Dutchmen seen as national title contenders

by Ryan Fay

Union is tied with Ferris State for the most wins in Division I college hockey with 28.

The Dutchmen own the country's longest-active unbeaten streak at 13 games (12-0-1). Their last loss was a 2-1 setback at St. Lawrence on January 31.

Union won its third ECAC Hockey regular season championship in the past four seasons and then its third consecutive ECACH tournament championship after beating Colgate 5-2 Saturday at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid.

On Monday, Union (28-6-4) was ranked first in the country in the USCHO.com top-20 poll, a first for the program.

Add all that up and the Dutchmen are seen as contenders for their first national championship as they enter their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Dutchmen are the third overall seed (behind Minnesota and Boston College) and the top seed in the East Regional at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Union opens the tournament at 2 p.m. Friday against Hockey East's Vermont. The Catamounts (20-14-3) are coached by Kevin Sneddon, who compiled a 50-99-18 record as the Dutchmen's head coach from 1998-2003.

“They’re an excellent team. There’s no question about it," Sneddon said. "People could have maybe questioned the first time they did it. When you’re a three-peat champion of a conference and a team that’s been to the Frozen Four and national tournaments, they are a legit contender for a national title."

Dartmouth head coach Bob Gaudet had similar thoughts. Union went 4-0 against the Big Green this season, including a two-game sweep in the ECACH quarterfinals earlier this month at Messa Rink.

"They got a chance at winning a national championship. I've thought that all year long," Gaudet said on March 15. "They ran away with our league and they're an outstanding team. [Union head coach] Rick [Bennett] and his staff have done a good job. I think they have a chance at winning it. I think they got a real chance."

NCAA hockey analyst Dave Starman thinks Union has more than a chance. During Sunday's NCAA Tournament selection show on ESPNU, he picked the Dutchmen to beat Wisconsin in the national championship game.

"I really do [like Union to win it all]. I think this could be the year," Starman said. "Union is a machine. They play the same way whether they're up 3-0 or down 2-1. It doesn't matter. They play for the next goal. They defend well. They bought in and they're well led."

Should the Dutchmen win a national championship, they would be the second consecutive ECACH team to do so. Yale accomplished the feat last year after a 4-0 victory over Quinnipiac in the national championship game.

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