first meeting between the two teams.

Gary Houseman struck first for St. Cloud State (11-3-3, 6-3-3 WCHA) when he poked in a rebound from Marty Mjelleli at 14:11 of the first period. Nate Raduns had a chance to extend the Huskies' lead at the start of the second period as he carried in the puck, dragging it across the crease before his backhanded attempt was thwarted by Union netminder Justin Mrazek (Regina, SK).

Freshman Mario Valery-Trabucco (Montreal, QC) evened the game at 6:57 of the middle stanza with his ninth goal of the season. Brendan Milnamow (Wilton, CT) took a shot from the blue line which was deflected left across the crease by T.J. Fox (Oswego, NY) before Trabucco flipped a backhander into the open net.

Dan Kronick scooped up his own rebound off the pads of Mrazek and lifted it past the goaltender's glove on the power play to give St. Cloud State the lead again midway through the second period.

Grant Clafton sent a low shot from the point on the power play at 5:19 of the third to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead before Craig Gaudet registered his first career goal with less than five minutes left in the game to put St. Cloud State up, 4-2.

Matt Cook (Belle Mead, NJ) brought the Dutchmen within two at 4-2 at 16:07 of the final period with his sixth goal of the season. Senior captain Sean Streich (Kimberley, BC) cleared the puck up to Jason Walters (Renfrew, ON) who touched it up to Cook as he entered the zone. Cook pulled up at the top of right circle and sent his shot in on the short side.

Shots remained even through the first two periods, but the Huskies held a two-shot advantage in the third to finish the game with a 30-28 lead in shots. Union was held without a power-play tally for the first time in four games, while the Huskies converted two of six opportunities.

Union (7-8-2, 1-5-0 ECACHL) is back in action in the consolation game of the Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamount Cup at 4 p.m. The Dutchmen will face either Rensselaer or Vermont.