This Weekend
Last weekend, Union split the weekend, taking a tough 2-1 loss to #2 Quinnipiac on Friday before downing Princeton 7-3 on Saturday. The Dutchmen turn their attention to a pivotal series against Colgate and Cornell this weekend.
Media Coverage
Fans can watch the games this weekend on ESPN+. Live stats will be available through 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.
vs. Colgate
Last time out, Union blanked Colgate on the road, 2-0.
Michael Hodge and
Christian Sanda were the goal scorers and Murphy posted his first clean sheet of the season, making 34 saves in the win.
vs. Cornell
Brandon Estes was the lone goal scorer for Union in the first meeting this season. Union trails 10-15-6 at home against the Big Red.
Scouting the Raiders
Colgate is coming off a 1-0-1 weekend against rival Cornell, defeating the Big Red Friday, 3-2, before drawing 2-2 and winning the shootout on Saturday. The Raiders are 2-1-2 in their last five games.
Three skaters have eclipsed the 20 point mark this season: Colton Young (11-10-21), Matt Verboon (6-5-21), and Alex Young (8-12-20). Young leads the way with 11 goals, four of them game-winners. Verboon and Young have combined for eight power-play goals this season while defenseman Pierson Brandon leads the way with 42 blocks.
All three goaltenders for the Raiders have seen time this season, with Carter Gylander (7-8-0, .908, 2.76, 2 SO) getting the most time. Mitch Benson (2-3-2, .917, 2.63) and Andrew Farrier (1-3-1, .899, 3.38) have divided the remaining time in the crease.
Scouting the Big Red
The last seven games for the Big Red have been determined by a single goal or less, dating back to a 5-4 loss to Princeton. Four of the last seven games have gone to overtime, including a 2-1 win against Quinnipiac.
Junior Matt Stienburg leads all Big Red skaters with 21 points in 18 games. First-year Ondrej Psenicka is a +16 this season with a team-leading 10 goals, including three game-winning goals.
All three goaltenders have recorded a shutout this season. Ian Shane (4-3-3, .928, 1.83, 1 SO) has started the last ten games for Cornell. Joe Howe (4-2-0, .905, 2.34, 1 SO) and Nate McDonald (5-1-1, .896, 2.49, 1 SO) have split the rest of the season.
Kozi's Kids Raises $45,000 for C.O.C.O.A. House
On February 7, senior captain
Josh Kosack announced that the second annual Kozi's Kids holiday fundraiser raised almost $45,000 to benefit local Schenectady children. In two years, Kosack has raised over $50,000 for C.O.C.O.A. House. After the success of last year's fundraiser, Kosack set his sights even higher with a lofty goal of $20,000 after a generous donor agreed to match up to $10,000. The goal was to assist C.O.C.O.A. House with their annual Christmas toy drive to benefit kids in the Capital Region while also funding a Kozi's Kids Lounge in the building next door.
Kosack joined C.O.C.O.A. House Executive Director Will Rivas to help shop for Christmas presents for the children as well as deliver $10,000 worth of gifts over the course of two days. Rivas estimates the cost of the Kozi's Kids Lounge to be approximately $10,000, with the remaining $25,000 donated as unrestricted funds to the non-profit to pursue other projects to benefit the children. C.O.C.O.A. House has continued to expand its neighborhood footprint, recently purchasing a third location with the goal of creating a community green space.
Dutchmen in the Record Books
Three current Dutchmen have etched their way into the record books for Union hockey this season. Sophomore
Liam Robertson is currently tied for ninth in Union's Division I records for single-season power-play goals. Junior
Connor Murphy is ninth for single-game saves with his 51-save performance against Maine while moving into a tie for fourth for single-season shutouts with three. Senior
Brandon Estes' 111 consecutive games played ranks in the top ten in Union hockey history.
Adding the A
Senior
Brandon Estes was recently named an assistant captain for the Dutchmen. Estes leads the team in points this season and is a steadying presence both on and off the ice.
Olympians Made Here
For the first time in program history, three alumni have earned spots on Olympic hockey rosters: Daniel Carr (Canada), Spencer Foo (China), and Parker Foo (China). Spencer Foo will also don the "A" for China. The trio of former Dutchmen will square off in the third round of group play on Sunday, February 13 at 8:10 a.m. ET. Group A play begins on February 10 when China takes on the United States and Canada faces off with Germany.
Kosack Nominated for Hockey Humanitarian Award
For the second straight season, senior
Josh Kosack of the Union College men's hockey team has been announced as a nominee for the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award. Kosack is one of 11 nominees for the award this season, including one of three nominated previously in 2020-21 and one of two finalists returning to the ballot in 2021-22.
Murphy Named to Mike Richter Award Watch List
Junior
Connor Murphy was one of 28 goaltenders named to the preliminary Mike Richter Award Watch List on Thursday, January 20.
Meet Murphy
Junior transfer
Connor Murphy has been excellent between the pipes for the Dutchmen. Murphy stopped 89 shots in the series against Maine, including 51 stops on December 10, earning ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Week for the second time this season. The 51 saves ranks ninth in Union's Division I single-game record list and ranks second in Division I this season for a single game. Murphy has stopped 774 shots this season, which ranks third nationally, on the way to a 10-13-2 record with three shutouts.
Steady Seger
Junior assistant captain
Gabriel Seger has been a steady presence in the faceoff circle for the Dutchmen. The junior is winning 51.7 percent of faceoffs.
Aside from his steadying presence in the circle, Seger has made an impact on the Dutchmen offense. The junior is tied for third on the team with 14 points (4-10-14). Union is 7-3-1 when Seger scores a point.
Ironman Estes
Senior defenseman
Brandon Estes played in his 100th consecutive game on December 10 at Maine. The last game Estes missed was on February 3, 2018. The senior has played in 136 career games for the Dutchmen (14-40-54), including 111 in a row.
Three is the Magic Number
In 22 games this season,
Brandon Estes has scored 13 points (4-9-13). Those points were scored in three three-game point streaks (10/15-10/22, 11/5-11/12, 1/15-1/22), resulting in a 1-1-1 team record in each streak. Therefore, Union is 3-3-3 when Estes scores a point. Estes also added three points against Brown and Yale.
Kosack Named Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Josh Kosack is one of 20 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. Kosack is one of four candidates from an ECAC Hockey school and the sixth Union player in program history.
Ranked Robertson
Sophomore forward
Liam Robertson is off to a great start this season. Robertson is ranked third nationally and first in the conference with eight power-play goals in 23 games. The forward is second on the team with 15 points (11-4-15), nine of which came on special teams (8-1-9).
Dutchmen Earn Player of the Week Honors
Following a career game against Merrimack College,
Liam Robertson was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week. After their performances against Maine, first-year
Caden Villegas earned Rookie of the Week accolades and junior
Connor Murphy earned his second Goalie of the Week honor. Sophomore
Tyler Watkins was named the Rookie of the Week on February 7 after the Quinnipiac/Princeton series.
Lighting The Lamp Fast
Union scored the first goal in seven out of its first ten games played this season, including three games in which the Dutchmen scored within the first 2:01 of the game. Despite that advantage, Union was only 2-3-2 in those seven contests.
First-Year Force
First-year
Michael Hodge has established himself as a steady offensive presence in the first 13 games. The forward started the season on a five-game point streak, registering three goals and three assists during that time. Hodge is tied for first on the team with nine points.
How Sweep It Is
On Monday, October 18, the ECAC announced a clean sweep of their weekly awards by the Dutchmen. Senior
Brandon Estes earned Player of the Week honors, scoring one goal and adding three assists from the blue line. Junior
Connor Murphy garnered Goalie of the Week recognition, posting a 1.92 goals against average and a .945 save percentage with 69 saves in two contests. First-year
Collin Graf played a role in both Union goals in Friday's 2-1 win over the Tigers, scoring his first collegiate goal on the power play and then picking up the primary assist on Estes' game-winning goal.
This marked the first time that Union swept the weekly awards since March 2014 when Daniel Carr '14 (Player), Colin Stevens '15 (Goalie), and Mike Vecchione '17 (Rookie) were all recognized.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Senior
Josh Kosack will wear the captains' "C" this season while juniors
Dylan Anhorn and
Gabriel Seger will don the "A" for the Dutchmen in 2021-22. Kosack is captaining the team for the second straight season, after serving as a team leader during the 2020-21 pandemic year.
Looking to Surprise
Union was picked to finish in a tie for eighth in the ECAC Hockey preseason coaches poll, earning 40 points to tie with Rensselaer. The local media were even more pessimistic about Union's chances, voting the Dutchmen 11th out of 12 teams (26 points) in the preseason media poll.
Welcome to the Show
Heading into the 2021-22 season, more than half (16 of 31) of Union's players have never played in a collegiate game. Seven sophomores were with the team last year but did not compete, as Union did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also welcomed eight first-year players to the team this season as well.
