SCHENECTADY, NY—The Union College men's hockey team welcomes a pair of Atlantic Hockey this weekend, taking RIT and Niagara in its first home games of the season.
HOMECOMING EVENTS
This weekend, Union College hosts its Homecoming & Family Weekend. As part of the celebrations, the Union College men's hockey team's home-opening weekend and against RIT and Niagara will feature several special promotions.
Friday, Oct. 21 – vs. RIT – 7 p.m.
All fans will receive a 2016-17 Union College hockey magnet schedule courtesy of New Country Lexus of Latham.
Saturday, Oct. 22 – vs. Niagara – 4 p.m.
The first 500 fans through the door will receive a 2016-17 Union College schedule poster. Following the game, the Dutchmen will be holding an autograph session on the concourse for all fans.
Shuttle
This season, Union will be again be offering a complimentary pregame shuttle for fans attending home men's hockey games. Fans can park in the campus lot at the corner of Nott Street and Seward Place on game days, where a shuttle will transport individual to Messa Rink beginning 90 minutes before game time. The shuttle will continue to carry fans from the lot to Messa Rink until the end of the first period. The shuttle will be available to transport fans back to their vehicles as they leave Messa Rink.
UNION VS. RIT ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's meeting between Union and RIT will be the first since Oct. 22, 2011. The Dutchmen are 4-0-1 all-time against the Tigers in their Division I era and 2-0-1 at Messa Rink. Union blanked RIT, 5-0, the last time the two teams met. Jeremy Welsh had two goals and an assist and Troy Grosenick made 23 saves for his first career shutout.
UNION VS. NIAGARA ALL-TIME SERIES
Union is 4-0-2 against Niagara in its Division I era and 2-0-1 at Messa Rink. The Dutchmen and the Purple Eagles will be facing each other for the first time since a 3-3 tie at Niagara on Oct. 21, 2011. The last time the two teams met, Greg Coburn scored with 1:16 remaining in the third period to help the then 11th-ranked Dutchmen force overtime.
FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME
Friday's game against RIT marks the latest home opener for the Dutchmen since the 2008-09 season when they hosted the University of Connecticut on Oct. 31, 2008.
IN OUR HOUSE
The Dutchmen are 16-5-4 in home openers in their Division I era and 1-1-3 in home-opening games under head coach
Rick Bennett. Bennett's teams are 45-22-15 (.640) at Messa Rink and 9-5-6 against non-league opponents.
TAYLOR DOUBLING DOWN
Jeff Taylor produced his second multi-point game of the season with a pair of assists against AIC, matching his total from last season. After a career-high four goals, 27 assists and 31 points in 2014-15, Taylor had just two goals and 10 assists in 36 games last season. The Clifton Park, N.Y. native leads the team with four assists and ranks tied for first with five points, placing him tied for fifth among Division I blueliners.
NEXT UP
Union closes out October with a home-and-home series against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) next weekend. The Dutchmen make the short trip to Troy Friday, Oct. 28 before hosting the Engineers on Saturday, Oct. 29. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m.
