Dutchmen Details: Shaken, Not Stirred

The shakeups are becoming more frequent. With the startling announcement that DI Alabama-Huntsville will convert its hockey program into a club team, many college hockey insiders are fearing that we are nowfeeling the tremors that may precede an earthquake.

Nonetheless, AHU's departure leaves a major void for college hockey in the South. It's hard to imagine the shock their fans must be going through.

Combined with Notre Dame's (official) move to Hockey East and the ensuing problems for the CCHA (Notre Dame's current conference), things may look significantly different next year. Combined with the introduction of the new Big Ten andNCHC (National Collegiate Hockey Conference) conferences next year, even the most Union-centric hockey fan may feel the changes. Case inpoint? RPI is purportedly being courted by Hockey East.

Lest we forget the impact that these shakeups may have on the ACHA, which may stand to lose a lot to its semi-competitor, the NCAA

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• Alas, Union continues to draw favorable reviews in this week's polls. USCHO.com and USA Today both have Union clocking in at 11th in the country. The only other ECAC team ahead of Union in the national polls is #10/6 Yale, which garnered one first place vote in both polls.


• Elsewhere, Boston College is the toppermost of the poppermost, with the University of Denver at their heels.


• Meanwhile, Union sits at 16th in the PairWise rankings. No reason to fret here. At 2-0-3, Union is in good position.


• Both Kelly Zajac and Jeremy Welsh earned honorable mentions on 1989 and Still Waiting's 3 Stars of the Week.


• Others are taking note of Welsh's point surge. USCHO's Justin Churchill talks about consistency under Coach Bennett and the solid play in net by Troy Grosenick.


• USCHO.com's blog gives Freshman Max Novak some ink, declaring him a promising "Young Blood."


• Ken Schott also doles out his ECAC awards of the week. Grosenick shares goalie of the week honors with Paul Karpowich of 4-1-1 Clarkson.


• We'll be reminding you throughout the week, naturally, but be sure to try to make it to Messa Rink this Saturday. The atmosphere promises to be electric with the unveiling of banners commemorating the program's first Cleary Cup and NCAA appearance.


• HockeyJournal.com has more praise forCoach Bennett, Grosenick and company. Union ranks number 2 in their power rankings. No arguments here.
  


• Although the polls are now closed, it appears (based on Facebook comments) that Troy Grosenick's mask beat out Paul Karpowich's this round in College Hockey Inc.'s bracket to decide the best goalie mask
  in college hockey. Ah, aesthetics are fun. Assuming Troy's helmet advances to the next round, be sure to check their Facebook page and vote on head to head helmet match ups. (Pun intended).

(Courtesy: College Hockey Inc.)

• Our last Tweet of the Day was an Anchorman reference, so why not give credit to Mat Bodie for coming up with a gem from "Get Him To The Greek?"

--ZP