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Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

The offense will be fine, the team was 4 scoring lines deep last year with players like Yanovitch and Bodie sometimes sitting out. The new freshmen look like they will add punch and I look for guys like Wayne Simpson, Zajac, Bodie, and Welsh to have breakout years.
 
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Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

I agree with Dutchfan that the offense should be fine. They'll miss the explosiveness of MVT and Walters, but will be very skilled and deep. The coaches will have difficult decisions of who to sit out every night. Also expect Coburn and Julseth-White to pick up their offensive games. IMO this is the most skilled group of offensive players Union has ever had.

But what could put the team over the top is goaltending. If Kinkaid and/or Milan have the big seasons that they hinted at last March, U won't have to score a lot of goals to win on any given night.

My biggest concern is on the blueline. There is only one d-man with more than one year of league experience. Sophomore/second year d-men often struggle because have to play more of a lead role and can't just give the puck to their more experienced defense partner or bang it up the boards. They will have to make more of the difficult tape-to-tape passes and skate the puck out of the zone when needed. These are things that Schreiber did really really well last season and are critical when the other team is buzzing in U's zone. I believe the skill level is there for players like Coburn, White, and Stuart, but there may be some rough nights of defensive boo-boos.

Overall I've never been more psyched for a season to begin and truly believe the sky is the limit with this team..
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

And on the subject of Mr. Fulton, found this article on his choice of picking Union. Sounds like U's success in the last couple seasons is paying some dividends on the recruiting front.
http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2010/04/03/local_sports_update/489ps08fulton.txt

Also of interest as a potential recruiting target is Riley Borer, Fulton's linemate at Breck and one of his best friends. Borer had 54 points in 24 games for Breck last season and is currently playing in the NAHL.

As for U's other recruits for '11/'12, Colin Stevens and Max Novak will both be playing in the EJHL this season for the Jr. Bruins and Jersey Hitmen respectively. These have been two of the top programs in the EJHL the past few seasons, so will be interesting to track their progress.

Charlie Vasaturo has 4 assists and a healthy 12 PIMs in 7 games so far in the BCHL. This kid is definitely going to bring a physical presence.

Haven't seen anything on Gostisbehere or Mingoia, so assuming they will be playing New England preps again.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

ADK11 said:
And on the subject of Mr. Fulton, found this article on his choice of picking Union. Sounds like U's success in the last couple seasons is paying some dividends on the recruiting front.
http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2010/04/03/local_sports_update/489ps08fulton.txt

Also of interest as a potential recruiting target is Riley Borer, Fulton's linemate at Breck and one of his best friends. Borer had 54 points in 24 games for Breck last season and is currently playing in the NAHL...
Click to expand...

Good grab for Nate. Sounds like the kid has his head on straight and clearly picked the best academic institution of the offers he had...well done. Also, FWIW - Riley Borer is the kid brother of former River Rat/Hurricane Casey Borer.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Wicked Slappaahs said:
Good grab for Nate. Sounds like the kid has his head on straight and clearly picked the best academic institution of the offers he had...well done. Also, FWIW - Riley Borer is the kid brother of former River Rat/Hurricane Casey Borer.
Click to expand...

WS, On USCHO isn't Casey Borer more famous for playing for SCSU, and even more famous for being stalked by MeanEgirl? (See her YouTube videos.) :D ;)
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Ralph Baer said:
WS, On USCHO isn't Casey Borer more famous for playing for SCSU, and even more famous for being stalked by MeanEgirl? (See her YouTube videos.) :D ;)
Click to expand...

I'll dunno RB, I defer to you on that one. Cap. Dist. locals, may well recall that Casey was one of the more seriously injured Rats players in the bus rollover crash on the Mass. Pike...he broke his back.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Wicked Slappaahs said:
I'll dunno RB, I defer to you on that one. Cap. Dist. locals, may well recall that Casey was one of the more seriously injured Rats players in the bus rollover crash on the Mass. Pike...he broke his back.
Click to expand...

I remember that crash but I didn't recall who was injured.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Congrats to Nate Leaman on his well deserved contract extension. I think the CD teams are fortunate to have 2 such well regarded young coaches at their respective helms. I know there were other programs out there looking at Nate and they may still be. Hopefully this will make it less likely that he'll leave anytime soon.

Regarding recruiting, I have spoken with "well placed sources" and although the program's recent successes haven't hurt, it still largely comes down to money in landing top notch recruits, or in Union's case, the lack thereof, in scholarships. It makes the fight that much tougher and it is a tribute to the coaching staff that they are still able to land quality student athletes.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Great News indeed! and some good recruits it looks as well...

Q: Is there a season thread started yet?
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

UnionFan36 said:
Q: Is there a season thread started yet?
Click to expand...
No new season thread has been started so far as I know. Anyone should feel free to start one, otherwise I'll probably do so before the first game. Any ideas for a title?
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's only one way and thats to Atlantic City?
 
Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

I meant to comment on the Leaman extension a few days ago but I'm just getting a chance to now.

I really could not be happier. Once Coach Leaman won ECAC Coach of the Year and started garnering national attention for his accomplishments, I was happy for him but a little sad as a Union fan. I was afraid that one of the major programs would sweep him up and take him away from Union. However, that did not happen. Nate Leaman will be the Dutchmen coach for at least another 5 years. Kudos to Jim McLaughlin and the other responsible parties for getting this done.

What Coach Leaman has done on the ice speaks for itself. He has turned Union from the laughing stock of the league (my freshman year back in 2006-2007) to an ECAC contender. Teams went from steamrolling Union to fearing Union. He gets the best out of his players. He knows when to be tough and he knows when to go easy. He manages to get stellar recruits even though Union cannot give out athletic scholarships. Players want to play for Nate Leaman.

I also cannot stress enough the great things Coach Leaman does for Union College off the ice. Speaking for myself personally, he reached out to me at the beginning of my senior year and told me he wanted me to get more involved in organizing the students. (I really did my best but I think we could have been better.) We stayed in touch throughout the season and I plan on continuing to stay in touch. He is a presence on our small campus and he truly cares about the community. I don't even need to mention what he does with Garnet Blades as I think every Union poster on her is a member!

In my opinion, this is one of the best things to ever happen to Union hockey. If anyone is going to lead us to an ECAC Championship, and NCAA Tournament bid, an NCAA Tournament victory, and hopefully a National Championship (I can dream, can't I?), I think that man is Nate Leaman. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are lucky to have him back in Schenectady for another five years! Congratulations to Coach Leaman and to Union Athletics!
 
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Re: Union Hockey 2010 Off Season Thread. Albany to A.C.

Agree about Leaman. What he has done with the team is simply awesome!
Hopefully the thought of Union being in the top half of the ECAC continues for a long time.
Plus Union gets kudos for not being afraid to play AIC(most teams will not play them because they have been so bad lately, that it does nothing for their power rankings) Sadly, AIC has 3 OOC games this year.
 
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