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2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

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Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

I didn't see the games last year but those 2 at Lake State seemed like a couple of strinkers by Union. The question is whether the wounds were self or LSSU inflicted. 3 freshmen on D and one in goal. This should be interesting.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

That was the worst defensive game I've seen U play in a LONG time. Last time the team gave up more than 5 goals was October 2009! No discipline, forwards getting caught up ice, d-men pinching in too much, bad penalties, and everyone playing the puck instead of the body. It looked like a peewee game out there at times, with all the forwards bunched below the dots. The freshmen were part of the problem, but there were plenty of upperclassmen making the same mistakes. U's offense was breathtaking at times, but more games like this and its going to be a long season. The injuries are not helping things, cause I'm sure the coaches would have liked to play a "bigger" lineup with Roy, Lichtenwald, Wilkins, etc. and could have used a big save or two. Actually thought Krug and Vasaturo looked good tonight, but everyone else was playing matador out there. Not sure what the coaches can do to turn things around, as playing physical with Lake State's size may not work either, but there needs to be some kind of attitude change tomorrow. Lake State deserved what they got tonight because they didn't panic when U had them on the ropes, but U just handed them too many grade A chances and can't afford to do it again.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Lost in the shuffle a little bit...

Vecchione scored his first NCAA goal.

Kevin Sullivan had three assists, giving him 7 points (all assists) through 3 games. He didn't get his 7th point until March last season.

Pontarelli continues to excel, picking up a goal and an assist. The freshman has gone 3-3--6 through three contests. Only Sullivan has more points.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

As an aside we were the only ECAC team to lose last night. The ECAC is picking up where it left off last year. Its not going to get any easier when we get into league play.
 
UnionFan4Life said:
Any of the key injured players in the lineup tonight?
Click to expand...
I doubt if any will be available, one day not likely to make much difference. For one, I saw Lichtenwald between periods, he was without crutches but limping. Stevens is rumored to be out for at least a few more weeks, but that's hearsay. The staff always plays injuries close to the vest.

We really looked vulnerable on the blue line and the forwards didn't help much. Still lacking the steady stay at home D Men we've come to rely upon in recent past, but it's a work in progress as I assumed it would be early on. Too much stick work and not enough effort in the body shop. LSSU is a big team so I'm not sure how much we can slow them up but there needs to be a better effort. I cant really blame Ske in goal, he was generally hung out to dry, but made none of the two or three big saves you need each night in goal.

Gut check time for the boys tonight. I think they are capable of better and of getting back to "Union hockey", if not tonight then hopefully soon. League play is right around the corner.
 
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Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

rdf8585 said:
Lost in the shuffle a little bit...
Vecchione scored his first NCAA goal.
Kevin Sullivan had three assists, giving him 7 points (all assists) through 3 games. He didn't get his 7th point until March last season.
Pontarelli continues to excel, picking up a goal and an assist. The freshman has gone 3-3--6 through three contests. Only Sullivan has more points.
Click to expand...
Yes, there were some good things last night. Vecchione I thought had his best game so far and was one of the few U forwards that played a solid 2-way game and wasn't afraid to hit someone. Sullivan is just a beast and has not lost a beat from his fabulous play the last 2 months last season. Pontarelli is an offensive force and on his PP goal it looked like he was playing against the Kanata Stallions in the CCHL. However, he got caught up ice A LOT and has more to learn about defensive zone play. No big surprise and he has plenty of time to improve, but just saying. Thought Bennett looked pretty good too.

As for lineup changes tonight, by my count Griffin & Gingras were the only healthy ones who would be available (I'm assuming Gingras isn't hurt??). Would not be surprised to see both of them in there tonight for Henry & Taylor, who both had problems last night.
 
ADK11 said:
Yes, there were some good things last night. Vecchione I thought had his best game so far and was one of the few U forwards that played a solid 2-way game and wasn't afraid to hit someone. Sullivan is just a beast and has not lost a beat from his fabulous play the last 2 months last season. Pontarelli is an offensive force and on his PP goal it looked like he was playing against the Kanata Stallions in the CCHL. However, he got caught up ice A LOT and has more to learn about defensive zone play. No big surprise and he has plenty of time to improve, but just saying. Thought Bennett looked pretty good too.

As for lineup changes tonight, by my count Griffin & Gingras were the only healthy ones who would be available (I'm assuming Gingras isn't hurt??). Would not be surprised to see both of them in there tonight for Henry & Taylor, who both had problems last night.
Click to expand...

Gingras is injured as well so we're down to just one extra player.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

10/19 Lines

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Matt Wilkins (upper-body) returns to the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23UnionHockey&src=hash">#UnionHockey</a> lineup tonight. Theo DiPauli takes a seat. <a href="http://t.co/Jt5YD4gUfU">http://t.co/Jt5YD4gUfU</a></p>— Union Hockey Blog (@UnionHockeyBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionHockeyBlog/statuses/391669916887031808">October 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/LakeStateHockey">@LakeStateHockey</a> line chart vs Union - 10/19/13 <a href="http://t.co/AxzgGFk0WD">http://t.co/AxzgGFk0WD</a></p>— Union Hockey Blog (@UnionHockeyBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionHockeyBlog/statuses/391669420906409984">October 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Bodie or Coach won't publicly "point the finger" but I will: Alex cannot start anymore, his performance tonight was awful. The defense was great, the offense had 48 shots. Union controlled the majority of the game, the goaltending was the problem tonight. Pier played well and made a couple big saves in limited action.
 
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Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

To be fair, Alex is a freshman and was thrust into a tough situation with Stevens sidelined. I still think he'll be a solid goaltender at this level, but he doesn't appear to be ready just yet. He also has three freshman D in front of him, which can't be discounted.

The bottom line is Stevens needs to get healthy. It's unclear as of now when that will be.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pieri gets the call next Friday at UConn if Stevens can't go. There is no game next Saturday.

In other news, Welsh recalled to the Vancouver Canucks.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

I don't consider Taylor, Henry, or Krug liabilities on the ice. The defense only allowed 17 shots all game! Sakellaropoulos was 8-11 meanwhile Kapalka was 46-48.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

This is going to be a wild and exciting UNION College hockey season. This team has more offensive firepower than any UNION team I can remember. Explosive !!! The coaches are going to fix the defense. I don't know how, but they are going to fix it. Bennett is a great coach and that last press conference proved it again. I really like this team. I get a sense of a lot of leadership on this team. Players demanding a lot from themselves and from other players. There is an "acid in the gut" feel to this team. They know their lineage and have great expectations for themselves. The NCAA playoffs three years in a row. No other ECAC team of the modern error can claim that. I really like the Captain Bodie and the other team Captains. It is a team effort. There are a lot of "intangibles" that seem right about this team. We all know where we would be right now if we had the goal tending we have been used to these past three years combined with this explosive offense, but **** happens. I do not have a crystal ball and don't know how things will end up this year but I just have a really good feeling. I keep thinking of the term "Guts". Next stop, Connecticut and then the ECAC and Dartmouth and Harvard. I am proud of this team already. These last three years have been a wild ride and this season will be no different :)
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Grosenick won his pro debut on Sunday, plus other tidbits from a busy weekend for recent Dutchmen greats:

http://bit.ly/172aiV4 (since updated)
 
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Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

In Grosenick's first starting game his freshman year he allowed 3 goals on 5 shots in the 3rd period, a couple of which were of the "soft" variety. I agree that Alex Sak has some holes in his game, but at this point he may still be the best option going. Pieri has been a 3rd stringer for a reason and the shots he faced against LSSU don't really tell much. IMO Sak started fighting the puck after the 2 quick goals to start the 3rd period on Friday and the Lakers could sense it. He also seemed to have problems with traffic in front of him, so the Lakers started throwing shots from outside toward the posts hoping for tips or bounces.. which they got on Saturday. Union BTW was trying the same thing at the other end and almost no luck doing it.

Still, as Wholin notes we really need Stevens back. My biggest concern going into the season was goaltending. U's emergence from a "pretty good" team that mostly went nowhere in the postseason to a team that won hardware & went to NCAAs happened with AA goalies Kinkaid and Grosenick on the scene. Given the defensive immaturity of this team, excellent goaltending will be needed on many nights for U to have any success in the ECAC which looks to be loaded this season.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Friends of mine have observed, correctly I believe, that with average goal tending we could well be 4-0. The combined save percentage is under .840 if I recall, that's almost unheard of. Well, woulda coulda doesn't cut it, we've got to go to the dance with who we've got, and right now that's a shaky freshman goaltender and a walk on. I am not denigrating either, just being candid. I think Sakellaropoulos is probably our best option at this point and I still think there must be ability there, at least I hope so. This week's game at Uconn is going to be a good opportunity for whoever the goalie is, and I assume Stevens won't be available, to build a little confidence. Uconn always plays us tough, but they will be a step down from LSSU and probably BGSU as well. If Stevens is out a few more weeks then by the time he gets back and in game condition, we could be out of the pairwise race, meaning we will need to win the tournament to qualify for a fourth consecutive NCAA appearance. I wouldn't put it past this team because there's a bunch of talent and willpower there. I think it's going to be a great challenge going forward, but with great rewards as well.

U has dropped out of the top 20 in the polls, and deservedly based on our record. Still I think we can be there when it matters, at the end of the season. It's never easy.
 
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