Dutchmen Clinch Bye, Valery-Trabucco Sets Record in Win Over Princeton
SCHENECTADY, NY -- Senior forward Mario Valery-Trabucco recorded
his school-record 39th point of the season and the 16th-ranked
Union College men's ice hockey team earned a first round bye in
ECAC Hockey with a 4-1 win against Princeton on Friday night. The
victory, Union's program-record 11th conference win, came in front
of 2,196 fans all dressed in white for the Dutchmen's "White Out
Night.
Thanks to a St. Lawrence loss and a Colgate tie, Union (17-8-6) can
finish no lower than fourth place in ECAC Hockey and currently
stands with a 11-4-4 record. Princeton (10-13-3) goes to 6-11-2 in
the conference.
Trabucco’s historic moment came at 4:10 of the second period,
as the right winger corralled the bouncing puck and sniped a wrist
shot glove side to give Union a 1-0 advantage. The unassisted score
moved Trabucco within one goal from tying Union’s Jordan Webb
record 55 career goals, but more importantly provided the spark the
Dutchman were looking for.
As it has been a season to remember for the Montreal, Quebec
native, Trabucco climbs within six points of Union’s all-time
points leader Webb, who posted 114 points from 2001-05.
Following Trabucco’s goal, the Tigers put forth a furious
five minute onslaught which freshman goaltender Keith Kinkaid and
the rest of the Dutchman were able to endure. Kinkaid turned away
34 shots on the night and improving his season record to 10-4-3 and
8-2-2 in ECACH play .
During this ferocious attack by the Tigers, sophomore Nolan
Julseth-White highlighted a penalty kill for Union with a diving
effort to clear the puck out of the zone. This type of hard nose
play would pay off for the Dutchman as quick passing from juniors
John Simpson (13th assist) and Stephane Boileau(9th assist)
contributed to a Jeremy Welsh goal, the Dutchman’s second
goal of the period. Welsh’s 8th goal on the year came at
12:50.
Down 2-0, Princeton remained aggressive in the third period, yet at
9:07 freshman Kyle Bodie (4 goals this season) skated around the
net and ripped a shot that beat Princeton’s senior goaltender
Zane Kalemba. Andrew Buote registered his seventh assist of the
season.
Union’s fourth goal was netted by sophomore Kelly Zajac, who
recorded his 10th goal this season at 17:06 on an empty net goal.
He was assisted by sophomore Luke Cain and Welsh.
The Tigers’ goal came at 14:43 of the third off the stick of
Kevin Lohry; assisted by Will MacDonald.
The Dutchmen conclude their regular season home schedule on
Saturday, Feb. 20 with "Senior Night". Union takes on Quinnipiac at
7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at UnionAthleticsTickets.com.












