Click here for full game notes
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Coming off a weekend sweep of Atlantic Hockey opponents American International College and Army, Union heads west to take on Western Michigan of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Dutchmen are 7-1-1 in nine non-conference games this season, and 5-6-2 in games against CCHA teams in eight seasons with Nate Leaman as head coach. This will mark the first ever meeting between Union and Western Michigan.
Last Saturday against Army, freshman forward
Daniel Carr recorded his first career hat trick, and redshirt junior forward
Luke Cain scored twice as Union scored a season-high six power play goals in nine chances en route to a 6-2 win in front of 1,416 fans at Messa Rink. Freshman defenseman
Mat Bodie recorded a career high four points (one goal, three assists), and sophomore goaltender
Keith Kinkaid made 16 saves for his ninth win of the season.
Coach Leaman Just One Win Away From School Record
After taking over a program that finished 14-18-4 in 2002-03, head coach Nate Leaman has worked his way to a plus-.500 record through eight seasons. Entering tonight's contest, Leaman has a career 122-120-33 record, which ranks tops among Union Division I coaches. In his last three-plus seasons (including this year), Leaman has posted a 65-46-18 record. With the win against Army last Saturday, Leaman tied the school wins mark held by Charlie Morrison (1978-88) who posted a career record of 122-146-9.
Dutchmen Notch Season Hat Trick Total to Four
After recording four hat tricks in five seasons (187 games) from 2005-06 to 2009-10, the Dutchmen have four hat tricks in 16 games this season. On Saturday against Army, freshman forward
Daniel Carr scored three goals, one day after sophomore forward
Jeremy Welsh recorded his first career hat trick against AIC. Freshman forward
Josh Jooris scored three goals in his season debut on Oct. 8 against Sacred Heart and junior forward
Kelly Zajac became the first Union student-athlete in the Division I era to record four goals in a game on Oct. 9, also against Sacred Heart.
Union's Ties to Western Michigan
Union and Western Michigan student-athletes have a few junior hockey ties. Freshman goaltender
Troy Grosenick was a junior hockey teammate with Western Michigan sophomore defenseman Matt Tennyson during the 2008-09 season on the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders of the United States Hockey League.Junior defenseman
Nolan Julseth-White was a junior hockey teammate of Western Michigan sophomore forward Trevor Elias for two seasons (2006-07 and 2007-08) on the Langley Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League
.
Scouting Western Michigan
Picked to finish 10th out of 11 teams in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), Western Michigan has been one of the biggest suprises in college hockey this season. Under first year head coach Jeff Blashill, the Broncos have gotten off to a great start at 8-6-4 (4-5-3-2 CCHA). Western Michigan has been ranked as high as No. 16 in the USCHO.com poll this season. The Broncos are 3-2-1 agaainst nationally-ranked opponents this season, with two wins against Michigan State, and a win against Miami (OH), all at Lawson Arena
Much of the Broncos success can be attributed to its stingy defense and solid goaltending. Western Michigan has allows just 2.61 goals per game (22nd in the nation) and have held opponents to two goals or less in eight games this season. Leading the way for the Broncos backline is defenseman Luke Witkowski, a sixth round pick of the Tampa Bay Lighting in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Between the pipes for the Broncos is Quinnipiac transfer Nick Pisellini, who ranks 24th in the nation with a 2.38 goals against average.
On offense, the Broncos are led by forward Max Campbell, a fifth round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Campbell leads the team with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) on the season. Campbell had a goal and an assist in Western Michigan's 4-1 win against Lake Superior St. last Saturday.
The Broncos have the CCHA's third best power play unit at 18.7%. They have scored a power play goal in each of their last six games. The penalty kill unit is ranked 30th in the nation at 82.3%. The Broncos do well to stay out of the penalty box, ranking fourth in the CCHA with an average of 13.4 penalty minutes per game.
Union Against CCHA Opponents
Under head coach Nate Leaman, Union is 5-6-2 against opponents from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Union has played a CCHA opponent every year during Leaman's tenure. Earlier in the season on Oct. 16, Union dropped a 2-1 decision at Alaska-Fairbanks in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush.
Union's last win against a CCHA opponent came on Oct. 13, 2007, when the Dutchmen completed a weekend sweep of Ferris State with a 4-1 victory at Messa Rink. This weekend's series will mark Union's first trip to the state of Michigan since a two-game set at Ferris State on Oct. 6 and 7, 2006.
A Familiar Face in Net
When Union takes on Western Michigan this weekend, they will most likely see a familiar face starting in net for the Broncos.
Sophomore goaltender Nick Pisellini, a Quinnipiac transfer, has started 14 of 16 games for Western Michigan. Union faced Quinnipiac with Pisellini in net during the 2008-09 season. On Nov. 14, 2008, Pisselini made 32 saves, including 20 in the third period to help Quinnipiac defeat Union, 6-3.
Western Michigan's Last Time Out
After trailing by a goal after two periods, Western Michigan University's hockey team exploded for four third period goals to defeat Lake Superior State 4-1 in front of 2,706 at Lawson Arena on Saturday, Dec. 10.
After trailing 1-0 entering the final stanza, the Broncos fought back with third period goals from Mike Levendusky, Dane Walters, Max Campbell and Ben Warda to earn the weekend split with Lakers and improve to 8-6-4 overall and 4-5-3-2 in CCHA play.
WMU netminder Jerry Kuhn turned away 28 Laker shots to earn his first-career CCHA win and first win of the season. The Broncos outshot the Lakers in every period, holding a 39-29 advantage overall.
