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a men's hockey player celebrating a goal
Nicole Zuniga

Men's Ice Hockey Tim LaDuca, Assistant Athletic Communications Director

Free Earns ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week Award

DANBURY, Conn. – First-year Nathan Free extended his point streak to four games with a goal and two assists during the Union College men's hockey team's weekend on the road and earned ECAC Hockey's Rookie of the Week award, presented by JustPlay, the conference announced on Monday morning. 

Free scored the game-winning goal on the power play Friday, boosting Union to a 4-1 victory over Niagara University. He also assisted on junior Connor Smith's power-play goal to open the scoring in that game, then notched another assist on junior Riley Brueck's score in the second period of an overtime loss on Saturday. 

All three of Free's points against Niagara came with Union on the man advantage. He recorded his first collegiate power-play goal and also helped Union go 6-10 on the power play against Niagara. The Purple Eagles entered the weekend series having killed off 24 of their 25 penalty-kill opportunities. 

Free is tied for the most points in the league among ECAC Hockey rookies this season with two goals and four assists, matching Rensselaer's Benjamin Yurchuk (0-6-6). 

Free and the Garnet Chargers open conference play on Friday, Oct. 30 in Troy, N.Y. against Yurchuk and the Engineers.

 
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Players Mentioned

Riley Brueck

#27 Riley Brueck

F
6' 2"
Junior
Connor Smith

#8 Connor Smith

F
5' 10"
Junior
Nathan Free

#13 Nathan Free

F
5' 10"
First Year

Players Mentioned

Riley Brueck

#27 Riley Brueck

6' 2"
Junior
F
Connor Smith

#8 Connor Smith

5' 10"
Junior
F
Nathan Free

#13 Nathan Free

5' 10"
First Year
F