SCHENECTADY, NY - The Union College men's ice hockey team opens the 2012-13 season at home on Oct. 6 at 7:00 p.m. against Merrimack in the first of two meetings this season against the Warriors. Tonight, Union will salute the accomplishments of the 2011-12 team one final time, as four banners commemorating last season (Cleary Cup Championship, Whitelaw Cup Championship, NCAA Tournament, Frozen Four), will be raised to the rafters of Messa Rink.

Last season, in Rick Bennett's first year as head coach, Union (26-8-7, 14-4-4 ECAC Hockey) navigated a demanding schedule to earn its second consecutive Cleary Cup, and first ever Whitelaw Cup as ECAC Hockey regular season and tournament champions. Union earned a trip to the Frozen Four with wins over UMass-Lowell and Michigan State in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Ferris State, 3-1, in the national semifinals. The Dutchmen concluded the season as the No. 3 team in the nation, setting a new standard for the program. Union returns 22 letterwinners from a team that led the nation in scoring defense (1.83 goals allowed per game), finished sixth in scoring offense (3.49 goals per game), and had the nation's No. 4 power play (24.2%) and No. 12 penalty kill (84.5%).

»Opening Night Success
Since the 2000 season, Union is 9-3-0 in season-openers, with a 5-0 mark in contests at Messa Rink. All-time in the school's Division I history, the team is 11-10-0 in season opening contests, with a 6-3-0 mark in home contests. Union has opened the season once before against Merrimack, on Nov. 1, 1991. That contest was Union's first ever at the Division I level, and the Dutchmen fell 9-6 to the Warriors at Messa Rink.

»Mat Bodie Named Captain at Media Day
Junior defenseman Mat Bodie will serve as captain for the 2012-13 season, head coach Rick Bennett announced on Monday during the team's annual media day. Bennett also announced that senior forward Kyle Bodie and senior defenseman Greg Coburn will serve as assistant captains, wearing the "A" throughout the season. Mat Bodie has played in 79 games, recording 14 goals and 47 assists in two seasons at Union. He earned AHCA Second-Team All-American honors in 2012, becoming the second Union defenseman to be named an All-American in program history and the first since Jack Rankin (1977). Kyle Bodie is coming off of a breakout campaign in 2011-12, recording a career high 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) in 38 games to finish fifth on the team in scoring. Coburn, one of Union's most experienced defenseman, has seen action in 113 games in three seasons, recording 12 goals and 32 assists. In 2011-12, Coburn led the team and finished fourth in ECAC Hockey with a plus/minus rating of +19.

»Home Is Where The Heart Is
Over the past two seasons, the Dutchmen have an impressive record (22-3-6) in their last 31 regular season home games at Messa Rink. Not including exhibition contests, the Dutchmen are 150-137-45 all-time at home. 

 »Scouting Merrimack
Top Returning Players: Jr. F Mike Collins (10 goals, 15 assists), Jr. D Jordan Heywood (4 goals, 15 assists), Jr. F Shawn Bates (6 goals, 11 assists) Sr. D Kyle Bigos (4 goals, 13 assists).

Top Departing Players: Sr. F Ryan Flanagan (11 goals, 18 assists), Sr. F. Jesse Todd (12 goals, 15 assists), Sr. G Joe Cannata (17-12-7, 2.17 GAA, .925 Save %) Sr. D Karl Stollery (7 goals, 14 assists), Sr. F Jeff Velleca (10 goals, 9 assists)

The Warriors, who narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament in 2011-12, lost four of its top five scorers and the best goaltender in program history in Joe Cannata.

Merrimack returns 20 letterwinners, and will be led by Haywood, the team captain who played in all 37 games for the Warriors in 2011-12.

While younger players will step into new roles, head coach Mark Dennehy (8th season) has helped guide Merrimack to top-5 finishes in Hockey East in each of the past two seasons.

Merrimack was picked to finish eighth in the 2012-13 Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll.

»The Union-Merrimack Series
The Union-Merrimack series dates back to 1976, although the two teams met for the first time since 2004 last season, on Dec. 17, 2011, a 3-1 Union win at Lawler Arena.

Merrimack has a 19-7-3 all-time record against Union, including an 8-4-2 mark in the DI era. The Dutchmen are unbeaten in their last four games against Merrimack (2-0-2)

Union's first game in the Division I era took place against Merrimack on Nov. 1, 1991, a 9-6 loss at Messa Rink.

Union will play Merrimack again this season in the Catamount Cup on Dec. 30 at Gutterson Field House at the University of Vermont.

»Last Meeting
Shayne Gostisbehere scored the go-ahead power play goal at 15:06 of the second period to help lead Union to a 3-1 win over Merrimack in front of 2,489 fans at Lawler Arena on Dec. 17, 2011. With the win, Union extended its unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2) and recorded its first win against a top 5 opponent since a 3-2 win over No. 1 Yale on Jan. 28, 2011 at Messa Rink.

Kelly Zajac sealed the win with an empty net goal in the third period and Daniel Carr added a power play goal in the first period for the Dutchmen, who finished the night 2-for-7 on the man advantage. The Dutchmen were 5-of-5 on the penalty kill.

Troy Grosenick made 19 saves, while Merrimack goaltender Joe Cannata stopped 31 shots in net for the Warriors, who were outshot 34-20 on the night by Union.

»Union Against Hockey East
Tonight will mark Union's first home game against a Hockey East opponent since Dec. 29, 2009, when the Dutchmen dropped a 4-3 decision to Massachusetts at Messa Rink. Union went 2-1 against Hockey East teams in 2011-12. Union will play three games against Hockey East teams in 2012-13, including games against Vermont and Merrimack in the Catamount Cup on Dec. 29-30. Union is 31-76-9 all-time against Hockey East competition.