DANBURY, Conn. – First-year Brayden Gillespie earned ECAC Hockey's Rookie of the Week award, and junior Tyler Dunbar was named the ADAPT Nutrition Defender of the Week by the conference after the Union College men's hockey team's 1-1 weekend in league play, announced Monday morning. 

Gillespie made 31 saves during his first collegiate shut out as the Garnet Chargers upset #8 Quinnipiac 4-0 on Saturday. He is the first Union goalie to shut out a ranked foe since Alex Sakellaropoulos '17 against #13 Merrimack on Nov. 28, 2015. Gillespie also appeared in Union's matchup with Princeton Friday, making eight saves without allowing goal in 17:02 of ice time.

While Dunbar did contribute to Gillespie's shutout defensively by blocking two shots, but he really left his mark on the win by recording a point on all four of Union's goals. He scored two goals of his own, one on the power play, and became the second Union player with four points in a game this season (senior Parker Lindauer vs Niagara, 10/18). Dunbar is tied with the reigning ECAC Hockey Forward of the Month, senior Brandon Buhr, for the team lead in points with 19. Dunbar also leads all conference defensemen in goals (7) and assists (12). 

Gillespie and Dunbar's award-winning performances helped propel Union to its first victory over Quinnipiac since Nov. 10, 2018. The #8 Bobcats were also the highest-ranked team the Garnet Chargers have beaten since upending #1 St. Cloud State in 2019. 

Gillespie is the second goaltender to win the conference's Rookie of the Week award this season, joining two-time winner Alexis Cournoyer from Cornell. Dunbar secured his second weekly defensive accolade of the season.