Team Notes: No. 9/10 Union Set for 80th Game Against RPI in Festivus Faceoff

SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 9/10 Union (7-3-5, 3-2-2 ECAC Hockey) aims to clinch at least a share of the Capital Skates Trophy for the eighth consecutive year when it takes on Rensselaer (3-12-0, 1-6-0 ECAC Hockey) in the Festivus Faceoff at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. From 1993-2002, ECAC Hockey held its Championship Weekend in Lake Placid.

Eleven of the last 15 games between Union and RPI (and seven of the last nine) have been decided by one goal or fewer. Six of those games have gone to overtime with both teams winning twice and two ties.

Last year, ECAC Hockey returned to Lake Placid for the Halloween Faceoff, when Union and RPI played on Oct. 30, 2010 in the first of three meetings between the two teams last season. In that contest, the Engineers rallied from a 2-0 first period deficit to take a 3-2 lead midway through the third period. Union's Mat Bodie scored with 30 seconds left in regulation to help the Dutchmen earn a 3-3 tie. Tonight will mark the 80th meeting between the Route 7 rivals. The Engineers are the most common opponent that Union has faced in program history. RPI owns a 45-24-10 overall record against the Dutchmen, including a 29-21-9 Division I mark. However, Union has gone 7-2-1 in the last ten outings. 

»No Stranger to Drama
All three games last season were close games. Two of the contests were decided by goals in the final minute of regulation or in overtime. On Oct. 30, 2010 in the Halloween Faceoff at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY, Mat Bodie scored with 30 seconds remaining in regulation to help the Dutchmen earn a 3-3 tie.

In the second meeting between the two teams, on Nov. 12, 2010 at Messa Rink, both Jeremy Welsh and Daniel Carr scored on the power play, and Keith Kinkaid made 19 saves to help lead Union to a 2-1 win.

The third and final meeting on Nov. 13, 2010 went to Rensselaer, which earned a come-from-behind 4-3 win in overtime at Houston Field House. Union led 3-2 late in the third period on goals from Matt Hatch, Josh and Nick Bailen scored the game-winner at 2:56 of overtime on a 5-on-3 to give the Engineers the win.Jooris and Justin Pallos. RPI's Marty O'Grady scored with 0.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 3-3,

 »Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. The Dutchmen, 6-1-2 on the road this season, are 24-11-5 in road contests over the past two-plus years, including a current 16-game stretch (13-1-2) that includes the final seven (7-0-0)road games of the 2010-11 season. Union's current eight-game stretch away from Messa Rink marks the longest stretch of games away from Schenectady for Union since the 2004-05 season, when the Dutchmen played nine consecutive contests at road/neutral sites from Nov. 19, 2004-Jan. 2, 2005.

»Starting Off Strong
Union has scored in the first period of 12 of its first 15 games this season and has a 7-1-4 record in those contests. The Dutchmen have scored their opposition 23-11 in the opening frame. Union has scored a goal in the first 10:00 of the first period in seven contests this season (4-1-2) and have twice scored in the first minute of games this season (10/22 vs. RIT and 11/11 vs. Brown).

»Fit to be Tied
Union earned ties against Quinnipiac (2-2) and Princeton (3-3) last weekend to increase their season total to five, one shy of the school mark in the Division I era. Union had six ties in 2001-02 (13-13-6), 2005-06 (16-16-6), 2007-08 (15-14-6), and 2009-10 (21-12-6).

»Niskayuna's Stevens a Hit
Freshman goaltender Colin Stevens, a local product out of Niskayuna, has been rock solid in net for the Dutchmen. Stevens is third nationally among freshman goaltenders with a 2.10 GAA and .921 save percentage, and is 1-1-3 in six appearances.

»Canadian Connection
In recent years, the Dutchmen have featured a lineup littered with student-athletes from Canada, and 2011-12 is no different. Union features 13 players from five provinces. In fact, through 15 games this season, five of Union's top six scorers are from Canada, a list that includes Kelly Zajac (three goals, 13 assists), Mat Bodie (two goals, 10 assists), Daniel Carr (six goals, six assists) Jeremy Welsh (11 goals, four assists) and Kyle Bodie (two goals, seven assists).

»Union To Face Harvard at Fenway Park on Jan. 13
Union College, Harvard University, ECAC Hockey and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced that the men's ice hockey contest between Union and Harvard on January 13 at 7:00 p.m. will now be played outdoors at Fenway Park as part of Sun Life Frozen Fenway 2012. The game will be the fourth NCAA Division I men's ice hockey game ever played at Fenway Park and the 10th outdoor NCAA Division I men's ice hockey contest.

 »Welsh is Union's Extra Man
Junior forward Jeremy Welsh has gotten off to a strong start on Union's eighth-ranked power play unit. Welsh is tied for third in the nation wih six power play goals. He ranks fourth in the Division I era at Union with 18 career power play goals, trailing Jordan Webb '05 for the program record by four power play goals.

 »The Union-RPI Series
Union's biggest rival owns a 45-24-10 overall record against the Dutchmen, including a 29-21-9 Division I mark. However, Union has gone 7-2-1 in the last ten outings, including a 5-1 win over RPI on Nov. 15.

Union will wear the road jerseys on Saturday. All-time against the Engineers, the Dutchmen are 8-23-5 in road contests against Rensselaer.

»Scouting RPI
The Engineers fell to both Princeton (5-3) and Quinnipiac (3-2) last weekend to fall to 3-12-0 (1-6-0 ECAC Hockey) on the season. In their most recent contest, Quinnipiac's Yuri Bouharevich scored with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Bobcats a last second victory. RPI goaltender Scott Deibold made 35 saves, and Jacob Lalilberte and Scott Zurevinski each scored for the Engineers.

RPI has managed just 18 goals in 15 games but has scored seven in the last three contests. The Engineers have a goal or fewer in 10 of their first 15 contests. RPI has been shutout in five of its first 15 games.

Junior Nick Bailen (three goals, five assists), a defenseman, sophomore forward Brock Higgs (six assists) and freshman forward Ryan Haggerty (three goals, three assists) lead RPI in scoring. Freshman forward Jacob Laliberte, who has scored in the last two games, has five points (two goals, three assists).

Junior Bryce Merriam has started 11 games in goal for RPI, posting a 2-9-0 record with a 2.42 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Freshman Scott Diebold played the other four games. He is 1-3-0 with a 1.77 goals against average and a .936 percentage The Engineers are 7 for 70 (10.0%) on the power play. RPI is 69 for 79 (87.3%) when shorthanded with one shorthanded goal.