Sakellaropoulos ready to take over in goal

by Ryan Fay

When Colin Stevens graduated in June, it left a big void between the pipes for the Union College men's hockey team.

The Niskayuna native was one of the best goaltenders ever to don a Dutchmen sweater. He backstopped the team to their first national championship in 2014, and is their career leader in wins with 53. He also shares the program's career shutouts record (11) and ranks in the top four in saves (2,093), goals-against average (2.12) and save percentage (.924).

Junior Alex Sakellaropoulos is likely to serve as
Union's top goaltender this season.

Talk about leaving a tough act to follow.

But that's the job likely to fall on the pads of junior Alex Sakellaropoulos, the only returning netminder on the roster following the graduation of Stevens and third-stringer Dillon Pieri.

And the consensus is that Sakellaropoulos, who has seen part-time duty in his first two seasons, is ready for the challenge.

"I think so," said Union head coach Rick Bennett, whose team opens the regular season Friday at 7 against Sacred Heart. “He had a good summer and came back in great shape. He's spent two years here, so he knows our style of hockey. He's had two years to work with [assistant coach and former Boston University goalie] Jason Tapp."

Dutchmen senior co-captain Matt Wilkins agrees that Sakellaropoulos is ready for prime time.

"He's put in the work since he's been here," said Wilkins, who had 13 goals and 15 assists in 34 games a year ago. "He had a huge summer and came back in the best shape that I've seen him [in]. He's ready to go."

Sakellaropoulos appeared in eight games as a freshman and 14 as a sophomore. With his workload likely to see a substantial increase this year, the 21-year-old said he upped his summer workouts to get himself mentally and physically ready for the season.

"I definitely think I'm ready for the number one job," he said. "I've been here for [two] years now. Sitting behind [Stevens], I learned a lot from him."

When given a chance, Sakellaropoulos has had his moments. As a freshman, he turned in a 34-save effort in a 4-1 win at then-No. 1 St. Cloud State. When St. Cloud State came to Messa Rink last October ranked ninth in the country, Sakellaropoulos was solid again with 36 stops in a 3-2 setback. In January, he racked up 33 saves in a 3-3 tie at then-No.1 Boston University.

"We're really confident [in him]," said Union junior co-captain Mike Vecchione, the Dutchmen's top returning scorer with 19 goals and 31 assists. "The past couple years, he stepped in for [Stevens] when we really needed him."

Union isn't short of promising alternatives if Sakellaropoulos falters. The other two goalies on the roster are freshmen Jake Kupsky and Joe Young. The San Jose Sharks drafted Kupsky in the seventh round of June's NHL Entry Draft, while Young spent the last two seasons as one of the better netminders in the U.S. Premier Hockey League.

Both have have pushed Sakellaropoulos "pretty good" in early practices, Bennett said.

That's okay with him.

"It helps me a lot in practice," Sakellaropoulos said. "It means that there's always competition. It helps me out and it helps [them out]."

In 22 career games with Union, Sakellaropoulos is 7-5-4 with a 2.80 GAA and an .897 save percentage. While those numbers are decent, Sakellaropoulos said there's room for improvement. Specifically, he would like to improve his GAA and save percentage this season.

He has a pretty simple game plan on how to accomplish that.

"Just make the saves," he said.

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