THIS WEEK
The 12th-ranked Union College hockey team (5-4-1, 0-3-1 ECACH) closes a five-game home stand by hosting 20th-ranked Quinnipiac University (5-2-1, 2-0-0) on Friday (Nov. 14) and Princeton University (1-2-1, 1-1-0) on Saturday (Nov. 15).
After this weekend’s action, Union does not return to Messa Rink until Jan. 16. During its time away, Union will play nine straight road games, including three neutral site contests.
THE SERIES
The Union-Quinnipiac series has become one of the better rivalries in ECAC Hockey. Union’s 6-4 home win over the fifth-ranked Bobcats last December was considered by some observers as one of the more thrilling games at Messa Rink in recent years. Quinnipiac split the season series by winning 2-1 at High Point Solutions Arena a month later. Quinnipiac leads the all-time series, 13-11-3, having won four of the last five encounters.
Union shutout Princeton twice last season by identical 3-0 scores. The Dutchmen are unbeaten in their last 10 games (8-0-2) versus the Tigers dating to the 2009-10 season. Union is 26-21-7 all-time in the series, which included three meetings during Union’s Division III era.
LAST WEEK
Union recorded its first point in league play, skating to a 2-2 overtime tie against Harvard (Nov. 8). Spencer Foo scored an extra attacker goal with 46 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos made 31 saves in his second start of the season. The night before, Union saw a 3-0 lead evaporate in a 4-3 overtime loss to Dartmouth. The loss snapped Union’s 19-game winning streak against Ivy League schools.
