It hasn’t been easy for Union College’s women’s hockey team since it became an NCAA Division I program in 2003-2004.
The Dutch woman has never had a winning season. They never attended his ECAC hockey tournament. They are finishing his 2021-22 campaign with a 2-20 record and he finished last in the conference with an overall mark of 5-28-1. They struggled offensively, averaging 1.2 goals per game and being shut out 14 times.
It won’t be so easy for the Dutchwoman this season, as she faces New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire on Friday at 6pm. The match is the first of her eight-game streak, which will see her play twice at UNH this weekend, two more at Holy Cross next weekend, and at Providence College and Boston College next weekend. After a two-week break, Union will begin playing his ECACH on October 28–29 at Clarkson and St. Lawrence. The Dutch women’s first home game will be against Harvard on November 4th.
This is certainly a difficult task for less successful programs. But the Dutchwoman sees an eight-game season-opening road trip as a good thing.
“I think it’s great that the group is going on tour,” said Union Women’s head coach Josh Shiva. I think it’s a really good thing to build in. I honestly think they’re excited about it, so it’s going to be a challenge.
“Whenever we go on tour, it’s always a challenge to go to another team’s home rink and win a hockey game. We are trying to continue to build our brand.
Senior defenseman Emily King holds the team’s all-time scoring record with four goals and nine assists in 34 games since last season.
“I’m glad I got out,” said King. “I am happy to play. I think we were dialed [in], just push through. We are very good in the classroom and on the ice, so if we can find a way to balance it, I think we can get some wins. ”
Winning is important. But sophomore goaltender Sophie Matsoukas believes that playing well, even if they don’t win, gives the team confidence.
Last season, the team went 3-11, allowing 3.83 points per game and 2 shutouts. “Go in with confidence.”
Scoring goals also builds confidence. Union scored at least two goals in one game just five times last season.
“I think [the goal scoring] It should be submitted to the committee now,” Sciba said. “We’ve gone even deeper. I think there’s a group of women in the freshman class who want to contribute and are willing to contribute right away. Everyone in the locker has to contribute in some way.”
captain king
King was recently appointed captain of the team. She’s honored to wear a ‘C’ on her jersey.
“One of the things I’ve been good at over the years is showing how hard I work,” said King. “I think it gives me the confidence to continue to be that player for the team and I’m excited to meet and work with all of you. I really appreciate it.”
no captain yet
At the men’s ECACH Virtual Media Day on Wednesday, Union Men’s first-year head coach Josh Houge said he has yet to name a captain.
“I think it’s a bit further down the road,” Hauge said. “I want to make sure we do it right. It has to be something that you have to fully embrace. I only have an idea of a player I like, but it becomes a later process and before the first match.”
pecknold on graff
Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold has spoken out about his new forward, sophomore Colin Graff, who entered the transfer portal after the season ended.
“We loved him even before he came to the union. We saw him this year and thought he was a force for them,” Pecknold said. “He looks great, [has a] High IQ. He is really dedicated, stays up late and wakes up early. He’s a goalscorer, so I’m excited about what he can do for us. ”
Schaefer talks about ‘trade’
In a strange way, Union and Cornell made a “trade” during the offseason.
Forward Garviel Seeger left Union and joined Cornell via the transfer portal. Forward Ben Tapker joined the Dutch after leaving Big Red via a transfer portal. Seager had seven goals and 14 assists in 34 games last season, making him the third-leading scorer in the Union.
“What we loved about Gabe is that he played in the league. He’s obviously produced offensively,” Schaefer said. “…and he will play center, which is what I thought we needed going into the season.
“Ben Tapker is a great kid. He graduated from Cornell and was great at graduating to give himself another chance. I hope that things go well for him at the Union, that he gets the ice time he was looking for and that his career takes another step forward.”
Christiansen returns to USHL
Former Union men’s hockey player Doug Christiansen is back in the US Hockey League. He was named deputy secretary on Wednesday, joining the ECHL as general manager of the Manchester Monarchs for the 2014-18 season and indy for the last three seasons before joining the ECHL as general manager of Fuel. and Recruitment Director (2014-18).
Christiansen resigned from Fury late in the season to pursue the Union men’s head coaching job.
“I am thrilled to be back in the USHL. As a former player and employee, I am a firm believer in the league,” Christiansen said in a press release. “The USHL has contributed to the growth and development of many of the best young players in the world, both on and off the ice. [USHL president and commissioner] Bill Robertson and the league’s ownership build on a very strong foundation to continue growing the league in our communities and throughout the world of hockey. ”
Lange returns to World Juniors
RPI Men’s Hockey Assistant Coach Matthias Lange will participate in the IIHF World Junior Championships from 26 December to January 2023 with Team Austria. There are five of his locations in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick.
Lange was behind Austria’s bench at the 2022 World Juniors in Edmonton, Alberta last month. The tournament was postponed last December due to the COVID-19 issue.
Denver Leads Polls
NCAA champion Denver leads the USCHO.com/NCAA and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls released Monday. Pioneer scored 974 points in the USCHO poll, where he received 37 out of 50 votes. This puts him 60 points more than No. 2 Minnesota, who received eight of his first-place votes.
In the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, the Pioneers received 25 out of 34 votes and scored 666 points. Minnesota gave him 1st place votes with 7 votes and 634 points which put him in 2nd place.
Four ECACH teams cast both votes. 3 teams in the same place. Quinnipiac is his 7th, Harvard his 11th, Cornell his 19th. Clarkson is ranked 17th in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll, and he is 18th in the USCHO poll.
A note about the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The ranking has expanded from 15 to 20 teams, as USCHO polls have done for several years.
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