The women's hockey team hosted “Hockey Night with the Brownies” on January 18 when Brownie Troop 227 from Glenville came to Achilles Rink to skate with the Dutchwomen. This marked the third consecutive year that the seven-year olds have spent an evening with the skating Dutchwomen. The event began when the 18 girls were in Daisy Troop 227.
Players worked with the girls for about an hour and a half, demonstrating the various skills of the game. Activities included tag, shooting, passing, races and skating instruction. Afterwards, the Skating Dutchwomen presented the Brownies with t-shirts, pucks, sticks, programs, bumper stickers and autographs.
This is one of several community outreach activities that the Skating Dutchwomen take part in during the course of their season. The event draws a good number of parents who are thrilled to see how much progress and confidence their daughters develop in one evening of skating with Union's players As for the Brownies, this is the “highlight of the winter,” according to one parent, whose daughter was one of many who planned to wear their t-shirt to school the next day.
Before leaving the Brownies presented head coach Fred Quistgard with a box of
biscuits for his dog, Lexus, explaining that this year's supply of Girl Scout Cookies had not yet arrived.
Union's teams were well represented among this week's UCAA and ECAC awards. Katie Smith was named the UCAA's “Guard of the Week”after averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in last weekend's conference split with Hamilton and Hobart. It is the fourth time in as many weeks that a Dutchwoman has been named for a weekly honor (please see the women's statistics page on their web site…C.J. Rodgers was named the conference's “Forward of the Week” as he shot better than 55% from the floor and averaged a double digits in both points (21.0) and rebounds (11.7) as the Dutchmen won two of three games last week. This is the second time in four weeks that a Union player has been named. Rodgers also became the first Union player in quite a while to be named the ECAC Upstate New York “Player of the Week”…Senior forward Jason Ralph (Carp,ONT./W. Carleton Secondary) was selected to the ECAC “Honor Roll” after scoring two goals in the Skating Dutchmen's 5-1 non-league victory over UConn. The win broke an 11-game winless slide, in with the team was 0-9-2, and was Union's first victory since November 25 when it beat Lowell, 5-3.
The men's basketball team will host its annual Alumni Game on Saturday, February 3 at 11 a.m. Those former players who haven't contacted head coach Bob Montana and still wish to play should call him at 518-388-6595 or e-mail him at montanar@union.edu The women's swim team will host the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association championship on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 15, 16 and 17 at Alumni Pool in Alumni Gym.