This Weekend
The Dutchmen play their final home game of 2019, hosting Merrimack for a solo non-conference game this Friday, Dec. 13. Opening face off at Messa Rink is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET).
Media Coverage
Matt Dubrey and Brian Unger will have the call this weekend as the game against the Warriors will be streamed on the ESPN Plus platform. Viewers outside of the United States can access the video stream through StretchInternet. Live stats and a free audio stream will be available 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 behind-the-scenes looks are also available through the team's official Instagram account, UnionMHockey.
Career Firsts
Nine of the 10 first-year skaters have recorded their first collegiate points, with six of them doing so in the first weekend of competition.
Gabriel Seger leads the team in freshman scoring, with six points, stemming from two goals and four assists.
vs Merrimack
In the all-time series against Merrimack, Union trails the Warriors 7-9-2. However, the Dutchmen have won six of the last 10 contests, including the last three meetings. The two teams met twice during the 2016-16 season, first at Merrimack on Nov. 28, 2015, and then at Dartmouth's Ledyard Classic on Jan. 2, 2016.
Scouting the Warriors
Merrimack is coming off a split with New Hampshire last weekend, and enter Friday's contest with a 4-10-2 overall record. Merrimack has a 1-2-2 record against common opponents; having beat Rensselaer (5-1), and losing to and tying both Northeastern (1-3 and 1-1) and Massachusetts (2-3 and 2-2). Â
Senior forward Tyler Irvine leads the Warriors in scoring this season with six goals and six assists. In net, the Warriors have three freshmen goaltenders, with Jere Huhtamaa and Troy Kobryn splitting the majority of time. Hutamaa holds a 3-5-1 record with a 3.42 goals-against average and an .858 save percentage, while Kobryn is 1-4-1 with a 3.01 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage.
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 split two more ECAC Hockey games last weekend at home. Union defeated Brown the first night 5-0, but then lost to Yale 2-0 on the following night.
Union vs Brown - W, 5-0 - Dec. 6 - Messa Rink
Union Goals:
Anthony Rinaldi,
Matt Allen (PP),
Sean Harrison,
Josh Kosack, MIchael Ryan
Brown Goalie: Luke Kania (L) - 12 saves, 5 goals against
            Gavin Nieto - 6 saves, 0 goals against
Union Goalie:
Darion Hanson (W) - 25 saves, 0 goals against
Power Play: Union 1-3, Brown 0-1
Summary:
Sean Harrison and
Chaz Smedsrud both had two-point nights. Harrison had a goal and an assist, while Smedsrud had two assists. A total of 10 Dutchmen contributed to the scoring blitz.
Matt Allen scored his first collegiate goal, scoring on the power play midway through the first period to give Union a 2-0 lead.
Josh Kosack and
Michael Ryan scored their first goals of the season, as both scored in the second period. Union went 1-for-3 on the power play and killed off the lone power play that Brown received.
Darion Hanson made 25 stops in net for the Dutchmen, recording his sixth career shutout.
Union vs Yale - L, 2-0 - Dec. 7 - Messa Rink
Union Goals: none
Yale Goalie: Corbin Kaczperski (W) - 26 saves, 0 goals against
Union Goalie:
Darion Hanson (L) - 21 saves, 2 goals against
Power Play: Union 0-3, Yale 0-3
Summary: Union out-shot Yale 26-23, but Kaczperski stopped all 26 saves he faced in net for the Bulldogs.
Darion Hanson made 21 saves on the night, including seven during the penalty kill. The Dutchmen killed off a major penalty in the second period, and were a perfect 3-for-3 on the PK. Yale won 64 percent of the face offs against Union.
