The Union men's hockey team resumes ECAC action this weekend when they host Princeton (Dec. 6) and fifth-ranked Quinnipiac (Dec. 7) at Messa Rink. Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
Princeton handed Qunnipiac its only league loss of the season with a 4-3 win on November 23, but have otherwise struggled, sitting in tenth place in the ECAC at 2-6. The Tigers are 3-10 overall.
Quinnipiac (6-1-1, 13-2-2) enters the weekend in first place in the ECAC with 13 points, three more than the two teams tied for second place, Union (5-1-0, 8-3-2) and Colgate (5-3-0, 7-7-1).
A few weekend notes:
INSIDE UNION'S FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK
No. 11/14 Union enters the weekend on a high note as the Dutchmen have won five consecutive games going back to a 3-0 shutout of Cornell at Messa Rink on November 9.
The Dutchmen have outscored their opponents, 20-11, during the run.
Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has fueled the surge as he leads the team with five goals and eight points during the five-game roll. The 2012 Philadelphia Flyers third rounder has also fired a team-high 33 shots on goal during the streak, 19 more than anybody else on the roster.
Union's freshmen have also come up big. Defenseman Jeff Taylor, a Clifton Park native, is tied with senior blueliner Mat Bodie for a team-best four assists during the Dutchmen's latest streak. Freshman forward Eli Lichtenwald has a point in four of the last five games.
Freshman forward Michael Vecchione has four points in his last five, and he has been Union's top faceoff weapon as of late with a 58.1% faceoff winning percentage (43-31) during the streak. That's especially impressive considering the rest of the team has a 42.2% mark (110-151) during the same span.
After a drought earlier in the season, the Dutchmen power play has sprung to life, firing at a 30.8% clip during the five-game run. The penalty kill hasn't had the same kind of success with an unimpressive 76.5% kill rate over the past five contests.
Goaltender Colin Stevens has a 2.43 goals against average over his last five games, but also an .883 save percentage, and was yanked for freshman Alex Sakellaropoulos in Sunday's 5-4 come-from-behind win at Penn State. Sakellaropoulos stopped all 11 shots in relief.
Despite that, I would be surprised if Stevens doesn't get the starts this weekend.
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
According to Princeton reporter Jashvina Shah, the Tigers could be without as many as eight regulars. Forwards Andrew Calof, Mike Ambrosia, Jonathan Liau, Tyler Maugeri and Ben Foster are injured along with defensemen Tommy Davis, Kevin Liss, and Kevin Ross.
According to Shah, Prier expects to dress just 19 skaters - 10 forwards, a defenseman playing forward and six defensemen skating along with the team’s goaltenders.
The Tigers need players like junior forward Tucker Brockett (2-9--11), senior forward Andrew Ammon (6-2--8) and senior forward Jack Berger (4-3--7) to continue to pick up the slack.
GARTEIG THE GREAT
When Quinnipiac graduated goaltender Eric Hartzell after last season, goaltending became one of the biggest question marks for the Bobcats.
Hartzell left big shoes to fill. He was USCHO's Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker finalist last season for good reason. He backstopped the Bobcats to the national championship game behind a 30-7-5 record, a 1.57 goals against average, and a .933 save percentage.
But at 13-2-2 overall, Qunnipiac has hardly missed a beat, and sophomore goaltender Michael Garteig is one reason why.
He has been a workhorse for the Bobcats, starting every game, and leading the country in minutes played by a netminder at 1023:27. The 22-year-old is second in the country with a 1.64 goals against average, and is tied with four other goalies for a nation-high three shutouts.
Garteig has been named ECAC Goaltender of the Month in back-to-back months.
FABOULUS FRESHMAN
The transition to college hockey can be a big adjustment for some players.
But not for Qunnipiac freshman forward Sam Anas. The 5-foot-8, 150-pounder has quickly become one of the premier players in college hockey.
Anas, 20, is tied for third in the country with 24 points, five more than any other freshman. His 12 goals are tied for second in the nation, and his five power play goals are tied for third best.
The native of Potomac, Maryland isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He has goal and an assist in each of his last four contests.
But not for Qunnipiac freshman forward Sam Anas. The 5-foot-8, 150-pounder has quickly become one of the premier players in college hockey.
Anas, 20, is tied for third in the country with 24 points, five more than any other freshman. His 12 goals are tied for second in the nation, and his five power play goals are tied for third best.
The native of Potomac, Maryland isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He has goal and an assist in each of his last four contests.
BODIE NEARING MILESTONE
Union senior defenseman Mat Bodie enters the weekend with 97 career points (20 g, 77 a), putting him three away from becoming the 11th member of Union's Division I era 100 career points club. He would be the lone defenseman in the club.
KEY MATCHUPS
Union offense (3.92 goals per game, 3rd in the country) vs Quinnipiac defense (1.65 goals per game, 1st in the country).
Union power play (25.35%, 6th in the country) vs Qunnipiac penalty kill (91.4%, tied with Denver for tops in the country).
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