SCHENECTADY, NY--The 20th-ranked Union College men's hockey team returns to ECAC Hockey competition this weekend when it welcomes No. 16 Yale and Brown.
LAST TIME OUT
Union scored two goals in the final 3:16, but it could not overcome a three-goal third-period deficit, as it fell 6-4 against Holy Cross on Tuesday night, snapping its six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1). Sophomore
Sebastian Vidmar produced his second career two-goal game and
Spencer Foo had a goal and an assist. First-year forward
Anthony Rinaldi netted his second career goal to round out the scoring and
Jeff Taylor had a pair of assists. In goal,
Jake Kupsky made 29 saves.
UNION VS. YALE ALL-TIME SERIES
Union is 23-25-4 against Yale in its Division I era. The teams split the regular season series in 2015-16 season, each registering a win on the road. Union picked up a 2-1 win at then 11th-ranked Yale on Jan. 29, 2016 Â in the last meeting between the two teams.
Brendan Taylor netted his first career game-winning goal in the victory and
Spencer Foo also scored.
Alex Sakellaropoulos made 31 saves in the win.
UNION VS. BROWN ALL-TIME SERIES
Union is 16-22-11 against Brown in its Division I era. The Dutchmen were 0-1-1 against the Bears in 2015-16, losing 3-2 at home in overtime and playing to a 2-2 tie on the road.
J.C. Brassard and
Brett Supinski each scored in the Jan. 30 draw. Union's last win against the Bears was a 7-1 rout at Brown on Dec. 5, 2014.
SCOUTING YALE
Yale opened 2016-17 with a 4-1 win at Sacred Heart last Saturday. Four different players scored for the Bulldogs in the win, while 2015-16 ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year Joe Snively and Mike Doherty each had a pair of assists. In goal, Patrick Spano made 23 saves. Last season, the Bulldogs went 19-9-4 overall and 14-5-3 in ECAC Hockey, winning their seventh Ivy League title and advancing the NCAA East Regional Final.Â
SCOUTING BROWN
Brown was outscored 9-0 last weekend in its first two games of the season, falling 3-0 at Holy Cross and 6-0 at Providence. Last season, the Bears posted an overall record of 5-19-7 overall, going 3-13-6 in ECAC Hockey. Sophomore forward Tommy Marchin and sophomore defenseman Max Gottlieb will look to find the same form as last season, which saw them both earn All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team honors. Brown head coach Brendan Whittet is in his ninth season with the Bears and holds a 72-126-33 overall record. Â Brown opens ECAC Hockey play at Rensselaer on Friday.Â
VECCHIONE EARNS MONTHLY HONORS
Mike Vecchione was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Month and the Hockey Commisionners' Association Player of the Month for October. Vecchione who became the first Dutchmen to receive HCA Player of the Month honors since Daniel Ciampini '15 won in February of 2015, finished the month as the Division I leader in goals (10) and multi-point games (5), sharing top honors first in both points (16) and points per game (2.00), and ranking tied for second in power-play goals (4), second in face-off wins (134) and tied for fourth in plus/minus (8).Â
SAKELLAROPOULOS NAMED ECAC HOCKEY GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Sakellaropoulos, who earns Goaltender of the Week honors for the first time in his career, backstopped the Dutchmen to a weekend sweep of crosstown rival Rensselaer, stopping 55 of 58 shots. Â The Tinley Park, Ill. native made a season-high 32 saves in a 4-1 at Rensselaer on Friday and turned away 23 shots in a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday, including 11 in the third period, to improve to 5-0-0 on the season.
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