This Weekend
After a week off for final exams, Union kicks off a five-game homestand beginning with a pair of non-conference games against Stonehill College over Thanksgiving weekend. This weekend marks the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Last Time Out
Union last played on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Clarkson. The team closed out fall term with a split against St. Lawrence and Clarkson. The Garnet Chargers defeated St. Lawrence on Nov. 10, 4-3, but fell the following night to Clarkson, 1-4. Sophomore
John Prokop led the way with four points (0-4-4).
New Kids on the Block
The Stonehill College Skyhawks are one of the newest NCAA Division I programs as they enter their first full hockey season as a Division I team. The Skyhawks previously competed in Division II in the Northeast-10 conference in all sports, including hockey. The college made the move to Division I in April 2022 with hockey moving to independent status and the rest of the teams joining the NEC. Stonehill's schedule last season saw a mix from all three divisions, while this year's schedule primarily includes Division I opponents with a few games against former Northeast-10 rivals.
Familiar Faces
Union fans may recognize two names on the Stonehll roster.
Matt Allen '23 is a graduate student with the Skyhawks after playing in 65 games for Union and registering 16 points (4-12-16).
Greg Japchen played eight games for Union as a first-year before transferring to Stonehill.
At the Top
Union boasts the top-ranked penalty kill in NCAA Division I men's hockey with a 95% success rate through nine games. Union has only allowed two goals on 40 attempts while on the penalty kill. Three other ECAC Hockey programs are also among the top ten on the penalty kill: Quinnipiac (2nd), Clarkson (t-5th), and Harvard (t-5th). The last goal Union gave up on the penalty kill occurred on
Scouting the Skyhawks
The Skyhawks are looking for their first win as a Division I program after starting the season 0-12-0. The team has faced a challenging schedule, including games against nationally ranked Providence College and Arizona State. Stonehill played a solo game against NCAA Division III Anna Maria College last weekend, falling 4-2 at home.
Leading the Skyhawks in points is sophomore
Greg Japchen. The blueliner has eight points (1-7-8) in 12 games. Sophomore Frank Ireland has four goals in 12 games to pace the team. On special teams, the first-year defender Charles Banquier is a player to watch as both of his goals have come on either the powerplay or the penalty kill.
The Skyhawks have split time between the pipes between Dylan Meilun and Gavin FitzPatrick. Meilun has started 10 games and has a .886 save percentage with a 5.07 GAA. FitzPatrick started the last game for the Skyhawks and is 0-2-0 on the season with a .861 save percentage and a 4.35 GAA.
Gone Streaking
Sophomore
John Prokop leads the team with 11 points (2-9-11) in nine games with junior
Caden Villegas on his heels with 10 points (4-6-10). Prokop (1-6-7) and Villegas (0-5-5)are both currently on a four-game point streak dating back to Nov. 3.
You Get A Point
Union has been strong offensively through nine games with an average of 3.4 goals per game and an average of 9.33 points per game. Out of the 23 skaters that have seen playing time, 19 have at least one point. Of those 19 skaters, 13 have scored at least one goal.
Standout Sophomores
Union's sophomore class has made a big impact so far in the 2023-24 season. The sophomores have scored 36 of Union's 84 points.
John Prokop leads the way with 11 points while
Brandon Buhr paces the sophomores in goals with four, including three on the powerplay.
He'd Be Honored
Sophomore goaltender
Kyle Chauvette was honored for a second time this season as ECAC Hockey's MAC Goaltending Goaltender of the Week after his performance against UConn. In the 4-1 win, Chauvette made a career-high 36 saves before turning in a 62-save performance the following night to set Union's single-game save record.
Light it Up
The sophomore duo of
Ethan Benz and
Brandon Buhr combined for six goals against RPI with three goals each. In nine games, 13 Union skaters have recorded at least one goal.
Flames Watch
Union currently has two alumni in the Calgary Flames organization. Nick DeSimone scored his first NHL point, an assist, in Calgary's 6-3 win over Seattle. The blueliner registered two assists against Nashville, including an assist on the eventual game-winning goal. Calgary is 5-4 since DeSimone joined the lineup.
Connor Murphy '23 earned his first professional win for the Rapid City Rush (ECHL) on Oct. 20. Murphy posted a 2-2-0 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.26 GAA. Murphy earned his first AHL call up to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) on Nov. 9.
Set Records, Take Names
Sophomore goaltender
Kyle Chauvette made 62 saves in the October 21 loss to UConn. The 62 stops is the most for a Union player in a single game.
Season Opening Shutout
Sophomore
Kyle Chauvette was stellar in Union's 6-0 victory over Army West Point on Sunday. The shutout to open the season is the first for Union in exactly 13 years. The last season opening shutout was on October 8, 2010, a 9-0 shutout of Sacred Heart.
Nice to Meet You
Union welcomes eight newcomers to the program for the 2023-24 season, including two transfers and six first-years. They hail from six states and two Canadian provinces and consist of four forwards, three defenders, and one goaltender.
Transfer Commits
Union added two out of the transfer portal in the offseason. Junior
Cole Kodsi joins the team from Bentley University (AHA) and sophomore
Brandon Buhr comes from ECAC Hockey foe Clarkson University. Kodsi, a former captain with the Falcons, skated in 83 career games and scored 41 points (18-23-41). Buhr left Clarkson last December to return to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) where he registered 18 points (12-6-18) before leading the team in playoff scoring with 24 points (8-16-24) in 19 playoff games.
Looking to Surprise
Union was picked to finish eighth in the ECAC Hockey preseason coaches poll, earning 45 points.
Defense First
Sophomore defender
John Prokop earned a spot on the ECAC All-Rookie team last season after a stellar first-year campaign. Prokop is the first rookie defenseman in Union's Division I history to lead the team in scoring. The last defenseman to lead the team in scoring was Brandon Estes in the 2021-22 season and the last rookie to lead in points was Adam Presizniuk in the 2007-08 season.
New Year, New Name
Union's teams will be playing under a new name this season, as the College rebranded as the Garnet Chargers over the summer. Garnet has been Union's official school color for more than 150 years, while Chargers harkens to Schenectady's legacy as a hub of electrical innovation and invention. With the rebrand comes an additional Union "U" logo, which will be used alongside the traditional "Block U" logo that has been in place for many years.
