SCHENECTADY, N.Y.-- The Union College men's ice hockey team returns to Messa this weekend for its final homestand of the regular season, hosting Princeton and top-ranked Quinnipiac. The Dutchmen take on the Tigers at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19, before facing the Bobcats at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20.
SPECIAL EVENTS //WHITEOUT AT MESSAFriday's game against Princeton is Union's annual "Whiteout Night." The first 1,800 fans to arrive at Friday's game will receive a free Union College t-shirt, courtesy of Legere Home Improvements and Frank & Sons Bodyworks. SENIOR SEND OFFSaturday night's game against top-ranked Quinnipiac will be the final regular season home game for seniors Nick Cruice, Theo Di Pauli von Treuheim, Sebastien Gingras,David Roy and Matt Wilkins. The team will honor its five seniors with a special presentation immediately following the game.On Saturday night, the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties will be collecting items at the door to help victims of sexual assault during their treatment at local hospitals. New items for donation include: chapstick, L/XL sweatshirts or sweatpants, socks, underwear, trial sized shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, hand sanitizer, pencils/pens, puzzle books (ie: crosswords, sudoku), journals/notebooks and blankets. All fans making a donation will receive a teal ribbon pin as a token of gratitude as well as a voucher for 10% off any purchase made that night at the Union Hockey Spirit Shop. VECCHIONE NAMED ECAC HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK (FEB. 16) //Vecchione was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week after his four-point weekend. Vecchione's four points for the weekend were tied for the most among ECAC Hockey skaters and sixth in Division I. He also finished with an ECAC Hockey-best 30 faceoff wins, winning 61.2% of his draws (30-19).
BIG GUNS //The line of
Brett Supinski,
Mike Vecchione and
Matt Wilkins combined for 12 points on five goals and seven assists over the weekend. The trio have compiled 14 points over the last three games. Supinski leads all ECAC Hockey rookies with six power-play goals and three game-winning goals and ranks third with nine goals and 20 points. He has produced 14 points against ECAC Hockey opponents, tying him for the league-high among ECAC Hockey freshmen. Vecchione, who has also registered 14 points against ECAC Hockey foes, leads the team with 16 assists and ranks second with 24 points and Wilkins sits third with 17 points on five goals and 12 assists.
SERIES VS. THE TIGERS //Union is 27-19-8 against Princeton in its Division I era. The Dutchmen are unbeaten in their last 13 against the Tigers, going 10-0-3, with Princeton's last win at Union coming on Nov. 15, 2008. Union is 7-2-1 in its last 10 against the Tigers at Messa Rink.
THIS SEASON //JAN. 8, 2016 | PRINCETON, N.J.Union 4, Princeton 4
The teams played to a 4-4 tie in their first meeting this season on Jan. 8.
Sebastian Vidmar tallied twice, registering his first career multi-goal game,
Brett Supinski contributed a goal and an assist and
Spencer Foo chipped in with a pair of helpers. The Tigers carried a 4-3 lead late into the third, but
Ryan Scarfo potted the equalizer with 3:01 to play in regulation.
SERIES VS. THE BOBCATS //Quinnipiac owns an 18-12-3 advantage in the series against Union in the Dutchmen's Division I era. The Bobcats are 9-2-0 in the last 11 against Union and are 5-1-0 when facing the Dutchmen as a ranked team.
THIS SEASON //JAN. 7, 2016 | HAMDEN, CONN.Union 0, #1/2 Quinnipiac 5
Quinnipiac blanked Union, 5-0, on Jan. 7 in the first meeting between the this season. Travis St. Denis led the Bobcats with two goals and an assist and Michael Garteig turned away all 25 shots he faced for the shutout. Quinnipiac finished with a 42-25 advantage in shots on goal. The loss snapped the Dutchmen's five-game win streak and seven game unbeaten streak.
