Third-ranked Union returns to action on Friday when it hosts Harvard at 7 p.m.
The Dutchmen (9-2-0 ECAC, 15-4-3 overall) enter the game on a three-game winning streak while the Crimson (2-8-3, 5-10-3) have gone winless in their last four.
The Dutchmen (9-2-0 ECAC, 15-4-3 overall) enter the game on a three-game winning streak while the Crimson (2-8-3, 5-10-3) have gone winless in their last four.
To get the skinny on Harvard, I chatted with Josh Seguin, who covers the ECAC for College Hockey News. Seguin has had multiple in-person looks at Harvard in recent weeks.
Ryan Fay (RF): How has Harvard been playing lately?
Josh Seguin (JS): Harvard has been in a stretch where it has played a ton of great teams. It tied Quinnipiac 2-2 in a game that saw them carry possession for the last 30 minutes of the contest. Against Yale, it had moments of brilliance, despite getting defeated 5-1. Against Cornell, it carried play for long stretches as well but were unable to find a tying goal and lost 3-2 So to say Harvard is playing bad hockey would be wrong, but what Harvard has done is it has shot itself in the foot by making small mistakes that prove costly.
Harvard's biggest problem is that it plays 40 minutes. It is usually non-existent in the first but in the second and third it looks like a team that could compete for an ECAC title. Look for that to continue. But if this team plays like it did against Cornell late and Quinnipiac late, it could beat any team in the country.
RF: What are a few things Harvard does well?
JS: Harvard controls the neutral zone pretty well and has some experience on defense. Its defense is ranked sixth in the conference and it isn't by mistake. It also can keep up with skill guys of any team, as it has tons of skill itself.
RF: The raw talent is there -- Harvard has an ECAC-high 9 NHL draft picks on its roster -- but the results often haven't been. Why isn't this team better than it is?
JS: It hasn't come together as a team. If you look at the top of the ECAC you will see Quinnipiac, Union and Clarkson. Those three are the best "teams" in the ECAC and the results show their level of cohesion. What Harvard struggles with, at times, is an unwillingness to play as a five man unit. Its power-play is below average and is very indicative of that unwillingness. This team needs to find what sparks it early, as it often doesn't pick up its game until it is too late. In a sense it shoots itself in the foot.
RF: Is Harvard head coach Ted Donato on the hot seat?
Ryan Fay (RF): How has Harvard been playing lately?
Josh Seguin (JS): Harvard has been in a stretch where it has played a ton of great teams. It tied Quinnipiac 2-2 in a game that saw them carry possession for the last 30 minutes of the contest. Against Yale, it had moments of brilliance, despite getting defeated 5-1. Against Cornell, it carried play for long stretches as well but were unable to find a tying goal and lost 3-2 So to say Harvard is playing bad hockey would be wrong, but what Harvard has done is it has shot itself in the foot by making small mistakes that prove costly.
Harvard's biggest problem is that it plays 40 minutes. It is usually non-existent in the first but in the second and third it looks like a team that could compete for an ECAC title. Look for that to continue. But if this team plays like it did against Cornell late and Quinnipiac late, it could beat any team in the country.RF: What are a few things Harvard does well?
JS: Harvard controls the neutral zone pretty well and has some experience on defense. Its defense is ranked sixth in the conference and it isn't by mistake. It also can keep up with skill guys of any team, as it has tons of skill itself.
RF: The raw talent is there -- Harvard has an ECAC-high 9 NHL draft picks on its roster -- but the results often haven't been. Why isn't this team better than it is?
JS: It hasn't come together as a team. If you look at the top of the ECAC you will see Quinnipiac, Union and Clarkson. Those three are the best "teams" in the ECAC and the results show their level of cohesion. What Harvard struggles with, at times, is an unwillingness to play as a five man unit. Its power-play is below average and is very indicative of that unwillingness. This team needs to find what sparks it early, as it often doesn't pick up its game until it is too late. In a sense it shoots itself in the foot.
RF: Is Harvard head coach Ted Donato on the hot seat?
JS: Ted is as high profile of an alum as any school in Division I hockey has. He survived an academic scandal and one of the worst seasons in school history. Right now this team needs a spark and it is up to the coach to find it. If he doesn't find it, I would suppose he would end up on the hot seat.
I call this the most talented team in the ECAC for a reason but for some reason it just does not find that spark early enough. Many thought he was a goner last season, but he is still around. It will be interesting to see what happens if this team doesn't turn it around quick.
RF: How does Harvard matchup against Union? How do you see the game unfolding?
JS: This is an interesting matchup because at some point Harvard will have a great game and surprise people. The Crimson have tons of skill and can stifle the Union offense. The Dutchmen aren't as big and tough as Cornell, which at times manhandled the Crimson. Quinnipiac and Union are very similar in nature, as both control possession a ton. Harvard kept up with Quinnipiac and at times took it to the Bobcats.
If, and only if, the Crimson play 60 minutes, they can win this game. Otherwise, Union will score two or three in the first and the Crimson won't have the time to catch up.
So. F Jimmy Vesey (10-6--16, 18 games)
Players to Watch
So. F Jimmy Vesey (10-6--16, 18 games)
6'1" / 195
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| Vesey |
JS: Vesey is a really special player and is the one player on the Crimson that Union needs to pay special attention to. His skill and vision of the ice makes him one of the more dangerous younger players in the league. Vesey is one of those players that is due for a breakout game.
So. F Kyle Criscuolo (10-4--14, 18 games)
So. F Kyle Criscuolo (10-4--14, 18 games)
5'8" / 165
JS: Cirscuolo is the Crimson's most consistent and versatile player. He is a goal scorer on one end and on the other end he is a responsible defender. He leads the Crimson in plus/minus and there is a clear reason why, as he is probably the hardest working player on the Crimson. Crisucuolo has a knack for scoring big goals as well. If there is a big goal needed, he will usually be the guy. He is tied [with Vesey] for first on the team with ten goals.
Fr. F Sean Malone (4-7--11, 18 games)
Fr. F Sean Malone (4-7--11, 18 games)
6" / 190
JS: Malone had a monster game against Cornell, and he like many of Harvard's younger players, has started to produce in big numbers. At times against the Big Red, Malone looked like a man among boys. He is also a player that will outwork you, but he also has tons of untapped skill to fall back on.
Sr. G Raphael Girard (4-5-2, 2.38 GAA, .931%)
Sr. G Raphael Girard (4-5-2, 2.38 GAA, .931%)
5'11" / 185
Jr. G Steve Michalek (1-4-1, .277 GAA, .917%)
6'2" / 196
JS: Harvard has played a steady mix of Girard and Michalek but the former was kept out of last weekend on a coaches decision. There is no word who will start this weekend, but Girard has been the most consistent of the two. His numbers are near the top of the ECAC but if he was kept out both games last weekend, there is a chance the same happens this weekend.
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