FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 22, 2014
THIS WEEK
A pair of nationally-ranked squads square off this weekend (Oct. 24-25) in Schenectady as No. 2 Union College (4-0) plays host to No. 9 St. Cloud State University (1-1). Faceoff is 7:00 p.m. both nights. The matchup at Messa is one of just two series taking place across the nation featuring a battle of top-10 teams, the other series being No. 5 Providence at No. 3 North Dakota.
STREAKS GALORE
Union brings several notable streaks into this weekend’s series, including a school-record 16-game winning streak and a 21-game (20-0-1) unbeaten streak, both dating to last season. The Dutchmen have also won their last 14 home games, the longest active streak in the country. Union is off to its best start since the 2003-04 team also went 4-0.
RANKED OPPONENTS
The Dutch have excelled against nationally-ranked teams during Head Coach Rick Bennett’s tenure. Since October 2011, Union owns a 31-9-6 (.739) record against ranked opponents, which includes eighth straight wins going back to last season.
LAST TIME OUT
Union passed its first road test of the season, sweeping a road series at Maine before near-capacity crowds at Alfond Arena. Colin Stevens made 29 saves on Friday to notch the 10th shutout of his career in a 3-0 win. Union survived a more physical game on Saturday, using two goals from Daniel Ciampini to surge past the Black Bears, 5-2.
VECCHIONE … AGAIN
For the second time in as many weeks, Mike Vecchione has earned ECAC Hockey Player of the Week honors.
Centering a line with Ciampini and Spencer Foo, Vecchione recorded a goal and four assists in the Maine series. In the opener, he scored the game-winning goal and was named the game’s No. 2 Star. The next night, Vecchione registered a career-high three assists and earned No. 2 Star honors once again.
Vecchione, who has started the season with four straight multiple-point games, leads the Dutchmen in scoring with three goals and six assists for nine points in four contests. He is tied with Nebraska-Omaha’s Jake Guentzel for the national lead in points.
COACH RICK BENNETT
Now in his fourth season, Bennett owns an overall record of 84-27-16 (.724). During his time in the Electric City, Bennett has led Union to a national championship, two Frozen Four appearances, three Whitelaw Cups and two Cleary Cups. Last year he was named Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association, College Hockey News and U.S. College Hockey Online.
DUTCHMEN NOTEBOOK
The “U” stands fourth nationally in scoring offense (4.5 goals per game) and eighth in scoring defense (1.5 goals per game) … freshman Ryan Scarfo and J.C. Brassard scored their first collegiate goals last Saturday at Maine … Stevens stopped 55 of 56 shots (.982) and allowed just one goal in 111 minutes of action against Maine in one of college hockey’s toughest buildings for visiting teams … Josh Jooris (2010-13) became the sixth former Dutchman player to appear in an NHL game on Oct. 17. The Calgary forward scored in his NHL debut, going top shelf on Columbus’ Sergei Bobrovsky at 11:43 of the third period in the Flames’ 3-2 road loss … Union opens ECAC Hockey action next week with a home-and-home series against Rensselaer.
