I recently caught up with the "voice of Union Hockey," Matt DuBrey, to take a look back at the Dutchmen's first half and what might be in store the rest of the season.
DuBrey, who has been calling Union Hockey games since the 2002-2003 season, dishes on the Dutchmen's freshmen, most improved player, first half MVP, and more.
RYAN FAY (RF): Considering the talent lost after last season, are you surprised Union has been this good so quickly?
MATT DUBREY (MD): Honestly, yes. Not only has the team's success surprised me, but how they have been successful has surprised me. Union lost a lot of firepower from last year's team. I felt the defense and goaltending were going to be set this year, but the question was going to be the offense. I thought the team could be successful with tight play, low scoring games, and good defense. However, this team has been winning with offense.
DuBrey, who has been calling Union Hockey games since the 2002-2003 season, dishes on the Dutchmen's freshmen, most improved player, first half MVP, and more.
RYAN FAY (RF): Considering the talent lost after last season, are you surprised Union has been this good so quickly?
MATT DUBREY (MD): Honestly, yes. Not only has the team's success surprised me, but how they have been successful has surprised me. Union lost a lot of firepower from last year's team. I felt the defense and goaltending were going to be set this year, but the question was going to be the offense. I thought the team could be successful with tight play, low scoring games, and good defense. However, this team has been winning with offense.
You can't bank on freshmen -- no matter how highly touted -- instantly becoming offensive contributors. But Union's first year players include three forwards and a defenseman who have been putting up lots of points. That has been amazing.
In addition, the resurgence of senior Kevin Sullivan and the evolution of junior Daniel Ciampini took me a bit by surprise. I had them penciled in as half point per game players, and they've obviously been much more. This is critical not only for this season, but in Ciampini's case, also looking ahead as Union looks to graduate another monumental class this year.
RF: How would you assess each of the freshmen so far?
MD: You never really know what to expect from freshmen in hockey. These guys are scouted and recruited young. They continue to grow and change, and who knows how they will adapt to the college game and different coaches. I have been pleasantly surprised.
RF: How would you assess each of the freshmen so far?
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| DuBrey (l) with analyst Brian Unger (r) |
6-foot-6 Eli Lichtenwald gives the team something they've never really had, a big body up front - and we're already seeing the dividends.
On the opposite end of the height spectrum, 5-foot-7 Michael Pontarelli has been such fun to watch. He's going to be a fan favorite in no time. He's extremely dynamic and has amazing vision, something which I think surprises even his teammates at times. Once they catch up to him, we're going to see some fantastic playmaking.
On the opposite end of the height spectrum, 5-foot-7 Michael Pontarelli has been such fun to watch. He's going to be a fan favorite in no time. He's extremely dynamic and has amazing vision, something which I think surprises even his teammates at times. Once they catch up to him, we're going to see some fantastic playmaking.
Michael Vecchione has quietly improved as the season has gone on. He may not have the flash of the other two I just mentioned, but he's going to be a rock for Union for years to come.
On the blue line, Noah Henry, Matt Krug and Jeff Taylor have all played quite well. Taylor's offensive numbers have been a pleasant surprise to I think most everyone around the team.
Goaltender Alex Sakellaropolous was thrown into a very tough situation in the beginning of the year, but he's had a couple standout games, including the 4-1 win at then top-ranked St. Cloud State on December 13. He's going to provide some pressure for Colin Stevens, and Union will be in great shape when 'Sak becomes the starter.
Forward Alex Gonye and defenseman Griffyn Martin have had a tough go. This is a very, very tough lineup to crack. Both have seen limited action, so it's tough to have an opinion on their play.
RF: Who has been Union's most improved player so far this season?
MD: Without a doubt, it has to be Sullivan. He had a remarkably tough season last year, but bounced back strong for the NCAA tournament. He has looked like a new player this season, more like what we expected last year. Obviously, playing with the guys he is playing with helps, but he's making great passes, and he's much tougher on the puck. Last year, for whatever reason, he seemed to really shy away from contact. He's playing with a lot more strength this year.
RF: Are there any Union players who haven't shown as much as you expected so far this season?
MD: Sophomore defeneseman Sebastien Gingras is stuck a little bit. He wants to be a more offensive defenseman, but because of Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere filling those roles, he really needs to focus his energy on his defensive play. He hasn't found his identity on the ice yet. He doesn't look much different from last year, and I am waiting for him to take another step in his development.
Stevens is a guy I still believe needs to be better if Union is going to go deep in the playoffs. It feels weird to say that about a guy who is 9-1-1 with a 2.31 GAA, but his .905 save percentage needs to improve. His best game may have been the 3-3 tie at St. Cloud State on December 14, which is very encouraging. He also had that 2-0 shutout against Princeton on December 6, so maybe he is getting into his groove.
RF: Who would you say has been Union's first half MVP?
MD: I am going to cop-out here and give co-MVP's to Daniel Carr and Bodie. I tried picking one over the other, and just couldn't do it. They are the heart of this team, their play is always top shelf, and they are both great leaders and players.
RF: What are your expectations for Union the rest of the season?
MD: Union is on the road a lot during the second half of the season. They have some very tough league games, including two against Clarkson, who I am looking forward to seeing. They also have the trip against New Hampshire in mid-January, which could be critical when things shake down at the end of the year.
But really, the team is healthier than they have been all year, the young guys are settling into the college game, and Stevens is improving. They don't have another brutal five games in nine days stretch coming up, so barring several injuries, there's no reason the team isn't going to be competing for the Whitelaw and Cleary Cups again, but also the NCAA tournament.
Thr Dutchmen got a win and a tie on the road against St. Cloud State (then the top-ranked team in the country) and beat Quinnipiac, who was ranked and ahead of them in the ECAC standings at the time. It's very exciting. Union once again appears to be a Frozen Four contender.
There is one caveat, though. Union's penalty kill (75.4%, fifth-to-last in the country) absolutely must improve. It has been a surprisingly weak element of the team this season, and for them to make a deep run, it will have to be better.
RF: Who has been the best opposing player you've seen so far this year?
MD: I don't know if I can separate the two of them, so I am going to go with Kellen and Connor Jones from Quinnipiac. They are incredibly dynamic, and are a threat every time they are on the ice. They skate hard, aren't afraid to hit, and are responsible defensively.
That being said, it should be pointed out that we haven't seen Greg Carey (St. Lawrence) yet.
RF: Other than Union, who is the best team you've seen so far this year?
MD: We haven't seen some teams in the league yet, but Colgate was the one that stood out to me the most. It may have been a combination of Union playing a poor game, but Colgate really looked great against the Dutchmen. They had four line depth, skated well, and got fantastic goaltending. Lake Superior State was also impressive to watch. They have a lot of size on that team, but they also skated very well.
Listen to DuBrey and Unger gamenights -- locally on WPTR Sporty 1240 AM or anywhere at teamline.cc (code 1160).
Forward Alex Gonye and defenseman Griffyn Martin have had a tough go. This is a very, very tough lineup to crack. Both have seen limited action, so it's tough to have an opinion on their play.
RF: Who has been Union's most improved player so far this season?
MD: Without a doubt, it has to be Sullivan. He had a remarkably tough season last year, but bounced back strong for the NCAA tournament. He has looked like a new player this season, more like what we expected last year. Obviously, playing with the guys he is playing with helps, but he's making great passes, and he's much tougher on the puck. Last year, for whatever reason, he seemed to really shy away from contact. He's playing with a lot more strength this year.
RF: Are there any Union players who haven't shown as much as you expected so far this season?
MD: Sophomore defeneseman Sebastien Gingras is stuck a little bit. He wants to be a more offensive defenseman, but because of Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere filling those roles, he really needs to focus his energy on his defensive play. He hasn't found his identity on the ice yet. He doesn't look much different from last year, and I am waiting for him to take another step in his development.
Stevens is a guy I still believe needs to be better if Union is going to go deep in the playoffs. It feels weird to say that about a guy who is 9-1-1 with a 2.31 GAA, but his .905 save percentage needs to improve. His best game may have been the 3-3 tie at St. Cloud State on December 14, which is very encouraging. He also had that 2-0 shutout against Princeton on December 6, so maybe he is getting into his groove.
RF: Who would you say has been Union's first half MVP?
MD: I am going to cop-out here and give co-MVP's to Daniel Carr and Bodie. I tried picking one over the other, and just couldn't do it. They are the heart of this team, their play is always top shelf, and they are both great leaders and players.
RF: What are your expectations for Union the rest of the season?
MD: Union is on the road a lot during the second half of the season. They have some very tough league games, including two against Clarkson, who I am looking forward to seeing. They also have the trip against New Hampshire in mid-January, which could be critical when things shake down at the end of the year.
But really, the team is healthier than they have been all year, the young guys are settling into the college game, and Stevens is improving. They don't have another brutal five games in nine days stretch coming up, so barring several injuries, there's no reason the team isn't going to be competing for the Whitelaw and Cleary Cups again, but also the NCAA tournament.
Thr Dutchmen got a win and a tie on the road against St. Cloud State (then the top-ranked team in the country) and beat Quinnipiac, who was ranked and ahead of them in the ECAC standings at the time. It's very exciting. Union once again appears to be a Frozen Four contender.
There is one caveat, though. Union's penalty kill (75.4%, fifth-to-last in the country) absolutely must improve. It has been a surprisingly weak element of the team this season, and for them to make a deep run, it will have to be better.
RF: Who has been the best opposing player you've seen so far this year?
MD: I don't know if I can separate the two of them, so I am going to go with Kellen and Connor Jones from Quinnipiac. They are incredibly dynamic, and are a threat every time they are on the ice. They skate hard, aren't afraid to hit, and are responsible defensively.
That being said, it should be pointed out that we haven't seen Greg Carey (St. Lawrence) yet.
RF: Other than Union, who is the best team you've seen so far this year?
MD: We haven't seen some teams in the league yet, but Colgate was the one that stood out to me the most. It may have been a combination of Union playing a poor game, but Colgate really looked great against the Dutchmen. They had four line depth, skated well, and got fantastic goaltending. Lake Superior State was also impressive to watch. They have a lot of size on that team, but they also skated very well.
Listen to DuBrey and Unger gamenights -- locally on WPTR Sporty 1240 AM or anywhere at teamline.cc (code 1160).
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