Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

[Fivedevs]

Day one of the Josh Sciba era is Schenectady. Since the program is moving on from the past I thought it was time for a new thread. Try to stay clear of the negative if you can. The following young ladies have announced on social media there commitment for next year. Anyone know them?

Amelia Murray G
Chicago Young Americans U19 (HPHL)

Reid Nichols D
East Coast Wizards

Sam Auman D
Blaine HS, MN

Kate Spooner G
Pro Cresting Penguins Midget (NSFMHL)

Bridgit Sullivan F
Northwood Prep, NY

Rachel DePerio F
Buffalo Bison/Nichols, NY

Katelynn Russ F
Chicago Young Americans U19 (HPHL)

Jordi Naidrich F
Lawrenceville Prep/NJ Rockets

Haley Shugart F
Toronto Jr. Aeros (PWHL)

Abby Ellis D
Mass Spitfires U19

Cheyenne Harris F
Minnesota Team Red (USA)

[hab]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

Day one of the Josh Sciba era is Schenectady. Since the program is moving on from the past I thought it was time for a new thread. Try to stay clear of the negative if you can. The following young ladies have announced on social media there commitment for next year. Anyone know them?

Amelia Murray G
Chicago Young Americans U19 (HPHL)

Reid Nichols D
East Coast Wizards

Sam Auman D
Blaine HS, MN

Kate Spooner G
Pro Cresting Penguins Midget (NSFMHL)

Bridgit Sullivan F
Northwood Prep, NY

Rachel DePerio F
Buffalo Bison/Nichols, NY

Katelynn Russ F
Chicago Young Americans U19 (HPHL)

Jordi Naidrich F
Lawrenceville Prep/NJ Rockets

Haley Shugart F
Toronto Jr. Aeros (PWHL)

Abby Ellis D
Mass Spitfires U19

Cheyenne Harris F
Minnesota Team Red (USA)

Shugart is a very impressive recruit for Union. 5th in scoring in very strong PWHL.

[giwan]

Shugart is a very impressive recruit for Union. 5th in scoring in very strong PWHL.

I think it would be important to note just who's recruits these young ladies were.

[shelfit]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

I think it would be important to note just who's recruits these young ladies wee.

or were. Obviously they are Claudia's. Some good players, others not so much....DIII would be better for them but whatever. Good luck to Josh Sciba!

[TrilliumGirl]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

There is a commitment missing in this list. Union also recruited Celine Tessier, the starter goalie for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats in the PWHL. After being in and out of first place in the standings, she finished in second place overall after regular season play. She had a better and more consistent season that Team Ontario and Team Canada goalies. Before Nepean, Celine played for CIHA Voyageurs and helped her U17 team make it to the semi-finals at the 2015 JWHL Challenger Cup. This is a good addition to Union's lineup.

[HockeyEast33]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

or were. Obviously they are Claudia's. Some good players, others not so much....DIII would be better for them but whatever. Good luck to Josh Sciba!

Actually, I'd say that they are more a combination of Barcomb and Chris Cobb recruits based on what I heard....

[Puckdrop14]

Looks like 4 goaltenders next year. Nepean and CYA goalie joining the team for 2016-17 season. Would expect Black to be the starter meaning that 3 others will be fighting for spot starts?? A few may push for starts as they are a talented group.

[CrossCheck]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

There is a commitment missing in this list. Union also recruited Celine Tessier, the starter goalie for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats in the PWHL. After being in and out of first place in the standings, she finished in second place overall after regular season play. She had a better and more consistent season that Team Ontario and Team Canada goalies. Before Nepean, Celine played for CIHA Voyageurs and helped her U17 team make it to the semi-finals at the 2015 JWHL Challenger Cup. This is a good addition to Union's lineup.

Thanks for the press release, Mom.

[mnwis]

Looks like 4 goaltenders next year. Nepean and CYA goalie joining the team for 2016-17 season. Would expect Black to be the starter meaning that 3 others will be fighting for spot starts?? A few may push for starts as they are a talented group.

Leah Patrick leaves for Augsburg

[agfire]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

Thanks for the press release, Mom.

Too funny

[hockeydad09]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

Looks like 4 goaltenders next year. Nepean and CYA goalie joining the team for 2016-17 season. Would expect Black to be the starter meaning that 3 others will be fighting for spot starts?? A few may push for starts as they are a talented group.

Melissa Black is also leaving. 2 new goalies again.

[hab]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

Melissa Black is also leaving. 2 new goalies again.

Any news on where the non-returning freshmen are going? Other hockey programs or staying at Union but leaving hockey?

[Puckdrop14]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

Black leaving is definitely a negative for the program. She kept the team in many games last year. Likely a disappointment for the new coach.

[ADK11]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

New assistant coaches named..

(From Ken Schott @ the Gazette)
Whitney Colbert and Mitch Baker have been named assistant coaches for the Union women's hockey team, new head coach John Sciba announced Wednesday.

Colbert comes to Union from Connecticut College, where she spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the women's hockey team. She interned with the Cornell men's hockey coaching staff and with the USA Hockey women's department in Colorado Springs, Colo. She continues to be involved with USA Hockey, working at the U-18 and U-15 National Camps in St. Cloud, Minn., as an intern coach and on-ice skills person.

"Whitney brings a new level of passion and energy that our players will feel immediately," Sciba said in a statement. "She'll be a great role model and teacher for our team. Her coaching and playing experience in the NESCAC and work with USA Hockey will help us identify and recruit the type of players that fit our identity here at Union College."

Baker spent the last eight years as an assistant with the Bethel (Minn.) University women's hockey team. He helped recruited and developed four All-Americans, a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Player of the Year and numerous All-Conference honorees.

"Mitch brings a wealth of coaching experience from his years with Bethel College," Sciba said. "In addition to being an elite goaltending coach, his ability to educate and connect with our players, recruits, and their families will be a huge asset to our program."

The pair replace Ali Boe and Chris Cobb, who were not retained by Sciba. Sciba replaced former head coach Claudia Asano on May 13.

I'm optimistic about the new coaches and the future. Particularly like that Sciba has had good results recruiting to a program (Colgate) that is about as similar to Union as can get. Whatever you want to say about the past, the program needs to get better players. In the past there were too many recruits that were 2nd-3rd liners on their prep & junior teams, and is almost impossible to compete when every other D-1 team has the 1st liners, all-stars, and national team players. As much the men's team profited from better coaching, game prep, off-ice training, etc. the real reason they reached the level they have is because they recruited much better players under Leaman & Bennett. Hoping that the new regime will start getting players from different sources and more top-tier players like Shugart.

[ADK11]

Re: Union College Dutchwomen 2016-17 The New Era

Union is not really all that similar to Colgate. They are closer to an Ivy in that there are no athletic scholarships, just without the Ivy League education. And their FA is not a good as the less affluent Ivies as well.

Josh is a good guy, a good coach. But if he gets this team above .500 2 years in a row, I will be very surprised. Just my 2 cents.

I disagree.. Gate gives a limited number of scholarships, but otherwise is similar in that they have a "near-Ivy" educational reputation and similar FA capability. The Ivies ability to give full or near-full FA plus their superior reputation (which I think means more on the women's side) is not a good comparison for Union on the recruiting front. For that case, some of the NESCACs have the edge over U in that they have a winning hockey traditions. Regardless, my point is that Sciba comes from a similar institution and should have an idea of some of the challenges in front of him.

As for your second point, I agree completely.. double digit wins and periodic post-season play would be a big achievement until the talent pool of recruits increases. In the short term, of course, win #1 would be a nice start..