Dutchmen to host Wildcats

by Ryan Fay

NCAA Hockey champion Union is tentatively scheduled to host New Hampshire on Saturday, Oct. 11.

As of now, that's the earliest known home date for next season.

The Dutchmen will look to make it three in a row against the Wildcats. Union traveled to New Hampshire in January and took back-to-back 3-1 decisions.

New Hampshire's visit could be extra special for Union freshman center Mike Vecchione. He originally committed to the Wildcats before de-committing and landing with the Dutchmen. A bout with mono kept him out of the games at New Hampshire in January.

New Hampshire, which hasn't played at Messa Rink since a 3-2 win over Union on Oct. 29, 1995, leads the all-time Division I series 4-2-0.

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Dutchwomen add Sullivan for 2015-2016

by Ryan Fay

Sloan Sullivan, a defenseman for Minnesota-based Shattuck-St. Mary's, has committed to the Union women's hockey team for the 2015-2016 season.

Sullivan, who turns 17 on April 28, had four goals and seven assists in 44 games with the girls prep team this season. She recorded 14 goals and six assists in 61 games with the 16U team last season.

"She is a stay at home defenseman, but she has a good shot from the point on offense as well," said Shattuck-St. Mary's girls prep head coach Gordon Stafford.

Stafford would like to see the Grafton, Wisconsin native improve her agility, puck handling and decision making, but thinks she can develop into a "solid, defensive cornerstone" type player at the Division I level.

Sullivan is the fourth known recruit committed to the Dutchwomen for 2015-2016. The other three are forwards Jacyn Reeves (Onalaska Hilltoppers), Jackie Mota (Chicago Young Americans 16U) and Jordan Stewart (Chicago Young Americans 19U).

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Dutchmen pick up USCHO.com honors

by Ryan Fay

The accolades keep coming for NCAA Hockey champion Union.

Union head coach Rick Bennett was named USCHO.com Coach of the Year. It's Bennett's third Coach of the Year honor this season. He was also selected as the AHCA Spencer Penrose Award winner as national Coach Of The Year and College Hockey News Coach of the Year.

Four Dutchmen cracked the All-USCHO.com teams. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere made the first-team, while defenseman Mat Bodie and forward Daniel Carr were on the second-team. Goaltender and Niskayuna native Colin Stevens was on the third-team.

First-team

Connor Hellebuyck, sophomore goaltender, Massachusetts-Lowell

Shayne Gostisbehere, junior defenseman, Union

Mike Reilly, sophomore defenseman, Minnesota

Johnny Gaudreau, junior forward, Boston College

Kevin Hayes, senior forward, Boston College

Greg Carey, senior forward, St. Lawrence

Second-team

Adam Wilcox, sophomore goaltender, Minnesota

Ben Hutton, sophomore defenseman, Maine

Mat Bodie, senior defenseman, Union

Cody Wydo, junior forward, Robert Morris

Nic Dowd, senior forward, St. Cloud State

Daniel Carr, senior forward, Union

Third-team

Colin Stevens, junior goaltender, Union

Jake McCabe, junior defenseman, Wisconsin

Steve Weinstein, junior defenseman, Bentley

Kyle Rau, junior forward, Minnesota

Devin Shore, sophomore forward, Maine

Josh Archibald, junior forward, Nebraska-Omaha

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Shier named MVP of OJHL playoffs

by Ryan Fay

Incoming men's hockey forward Kevin Shier was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs after leading the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots to the franchise's first OJHL championship.

Shier with the MVP trophy
(credit: Tim Bates/OJHL Images)

Toronto Lakeshore captured the title with a 3-1 victory over the Aurora Tigers on Sunday. The Patriots won the best-of-seven series, 4-2.

Shier was the top scorer during the OJHL playoffs with eight goals and 24 assists in 19 games, including an assist on Sunday. He registered four three-point games and one five-point game during the championship run.

Toronto Lakeshore advances to the Dudley Hewitt Cup, which determines the champion of Central Canada Junior "A" hockey. The Patriots open the tournament at 2:30 p.m. on April 29 against the champion from the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The round robin tournament also features the champion of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and the OJHL's Wellington Dukes, who host the tournament.

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Dutchmen sweep final monthly awards

by Ryan Fay

ECAC Hockey released its final monthly awards of the season on Friday and it was a clean sweep for NCAA Hockey champion Union.

Novak, Vecchione, Stevens

Junior forward Max Novak was named Player of the Month, freshman forward Mike Vecchione was honored as Rookie of the Month and junior goaltender Colin Stevens was selected Goaltender of the Month.

Novak scored five game-winning goals in eight games during the March/April span. He recorded the game-winner in the NCAA Championship game against Minnesota and received No. 1 Play of the Day honors on ESPN's SportsCenter on two occasions. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA East Regional.

Vecchione led all rookies in scoring (5-6--11) and plus/minus (plus-13) during March/April. He was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team after the Dutchmen won their third straight Whitelaw Cup. He went on to pot goals in both games at the Frozen Four.

Stevens went 8-0-0 in March/April, including a 6-0-0 mark against nationally ranked competition. During that stretch, he had a 2.13 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. The Niskayuna native was named to three all-tournament teams (NCAA Frozen Four, NCAA East Regional and ECAC Hockey Championship).

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Gostisbehere makes pro debut (with videos)

by Ryan Fay

Shayne Gostisbehere's last name was misspelled on the name plate above his locker stall in the Adirondack Phantoms locker room.

But if his professional debut against Bridgeport Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center was any indication, it won't be long before everyone knows his name.

Gostisbehere

While the defenseman was held without a point, he took three shots and had an even rating. More importantly, the player affectionately known as "Ghost" proved he belonged.

"The Ghost shows a lot of high-end skill," said Adirondack Phantoms head coach Terry Murray. "Great ability, mobility, vision on the ice. He's a triple-option playmaker and it's pretty special when you have that kind of player. I think he had a great first night out.

“The jump is big to the pro level. The American [Hockey] League is a good league. You’ve got men out there. Physically, he looks very comfortable matching up one-on-one. He’s got such quickness with his hands and his stick that he’s able to recover a lot of pucks under pressure.”

Murray, who has 499 wins as a head coach at the NHL level, gave Gostisbehere plenty of playing time. He wasn't afraid to use the first-timer in sudden-death overtime.

"When you're getting into overtime and that four-on-four hockey, lots of open ice, there's a great opportunity for him to do the things that he does well with the puck," Murray said. "That's make plays and be creative and I have a lot of confidence in what he can do. I love that kind of player."

Bridgeport picked up the win, 3-2, on a goal from Johan Sundstrom at 3:23 of overtime. The Sound Tigers were down 2-0 in the third period before starting their rally with Scooter Vaughan's shorthanded tally at 7:23 of the third.

Gostisbehere, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round two years ago, blamed himself for the rally-starting goal.

"That was definitely my fault," he said. "I lost my guy initially ... and definitely that one was on me."

It didn't take away from what was otherwise a night to remember. The Glens Falls Civic Center felt more like Messa Rink when a throng of Union fans shouted “U! over the word “you” in the national anthem. Many of Gostisbehere's Union teammates were on hand, and they received one of the loudest cheers of the night for winning the program's first national title last Saturday against Minnesota.

"It was a pretty awesome national anthem," Gostisbehere said. "They said 'U.' It was pretty special to share that experience with my teammates."

Gostisbehere, who turns 21 on Sunday, noticed professional hockey was different than college hockey.

“Definitely faster than college and stronger, but it’s a fun game out there, and I learned from it,” he said. “Some things I would do in college wouldn’t necessarily work. I adjusted a little bit and played my game.”

Gostisbehere will play his second professional game tonight when the Phantoms close out their final season in Glens Falls with a road game at Hershey. The Flyers' top minor league affiliate is moving to Allentown, Pa., next season.

Even though it's only two games, Murray said it's an invaluable stretch for Gostisbehere.

"Getting the experience is going to be tremendous for him and his career," Murray said. "This is a great opportunity to take it through the summertime, reflect on it, and get himself ready for the training camp."

Shayne Gostisbehere postgame



Adirondack head coach Terry Murray postgame

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Dutchmen to host St. Cloud

by Ryan Fay

St. Cloud State will pay Union a visit next season.

The NCAA champion Dutchmen will host the Huskies on Oct. 24-25. The two-game set will mark St. Cloud State's first ever visit to Messa Rink.

Union traveled to St. Cloud State for two games in December. The Dutchmen beat the Huskies, then the top-ranked team in the country, 4-1 on Dec. 13 before skating to a 3-3 tie the next night.

St. Cloud State, which won the inaugural NCHC regular season title this season, leads the all-time series 2-1-2.

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Gostisbehere named team MVP

by Ryan Fay

Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was named Most Valuable Player of the Union men’s hockey team at the program's annual year-end banquet Thursday at The Edison Club.

Gostisbehere, who will make his pro debut tonight with the Adirondack Phantoms, topped the NCAA champion Dutchmen in plus/minus rating (+33) while ranking third in blocked shots (52), fourth in assists (25) and fifth in scoring (34 points).

Gostisbehere, a third round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2012 NHL draft, was one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award and earned All-America honors for the second time in his career. He was the co-winner of ECAC Hockey's Player of the Year and Best Defensive Defenseman awards.

Other award winners

Senior defenseman Mat Bodie, a two-time team captain, received the Coaches Award for the second consecutive season. Bodie, who also earned All-America honors for the second time in his career, was the top scoring defenseman in the country this season with 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists).

Senior forward Kevin Sullivan earned Most Improved Player honors after setting career highs in goals (nine), assists (29) and points (38).

Freshman forward Mike Vecchione was honored as Rookie of the Year. His 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) led Union's freshman class and ranked ninth nationally among freshmen.

Junior defenseman Charlie Vasaturo received the Scott Richardson Unsung Hero Award. Vasaturo was one of three players to appear in all 42 games and paced the team in blocked shots with 62.

Senior forward Cole Ikkala picked up the Charles N. Morrison Scholarship Awartd for the second straight season. The honor is given annually to a student who participates in extracurricular activities while demonstrating academic interest and achievement.

Ikkala posted a perfect 4.00 GPA during the winter semester and owns a cumulative 3.82 GPA as a Managerial Economics major. He was named a Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American and was chosen as one of 18 candidates for the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Sophomore forward Theo DiPauli and sophomore defenseman Sebastien Gingras were chosen as recipients of the Thomas VanArden Dukehart Award, given annually to the student-athlete(s) with the highest GPAs on the team.

DiPauli, who also earned the award last season, owns a 3.93 GPA in Bioengineering. Gingras has a 3.85 GPA while majoring in Neuroscience. Both players posted 4.00 GPAs during the winter semester.

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Bodie signs with Rangers

by Ryan Fay

Union senior defenseman Mat Bodie is headed to the Big Apple.

Bodie came to terms with the New York Rangers on Tuesday, according to ESPN New York's Katie Strang. A team official confirmed the signing.

Bodie, who served as Union's captain the past two seasons, had eight goals, 31 assists and a plus-28 rating in 40 games this season.

He is the Dutchmen's all-time leader in assists (96) and points by a defenseman (124).

The 24-year-old will not join the Rangers this season. He'll remain at Union to finish his economics degree before joining the Rangers for development camp this summer.

He is the second local player signed by the Rangers in the last month. RPI junior forward Ryan Haggerty came to terms with the Rangers on March 12.

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Frozen Holiday Classic announced

by Ryan Fay

The Union men's hockey team will play in the inaugural Frozen Holiday Classic, Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment announced Monday.

The four team tournament will take place at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn on Dec. 27-28. The other three teams scheduled to compete are Quinnipiac, Connecticut and Sacred Heart.

Union's involvement appears to be a one-year deal. Yale will replace Union in 2015, making the tournament an all-Connecticut affair.

The Most Valuable Player of the Frozen Holiday Classic will be awarded the Tim Taylor Trophy. Taylor coached at Yale for 28 seasons before retiring in 2006 with a school record 337 wins. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 71.

Ticket prices and availability will be announced at a later date.

Union played NCAA Tournament games at the Webster Bank Arena in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

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Video: Union hockey edition of Sports Night

by Ryan Fay

Time Warner Cable News' Sports Night was devoted entirely to Union hockey on Sunday.

The Dutchmen won their first national championship with a 7-4 win over Minnesota in the national final on Saturday.

Watch the show here:

Sports Night Sunday 4/13 from Seth Leavitt on Vimeo.

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Dutchmen return home as national champions

by Ryan Fay

The Union men's hockey team returned home on Sunday following the team's 7-4 national championship game win over Minnesota on Saturday in Philadelphia.

A few hundred fans attended a welcome home celebration behind Messa Rink. Several luminaries were also on hand, including Union College President Stephen C. Ainlay, Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, Schenectady Councilwoman Marion Porterfield, and Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, a Union College graduate.

Fans welcome the team home



The Union hockey pep band plays ahead of the team's arrival 



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Dutchmen recall 2010 win vs Gophers

by Ryan Fay

When Union meets Minnesota in the national championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, it will mark the first meeting between the schools in over three years.

The last meeting was a 3-2 overtime win for the Dutchmen on Dec. 31, 2010 in semifinal game of the Mariucci Tournament.

Union forward Josh Jooris, now a member of Calgary Flames organization, scored the game-tying goal at 16:56 of the second period and the game-winner 42 seconds into overtime.

"That was a massive win for us," said senior defenseman Mat Bodie, a freshman at the time. "Guys were really excited. It was an overtime game. It was at their place. It was one of the bigger programs we've ever beaten. It's all about taking baby steps, and I think that was a huge step in the growth of Union College."

The win marked Union's first ever victory over Minnesota, a program that has won five national championships. The Gophers had beaten Union in the only two previous contests between the schools, including an 8-0 drubbing on Dec. 29, 2005.

"It was a monumental win for us, because we went out there a few years previous... it wasn't pretty," said Union head coach Rick Bennett, then an assistant under Nate Leaman. "I know one of our defensemen at the time, Lane Caffaro, found his way through the crease and ran their goalie over. I think we had to put him in a stick bag to get him out of there because it was pretty hostile.

"To come back and have that win in overtime was really special. Who knows, maybe it sets the tone at that time for where they are today."

A win over Minnesota tomorrow will give Union its first national championship.

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Four Dutchmen honored as All-Americans

by Ryan Fay

Four members of the Union men's hockey team were honored on Friday as ACHA/CCM Hockey All-Americans for the 2013-14 season.

Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and senior defenseman Mat Bodie were named First-Team East All-Americans, while senior forward Daniel Carr and junior goalie Colin Stevens were selected as Second-Team East All-Americans.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment to have four guys in one year to make All-American," said Union head coach Rick Bennett. "That's something they get to live with forever. Their teammates will be the first to tell you they earned it, and the guys who won the award, the first to tell you it was because of their teammates."

The four All-American selections are the most in program history. It beats the three Union had in 2012, when Bodie, forward Jeremy Welsh and goalie Troy Grosenick were honored.

Gostisbehere, a second-team selection last year, has eight goals and 23 assists in 41 games. The Philadelphia Flyers draftee set a new single-season program record with 154 shots on goal this season, surpassing the 153 Jeremy Welsh had in 2010-2011.

Bodie, who was on the Second-Team two years ago, has seven goals and 30 assists in 39 games. He serves as Union's captain and has been particularly good lately with three goals and five assists over his last six games, all postseason contests.

Carr, a first-time All-American, leads Union and ranks eighth in the country with 22 goals and 27 assists in 38 games. His 49 points are the most recorded by a Union player during the program's 23-year history at the Division I level.

Stevens, another first-time selection, is 27-4-2 with a 1.99 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and six shutouts in 35 games. The 27 wins and six shutouts are both single-season program records.

2013-14 AHCA/CCM Hockey Men's Division I All-American Teams

EAST - FIRST TEAM
Position - Player - Class- School (Hometown)
Goalie - Connor Hellebuyck, SO, UMass Lowell (Commerce, MI)
Defense - Mat Bodie, SR, Union College (East St. Paul, MB)
Defense - #Shayne Gostisbehere, JR, Union College (Margate, FL)
Forward - #Greg Carey, SR, St. Lawrence University (Hamilton, ON)
Forward - *Johnny Gaudreau, JR, Boston College (Carneys Point, NJ)
Forward - Kevin Hayes, SR, Boston College (Dorchester, MA)

WEST - FIRST TEAM
Goalie - Sam Brittain, SR, University of Denver (Calgary, AB)
Defense - Jake McCabe, JR, University of Wisconsin (Eau Claire, WI)
Defense - Mike Reilly, SO, University of Minnesota (Chanhassen, MN)
Forward - Josh Archibald, JR, University of Nebraska-Omaha (Brainerd, MN)
Forward - Nic Dowd, SR, St. Cloud State University (Huntsville, AL)
Forward - Ryan Dzingel, JR, The Ohio State University (Wheaton, IL)

EAST - SECOND TEAM
Goalie - Colin Stevens, JR, Union College (Niskayuna, NY)
Defense - Ben Hutton, SO, University of Maine (Prescott, ON)
Defense - Michael Matheson, SO, Boston College (Pointe-Claire, QC)
Forward - Daniel Carr, SR, Union College (Sherwood Park, ALB)
Forward - Ryan Haggerty, JR, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Stamford, CT)
Forward - Devin Shore, SO, University of Maine (Ajax, ON)

WEST - SECOND TEAM
Goalie - Adam Wilcox, SO, University of Minnesota (South St. Paul, MN)
Defense - Joey LaLeggia, JR, University of Denver (Burnaby, BC)
Defense - Colton Parayko, SO, University of Alaska (St. Albert, AB)
Forward - *Austin Czarnik, JR, Miami University (Washington, MI)
Forward - Cody Kunyk, SR, University of Alaska (Sherwood Park, AB)
Forward - Michael Mersch, SR, University of Wisconsin (Park Ridge, IL)
Forward - Kyle Rau, JR, University of Minnesota ((Eden Prairie, MN)

*First Team in 2012-13; #Second Team in 2012-13

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Video: Union, Minnesota press conferences

by Ryan Fay

Union and Minnesota meet in the national championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

On Friday, both teams met the media in advance of that game.

Union

Minnesota

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Union line chart vs Boston College

by Ryan Fay

Union has released its line chart for today's Frozen Four semifinal against Boston College at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Gametime is 5 p.m.

The winner advances to the national championship game on Saturday against either Minnesota or North Dakota.

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Video: Union, BC press conferences

by Ryan Fay

Union and Boston College meet in the Frozen Four semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

On Wednesday, both teams met the media in advance of that game.

Union

Boston College

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Bennett named Penrose recipient

by Ryan Fay

The American Hockey Coaches Association have selected Rick Bennett as the 2014 recipient of the Spencer Penrose Award, given each year to the top coach in Division I college hockey.

Bennett

The third-year coach has guided top-ranked Union to its first 30-win season in program history. Union won the ECAC Hockey regular season championship for the second time in the last three seasons and the ECACH postseason title for the third consecutive year.

The Dutchmen (30-6-4) are making their second appearance in the Frozen Four in the last three seasons. They square off against Boston College in the national semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Bennett will receive the award at the ACHA convention on May 3 in Naples, Florida.

The only other Union coach to win the award was Nate Leaman, who picked up the honor in 2011.

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Union recruit on NHL Central Scouting list

by Ryan Fay

NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings of the season on Tuesday, and a Union recruit cracked the list.

Defenseman J.C Brassard, who is committed to Union for the 2015-2016 season, was ranked 203rd among North American skaters.

The rankings detail the top prospects for the 2014 NHL Draft, which takes place June 27-28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The 18-year-old spent this season as a senior at Noble and Greenough in Massachusetts. He was the was the top point-getter among New England prep defensemen with 11 goals and 32 assists in 27 games.

Before joining Union, Brassard will play a season of junior hockey. He's deciding between the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Sioux Falls Stampede of the U.S Hockey League.

To see the full rankings, click here.

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TSN2 to air Frozen Four games

by Ryan Fay

Union fans in Canada won't be out of luck when it comes to watching the Frozen Four.

TSN2 will air Union's national semifinal against Boston College live at 5 p.m. Thursday. The network will also broadcast the national championship game live at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The other national semifinal, Minnesota against North Dakota, will be shown on TSN2 via tape delay at 2 p.m. Friday.

TSN2 will rebroadcast the national championship game at 2 p.m. Sunday.

In the United States, the two national semifinals will be shown live on ESPN2 and WatchESPN. The national championship game will be broadcast live on ESPN and WatchESPN.

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