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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Union concludes its non-conference schedule with two contests against WCHA foes in the Mariucci Classic, hosted by the University of Minnesota. On New Year's Eve, the Dutchmen (10-5-3, 3-2-1 ECAC Hockey) will take on host No. 19 Minnesota (9-7-2, 6-6-2 WCHA), marking the first meeting between the two schools since an 8-0 loss on Dec. 29, 2005 in the Dodge Holiday Classic. The Golden Gophers notched a three-point (1-0-1) weekend against No. 4/3 Minnesota-Duluth with a 3-2 win on Dec. 10, and a 2-2 tie Dec. 12.
Union will take on Bemidji State on Saturday afternoon, the first meeting between the Dutchmen and the Beavers since a 5-5 tie on Oct. 26, 2002 at Bemidji. Bemidji State (5-10-1, 4-9-1 WCHA) was swept at Wisconsin by scores of 3-2 and 2-0 at No. 15/15 Wisconsin on Dec. 10 and 11, but has won its last two contests against ranked opponents. Union has an all-time record of 7-18-5 against WCHA opponents, including a 2-9-1 mark under head coach Nate Leaman. Union is 1-0-0 against the WCHA this year, a 4-3 win on Oct. 16 against Alaska-Anchorage in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush.
Coach Leaman Just One Win Away From School Record
After taking over a program that finished 14-18-4 in 2002-03, head coach Nate Leaman has worked his way to a plus-.500 record through eight seasons. Entering tonight's contest, Leaman has a career 122-122-33 record, which ranks tops among Union Division I coaches. In his last three-plus seasons (including this year), Leaman has posted a 65-48-18 record. With the win against Army on Dec. 11, Leaman tied the school wins mark held by Charlie Morrison (1978-88) who posted a career record of 122-146-9.
Dutchmen Notch Season Hat Trick Total to Four
After recording four hat tricks in five seasons (187 games) from 2005-06 to 2009-10, the Dutchmen have four hat tricks in 18 games this season. On Dec. 11 against Army, freshman forward
Daniel Carr scored three goals, one day after sophomore forward
Jeremy Welsh recorded his first career hat trick against AIC. Freshman forward
Josh Jooris scored three goals in his season debut on Oct. 8 against Sacred Heart and junior forward
Kelly Zajac became the first Union student-athlete in the Division I era to record four goals in a game on Oct. 9, also against Sacred Heart.
Scouting Minnesota
Senior captain Jay Barriball leads Minnesota in goals (10) and points (19), and has recorded a point in 12 of 18 games for the Golden Gophers. Barriball scored what proved to be the game-winning foal in Minnesota's 3-2 win against No. 4/3 Minnesota-Duluth on Dec. 10. Junior goaltender Kent Patterson has emerged as the leading netminder for the Golden Gophers. Patterson is 7-2-2 on the seaosn with a 2.52 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
Patterson made a career-hgh 41 saves in Minnesota's 2-2 tie against UMD on Dec. 12. Minnesota is No. 21 in the nation in scoring offense with an average of 3.28 goals per game and No. 35 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 3.11 goals per game.
The Golden Gophers have alloowed just 10 goals in their last five games, their best five-game stretch of defense this season. The Golden Gophers are No. 20 in the nation on the power play, converting at 20.5% (15-for-73) and are No. 54 in the nation on the penalty kill at 75.0% (60-for-80).
Minnesota has played one of the most rigorous schedules in the nation, with 11 games against ranked opponents. The Golden Gophers have fared well in those contests, compiling a record of 5-4-2. Minnesota has 19 NHL Draft Picks on its roster, but will be without the services of freshmen forwards Nick Bjugstad (United States) and Erik Huala (Finland), who are representing their countries in the IIHF
World Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y.
Last Meeting Against Minnesota
Minnesota forward Mike Howe's first career hat trick sparked No. 3 Minnesota to an 8-0 win against Union on Dec. 29, 2005 in the semifinals of the 15th Annual Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena.
Seven different players notched multiple-point games and 12 different Golden Gophers tallied a point to push Minnesota into the title game to face UMass-Lowell, a 5-4 winner over Canisius in the first semifinal.
Union goaltender Kris Mayotte made 35 saves in the loss. The Dutchmen would salvage a split in the event, defeating Canisius 2-0 on the next night.
Scouting Bemidji State
Just two seasons removed from a run to the Frozen Four as the last team in the NCAA Tournament, Bemidji State has proven to be a dangerous team of late despite a slow start, sweeping then-No. 4 Nebraska-Omaha on Dec. 3 and 4. Sophomore forward Jordan George leads the team in scoring with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists). senior forward Ion Lowe is the team's leading goal-scorer with eight goals on the season. The Beavers are No. 53 in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 2.19 goals per game, and are No. 24 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 2.75 goals per game.
Last Meeting Against Bemidji State
In a back and forth game with five ties and three lead changes Union forward Kris Goodjohn had two goals and an assist, but Bemidji State forward Wade Chiodo scored on the power play to tie the game at 9:37 of the third period, and the game ended with the two teams tied at 5-5 on Oct. 26, 2002 at Bemidji State.
