Union Releases 2009-10 Schedule

Photo by Monty Rand

SCHENECTADY, NY – Union College men’s ice hockey coach Nate Leaman released the 2009-10 schedule on Thursday. The Dutchmen will battle in 22 ECAC Hockey contests and 12 non-conference outings, including stints at the RPI Invitational and the UConn Tournament. Union and RPI have the potential to meet four times during the regular season.

Click here to access complete schedule

“We are coming off one of the best season in Union history,” Leaman said. “We wanted to make sure to challenge ourselves with our out of conference schedule. The hope is to be as prepared as possible for ECAC Hockey.”

After traveling to Maine for a two-game set in December of last season, the Black Bears return the favor as the Dutchmen welcome them to Messa Rink to open the season on Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.

The following weekend, Union makes its farthest trip, traveling the 1,000-plus miles to St. Cloud State of the WCHA for back-to-back games on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. (EST).

“The first two weekends are absolutely important for us,” Leaman said. “These are two tough competitors and I think these games will set the tone for the season. It’s great to have a historically good program like Maine come to our building. The trip to St. Cloud will be long, but it’s a great bonding experience for our team.”

The Dutchmen return home for its longest home stand, beginning with American International on Friday, Oct. 23 and Sacred Heart on Saturday, Oct. 24. The chase for the Capital Skates Trophy begins with a non-conference game against RPI on Friday, Oct. 30.

“It’s great for hockey in the Capital District that Union and RPI will be playing three times with the possibility of a fourth game,” Leaman said. “Another key to this schedule is facing RPI in a non-conference game right before our league play begins. I think it will put our players in the right frame of mind.”

The ECAC Hockey season starts when Brown and 2008-09 conference champion Yale comes to Schenectady on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7. A trip to the North Country to face St. Lawrence and Clarkson takes place the following weekend.

After a week off, Union goes to Troy, NY for the RPI Invitational which kicks off with a 4 p.m. Union-Lake Superior State contest on Friday, Nov. 27. A potential matchup with RPI could take place on Saturday, Nov. 28, depending on the outcome of Union’s game and RPI’s contest against Bentley.

December rolls in with games against Colgate and Cornell at Messa Rink on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5. Union then heads back to Houston Field House for a Wednesday, Dec. 9 conference game against RPI.

The United States National Under-18 Team makes an encore appearance at Messa Rink on Friday, Dec. 11 before Union goes to the UConn Tournament on Friday, Dec. 29 and Saturday, Dec. 30. The first game will be against UMass-Amherst, while a matchup between UConn or Bentley follows the next night.

The New Year begins with a Saturday, Jan. 2 game at Army. Union then turns its attention to 15-straight conference games to conclude the season and make a push for a first round bye.

“This stretch drive makes for one of the toughest schedules in our conference,” Leaman said. “These 15 games hold some of the most valuable points because our league is so close every year. If we can get rolling, it will definitely help us as we head into the playoffs.”

Union hosts RPI for the second time on Saturday, Jan. 16 and then welcomes Harvard and Dartmouth to Messa Rink on Friday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan 23.

A trip to Yale and Brown on Friday Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30 precedes Clarkson and St. Lawrence’s arrive to Schenectady on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6. The Dutchmen then head to Dartmouth on Friday, Feb 12 and Harvard on Saturday, Feb. 13.

The last home regular-season weekend includes games against Princeton on Friday, Feb. 19 and Quinnipiac on Saturday, Feb. 20, which will likely be Senior Night.

Union’s last challenge before the playoffs takes place at Cornell on Friday, Feb. 26 and Colgate on Saturday, Feb. 27.

The Dutchmen are coming off the most successful season in school history with a 19-17-3 record, including the program’s first ever playoff series victory. Union came within one game of making its first trip to Albany for the conference semifinals.

Union returns its top four scorers, including ECAC Hockey All-Conference third team member Adam Presizniuk, who led the team with a school-record 38 points (16G-22A). Joining him is Mario Valery-Trabucco (15G-14A-29P) and Jason Walters (13G-15A-28P), producing one of the most high-powered top lines in the league. Stéphane Boileau (10G-15A-25)and Kelly Zajac (6G-14A-20P) also return as 20-plus point scorers.

Fans get a glimpse of the Dutchmen on Saturday, Oct. 3 with the annual Garnet and White game. Start time is TBD.