THIS WEEK
Union College (10-7-2/3-4-1 ECACH, 7th-tied) returns to ECAC Hockey action this weekend (Jan. 9-10), taking on Princeton (2-12-1/1-9-0 ECACH, 12th-tied) and league leader Quinnipiac (13-6-1/8-2-0 ECACH, 1st) on the road.
SECOND MEETINGS
Union dropped a 4-3 back-and-forth battle with Quinnipiac at Messa Rink (11/14) in the first meeting this season. QU’s Travis St. Denis scored the game-winning goal with 52 seconds left in regulation. The Bobcats have won five of the last six encounters against Union.
Daniel Ciampini recorded a hat trick as part of a five point night (3-2) in leading Union to a 6-1 win over Princeton (11/15) in Schenectady. Jeff Taylor (1-3) and Max Novak (0-3) also turned in career-best efforts as the Dutchmen finished with a 37-16 shot advantage. Union is unbeaten in its last 11 games (9-0-2) versus Princeton dating to the 2009-10 season.
LAST WEEK
Union skated to a 3-3 overtime tie at top-ranked Boston U. on the NBC Sports Network. Daniel Ciampini (1-1) and Mike Vecchione (1-1) recorded multiple-point games as Union stretch its unbeaten streak against No. 1 teams to three games (1-0-2).
DUTCHMEN HONORED
Daniel Ciampini has been named Player of the Month and Ryan Scarfo tabbed Rookie of the Month for December by ECAC Hockey.
Ciampini led ECACH players with seven points, recording three game-winners, including the deciding tally with 1:43 left against Sacred Heart. Scarfo compiled a rookie-best five points and was twice named league rookie of the week in addition to earning a spot on the Frozen Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team.
TAYLOR IN A RUSH
With the loss of two offensive defenseman in Shayne Gostisbehere and Mat Bodie, sophomore Jeff Taylor has stepped up as an offensive force on the blue line this season. The Clinton Park, N.Y., native is averaging over a point per game (1.05) as the nation’s third-leading defenseman scorer, leading ECAC Hockey as well. In fact, Taylor needed just 17 games to surpass his point total from last year. Taylor’s 20 points (4-16) are third-best on the team and he has contributed three goals on the power play unit. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of last summer’s NHL Entry Draft.
COACH RICK BENNETT
Now in his fourth season, Bennett sports an overall record of 90-34-18 (.697). During his time in the Electric City, Bennett has led Union to a national championship, two Frozen Four appearances, three-straight 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
This weekend’s action ends Union’s nine-game stretch away from home. The Dutchmen have posted a 4-2-1 record during their time away from Messa … the Garnet and White rank sixth in the nation in scoring, averaging 3.37 goals over 19 games. That figure also leads ECAC Hockey … the Dutchmen have killed 23-of-24 short-handed situations over a six-game span … Union is 32-11-7 (.710) against nationally-ranked opponents in Rick Bennett’s four seasons … forward Wayne Simpson (2009-13) recently made his debut with the Providence Bruins, becoming the 10th Dutchman to appear in the American Hockey League (AHL) this season.
