Dutchmen, Black Bears fit to be tied (with postgame audio)

Box Score

Union freshman Brendan Taylor scored his first
collegiate goal on Friday.
(credit: Union College Sports Information)

by Ryan Fay

A roundup of Union's 1-1 non-conference tie against Maine Friday at Messa Rink.

TAYLOR GETS FIRST GOAL

A Union player had an important milestone on Friday: freshman forward Brendan Taylor registered his first collegiate goal.

The former Nanaimo Clippers star accomplished the feat at 4:27 of the second period. The tally came shortly after Taylor served a tripping penalty, and it gave Union a 1-0 lead that held up until Maine buried the equalizer in the latter stages of the third.

"Lich' [Eli Lichtenwald] had taken it to the net, and the puck just kind of popped out onto my stick," said Taylor, who also has an assist in three games this season. "I think the goalie still thought the puck was with him, and I kind of just wrapped it into the net."

The assists on Taylor's goal went to his new linemates, Lichtenwald and Tyler Hynes.

MAKING AN IMPRESSION

For the second straight game, that trio was put on the same line by Union head coach Rick Bennett.

Appropriately, they have been called the B-L-T line.

Serving as the fourth line on Friday, they were one of the brighter spots of the night for the Dutchmen. In addition to producing Union's only goal, they brought a lot of energy to the ice.

"They work extremely hard, and they got rewarded tonight," Bennett said. "[Hynes] drew a penalty, and they scored tonight. They get rewarded for hard work."

“We like to work hard and get in there,” Lichtenwald added. “We’ve got some good chemistry. All of our chances come from the forecheck. It started last week, and it’s carried over into this week.”

SPECIAL TEAMS A MIXED BAG

Union's penalty killing unit couldn't be off to a better start this season. The group has gone 11-for-11 in three games, including a 6-for-6 effort on Friday.

"The PK has been good to this point," said Hynes, a Guilderland native. "We've been putting a lot of work in on it, disrupting them a little bit coming up the ice and not letting them set-up."

On the other side of the equation, Union's power-play has struggled. The Dutchmen have cashed in once on 15 power-play chances this season. On Friday, their power-play unit went 0-for-5 while generating just five shots on the man advantage. They spent too much time passing the puck, especially late in the game.

“It’s simple hockey,” Bennett said. “It wasn’t simple tonight. We didn’t want to chip it in. We were looking for the pretty goal. I’m not sure who we’re trying to impress. We didn’t impress anybody. It’s as simple as that.”

"SAK" SOLID AGAIN

Union netminder Alex Sakellaropoulos had another strong outing on Friday.

He stopped 12-of-12 power play shots, and finished with 32 saves overall. His only blemish was Brian Morgan's game-tying goal from the right circle at 14:04 of the third.

"He played a great game," said Lichtenwald. "Everyone should be thanking him for the tie tonight."

Sakellaropoulos was elevated from backup to starter following the graduation of Colin Stevens in June. The junior has started all three of Union's games this season, going 1-0-2 with a 1.58 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.

RANDOM STAT
With the tie, Union is now 13-1-1 in their last 15 games against Hockey East opponents.

UP NEXT
A rematch with Maine awaits tonight at 7 at Messa Rink.

POSTGAME AUDIO

Bennett

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Lichtenwald, Hynes and B.Taylor

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Lichtenwald named National Rookie of the Month

by Ryan Fay

The honors keep pouring in for Union freshman forward Eli Lichtenwald.

Hours after being tabbed ECAC Hockey's Rookie of the Month for a dominant December, Licthenwald picked up a national honor. He was named the Hockey Commissioners Association National Division I Rookie of the Month for December.

Lichtenwald was the top scoring freshman in the country during December with seven points (4 g, 3 a) in six games.

Lichtenwald in action earlier this season

He began his offensive onslaught with an assist in Union's 3-0 shutout of Princeton on Dec. 6.

The 21-year-old collected a career-high three points (2 g, 1 a) in a 6-4 win over Quinnipiac the following night. The victory moved Union into a first place tie with Quinnipiac in the ECAC standings.

Lichtenwald added an assist in a 3-2 win over Dartmouth on Dec. 11, a win which gave the Dutchmen sole possession of first place in the ECAC.

The former Nipawin Hawk scored the eventual game-winning goal in Union's 4-2 win at then top-ranked St. Cloud State on Dec. 13. He concluded play in December with a goal in Union's 3-3 tie with the Huskies the next night.

Lichtenwald finished the month with a plus-6 rating, fourth in the country among all freshmen and tops among ECAC freshmen.

He enters 2014 with at least a point in five straight games.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has 13 points (7 g, 6 a) in 11 games this season. He has notched at least a point in ten of his 11 contests.

Union is undefeated (9-0-2) when Lichtenwald is in the lineup. The Dutchmen went 3-3-1 during the seven games he missed early in the season with a lower-body injury.

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Dutchmen sweep monthly league awards

by Ryan Fay

It was a clean sweep for Union in December's ECAC Hockey monthly men's honors.

Senior forward Daniel Carr was named Player of the Month, freshman forward Eli Lichtenwald earned Rookie of the Month, and junior goaltender Colin Stevens picked up Goaltender of the Month.

Carr, Lichtenwald, Stevens

The trio helped Union go 5-0-1 in six December contests and move into sole possession of first place in the ECAC standings.

Carr ranked fourth in the country with eight points during December, finishing the month with two goals and six assists. He registered a season-high three points (all assists) in a 6-4 triumph over then fifth-ranked Quinnipiac on Dec. 7th. The win moved the Dutchmen into a first-place tie in the ECAC with the Bobcats.

Lichtenwald was the top scoring freshman in the country during December with seven points (4 g, 3 a). The 21-year-old collected a career-high three points (2 g, 1 a) in the win over Quinnipiac on Dec. 7. He enters 2014 with at least a point in five straight games.

Stevens went 3-0-1 in five December starts. He recorded a career-high 37 saves in a 3-2 win over Dartmouth on Dec. 11, a victory that gave Union sole possession of first place in the ECAC. The Niskayuna native followed that effort with a 35-save performance in a 3-3 tie at then top-ranked St. Cloud State on Dec. 14. He earned Goaltender of the Week honors on Dec. 10 and 17.

Fifth-ranked Union (12-3-3 overall, 8-1-0 ECAC) returns to action on Jan. 10 with a rematch at eighth-ranked Quinnipiac.

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Late addition Pontarelli making an early impact for Dutchmen (with videos)

by Ryan Fay

Michael Pontarelli wasn't supposed to be on this year's team.

The former Cornwall Colts star, who led the Central Canada Hockey League with 107 points last season, was originally scheduled to join the Dutchmen for the 2014-2015 season.

He was only added to this year's roster after Josh Jooris gave up his senior year of eligibility and signed with the Calgary Flames in late July.

At the time, Pontarelli said, "I'm looking forward to jumping in right away and seeing how I stack up against everyone. I'm anxious to see what kind of impact I can bring."

If early indications are anything, the 5-foot-7 forward stacks up just fine and will have a big impact over the next four years.

In Friday's season-opening 3-3 tie against Bowling Green, Pontarelli displayed a slick passing touch and picked up his first two collegiate assists.

On Saturday, Pontarelli scored his first two collegiate goals (both on the power play) to help lift the Dutchmen to their first win of the season, a 5-2 non-conference victory over Bowling Green.

Through two games, the 19-year-old is tied with Kevin Sullivan for the team lead in points with four.

"It's very exciting," Pontarelli said. "Every time you jump a level and get your first points, it's exciting. It's something brand new. But that's just bonus. Getting our first win of the season in that fashion is the most important thing."

Added Union head coach Rick Bennett, "Pontarelli feeds off offense. That's not a big secret if you see his stats coming from juniors. When he's on a roll, he's on a roll."

That roll doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.

INJURY UPDATES

Bennett said junior goaltender Colin Stevens remains "day-to-day" with the upper-body injury he sustained in Friday's game when Bowling Green's Bryce Williamson rammed into him at 6:12 of the first period.

Freshman Eli Lichtenwald, who scored his first collegiate goal on Friday, didn't play on Saturday. Bennett was mum on Lichtenwald's status, but the forward was spotted using crutches as he watched from the bleachers.

CARR RECORD WATCH

Senior forward Daniel Carr scored a power play goal on Saturday, the 58th goal of his Union career. He needs one more goal to tie Mario Valery-Trabucco for the program's Division I-era career goals record. Valery-Trabucco played for Union from 2006-2010.

FRESHMAN FIRSTS

Jeff Taylor recorded his first collegiate point on Saturday. The Clifton Park native and former Albany Academy defenseman assisted on Nick Cruice's second period goal.

Goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos picked up his first collegiate win on Saturday in place of the injured Stevens. He stopped 20-of-22 shots in the winning effort.

GIVING THEM A GOOD SHOW

With Philadelphia Flyers brass in attendance on Saturday, junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere put on a good show. The 20-year-old, who the Flyers drafted in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft, picked up three assists.

UP NEXT

Union hosts Lake Superior State for a two-game non-conference series next Friday and Saturday. The Lakers swept Robert Morris over the weekend, winning both games 3-1.

POSTGAME VIDEOS FROM SATURDAY

Pontarelli, later joined by Daniel Ciampini and Gostisbehere

 

Union head coach Rick Bennett

 

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Recruit note: Lichtenwald improved, coach says

by Ryan Fay

Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) head coach/general manager Doug Johnson has coached incoming recruit Eli Lichtenwald on two occasions.

The first was 2010-2011 in Nipawin before Lichtenwald did a season-plus with Omaha of the U.S Hockey League. The 20-year-old forward was reunited with Johnson after being re-acquired in a trade with Omaha in late December.

The coach has seen a few differences in the six-foot-six Lichtenwald compared to the player's first stint in Nipawin.

"His defensive awareness and stick positioning has greatly improved in the last two years," Johnson said. "He has realized that he has a huge advantage over other players with his reach and you can see that in his defensive play where he is always creating turnovers with his stick."

The prospect has improved elsewhere as well.

"[His] strength has also improved tremendously in the last couple years," Johnson added. "He has put a lot of time in at the gym and it has paid off with him gaining over 25 pounds in the last couple years and all of it being muscle."

Lichtenwald, who is now listed at 216 pounds, has nine goals and 13 assists in 19 games since being re-acquired. The Hawks start a playoff series with Flin Flon this weekend.

For more of Johnson's insights on Lichtenwald, check out a recent Q&A I conducted with him.

Recruit Lichtenwald on tear in SJHL (w/ Q&A)

by Ryan Fay

Men's hockey recruit Eli Lichtenwald has been surging since being re-acquired by the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in late December.

Lichtenwald, who is set to join the Dutchmen this fall, has 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) in 16 games since the trade with Omaha of the U.S Hockey League.  

Lichtenwald had spent the past season-plus with Omaha, where he collected 29 points (8 g, 21 a) in 70 games.

The forward previously played for Nipawin during the 2010-2011 campaign and accumulated 45 points (21 g, 24 a) in 56 contests en route to league rookie of the year honors.

For some insights on Lichtenwald, I checked in with Doug Johnson, head coach and general manager of the Hawks. Johnson, who also coached Lichtenwald in his first go-around in Nipawin, describes what kind of player he is, his upside in Division I, and more.

Lichtenwald (Nipawin)

UNION HOCKEY NEWS (UHN): What kind of player is Lichtenwald?

DOUG JOHNSON (DJ): Eli will be an all around player. His most intriguing attribute is his size (6'6"/216). He takes up a lot of space which helps him defensively but also offensively using his reach to protect pucks. For a big player he skates incredibly well and has an extremely good skill set. The biggest thing with Eli is that he has a lot of room to improve. He is a late bloomer. He was an average midget player that blossomed his first year of junior and will only get better in the future. What Union fans see from Eli as a freshman won't even be comparable to what they see from him as a senior.

UHN: What type of upside does he have at the Division I level -- a depth guy? a regular? an impact player? 

DJ: I firmly believe Eli has the ability to be a very good regular with the possibility to be an impact player if he keeps developing like I believe he will. The level of his success will be very dependent on how he adjusts to the speed of college hockey and how his skating improves as he moves forward. He is a very good skater for 6'6, but still has room for improvement. Knowing Eli, he will make the necessary strides.

UHN: How would you gauge his readiness for Division I college hockey? 

DJ: Like most players, Eli will probably have his bumps along the way during his freshman season. But I believe he will be able to step in and contribute right away in whatever role the coaching staff wants from him. His willingness to do whatever it is needed from the team and his ability to play all those roles will help him make the transition to the college hockey.

UHN: His numbers in Nipawin are a lot better than what he did in Omaha. What do you attribute that to? Is the USHL that much tougher?

DJ: From my time coaching in the USHL, I do know that the USHL is a stronger league than the SJHL. I don't think this is the main reason his numbers have improved as dramatically as they have though. Does the competition make some difference? Absolutely. But I believe that the role we have him playing in and the opportunity to showcase his skill are the biggest factors in his increased production. He showed his first year of junior hockey that he has the skill and ability to be a top six forward. A player doesn't forget how to score or how to make plays. They just need to have the opportunity to showcase their skills and the confidence from their coaches to allow them to make plays.