Complete Game Notes
SCHENECTADY, NY - Many eyes will turn to Messa Rink this weekend as No. 11 Union (1-0-0) hosts No. 12 Western Michigan (2-0-0) at Messa Rink for its home opener in a rematch of a series last December in Kalamazoo, Mich. Union is 13-4-3 in home openers in the Division I era, including a 5-0-1 mark in its last six home openers. Western Michigan lost its top goal-scorer (Max Campbell), and goaltender (Jerry Kuhn), as well as head coach Jeff Blashill. But the Broncos returned their next nine leading scorers from a year ago, and hired former NHL head coach Andy Murray as their new head coach.
An Opening Night to Remember for Coach Bennett
Union opened the season with a resounding 8-1 win at Army last Saturday, as junior forward Wayne Simpson recorded his first career four-point night, including a hat trick, to help head coach Rick Bennett earn his first victory behind the bench. It marked the second consecutive season that a Union player had scored a hat trick in the season opener, as freshman forward Josh Jooris accomplished the same feat on Oct. 8, 2010 in a 9-0 win over Sacred Heart. Sophomore goaltender Troy Grosenick stopped 17 of 18 shots to pick up his first career win in net.
Union Ranked For 39th Consecutive Week
Coming off an 8-1 win in its season opener at Army, he Union men's ice hockey team earned a No. 11 ranking in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls released Monday. Union earned 514 points in the USCHO.com poll and 163 points in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. This marks the 39th consecutive week the Dutchmen have been ranked in the USCHO.com poll, extending a school record. Union has been ranked for 39 consecutive weeks in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and 24 consecutive weeks in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Dating back to last season, the Dutchmen have an impressive record (20-2-2) in their last 24 regular season home games at Messa Rink. Not including exhibition contests, the Dutchmen are 140-134-42 all-time at home.
Scouting Western Michigan
Similar to the beginning of last season, Western Michigan has some unknowns heading
into this year. The big change is once again at the top, where NHL veteran Andy Murray takes over the reigns behind the bench at WMU after former head coach Jeff Blashill took a job with the Detroit Red Wings. Under Blashill the Broncos had a resurrection,
going from last place to fourth place and the program's fourth ever NCAA Tournament
berth.
Murray, who holds the Los Angeles Kings franchise record for career wins, takes over a
team that loses its top goal scorer in departed Max Campbell, but retains its next nine leading scorers. Also gone is Jerry Kuhn, who left with the career save percentage and goals against average records, but returns junior Nick Pisellini, who appeared in 17 games between the pipes with a 7-5-4 record.
The Union-WMU Series
Saturday's meeting will be the third all-time between the two schools and Western Michigan leads after sweeping a two-game series in Kalamazoo last season. Union is 0-4-1 in its last five contests against CCHA opponents with its last victory coming against Ferris State (4-1) on Oct. 13, 2007.
Last Meeting
In the second of a two-game set at Western Michigan, the men's hockey team fell 3-1 to the Broncos in front of 1,532 fans at Lawson Arena on Dec. 19, 2010. With a 1-0 lead entering the second period, Western Michigan scored two goals in a span of 29 seconds to take control of the contest. Just two minutes into the period, Mike Levendusky's shot from the point deflected off a Union stick in front of the net and beat Keith Kinkaid at 2:03.
Then at 2:32, Kyle O'Kane scored from in close off a centering feed from Derek Roehl,
giving the Broncos a 3-0 lead. With the two teams skating 4-on-4 later in the period, Wayne Simpson helped Union cut the Western Michigan lead to 3-1. Simpson took a long feed from Mat Bodie, cut into the high slot and fired a low wrist shot past Western Michigan goaltender Jerry Kuhn at 6:00.
With the Broncos sitting back in their zone for most of the third period, Union had difficulty getting quality scoring chances the rest of the way. Simpson had Union's best opportunity to cut into the lead, firing a wrist shot off the outside of the post midway through the final period of play.
Western Michigan forward Max Campbell got the Broncos on the board at 10:41 of the
first period. Campbell took a feed from Greg Squires, skated across the middle of the zone and fired a wrist shot over the shoulder of Kinkaid to give WMU at 1-0 lead.
The Broncos would go on to outshoot Union 14-6 in the second period, when they took
control of the game. For the game, Western Michigan held a 25-19 shot advantage.
