SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 17 Union (10-7-4, 4-3-3 ECAC Hockey) returns to Messa Rink for the first time since Dec. 1 to face No. 16 Cornell (7-6-2, 3-3-2 ECAC Hockey) and No. 20 Colgate (11-7-2, 3-4-1 ECAC Hockey) in two key league contests. The Dutchmen wrapped up an eight game stretch away from home with a record of 2-4-2, falling 3-2 to Quinnipiac on Saturday night to conclude the road swing. In that contest, power play goals by Wayne Simpson and Greg Coburn helped Union take a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. The Bobcats rallied for three unanswered goals to earn the victory and a regular season sweep of the Dutchmen. For Union, it's just the third time in the last four seasons that an ECAC Hockey opponent has swept the regular season series from the Dutchmen (Quinnipiac-2012-13, Brown-2011-12, Harvard-2009-10).
»The Last Time Out...
Senior forward Wayne Simpson (goal, assist) recorded his 100th and 101st career points, and senior defenseman Greg Coburn added a goal, but No. 16 Union fell 3-2 at No. 5/5 Quinnipiac last Saturday night. Union took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Quinnipiac answered with three goals in the final frame. Union started the third period with over four minutes of power play time, including 3:00 of 5-on-3 time after two major penalties to Travis St. Denis and Connor Jones late in the second period. Quinnipiac goaltender Eric Hartzell (15 saves) made a sliding stop on sophomore forward Max Novak during the Union power play, his best save during the penalty kill to keep the Bobcats within striking distance.
»Home Is Where The Heart Is
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Dutchmen have an impressive record (25-5-7) in their last 37 regular season home games at Messa Rink. Not including exhibition contests, the Dutchmen are 153-139-46 all-time at home. Union has been even more dominant in ECAC Hockey play at Messa Rink. Over the past two plus seasons, the Dutchmen have compiled a record of 17-4-4 in ECAC Hockey regular season home games.
»Wayne Simpson Joins Union College Century Club
Senior forward Wayne Simpson became the ninth Union player in the Division I era and 22nd Union player all-time to reach 100 career points on Saturday night at Quinnipiac. Simpson reached the milestone with a power play goal in the first period, and added his 101st point with an assist on Greg Coburn's power play goal. Simpson (50 goals, 51 assists) is the fourth Union player in the last three seasons to reach 100 points, joining former teammates Jeremy Welsh (2011-12), Kelly Zajac (2011-12), and Adam Presizniuk (2010-11).
»Union Against Ranked Competition
Over the past two seasons, Union is 13-12-5 against ranked competition. This season, the Dutchmen are 1-2-1 against ranked competition including a 6-2 win at No. 13 Harvard on Nov. 9. Dating back to last season, Union is 6-3-1 in its last nine games against teams ranked in either the USCHO.com poll or the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
»Union in ECAC Hockey Play
At 4-3-3 in conference play, Union, the defending Cleary Cup and Whitelaw Cup champions, has continued a run of success in league play over the past three seasons. Union is 16-5-7 in its last 28 league games dating back to Nov. 12, 2011, when the Dutchmen fell 4-0 at home against Yale last season.
»That's a Plus
Union has three players among the top-15 in ECAC Hockey for plus/minus. Senior forward Kyle Bodie is third in ECAC Hockey at +12, while senior forward Wayne Simpson is tied for 10th at +10. Sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is tied for 12th in the league at +9.
»Scouting Cornell
Top Players (2012-13 stats): Sr. F Greg Miller (7 goals, 7 assists), So. F Joel Lowry (6 goals, 5 assists), Sr. D Nick D'Agostino (2 goals, 8 assists), Sr. F John Esposito (7 goals, 2 assists) F So. D Joakim Ryan (9 assists), Jr. G Andy Iles (7-6-2, 2.32 GAA, .913 Save %)
Top Departed Players: Sr. F Sean Collins (13 goals, 13 assists), Sr. D Sean Whitney (2 goals, 9 assists), Sr. D Kier Ross (2 goals, 5 assists)
Synopsis: Cornell returned a loaded squad in 2012-13 with eight of its top nine scorers back from a season ago, as well as a Ken Dryden Award candidate in net in Andy Iles. The Big Red have had an up and down start to the year, and enter the weekend losers of three in a row, including two losses at Denver on Jan. 4-5 in their most recent action. Miller, Cornell's leading scorer a year ago, is off a solid start up front, but the Big Red have lacked scoring depth beyond Miller, Lowry and Esposito. Cornell is 35th in the nation in scoring at 2.53 goals/game. Defensively, Cornell has allowed just as many goals as it has scored at 2.53 goals allowed/game (22nd NCAA). Cornell's power play is ranked 35th in the nation at 15.7%, while its penalty kill is No. 49 in the country at 78.5%.
»The Union-Cornell Series
The two teams first met on Feb. 12, 1928 and Cornell skated away with a 7-4 victory, propelling them to a 6-0-1 record against Union in the first seven meetings. On Feb. 22, 1992, Union earned its first victory over Cornell. The Big Red own the all-time series lead at 30-14-7, and a 25-14-6 Division I record. Union in unbeaten in its last three regular season meetings against Cornell at Messa Rink (1-0-2).
»Scouting Colgate
Top Players (2012-13 stats): Sr. F Robbie Bourdon (7 goals, 12 assists), Fr. F Tylor Spink (6 goals, 13 assists), Fr. F Kyle Baun (10 goals, 7 assists), So. F Joe Wilson (5 goals, 11 assists), Fr. F Tyson Spink (5 goals, 10 assists), So. D Spiro Goulakos (6 goals, 7 assists), Jr. G Eric Mihalik (5-4-1, 2.81 GAA, .894 Save %), Fr. G Spencer Finney (6-3-1, 2.17 GAA, .915 Save %).
Top Departed Players: Sr. F Austin Smith (36 goals, 21 assists), So. F Chris Wagner (17 goals, 34 assists), Sr. F Austin Mayer (8 goals, 15 assists), Sr. D Corbin McPherson (4 goals, 6 assists)
Synopsis: A stellar freshman class has helped Colgate maintain its spot among the top teams in ECAC Hockey. Freshman forwards Tylor Spink, Taylor Spink, and Kyle Baun, junior teammates with the Cornwall Colts, have made an immediate impact up front. Freshman goaltender Spencer Finney has been solid in net, splitting time with Mihalik. Colgate has the No. 3 scoring offense in the nation at 3.60 goals scored/game and enters the weekend on a five-game winning streak. The Dutchmen won all three contests against Colgate last season, including a 6-2 win on March 16 in the ECAC Semifinals in Atlantic City, NJ.
