This Weekend
The Dutchmen close out the 2019 year with a pair of games at the Catamount Cup hosted by Vermont in Burlington, Vt., this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 28-29. Union begins the weekend against Vermont on Saturday at 7 p.m. (ET), and finishes off against No. 13/15 Providence on Sunday at 4 p.m.
Media Coverage
Both games will be streamed on CBS All-Access. Live stats and a free audio streams will be available through Vermont's athletics website, UVMAthletics.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 Vermont
In the all-time series against Vermont, Union trails the Catamounts 13-18-2. However, the Dutchmen have success in the more recent contests, winning four of the past five meetings, including the last two played in Burlington (Dec. 18 and Dec. 17, 2016). The last time the two teams met was on Oct. 15, 2017 at Messa Rink. In that game Vermont skated to a 3-2 victory over the Dutchmen.
Scouting the Catamounts
Vermont enters the weekend with a 1-11-2 overall record and an 0-8-1 record in Hockey East. The Catamounts lone win came against St. Lawrence (2-0) on Oct. 19. Since then, the Catamounts have gone 0-10-2.
Vermont is led in scoring by freshman defenseman Andrew Lucas who has seven points (2g, 5a). Right behind Lucas in scoring are forwards Ace Cowans (3g, 3a) and Jacques Bouqout (1g, 5a). Senior Stefanos Lekkas has been the only goalie for Vermont to see action this season. Lekkas has a 1-11-2 record with a .908 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average.
vs Providence
The Dutchmen and the Friars have only played each other 11 times, with Union trailing in the series 3-7-1. However, Union has won the last two meetings, which includes the 3-1 win at the 2014 NCAA East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn. The meeting at the East Regional is the only meeting between the two teams in the past decade.
Scouting the Friars
Providence enters the weekend with a 9-5-3 overall record and a 6-4-2 record in Hockey East. The Friars last competition was over the Dec. 6-7 weekend which saw split a series against UMass Lowell.
Providence has the top two scoring forwards in the nation in sophomores Jack Dugan (6g, 27a) and Tyce Thompson (13g, 14a). Dugan leads the nation for assists, while Thompson is tied for the national lead in goal scoring. The Friars have the fifth-best offense in the nation, but rank 24th in the nation for goal-against average (2.59). They also average 14.24 penalty minutes per game, 10th most in the country.
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 picked up their third win in four contests, defeating Merrimack, 3-2, in a non-conference game at Messa Rink on Dec. 13. The game also marked the first time this season that the Dutchmen have conceded more than one goal in a victory.
Union vs Merrimack - W, 3-2 - Dec. 13 - Messa Rink
Union Goals:
Chaz Smedsrud (PP),
Liam Robertson,
Anthony Rinaldi
Merrimack Goalie: Jere Huhtamaa (L) - 22 saves, 3 goals against
Union Goalie:
Darion Hanson (W) - 16 saves, 2 goals against
Power Play: Union 1-3, Merrimack 1-2
Summary:
Anthony Rinaldi and
Chaz Smedsrud both had two-point nights, as each tallied a goal and an assist. First-year skaters
Dylan Anhorn,
Christian Sanda and
Gabriel Seger all picked up assists in the victory.
Taylor Brierley and Rinaldi were the lone upperclassmen to get on the score sheet. Both teams converted on the power play, as Union went 1-for-3 on the man advantage, while Merrimack went 1-for-2.
Darion Hanson made 16 saves in net for the Dutchmen, earning his fifth win of the season. Jere Huhtamma made 22 saves in the losing effort for the Warriors.
