Team Notes: No. 10 Union Travels West to Face No. 15 Denver, No. 6/5 Colorado College

SCHENECTADY, NY - No. 10/10 Union (9-3-5, 3-2-2 ECAC Hockey) takes a six game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) into their final two non-conference games of the season at No. 15/15 Denver (8-7-3, 6-5-3 WCHA) and No. 6/5 Colorado College (11-5-0, 9-5-0 WCHA) this weekend. Union is 2-1-2 against ranked opponents this season, with a 3-1 win in their most recent game against ranked competition at No. 5 Merrimack on Dec. 17. This road trip marks Union's first visit to the state of Colorado since October 2005, when the Dutchmen took on Colorado College and Air Force at World Arena in the Ice Breaker Invitational. Union's last game against Denver was the first hockey game at Magness Arena, which opened in September of 1999. Union is 8-21-6 all time against WCHA opponents, with their last win against the WCHA coming last season at No. 18 Minnesota on Dec. 31, 2010, a 3-2 overtime win in the Mariucci Classic.

»Union Looks For Another Non-Conference Top Five Win
In its most recent contest, Union earned a 3-1 win at No. 5 Merrimack on Dec. 17, marking the first win for the Dutchmen over a non-conference team ranked in the top five of the national polls since the program moved to Division I in 1991. The Dutchmen will look for their second win against a non-conference top five team when they take on No. 6/5 Colorado College at World Arena on Saturday night.

»Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. The Dutchmen are 7-1-3 on the road this season and are tied with No. 4/4 Ohio State (7-2-0) for the most road wins in the nation. Union is 25-11-6 in road contests over the past two-plus years, including a current 17-game stretch (14-1-3) 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 14 of its first 17 games this season and has a 9-1-4 record in those contests. The Dutchmen have scored their opposition 25-12 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 has twice scored in the first minute of games this season (10/22 vs. RIT and 11/11 vs. Brown).

»Scouting Denver
One of college hockey's most consistant programs over the past decade, No. 15 Denver is off to another strong start in 2011-12 despite injuries to key players. The Pioneers have made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and won back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005. Sophomore goaltender Sam Brittain was expected to be the No. 1 goaltender after a stellar freshman campaign (19-9-5 , 2.28 GAA, .921 save pct.), but Brittain tore his ACL and is out for most of the season.

Backup goaltender Adam Murray injured his groin in November, leaving the goaltending duties to Juho Olkinuora, who has performed admirably in net (3-5-2, 2.41 GAA, .914 save pct.) Senior defenseman John Ryder (leg) and sophomore forward Beau Bennett (wrist surgery) have also missed significant time for Denver. Bennett, a 2010 first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 10 games this season.

The Pioneers will also be without the services of leading scorer Jason Zucker (11 goals, 13 assists), as Zucker, a sophomore, is currently competing in the World Junior Championships as captain of Team USA.

Junior forward Drew Shore (9-15-24) and sophomore forward Nick Shore (4-12-16) will headline the offensive attack against Union.

Denver ranks 12th in the WCHA on the power play at 18.5 percent (15-for-81) and seventh on the penalty kill at 78.7 percent (70-for-89). Denver went 3-for-10 with the man-advantage in two games at St. Cloud State and has scored on the power play in eight of 18 games.

 The Pioneers went 7-for-10 on the penalty kill at St. Cloud State and opponents have scored on the power play in 14 of 18 games.

»Scouting Colorado College
The Tigers, currently third in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings after a series sweep at Minnesota State University two weekends ago, are 9-5 in league play and 11-5 overall.  CC remains without Jaden Schwartz, its second leading point producer, who is serving as team captain for his native Canada at the 2012 IIHF Junior World Championships.

Older brother Rylan Schwartz leads the nation with an average of 1.07 goals per game and leads the Tigers with 23 points (16 goals, seven assists). The Tigers lead the nation in scoring offense, averaging 4.19 goals per game and are 43rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 3.12 goals per game

Sophomore goaltender Josh Thorimbert leads all Division I goaltenders with a .857 winning percentage (6-1) in seven decisions, all in WCHA play.

 On special teams, the Tigers are last in the WCHA and tied for 46th nationally on the penalty kill at 77.8 percent. The Tigers have allowed six shorthanded goals, but own the nation's third best power play at 27.3 percent.