When winger Matt Wilkins joined Union prior to the 2012-13 season, it seemed like the Dutchmen were getting someone who projected to be an offensive star.
At the time, Wilkins was fresh off two dominating seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In two years there, he piled up 64 goals and 112 assists in 120 games.
While Wilkins' first two years at Union weren't bad, they didn't match the hype created by his junior hockey career.
In his first 77 games with the Dutchmen, he had just nine goals and 27 assists. It was fair to question if the guy who lit up the AJHL was ever going to make a big offensive impact at the collegiate level.
Wilkins answered that question this year. Now a junior, his numbers have gone to a whole new level. He has 11 goals and 14 assists in 31 games this season, setting single-season high's in goals and points while tying his high in assists.
The 24-year-old has been especially dangerous since the calendar flipped to 2015. Wilkins ranks third on the team in scoring since the new year with six goals and 13 assists in 15 games. That's despite missing three games due to lower-body injuries in February.
In last weekend's two-game sweep of seventh-seeded Cornell in opening round of the ECAC Hockey tournament, Wilkins came back from injury and recorded two goals and three assists.
He never doubted that he would find the kind of offensive success he's enjoyed this season.
"I thought it would come," Wilkins said. "It's sort of just sticking with it, chipping away, and doing your job. Freshman year and a bit last year, I took on a different role as more of an energy player. I've tried to stick with that, but at the same time, I've been able to produce. It's been nice."
Wilkins added the biggest differences this year have been more more confidence and more opportunities. Union head coach Rick Bennett agreed.
"He's played [on] the top lines the whole year, so that obviously helps," Bennett said. "[He's had] a little more power play time and shorthand, too. It's extra ice. When you have extra ice, it's extra opportunity."
Bennett said Wilkins' emergence has been important for the team.
"He's provided another top six body," Bennett said. "That's huge from what we lost last year. He stepped in right away, and each year you want to have a guy step into the top six and be a contributor. Matt has definitely done that."
Sophomore center Mike Vecchione has been one of Wilkins' most frequent linemates this season. He said Wilkins has been a jack of all trades.
"He does it all," Vecchione said. "He's in the offensive zone, hitting guys, creating plays and creating open space. When he's been getting his chances, he's been putting the puck in... he's doing all the little things right, and it's been paying off for him this season."
Tenth-seeded Union will need Wilkins keep it going this weekend when it travels to top-seeded Quinnipiac for a best-of-three ECACH tournament quarterfinal series.
Quinnipiac captured its second Cleary Cup in the last three seasons after going 16-3-3 in conference play. The Bobcats took both regular season tilts against the Dutchmen.
Quinnipiac edged Union, 4-3, at Messa Rink on Nov. 14 after Travis St. Denis scored in the final minute of the third period. In the rematch Jan. 10 at Quinnipiac, the Bobcats raced out a 4-0 lead and then held on for a 4-3 win after Union's late rally came up short.
"The first one was pretty tough" Vecchione recalled. "It was back and forth and I thought we could have had it. We let up a goal pretty late in the game that cost us. In the second game, we didn't come out too strong and [goaltender Colin Stevens] kept us in the game. We had a little surge at the end, but we're not going to fool ourselves. We didn't play very good."
Union hasn't won a game at Quinnipiac since the 2010-11 season, before anyone on this year's roster donned a Dutchmen sweater. Vecchione knows the Dutchmen can't get off to another slow start this weekend.
"They're a great team [and] they're the winners of the regular season," he said of the Bobcats. "We're going to have to come out really strong. Playing in their building is always a difficult thing to do. It's going to be a tough weekend, but I think we can handle it."
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| Wilkins has rediscovered his offensive touch during his junior season. photo: Union College Sports Information |
In his first 77 games with the Dutchmen, he had just nine goals and 27 assists. It was fair to question if the guy who lit up the AJHL was ever going to make a big offensive impact at the collegiate level.
Wilkins answered that question this year. Now a junior, his numbers have gone to a whole new level. He has 11 goals and 14 assists in 31 games this season, setting single-season high's in goals and points while tying his high in assists.
The 24-year-old has been especially dangerous since the calendar flipped to 2015. Wilkins ranks third on the team in scoring since the new year with six goals and 13 assists in 15 games. That's despite missing three games due to lower-body injuries in February.
In last weekend's two-game sweep of seventh-seeded Cornell in opening round of the ECAC Hockey tournament, Wilkins came back from injury and recorded two goals and three assists.
He never doubted that he would find the kind of offensive success he's enjoyed this season.
"I thought it would come," Wilkins said. "It's sort of just sticking with it, chipping away, and doing your job. Freshman year and a bit last year, I took on a different role as more of an energy player. I've tried to stick with that, but at the same time, I've been able to produce. It's been nice."
Wilkins added the biggest differences this year have been more more confidence and more opportunities. Union head coach Rick Bennett agreed.
"He's played [on] the top lines the whole year, so that obviously helps," Bennett said. "[He's had] a little more power play time and shorthand, too. It's extra ice. When you have extra ice, it's extra opportunity."
Bennett said Wilkins' emergence has been important for the team.
"He's provided another top six body," Bennett said. "That's huge from what we lost last year. He stepped in right away, and each year you want to have a guy step into the top six and be a contributor. Matt has definitely done that."
Sophomore center Mike Vecchione has been one of Wilkins' most frequent linemates this season. He said Wilkins has been a jack of all trades.
"He does it all," Vecchione said. "He's in the offensive zone, hitting guys, creating plays and creating open space. When he's been getting his chances, he's been putting the puck in... he's doing all the little things right, and it's been paying off for him this season."
Tenth-seeded Union will need Wilkins keep it going this weekend when it travels to top-seeded Quinnipiac for a best-of-three ECACH tournament quarterfinal series.
Quinnipiac captured its second Cleary Cup in the last three seasons after going 16-3-3 in conference play. The Bobcats took both regular season tilts against the Dutchmen.
Quinnipiac edged Union, 4-3, at Messa Rink on Nov. 14 after Travis St. Denis scored in the final minute of the third period. In the rematch Jan. 10 at Quinnipiac, the Bobcats raced out a 4-0 lead and then held on for a 4-3 win after Union's late rally came up short.
"The first one was pretty tough" Vecchione recalled. "It was back and forth and I thought we could have had it. We let up a goal pretty late in the game that cost us. In the second game, we didn't come out too strong and [goaltender Colin Stevens] kept us in the game. We had a little surge at the end, but we're not going to fool ourselves. We didn't play very good."
Union hasn't won a game at Quinnipiac since the 2010-11 season, before anyone on this year's roster donned a Dutchmen sweater. Vecchione knows the Dutchmen can't get off to another slow start this weekend.
"They're a great team [and] they're the winners of the regular season," he said of the Bobcats. "We're going to have to come out really strong. Playing in their building is always a difficult thing to do. It's going to be a tough weekend, but I think we can handle it."
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