Complete Game Notes
POTSDAM, NY - No. 11/13 Union (4-1-3, 1-0-0 ECAC Hockey) opened ECAC Hockey play last night with a 2-0 win over St. Lawrence and will look to complete a North Country sweep tonight against Clarkson (6-1-2, 1-0-0 ECAC Hockey) at Cheel Arena. Union last opened league play with the North Country trip in 2005, when they fell to both St. Lawrence (6-2) and Clarkson (4-1).
Union earned a 4-3 overtime win over Clarkson the last time these two teams met on Feb. 18, 2011, with junior forward Wayne Simpson scoring the game-winner at the 3:48 mark of the extra frame. In the last seven outings against the Golden Knights, Union has posted a 7-0-0 record and outscored Clarkson 42-13. The Golden Knights are coming off of a 4-1 win over Rensselaer last night. Senior forward Corey Tamblyn scored twice and senior goaltender Paul Karpowich made 20 saves in the win.
»Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. The Dutchmen are 21-11-4 in road contests over the past two-plus years, including a current 12-game run (10-1-1) that extends back to the end of the 2010-11 season.
»Zajac Nears Union College Century Club, Assists Record
Senior forward Kelly Zajac is off to a great start this season with two goals and 11 assists in Union's first eight contests. Zajac enters Saturday sixth in the nation with an average of 1.38 assists per game, and now has 99 points (31 goals, 68 assists) for his career. With one more point, Zajac will become the 20th member of the Union College Century Club, and just the seventh student-athlete in the Division I era to accomplish that feat. Zajac is also now in sole possession of fourth place on the school's Division I assist list, and trails Jason Walters '10 (73 assists), Joel Beal '05 (74 assists) and Adam Presizniuk '11 (83 assists).
»Special Teams Success
A continued strength at Union has been the play of its special teams. The Dutchmen have gotten off to another hot start on the power play, which ranks second in the nation at 33.3% (13-for-39). Junior forward Jeremy Welsh leads the nation with five power play goals in eight games. Union's penalty kill unit has been just impressive. Over the past four games, the Dutchmen have killed 26 of the last 27 power play opportunities for their opposition and rank tied for fifth in the nation at 89.7% on the penalty kill. Union is the only team in the nation that currently ranks among the nation's top five on both the power play and penalty kill.
»Grosenick Steady in Net
Sophomore goaltender Troy Grosenick is off to a great start in net for the Dutchmen. Grosenick, who has started seven of eight games in net for Union, is second in the nation in goals-against average (1.27), save percentage (.947), and shutouts (2), through eight games this season.
