UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

[Wholin1]

RPI blog Without a Peer's annual post about Union http://www.withoutapeer.com/2014/07/...emy-union.html.


I have no connection to WaP except as a reader.

That had to be a tough blog to write but admirably unbiased and objective IMO.

[CollegeHockeyRinkReport]

Jeff: My appologies ..... I didn't make the connection

No apology needed.

[Dutchman]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

Champion spotlight: Rise of the ECAC
http://frozenfutures.com/2014/07/16/...ght-rise-ecac/

[Dutchman]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

I wonder if strength and conditioning hasn't been one of our secret weapons .... and I wonder if the weight room isn't as important or more important as the modern rink in success. In Juniors and the Pros there is not the time for a full year round strength program that can add 20 lbs of lean muscle mass. When you look at Carr and Sullivan and Hatch how they were able to develop ... and how they were able to contibute in the playoffs ... could stand toe to toe with any 6'2" 220lbs and do battle in front of the net. In the playoffs, when we did lose battles, it was often to bigger, stronger .... and strength and conditiong is also about explosiveness and speed.

http://collegehockeyinc.com/articles...ains-and-brawn
http://collegehockeyinc.com/player-development

[rdf8585]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

Union announced its incoming class today. There are two surprises -- both Foo and Brassard are coming this year, not next. The other six as expected.

http://bit.ly/1pw1BbO

[rdf8585]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

Kyle Bodie is on the move again: http://unionhockeyblog.blogspot.com/...th-royals.html

[Wholin1]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

Union announced its incoming class today. There are two surprises -- both Foo and Brassard are coming this year, not next. The other six as expected.

http://bit.ly/1pw1BbO

I am guessing that someone from last year's roster who was expected back may not be.

[Wholin1]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

I wonder if strength and conditioning hasn't been one of our secret weapons .... and I wonder if the weight room isn't as important or more important as the modern rink in success. In Juniors and the Pros there is not the time for a full year round strength program that can add 20 lbs of lean muscle mass. When you look at Carr and Sullivan and Hatch how they were able to develop ... and how they were able to contibute in the playoffs ... could stand toe to toe with any 6'2" 220lbs and do battle in front of the net. In the playoffs, when we did lose battles, it was often to bigger, stronger .... and strength and conditiong is also about explosiveness and speed.

http://collegehockeyinc.com/articles...ains-and-brawn
http://collegehockeyinc.com/player-development

One of Nate Leaman's innovations was to bring in Dan Gableman, the strength and conditioning coach. Union was one of the last D1 programs to go that route. He is well regarded by the players and the coaching staff. Of course with limited funding, he does not work exclusively with men's hockey, but does do a lot with them. I think most D1 teams pay a lot of attention to conditioning programs so if you don't you aren't "keeping up with the Joneses". I see it more or less as a neutral, but that's just a guess.

[Dutchman]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

College spotlight: the Union Dutchmen by Cam Hasbrouck

http://frozenfutures.com/2014/07/21/...nion-dutchmen/

The Road Ahead
The road ahead for the Union Dutchmen should be interesting. With Bennett as head coach, the Dutchmen have developed an excellent system that takes the ability of the team as a whole and puts it to use, focusing on a team-first mentality. At the same time, Union will be saying good-bye to several star players, including Shayne Gostisbehere, the only drafted player on the team. To be honest, I’m not sure what to expect from Union this season. On one hand, they could continue their excellent play due to their system, and lead the ECAC once again. However, on the other hand, it’ll be a much different team stepping onto the ice at Messa Rink in Schenectady this fall. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

[Dutchman]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

So I think this is what we are looking at for next year, and assumes everyone returns. Placement in lines is totally arbitrary. Good solid team. Somewhere in the top half of the ECAC.

FORWARDS
1st line:
Ciampini
Vecchione
Novak
2nd line:
Wilkins
Lichtenwald
Pontarelli
3rd line:
Cruice
Roy
Coatta
4th line:
DiPauli
Bennett
Goyne
5th line: - Freshmen (5)
Scarfo
Ammirota
Schier
Hynes
Foo
DEFENSEMEN
1st line:
Taylor
Gingras
2nd line:
Vasaturo
Henry
3rd Line:
Krug
Martin
4th line: - Freshmen (3)
Brassard
Light
DeSimone
GOALTENDING
Collin
Alex
Dillion

[Hokydad]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

scarfo will be in lineup

light is not coming to sit in stands either

[Wholin1]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

With my apologies to Forrest Gump, recruits are like a box of chocolates,you never know what you are going to get, not at least until they skate onto the rink and show their wares. The coaches will tell you the same thing. Did anyone realistically think Ghost would turn into the player he became when recruited out of Florida? Who knows, maybe in four years we'll be talking about this class being one of the greatest as we now recognize those who departed this season with a national championship. It's part of what makes following college hockey so much fun.

[UnionFan4Life]

scarfo will be in lineup

light is not coming to sit in stands either

I think you can say the same thing about Brassard. It was a little shocking, but exciting to see him coming in this year.

[rdf8585]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

Everything I've heard about Brassard points to him being a big get for Union. But as an 18-year-old right out of prep school, I'd temper my expectations early on. Even Gostisbehere needed at least half a season to adjust. But the ceiling with Brassard is very high.

Overall, this is another great class at least on paper. Last year's freshmen left a lot to live up to, but I think this class has that kind of potential. What was lost this summer can't be underestimated, but there's a lot coming back and a lot of potential coming in. I think you'll see Union get picked 2nd or 3rd in the preseason ECAC poll. Colgate, which is returning almost its entire team, is sounding like the preseason favorite for first.

Union will have a combined 17 freshman and sophomores this season as the roster currently stands.

[rdf8585]

Re: UNION Hockey National Champion's Off Season-U Believe it?

Former Union star Jeremy Welsh has a new hockey home.