DANBURY, Conn. – Sophomore
Ben Muthersbaugh was named Forward of the Week, presented by Bluebirds Hotels, first-year
Brayden Gillespie earned MAC Goaltending Goalie of the Week honors, and junior
Tyler Dunbar was tabbed as the Adapt Nutrition Defender of the Week by ECAC Hockey after the Union College men's hockey team closed out 2025 with a pair of victories, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.
Muthersbaugh and Dunbar combined for five points during Union's weekend sweep, while Gillepsie made the start in net for both the 5-1 win on Friday and the 3-2 victory on Saturday. Union produced multiple ECAC Hockey weekly award winners for the second week in a row.
Muthersbaugh claimed his first weekly award from the conference since Oct. 28, 2024, when he was the Rookie of the Week. On Friday, he scored a power-play goal to tie the game up 1-1 late in the first period and start Union's fourth comeback win of the season. He also assisted on senior Nick Young's first goal of his senior year, wrapping up the 5-1 victory over the Nanooks.
Muthersbaugh recorded goals in back-to-back games for the second time in his career when he netted a go-ahead score midway through the second period of Saturday's 3-2 victory. The last time Muthersbaugh lit the lamp in consecutive games was Oct. 25-26, 2024, against Rensselaer, on his way to ECAC Hockey Forward and Rookie of the Month awards, as well as the Hockey Commissioners Association's Rookie of the Month honor.
Dunbar may be in line for national recognition or a monthly award of his own from the league after he wrapped up December with two points and four blocked shots. On Friday, he had the primary assist on sophomore Lucas Buzziol's game-winning tally. Then Dunbar scored a highlight-reel goal to open the flood gates in the third period, skating around several Nanooks defensemen before tucking the puck past Alaska Fairbanks' goaltender inside the far post.
Dunbar's defensive efforts on the ice helped limit the action for Gillespie, preventing the Nanooks from registering a shot on goal for over 24 minutes of game time from the first to second period on Friday and not allowing a shot on goal for the first 12 minutes of play Saturday.
Gillespie posted a 1.51 goals against average and made 30 saves overall when the Nanooks eventually did break through for their 16.5 shots per game over the weekend series. The Oakville, Ont. native is undefeated (4-0-0) on the season and has earned the W in all three of Union's victories during its winning streak to close out 2025.
Both Gillespie and Dunbar have won two consecutive weekly awards from ECAC Hockey, with Dunbar repeating as the Defender of the Week, and Gillespie following up his first Rookie of the Week performance with his first Goalie of the Week accolade.
Union's trio of award winners will enjoy a three-week break before the whole Garnet Charger squad welcomes Royal Military College to M&T Bank Center on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. for an exhibition contest. Union's first regular-season matchup comes on Friday, Jan. 9 on the road against Quinnipiac.
