July 2011 News

Kelly Zajac at the New Jersey Devils Prospect Camp

Hello Union Hockey fans! We're still here! It's been a very busy summer for the UHB team, but we have not forgotten about our beloved Dutchmen. We've been updating on Facebook and Twitter over the past month about all the latest exciting news about Union College Hockey and the College hockey world. 


This off-season has been the most exciting in the history of college hockey with the official announcement of the "super conference," the possibility of Minnesota-Moorhead creating a DI team, all the coaching changes, and many players leaving the NCAA for juniors. Here is a summary of some of the biggest Union and college hockey news in July (from earliest to most recent):


- Four current Dutchmen and one former Dutchman participated in NHL Prospect Camps this month. Mat Bodie and Jeremy Welsh attended the Chicago Blackhawks camp, Kelly Zajac and Keith Kinkaid attended the New Jersey Devils camp, and Josh Jooris attended the Boston Bruins camp. All did a very good job, especially Josh Jooris, who was highly praised, and Kelly Zajac who scored a bunch of goals. You can read all the links, and view pictures and videos of these guys at the camps on the UHB Twitter. [UHB Twitter]


- Former Union star Mario Valery-Trabucco signed with Augsburger Panther in Germany. [ECAC Hockey]


- Western Michigan Coach Jeff Blashill left for a job with the Detroit Red Wings. [USCHO]


- Flin Flon Bombers forward Andrew Johnston committed to Union for 12-13 season. [Flin Flon Bombers]


- Devils blog ranked Keith Kinkaid the 14th best prospect in NJ Devils system. [In Lou We Trust]

Keith Kinkaid at the New Jersey Devils Prospect Camp

- Keith Kinkaid talked about being with the Devils. [Fire & Ice]


- The face of college hockey has changed with the creation of the Big 10 conference, and the announcement this summer of the creation of the six team "super conference" called the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The WCHA and CCHA has had some major scrambling to do, and may change the situation in the east, especially with Atlantic Hockey. There have also been rumors of Notre Dame joining with Hockey East or the ECAC. [USCHO] [New York Times]


- Union goaltender recruit Julien LaPlante is ineligible after admitting to playing 20 minutes for the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks, a Canadian major junior hockey team. He could still have come to Union after sitting out one season, but Coach Bennett didn't want that. [Ken Schott]


- Kevin Sullivan took part in the "Big Assist III" in Stamford, Connecticut. It was a charity game to benefit the Obie Harrington-Howes foundation. Sullivan got the chance to play with NHL stars like Martin St. Louis and Matt Moulson. [Darien Patch]


- The Zajac brothers were featured at the Devils camp. [Fire & Ice]


- Reports said that Minnesota State - Moorhead is trying to add DI ice hockey. [MSUM Athletics]


- Union announced their incoming recruiting class (Class of 2015): forwards Mark Bennett, Sam Coatta, Daniel Ciampini, Tyson Fulton, Trevor Mingoia, and Max Novak, defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Charlie Vasaturo, and goaltenders Dillion Pieri and Colin Stevens. This was pretty much what we expected. [Union Athletics]

Josh Jooris at the Boston Bruins Prospect Camp

- Goaltender Colin Stevens, a Niskayuna native, is coming to Union one year early after the problems with Julien LaPlante. He's supposed to be an excellent goaltender. [Ken Schott]


- Sam Bowles '08 has resigned with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the SPHL. [ECAC Hockey]


- Julien LaPlante has followed former Union coach Nate Leaman to Providence, but will have to sit out the upcoming season. [Ken Schott]


- Jooris, Welsh, Bodie, and Zajac all shared their thoughts on attending the NHL prospect camps. [Official Blog of Union Hockey]


- The College Hockey Blog named Jeremy Welsh as a sleeper for the 2012 Hobey Baker Award. [The College Hockey Blog]


- Keith Kinkaid has his own Wikipedia page. Sweet. I bet the best pickup line ever is, "Hey have you seen my Wikipedia page?" I wish I had one. [Wikipedia]


- Versus is looking into a college hockey TV package. [Ken Schott]


- Instant replay has been installed at Messa Rink. [Twitpic courtesy of @UnionHockey]


- Inside College Hockey ranked Union 6th in their preseason Top 10 poll. [INCH]

Jeremy Welsh at the Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Camp

- Union has released their 2011-12 roster. Notes: Only numbers not used are 5, 13, and 24... Jean-Sebastian Bergeron is not on the roster... Cole Ikkala has changed his number from 18 to 23...  the Freshmen have received their numbers: #6 Vasaturo, #10 Bennett, #11 Coatta, #14 Gostisbehere, #17 Ciampini, #18 Novak, #25 Fulton, #29 Mingoia, #30 Stevens, #31 Pieri. [Union Athletics]


- Former Union captain Mike Wakita '10 has resigned with the Missouri Mavericks of the CHL. [ECAC Hockey]


To follow the latest college hockey news go to USCHO, INCH, or CHN.

Tonight's Lineups vs. Colgate (Game 3)

Luke Cain & Justin Pallos

Union
Presizniuk - Zajac - Hatch
Sullivan - J. Simpson - W. Simpson
Carr - Welsh - Jooris
Buote - Pallos - Cain

Forgaard - Julseth-White
M. Bodie - Matheson
Coburn - Stuart

Kinkaid
Grosenick
Milan

Notes: Kevin Sullivan replaces Kyle Bodie on the second line while Luke Cain replaces Stephane Boileau on the fourth line. It makes some sense to me since Bodie and Boileau didn't play much of a factor during their time on the ice. Also, it's probably a good idea to have rested guys out there during a Game 3. Hopefully Cain can bring a physical presence to the ice.

Chris Wagner

Colgate
Firman - Day - Prockow
Bartliff - Smith - Brisebois
Mayer - Wagner - Bourdon
Rivellini - McCann - Nasca

Poplawski - Larkin
Price - K. McNamara
Leidl - McPherson

Mihalik
Evin
Bessette

Check out Ken Schott's pregame report (click here).

Tonight's Lineups vs. Dartmouth

#16 Kevin Sullivan

Union
Carr - Welsh - Jooris
Presizniuk - Zajac - Hatch
Buote - Pallos - K. Bodie
Sullivan - J. Simpson - W. Simpson

Forgaard- Julseth-White
Coburn - Stuart
M. Bodie - Matheson

Notes: Kyle Bodie is back in the lineup after being replaced by Luke Cain last Saturday. I assume Cain was inserted into the lineup against Cornell because of his size. Cain is the feature story of this week's game program.

#24 Evan Stephens

Dartmouth
Estoclet - Fleming - Reber
N. Walsh - Jones - Robinson
D. Walsh - Owsiak - Reeds
Smith - Goodship - Lee

Stephens - Stejskal
Keenan - Goggin
Gaudet - Boldt

Mello
O'Neill
Morris


Players to Watch: Estoclet (8g-8a-16pts), Fleming (8g-12a-20pts), Reber (4g-12a-16pts), Stephens (2g-6a-8pts). Estoclet, Fleming, and Reber are all on the same line. Matt Lindbald leads all Big Green freshman with six goals and eight assists, but is not in the lineup tonight.

Here is a great comparison of the Dutchmen and Big Green courtesy of College Hockey News.

Union Destroys Clarkson 8-1

Kyle Bodie scored twice

Once again, the Golden Knights come into Messa Rink and lose. The last time Clarkson came to Schenectady and won was January 2001. Last year the Dutchmen skated all over them and won 11-2. Obviously, things weren't different this time around.

Kyle Bodie had a big game with two goals, and Kevin Sullivan scored his first career goal. Also, Mike Ingoldsby picked up his first career point. Keith Kinkaid played another good game as well. It was great to see the team have a big offensive outburst in an ECAC game.

Senior forwards Andrew Buote and Stephane Boileau were out of the lineup last night (the second night in a row for Boileau). Coach Leaman hasn't been too happy with the seniors lately, saying that he is "challenging" them.

After a very good first period Clarkson goaltender Paul Karpowich fell apart once again at Messa Rink. He was the starting goaltender in Union's 11-2 shellacking last year, and was pulled once again this time around in the third period. Maybe Karpowich will refuse to start at Union next season (haha).

The only thing Clarkson had going for them was their pep band/cheering section. They were loud and supportive throughout the entire game. Union fans and the administration should start taking notes on how a pep band/student section work.

Also, I hear some Union students have been kicked out of the rink for doing "classic Union chants" by the campus police officers. I never hear any profanities chanted, so I don't know what this is all about.

For more on the game go to:
Union Athletics.com
USCHO
Ken Schott's Blog

Dutchmen announce Class of 2014

Union Head Coach Nate Leaman announced that he will be adding eight student-athletes to his roster next season. There will be five forwards, two defensemen, and a goaltender joining the Dutchmen for their 2010-11 campaign. Five of the players are from the States, while the other three a hail from Canada. These guys have some big shoes to fill after the likes of Mario Valery-Trabucco, Jason Walters, and Mike Schreiber have all graduated.

The five forwards are Daniel Carr, Matt Hatch, Cole Ikkala, Josh Jooris, and Kevin Sullivan. The two defensemen are Mat Bodie and Mike Ingoldsby. Troy Grosenick is the lone goaltender.

I am very excited to see all of these guys take the ice in Union uniforms, but I am most interested to see Mat Bodie, the younger brother of Kyle Bodie. From what I have read the younger Bodie is a tremendous offensive defenseman and will make an immediate impact. There is a very high chance that he will be starting lineup once the opening of the season comes around. Ingoldsby sounds like a great blueliner as well and should compete for playing time in his first season. Grosenick sounds like a solid goalie, but will probably have to wait for his senior year to see any real playing time as it seems Keith Kinkaid's position in between the pipes is pretty solidified.

Offensively, it sounds like Leaman has recruited a diverse bunch of players. I think all could make an impact in their first season in Schenectady, but it should be interesting how true freshman like Carr and Sullivan adapt to the college game. And I'm going to call it right now... I think Cole Ikkala will be a fan favorite in his four years. With a last name like that and a gritty style of play he should draw some praise from the Union faithful.

For more on the Class of 2014 check out Union Athletics.com and Ken Schott's Blog.

Can't Wait for the 2009-10 season to start? How about the 2010-11 season?

Even though the 2009-2010 season hasn't even started yet it's always fun and exciting to look at next season. So, lets get a preview of the four players that have already committed to Union for next season (according to Chris Heisenberg's list: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rZN-GJH1Q0NQeXIJG47g-ug&gid=1).

Kevin Sullivan (Left Wing): committed 1/29/09... 6' 180 lbs, born 1-25-91... from Darien, CT... played last season with Berkshire Prep where he had 17 goals and 24 assists in 33 games (1.24 points per game), along with 48 penalty minutes.

Matt Hatch (Center): committed 4/6/2009... 6'1"180 lbs, born 5-22-90... from New York public school hockey powerhouse Massena... in 2008-09 he played at the Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire where he was the second leading scorer on the team with 19 goals and 52 assists in 35 games... this season he is playing for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL where he has already accumulated a goal and two assists in five games... Bulldgos Head Coach Nolan Graham says Hatch "is a very strong skater who sees the ice very well. His speed is going to make him an offensive threat, but it will also prove to be valuable in penalty killing situations... Matt's puck moving, and playmaking abilities will make him a valuable offensive player."

Mat Bodie (Defense): committed 9/3/2009... 6' 160-170 lbs, born 3-7-90... from East St. Paul, Manitoba... played for the Winnipeg Thrashers (Midget AAA) where he was named MVP and Top Defenseman at the 2008 Telus Cup... was teammates with Nolan Zajac, the younger brother of Union sophomore forward Kelly Zajac, in Winnipeg... was named Rookie of the Year in BCHL last season where he posted a goal and 41 assists with the Powell River Kings... Heisenberg has Bodie rated as the #2 defenseman in the BCHL... is the younger brother of Union freshman forward Kyle Bodie

Daniel Carr (Left Wing): committed 9/18/2009... 6' 185 lbs, born 11-1-91... from Leduc, Alberta... in the 2008-09 season with the St. Albert Steel (AJHL) he tallied 27 goals (14 on he powerplay) and 28 assists in 59 games, along with 81 penalty minutes... in seven games this season with St. Albert he has already amassed five goals and eight assists... Carr is Heisenberg's top recruit from Alberta... known for his speed

It seems like Leaman is already doing a great job in replacing the Class of 2010. The Dutchmen will be losing top forwards Jason Walters and Mario Valery-Trabucco, along with offensive-minded defenseman Mike Schreiber. Maybe the next Union core will be Hatch, Carr, and the younger Bodie. Bodie will have to put on some weight though in order to survive defensively on the NCAA level.