On a snowy Wednesday, it is definitely time to look at the matchup of the Bulldog’s first round NCAA opponent, Union College of Schenectady, NY.
This will not be the first meeting of the schools, but there is not a lot of history between the Bulldogs and Dutchmen or against the other teams in the East Regional.
UMD squares off for the eighth time ever against Union and the Bulldogs hold a 6-0-1 advantage. The series has seen games in Duluth (4), Schenectady (2) and one neutral site game. This will mark the first tip to the NCAA Tournament for the Dutchmen and the seventh for the Bulldogs. UMD’s record in the NCAA Tournament is 9-8-0 all time with three Frozen Four appearances.
At a glance, this is how the teams fair in the stat department:
Union had a breakout season in 2009-10 with a 21-12-6 record and just missing the NCAA’s for the ECAC auto-bid in losing to Cornell in the championship game. The Dutchmen followed that season up with the current 26-9-4 and an at-large bid to the NCAA’s.
The Union surge is in large part to their scoring, especially on the power play. What shouldn’t be lost is the play of goalie Keith Kincaid who was a rumored Hobey Baker candidate, but did not make the list of ten.
Union has played steady hockey this season posting a nine game win streak near the end of the regular season and only being swept once. That sweep was at the hands of CCHA Tournament runner-up and NCAA participant Western Michigan. The last games that the Dutchmen played in were a win then pair of losses to Colgate in the ECAC second round playoffs. The Dutchmen are led in scoring by Daniel Carr with has 20 goals, 12 on the power play. In addition, Union has five players with double digit goals and 16 with double digit points.
Full Union Team Stats.
UMD has been streaky at times this season with a distinct change in winning percentage at the Thanksgiving break. Prior to Thanksgiving, the Bulldogs were 11-1-2. After the Holiday, UMD glided in with an 11-9-4 stretch. That being said, UMD has beaten the teams they needed to in earning the NCAA at-large bid. The last game that UMD played in was a loss to Bemidji State in the first round of the Final Five of the WCHA Playoffs. UMD is led by the FCC line (Mike Connolly – Jack Connolly – Justin Fontaine) who have amassed 62 goals and 94 assists. Including the FCC line, the Bulldogs also have five players with double digit goals, but only nine with double digit points.
Full UMD Team Stats.
A start here with the stats. Tomorrow we will look at the other trends that play into this UMD/Union game and make our predictions for all the East Regional games.
UMD actually only has eight players on the current roster with double digit points as Dylan Olsen signed with the Blackhawks. In my opinion (20/20 hindsight) Dylan Olsen is the team MVP. With him there record was great, after losing him they are winning just over 50%. He appears to have been the straw theat stirred the drink (1 goal 12 assists) in his 17 games played. I believe they were 12-3-3 prior to him going pro.
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