This Weekend
The Dutchmen host Holy Cross and Massachusetts this weekend, Dec. 9-10, in their final home games of the 2017 calendar year. Saturday's contest against the Crusaders is set to start at 7 p.m. (ET), and Sunday's game against the Minutemen is set for a 5 p.m. start.
Media Coverage
Brian Unger and Matt Dubrey will have the call this weekend for both games. Fans can watch the games online through UnionAthletics.tv, or listen for free at TeamLine.cc. Live stats for both games will also be provided online at UnionAthletics.com.
Social Media
Receive real-time updates during all Union men's hockey games by following the team's official Twitter account @UnionMHockey. Additional in-game updates and commentary will be provided by assistant sports information director
Ross LaDue via his Twitter account @RLaDue.
Current Streaks
Six Union skaters enter the weekend having recorded a point in at least the previous two games:
Brett Supinski (10 games - 2g, 13a);
Sebastian Vidmar (6 games - 3g, 4a);
Cole Maier (6 games - 1g, 5a);
Anthony Rinaldi (2 games - 2g, 1a);
Vas Kolias (2 games - 1g, 1a); and
Greg Campbell (2 games - 0g, 2a). Supinski has also recorded a point in all but two games so far this season, and his eight-game streak is currently a career best.
Last Time Out
Union vs Brown - Dec. 1 - Messa Rink
Union Goals:
Ryan Scarfo,
Anthony Rinaldi,
Vas Kolias
Brown Goalie: Gavin Nieto (L), 25 saves, 3 goals against
Union Goalie:
Jake Kupsky (W) - 31 saves, 1 goal against
Power Play: Union 0-4, Brown 0-4
Noteworthy: The Dutchmen resumed ECAC Hockey play hosting the Bears at Messa Rink last Friday, skating to a 3-1 win. Union scored one goal in each period, while Brown scored in the third to eliminate the shutout bid. Brown ended up out-shooting the Dutchmen 38-28, but couldn't get anything more than the one past
Jake Kupsky. The game also marked the first time this season Union won despite not scoring on the power play.
Union vs Yale - Dec. 2 - Messa Rink
Union Goals:
Sebastian Vidmar,
Cole Maier,
Anthony Rinaldi
Yale Goalie: Sam Tucker (W), 27 saves, 3 goals against
Union Goalie:
Jake Kupsky (L) - 25 saves, 4 goals against
Power Play: Union 0-5, Yale 1-1
Noteworthy: Union's five-game unbeaten streak came to an end last Saturday, as the Yale Bulldogs netted four goals and an empty netter to beat the Dutchmen at Messa Rink, 5-3. Union earned five power-play opportunities, which included a two-minute five-on-three chance in the middle of a five-minute major penalty, but the Dutchmen were held scoreless during the man advantages. Yale's Ted Hart recorded a hat trick, netting one goal each period, to help propel the Bulldogs to their fourth conference win of the season.
vs Holy Cross
The Crusaders and Dutchmen have only played each other four times previously, with Holy Cross coming out victorious in all but one of the contests. Union played Holy Cross in Worcester, MA last season, losing to the Crusaders, 6-4. Prior to that, however, the two teams hadn't played each other since Feb. 4 2005, which was also the last time the Crusaders played in Messa Rink; which ended in a 4-2 Union win.
Scouting the Crusaders
Saturday's contest against Union is the only game of the weekend for Holy Cross, who enters the weekend with a 6-5-6 overall record. Last weekend, the Crusaders split with conference rival RIT, 4-2 and 3-5, in Rochester. Holy Cross also played a single game against Brown on Nov. 21, losing to the Bears, 4-2.
Senior forward Scott Pooley currently leads the Crusaders with 17 points stemming from 13 goals and four assists, and his 13 goals also leads all skaters in Atlantic Hockey. In net, senior Paul Berrafato has played every minute for Holy Cross this season, recording a .924 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average.
vs Massachusetts
The Minutemen and the Dutchmen played earlier this season on Oct. 13, as UMass spoiled Union's home opener with a 5-4 win. It marked the fifth win of the Minutemen in the series history between the two clubs, as Union now trails in the series 3-5-0. The only win Union has over UMass at Messa Rink came over 10 years ago; a 4-3 decision on Nov. 24, 2006.
Scouting the Minutemen
Massachusetts enters the weekend coming off an 8-2 loss to UConn on Tuesday night in Storrs. After the loss, the Minutemen are now 8-7-0 on the season with a 3-4-0 mark in Hockey East competition.
UMass is fourth in Hockey East with a 2.93 goals-per game mark, but is 10th of 11 with a 3.27 goals-against average. The Minutemen have 23 skaters who have recorded points already this season, and are led by freshman forward Oliver Chau, who has six goals and eight assists.
Junior Leadership
Union is third in the country for junior class scoring, having produced 23 goals and 41 assists this season. All six junior skaters have recored at least five points this season.
Brett Supinski leads the class, and the team, with six goals and 15 assists. Of the top-6 junior classes in scoring, Union and North Dakota have the smallest junior classes, with six skaters each.
Best of the Week
Posting an undefeated weekend at No. 3 North Dakota, junior netminder
Jake Kupsky was named ECAC Hockey's Goaltender of the Week on Nov. 28. Kupsky made a total of 64 saves over the weekend to help Union earn a 4-1 win and a 2-2 tie at Ralph Engelstad Arena. On the weekend, he posted a .955 save percentage and a 1.44 goals-against average.
With five-point weekend over Oct. 20-21,
Ryan Scarfo led all ECAC Hockey skaters in scoring, and earned Player of the Week honors for his efforts. In the first outing of the weekend, Scarfo put up two assists against RIT in a 6-1 win. Against Niagara, Scarfo scored twice, including the game-winner, and added an assist for a career-tying best three-point night. The weekly honor was the first for the Dutchmen this season.
Spreading the Wealth
A total of 19 skaters have already recorded a point for Union this season, including 18 who have more than one, and 17 who have scored goals.
Fashionably Late
Of the Dutchmen's 54 goals scored this season, the majority of them (23) have come in the third period, and Union is currently tied for third in the nation in third-period goal production.
Extra Goals
Forward
Brett Supinski is tied for the nation's lead in extra-attacker goals. The junior from Collegeville, PA scored with an empty Union net in back-to-back games, Oct. 13-15. Both of his extra-attacker goals were scored within the final 15 seconds of regulation.
Apple-trick
Junior captain
Cole Maier set a personal best on Oct. 21 at Niagara, recording three assists against the Purple Eagles. He registered an assist on the game-winner, and had an assist in each of the three periods.
Brett Supinski recorded Union's second 'apple-trick' of the season, tallying three assists in the 4-1 against No. 16 Quinnipiac on Nov. 11. It was also the second three-assist game in the junior's career.
What a Debut
First-year goaltender
Darion Hanson made his collegiate debut on Oct. 20 against RIT. Hanson made 24 saves in the 6-1 win, including 14 in the third period, seven of which were made while shorthanded. He followed up his debut with second win, helping Union defeat Niagara 5-1, with the only goal conceded coming on a Purple Eagles' power play.
Winning
With a 5-1 win over Niagara on Oct. 20, 2017, head coach
Rick Bennett became the winningest hockey coach in Union hockey's Division I history. Bennett owns a career record of 142-75-30, surpassing Nate Leaman's record of 138-127-35.
Already Spoken For
The Union College hockey team features three student-athletes who have been drafted by NHL teams.
Welcome to Union College
The Dutchmen welcome nine new student-athletes to their ranks this season, including five forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender.
Newest Pros
Over the summer Union College had six members of its 2016-17 team sign professional contracts with North American organizations.
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Team |
League |
Date |
| Nick DeSimone |
Jr |
D |
San Jose |
NHL |
March 30 (FA) |
| Spencer Foo |
Jr. |
F |
Calgary |
NHL |
June 27 (FA) |
| Michael Pontarelli |
Sr. |
D |
Quad City |
ECHL |
July 27 |
| Alex Sakellaropoulos |
Sr. |
G |
Fort Wayne |
ECHL |
July 20 |
| Jeff Taylor |
Sr. |
D |
Pittsburgh |
NHL |
March 26 |
| Mike Vecchione |
Sr. |
F |
Philadelphia |
NHL |
March 31 (FA) |
Rising Stock
Vidmar (14g, 27a) ranked in the top five of the biggest point increases in Division I from the 2015-16 season to the 2016-17 season, adding 31 more points (8g, 23a) during his sophomore campaign.
