STORRS, CT - No. 8/8 Union College (3-1-0) will be in search of its fourth straight win tonight when the Dutchmen take the ice against Connecticut (0-2-0) at the Freitas Ice Forum in a contest set to begin at 8:00 p.m. Union is making its first trip to UConn since Dec. 30, 2009, when the Dutchmen defeated the Huskies, 7-0, in the consolation game of the Toyota UConn Classic.

Union is 15-0-3 in its last 18 games against Atlantic Hockey competition dating back to the 2009-10 season. One of Union's three ties in that span came when the Dutchmen last squared off against the Huskies, on Oct. 28, 2010 at Messa Rink. Goaltender Troy Grosenick made his debut in net as a freshman in that contest, stopping 19 of 22 shots in a 3-3 tie.

»Last Time Out
Senior forward Kyle Bodie matched a career high with four points (two goals, two assists) and sophomore goaltender Colin Stevens made 25 saves for his first career shutout to lead No. 8/8 Union (3-1-0) to an 8-0 win over American International College (1-3-0) at Olympia Ice Center.

Senior forward Wayne Simpson and junior forward Josh Jooris each had a goal and two assists, as seven different Union players scored in a balanced offensive effort for the Dutchmen.

»A Homecoming for Coach Bennett
Last night's 8-0 win at AIC was a successful homecoming for head coach Rick Bennett, a native of Springfield, Mass. Bennett, who graduated from Classical High School in 1985, won a Western Massachusetts championship in 1984 with the varsity hockey team under head coach Jim Carlin. He returned to his hometown for two seasons during his pro career, playing for the Springfield Indians (AHL) during the 1993-94 season and the Springfield Falcons (AHL) during the 1994-95 season.

»Special Teams Success
The Dutchmen are off to a solid start in special teams play, one year fielding a power play which ranked fourth in the nation with a 24.2% efficiency rate and penalty kill unit which finished the season 12th in the nation at 84.5%. Union has scored seven power play goals over the past three games, while allowing just two power play goals on the season. Through four games, Union is 14-for-16 (87.5%) on the penalty kill and 7-for-20 (35.0%) on the power play.

»Road Warriors
Union has established itself as one of college hockey's toughest road teams over the past two seasons. Union is 14-5-3 in true road contests since the start of the 2011-12 season. The Dutchmen are 12-2-2 in their last 16 ECAC Hockey road contests, dating back to the end of the 2010-11 season.

Union will play 20 contests away from Messa Rink during the 2012-13 regular season, including a a season-long eight game stretch from Dec. 7-Jan. 12. The Dutchmen are currently in the midst of a five-game stretch away from home, their second longest road swing of the season.

»Union Against Atlantic Hockey
Union is 42-6-7 against Atlantic Hockey opponents in the Division I era (since 1991). Union played four contests against Atlantic Hockey opponents in 2011-12, finishing the season 3-0-1 in those games. Union is 15-0-3 in its last 19 games against Atlantic Hockey competition, dating back to 2009-10.

Union's last loss against AHA competition came on Oct. 24, 2009, a 6-5 OT loss to Sacred Heart. Union will play two games against AHA opponents this season, both this weekend. Union plays at Connecticut on Saturday night.

»Scouting UConn
Top Returning Players (2011-12 stats): Jr. F Brant Harris (18 goals (10 PPG), 15 assists), Jr. F. Billy Latta (10 goals, 18 assists), Sr. F Sean Ambrosie (7 goals, 20 assists), Jr. F Jordan Sims (9 goals, 17 assists), Sr. D Alex Gerke (6 goals, 19 assists), Sr. G Garrett Bartus (16-19-3, 2.55 GAA, .923 Save %)

Top Departing Players: So. F Cole Schneider (23 goals, 22 assists), Sr. F Marcell Ranallo (4 goals, 15 assists)

Synopsis: UConn lost one of its best players in program history when Cole Schneider signed a pro contract with the Ottawa Senators. After an 8th place finish in Atlantic Hockey a year ago, the Huskies return enough depth up front and on the backline, and one of the more experienced goaltenders in the nation in Bartus and will be competitive once again in a league where nine points separated the first and eighth place teams.

»The Union-UConn Series
Union and UConn have played seven times in the last nine seasons, with Union owning a 5-0-2 record in those meetings. The Dutchmen are 7-0-2 all-time against UConn, including a 3-0-0 record at the Freitas Ice Forum.

Union is making its first trip to UConn since Dec. 30, 2009, when the Dutchmen earned a 7-0 win in the Toyota UConn Classic.

»UConn's Last Time Out
UConn dropped its conference opener last night at Holy Cross, falling 2-1 to the Crusaders in Worcester, Mass. After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, UConn tied the game late in the second period on Jordan Sims' first goal of the season at 18:50. But Holy Cross scored a power play goal late in the third period to seal the win.

In the crease for the Huskies, Garrett Bartus totaled 34 saves, including 16 in the third period.

»Last Meeting
On Oct. 28, 2010, after mounting a three goal lead against Connecticut, the Union men's ice hockey team settled for a 3-3 tie against the Huskies in front of 1,149 fans at Messa Rink.

Kyle Bodie, Daniel Carr, and Jeremy Welsh all scored for the Dutchmen, while freshman goaltender Troy Grosenick made 19 stops in his first collegiate start.

With Union up 3-0 midway through the second period, Connecticut scored three times in the span of 8:29 in the second period to earn another road point as they closed out a four-game road trip with four points (1-1-2).

Connecticut, which entered the game with the nation's third best penalty kill unit at 94.7%, got things going while shorthanded. On a two-on-one, forward Cole Schneider shot low on Grosenick and forward Justin Sims followed up with a rebound into the net to cut Union's lead to 3-1 at 9:18 of the second period.

In the waning seconds of a Connecticut power play, the Huskies created another opportunity in front which led to a backhand goal by sophomore Sean Ambrosie at 12:24.

Sims would even up the score at 17:47 of the second period when he hit the top corner from in close. Union got off to a fast start as Bodie converted a rebound off a Greg Coburn shot that kicked off the glass and bounced in front of the net, to give Union a 1-0 lead at 10:00.

With Union on the power play, Carr tipped in a loose puck off an initial shot by linemate Josh Jooris at 14:50. Carr would set up Welsh early in the second period with a nifty play behind the net, stopping quickly with the puck and finding his sophomore linemate in front for a 3-0 Union lead.

Welsh had an opportunity to give Union the lead at with 1:21 remaining in the third period, but hit the post on a wrist shot from the slot.

For the game Union outshot Connecticut 41-22, including a 4-3 advantage in overtime.