SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – With the final season of hockey at Messa Rink at Achilles Center underway, the Union Department of Athletics is excited to announce several events and initiatives that will commemorate the proud history of Union hockey as we celebrate 50 years in one of college hockey's most venerable venues.
 
The final season of Messa Rink celebrations kicked off this summer with the 10-year anniversary of the 2014 national championship team, and the current season will feature several opportunities for fans, alumni and community members to remember and recognize some of the great moments and players that have skated for Union over the last half-century.
 
#MessaMemories
Throughout the season, Union men's and women's hockey will be sharing memories from the last 50 years of hockey at Messa Rink at Achilles Center, and we invite fans to share their favorite memories by tagging the hockey teams on Instagram (@unionmhockey, @unioncollegewhky), on X (@unionmhockey, @unionwhockey), or on Facebook (@unionmhockey, @unionwhockey) and using the hashtag #MessaMemories.  Fans can also share their favorite memories by sending us photos and videos via Dropbox or by emailing sportsinfo@union.edu, and we will share them on social media and at home games all season long!
 
In addition, the Department of Athletics also has several special events planned throughout the year to recognize some of the best players and teams to skate on Messa Rink over the last half-century.
 
Union Hockey All-Messa Rink Teams
Over the course of the season, Union fans will have a chance to vote for the best players to don the garnet and white over the years. Your votes (both online and in person at Messa Rink) will help to determine which players will be recognized on the Union Hockey All-Messa Rink Teams, which will be announced later in the season.
 
VOTE: Men's Hockey D-I All-Messa Teams
VOTE: Men's Hockey D-II/III All-Messa Teams
VOTE: Women's Hockey All-Messa Teams
 
Men's and Women's Hockey Team Recognitions
The women's hockey team will recognize the 1999-2000 and 2003-04 teams on Friday, January 24, commemorating the first varsity team and the first Division I team in program history. That weekend the Garnet Chargers host local rival RPI on Friday night before heading to Albany for the annual Mayor's Cup matchup with the Engineers on Saturday.
 
The men's team will welcome back the inaugural 1975-76 team as well as the 1983-84 Division III national runners-up on Saturday, February 1 to be recognized during Union's game against Brown University. On Saturday, February 15, Union will be inviting back members of the first Division I team from 1991-92 as well as the 2011-12 Frozen Four team to be recognized during the game against Princeton University.
 
Men's and Women's Hockey Alumni/ae Days
Both Union hockey teams will be holding Alumni Days at the end of the regular season to allow all former players the opportunity to come together and skate on the Messa Rink ice one last time.
 
The women's team will be holding their Alumnae Weekend on February 7-8, as the Garnet Chargers take on Colgate University on Friday night before hosting an Alumni Game and event on Saturday before taking on Cornell University for Senior Day.
 
The men's team will have their Alumni Weekend during Senior Weekend as well on February 28 and March 1 during the final week of the regular season against Cornell University (Friday) and Colgate University (Saturday). The men's Alumni Game will be set for Saturday morning.
 
We look forward to seeing alumni, fans and community members joining us all season long as we celebrate the storied history of Union hockey and send off Messa Rink with a year to remember!