This Weekend
The Dutchmen open ECAC Hockey play with a home-and-home series against cross-town rivals Rensselaer this weekend, Oct. 25-26. Union will host Friday's game, while Saturday's contest will be played at the Houston Field House in Troy. Both games will start at 7 p.m. (ET).
Additionally, during Friday's game at Messa Rink, children aged 12 and under are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes (no weapons, please) to the game, and will be invited down to the ice to show off their costumes on the video board and receive a Halloween treat bag. Children in costumes are asked to arrive behind the Union team bench, at the beginning of the second intermission.
Media Coverage
Matt Dubrey and Brian Unger will have the call for Friday's game at Messa Rink. Fans inside the United Stats can watch online with ESPN+, and international fans can watch through StretchInternet. Saturday's contest will be streamed live on RPItv.org for free. Both games will also be broadcast on WRPI 91.5-FM.
Social Media
Receive real-time updates during all Union men's hockey games by following the team's official Twitter account @UnionMHockey. Additional behind-the-scenes looks are also available through the team's official Instagram account, UnionMHockey.
Career Firsts
Seven of the 10 first-year skaters have already recorded their first collegiate points, with six of them doing so in the first weekend of competition.
Gabriel Seger currently leads the freshmen class in scoring with two assists. The Uppsala, Sweden native recorded his first collegiate point on Oct. 6 at Army West Point, and recorded his second point last week at Massachusetts.
vs Rensselaer
The all-time Division I record between Union and RPI is currently tied at 37-37-10. Both teams enjoy an advantage on home ice, as Union is 17-14-2 in games at Messa Rink, but trails in games at the Houston Field House, 13-17-4.
Last season, the Engineers won both games in October, defeating Union in Troy, 5-3, and at Messa Rink, 4-2. During the Mayor's Cup game on Jan. 29, 2019, neither team found the back of the net and had to settle for a 0-0 tie. The Dutchmen went on to win a shootout 3-2 to claim rights to the Mayor's Cup for a third consecutive year.
Senior defenseman
Vas Kolias enters the weekend as the current leading scorer against Rensselaer, having totaled one goal and five assists through nine career games against the Engineers. Fellow senior
Anthony Rinaldi is close behind in career scoring against RPI, with four goals and one assist in eight career games.
In net,
Darion Hanson has played in five career games against Rensselaer and holds a 3-1-1 record with a .872 save percentage and a 2.37 goals-against average.
Scouting the Engineers
Rensselaer enters Friday's contest with a 2-2-0 overall record, having defeated Canisius, 7-2, last week at home and UConn, 5-3, on Oct. 12. The Engineers opened the 2019-20 season against Massachusetts on Oct. 12, and the Minutemen skated to a 5-3 win over the Engineers.
Rensselaer is currently led in scoring by senior forward Patrick Polino who has three goals and three assists. A total of 17 skaters for the Engineers have already recorded a point so far this season.
In net, RPI has split time evenly in net between junior Linden Marshall and sophomore Owen Savory. Both have 1-1-0 records, while Savory owns the better save percentage (.910) and goals-against average (3.02).
Doing it the Hard Way
Freshman forward
Christian Sanda was one of five players to score a shorthanded goal during the opening weekend of play, Oct. 5-6. His shorthanded goal came during the second period at Army West Point on Oct. 6.
Last Time Out
The Dutchmen suffered a pair of road losses at Massachusetts this past weekend, Oct. 18-19. The then-No. 4/5 ranked Minutemen out-scored the Dutchmen 11-1 over the weekend, winning by a score of 6-1 on the first night and finishing the weekend with a 5-0 win.
Darion Hanson made a total of 72 saves over the weekend series.
Union at #4/5 Massachusetts - L, 6-1 - Oct. 18 - Mullins Center
Union Goals:
Sam Morton
Massachusetts Goalie: Matt Murray (W) - 16 saves, 1 goal against
Union Goalie:
Darion Hanson (L) - 39 saves, 5 goals against
  Â
Merek Pipes - 2 saves, 1 goal against
Power Play: Union 0-5, Massachusetts 1-3
Noteworthy: Sophomore forward
Sam Morton scored his second goal of the season to get Union on the board in the second period. The Minutemen out-shot Union, 47-17, in the contest, including 22-2 in the third period alone.
Darion Hanson tied his career high for saves with 39 in the contest. First year
Merek Pipes made his collegiate debut for the Dutchmen, making two saves in less than four minutes of work. Union was 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Minutemen scored once on three power-play chances.
Union at #4/5 Massachusetts - L, 5-0 - Oct. 19 - Mullins Center
Union Goals:
Sean Harrison,
Christian Sanda (SH)
Massachusetts Goalie: Filip Lindberg (W) - 15 saves, 0 goals against
Union Goalie:
Darion Hanson (L) - 33 saves, 5 goals against
Power Play: Union 0-5, Massachusetts 1-4
Noteworthy: Union was out-shot 38-15 in the contest. Junior netminder
Darion Hanson made 33 saves for the Dutchmen, while Filip Lindberg made 15 stops on the other end of the ice for the Minutemen. The Dutchmen killed off three-of-four penalties in the game, while UMass killed off all five penalties it was assessed. Union held Massachusetts scoreless in the third period, which included three penalty kills.
