Team Notes: Union Travels to Western New York for First Road Trip

SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 11/12 Union (1-0-2) returns to action this weekend in Western New York for their first two-game road trip of the season, facing off against Niagara and RIT, both of Atlantic Hockey. The Dutchmen are coming off two ties against nationally-ranked Western Michigan last weekend. Junior forward Jeremy Welsh recorded his second career hat trick on Saturday to help the Dutchmen earn a 3-3 tie last Saturday in their last contest. This will mark Union's first trip to Niagara in eight years (Oct. 2003), and their first trip to RIT in six years (Dec. 2005). In the Division I era, Union is 40-5-6 against Atlantic Hockey opponents, and has not lost a true road game to an Atlantic Hockey opponent.

Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. The Dutchmen are 19-10-3 in road contests over the past two-plus years, including a current eight-game road winning streak that extends back to the end of the 2010-11 season.

Zajac Nears Union College Century Club, Assists Record
Senior forward Kelly Zajac is off to a great start this season with five assists in Union's first three contests. Zajac is currently third in the nation with an average of 1.67 assists per game, and now has 91 points (29 goals, 62 assists) for his career. With nine more points, Zajac will become the 20th member of the Union College Century Club, and just the seventh student-athlete in the Division I era to accomplish that feat. Zajac is also now in sole possession of fourth place on the school's Division I assist list, and trails Jason Walters '10 (73 assists), Joel Beal '05 (74 assists) and Adam Presizniuk '11 (83 assists).

Union Ranked For 40th Consecutive Week
The Union men's ice hockey team was ranked in the USCHO.com poll for the 40th consectutive week after tying nationally-ranked Western Michigan twice last weekend at Messa Rink. Union was ranked No. 12 and earned 455 points in the USCHO.com poll and earned a No. 11 ranking and 184 points in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The Dutchmen have been ranked in the USCHO.com poll since the end of the 2009-10 regular season, extending a school record. Union has been ranked for 25 consecutive weeks in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.

Scouting Niagara
Niagara returns home for its first home contest against Union, which hasn't played a game at Dwyer Arena since Oct. 11, 2003. Niagara is 3-1-2 in its last six home-openers. Niagara played Colgate to a 4-4 tie to open the 2009-10 season and Merrimack to a 4-4 tie to open the 2010-11 season. Though the team did lose two of last season's leading scorers in forwards Paul Zanette and Bryan Haczyk, the Purple Eagles return a formidable trio of sophomores. Patrick Divjak, Ryan Rashid and Scott Arnold pose a threat to opposing teams, as last season, this line recorded 32 goals, 33 assists and 65 points in 35 games. Sophomore goaltender Carsen Chubak, who started in net against the Dutchmen last season, returns in net for the Purple Eagles after suffering a season-ending injury. But classmate Cody Campbell has started the last two games for Niagara, and has impressive numbers (1.42 GAA, .952 Save %). Niagara is in search of its first win of the season after a season-opening 5-0 loss at Michigan, followed by a 0-0 tie against RIT and a 3-2 OT loss to Air Force.

The Union-Niagara Series
Friday's meeting will be the seventh all-time between the two schools and Union leads 5-0-1 after earning a 6-1 win last season on Oct. 22, 2010 at Messa Rink. The Dutchmen have won all three meetings at Dwyer Arena.

Scouting RIT
The 2011-12 RIT men's hockey team will look to win its fourth straight Atlantic Hockey regular season title, and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons. Last season, the Tigers were one goal shy of advancing to the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 19-11-8 record.  Despite the loss of its top two scorers from last season, the Tigers return a strong group of talented forwards from an offense that finished 13th nationally in goals per game a year ago. Senior Cameron Burt along with junior Adam Hartley and sophomores Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN), Adam Mitchell and Mike Colavecchia will help shoulder the load offensively in 2011-12. The defensive unit is arguably RIT's deepest position, as seven players return from a squad that led the AHA in goals against average a year ago. The Tigers allowed just two goals per contest over their last 23 games and recorded six shutouts during that stretch RIT returns senior Shane Madolora in net, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2010-11, finishing 17-3-7, while leading the nation with a .935 save percentage, and six shutouts, to go along with a sparkling 1.93 goals against average, third best in Division I. He began the season with a 20-game unbeaten streak en route to being named the AHA Goaltender of the Year and earning All-AHA first team honors. He was also named an Inside College Hockey Second Team All-American.

The Union-RIT Series
Saturday's meeting will be the 21st all-time between the two former Division III rivals. The Dutchmen earned a 7-2 win at Messa Rink last season on Oct. 23, 2010. This will mark Union's first trip to Ritter Arena in six years, as the Dutchmen last travled to RIT on Dec. 2, 2005, earning a 2-0 win.