Union College: 2015-2016

[Dutchman]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

Hey

Mookie is coming up Saturday. Any help on parking (with an address for the garmin) would be welcome. Also were would one stop for food & drink before the game?

Gracias....

Here is Tripadvisor for "Best Restaurants in Schenectady, NY"

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Y_OVERVIEW_BOX

Other Dutchmen fans will be more knowledgable but (#31) is Katie OByrnes which is a favorite as the owner is a big fan. Good for sandwichs. The Stockade Inn (#30) and the Van Dyck Lounge (#34) are more formal sit down, table cloth, china servings types of places.

Coming from Boston I try and leave early, find a parking spot and then walk to an eatery. Tends to be a bottleneck/queue at the front entrace around the time the puck is dropped but if you have your ticket in hand, you can enter in one of the side doors.

[Dutchman]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

My preseason picks for Union's MVP, Rookie of the Year and Most Improved player:

http://t.co/0yqWbIeG1b

Who are yours?

Good selections ...
"If Pontarelli can stay healthy all year ...."
If Pontarelli can return to form then we have the possible makings of 4 scoring lines.

[Dutchman]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

Cox picks us 5th?
http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2015...-cornell-union
While I appreciate the assessment, I don't find his arguments compelling.
In losing Ciampini, Novak, Coata, Vasaturo and Bennett, we lose 33% of our scoring (goals) from last year but a lot of the scoring by Ciampini and Novak were clutch goals. We have 11 players from 2013-2014, but only 7 played in most games:
Vech
Taylor
Pontarelli
Lichtenwald,
Wilkins
Gingras
Henry
Defense is still suspect and freshmen make mistakes. It would be great to finish 5th but don't see it happeneing.

[Vaportrail]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

Defense should be good: Brassard played in all games, DeSimone in almost all, Light in most after first 10.

While Ciampini obviously scored, he also gave up several goals with poor coverage. While Vasaturo was an outstanding leader, the fact he/others weren't held accountable on-ice early in the year cost the coaching staff the respect of the team. Bennett has suggested that won't happen this year. If so, team will challenge in ECAC.

MVP: Vecchione or Scarfo
ROY: Supinski, Walker, or Kupsky (though expect Sak will start season)
Most Improved: Pontarelli or Lichtenwald

[UFan]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

MVP : Vecchione
ROY : Kupsky, if he gets to play, or Supinski
Most improved : Foo (Stats wise, I'm with you Vaportrail, it should be Pontarelli or Lichtenwald)

[rdf8585]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

I'm not sure what to expect from Lichtenwald this year. He's kind of a wild card. Offensively, he saw his point production fall ~50% last year. His -12 rating was worst on the team. On the plus side, he got better in faceoffs and was the team's second best regular option in the circle behind Vecchione. Should be an interesting year for him at least.

[Dutchman]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

It tells you have far things have come for the ECAC when the Boston Globe pens "How the ECAC hockey teams shape up"
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...7KM/story.html
A few years back you would have thought from reading the Boston Globe that College hockey only consisted of HE and some Western Schools. I guess maybe it did.

Nice write-up. We are picked 6th. A reminder of our strong finish last year.

6. Union
Last season: 19-18-2
Top returnees: F Mike Vecchione (19-31—50), D Jeff Taylor (4-27—31), F Matt Wilkins (13-15—28).
Top newcomers: F Brett Supinski (Coquitlam Express, BCHL), F Sebastian Vidmar (Lone Star Brahmas, NAHL), G Jake Kupsky (Lone Star Brahmas).
Outlook: After three league crowns and a national title, a downturn was inevitable, yet the Dutchmen swept Cornell at Ithaca in the playoffs and pushed Quinnipiac to the limit. If they can find a goalie, they’ll be back in the chase again.

[AnthonySaxe]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

I'm not sure what to expect from Lichtenwald this year. He's kind of a wild card. Offensively, he saw his point production fall ~50% last year. His -12 rating was worst on the team. On the plus side, he got better in faceoffs and was the team's second best regular option in the circle behind Vecchione. Should be an interesting year for him at least.

I imagine he'll do as well as his line mates do, and no better. He excelled when he played with Carr (who wouldn't) and has been a disappointment when playing with almost anyone else. His ability to win faceoffs (as with any player) is not really important, even less so when he can't really help the team that much once we get possession. Unless he really improved his legs this summer, I hope one of the freshmen push him for a regular spot at the 3C.

[rdf8585]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

With the graduation of Colin Stevens, Alex Sakellaropoulos is ready to take over as Union's top goalie.

http://bit.ly/1jdPrrx

[Dutchman]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

With the graduation of Colin Stevens, Alex Sakellaropoulos is ready to take over as Union's top goalie.

http://bit.ly/1jdPrrx

Good write-up !!!
Sak also started at Yale and won 3-1 with 28 saves
Sak won at Harvard 5-4 giving up 4 and saving 26
Sak took over for Colin at Quinnipiac after the later had given up 4 goals shutting them out for the final 29 minutes with 14 saves.
Against BU Sak failed to control a rebound and a blast got by him, but the third BU goal was an accidental reflection off of Taylor's stick
Sak's finest hour, IMO, was at Quinnipiac where Colin got pulled after giving up 4 goals in short order and Sak shut down Q the rest of the game blocking 14 shots and allowing the comeback that almost tied it in regulation.

Sak's numbers last year appear to be much better when he started vs coming in off the bench (Q the exception). That would give some hope of improvement this year.

I am sure we will see all three goalies this year. The Freshmen hold great promise.

Our home record was horrible last year. I hope we turn that around, for the sake of the fans.

[CollegeHockeyRinkReport]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/hock...-season-opener

Two BU players benched for Union game with discipline issue

[Dutchman]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

Last year we started off 5-0 and ended up in 10th in the ECAC
The year before we started off 1-2-2 and won the National Championship
... go figure

[klumpmypants]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

I have one ticket for the BU game that I won't be able to use now as I have to work. It is Section 4, row 1, seat 11. This is an aisle seat right at center ice in the first row of the second level. Best seat at Messa in my opinion. I will part with it for face value.

[rdf8585]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

Former Union star Wayne Simpson inks deal with the AHL's Portland Pirates.

http://bit.ly/1G2WfBW

[rdf8585]

Re: Union College: 2015-2016

Postgame reaction from the 1-1 tie vs Sacred Heart:

Bennett: http://yourlisten.com/GarnetHockeyRe...postgame-10915

Sak/Maier/Vecchione: http://yourlisten.com/GarnetHockeyRe...postgame-10915