The last time that the men's hockey hosted a playoff game was on February 27, 1990 when they lost to Mercyhurst, 5-4, in the ECAC Division II West quarterfinals. The 13-year dry spell has come to an end as the Dutchmen are assured of either hosting an ECAC first-round series next weekend (Friday and Saturday, March 7 & 8) or receiving a first-round bye, depending on what happens during this weekend's final two regular-season games.
This is the first year that the ECAC tournament will allow all 12 of its members to join the playoff party. Prior to this season only the league's top 10 finishers earned playoff berth. Union, which joined the Division I league prior to the 1991-92 campaign, qualified for postseason five times. Ironically, Union's first trip to the playoffs, which came in 1993-94, saw the upstart Dutchmen travel to Troy and hand arch-rival Rensselaer a 4-3 loss. Unfortunately, the Garnet lost the next two games at Houston Field House and go into this year's tournament looking to snap a nine-game playoff losing streak.
“It's nice, because, obviously, in our Division I history we've never had a chance to play a home playoff game,” said head coach Kevin Sneddon. “For our fans, it's been a long process; they certainly deserve to see a playoff game in our rink. I think that's great.”
Achilles Rink has been the site of numerous ECAC and NCAA playoff games over the years. In fact, the 1984-85 team hosted what would now be called the “Frozen Four”, finishing third in the country after losing to RIT in the opener, 3-2, and then beating Plattsburgh, 9-6, in the consolation game.
This weekend's regular-season finale finds Vermont (Friday at 7:00) and Dartmouth (Saturday at 7:00) in town.
The Dutchmen can't finish any worse than eighth (considering all the tie-breakers) and could climb as high as fourth (the top four teams receive a first-round bye with positions five through eight hosting the first round games). In order for the Garnet to capture that first-round bye, they would have to sweep this weekend and look for both Brown and Dartmouth to be swept (Brown hosts St. Lawrence and Clarkson).
If everything breaks just right for the Dutchmen (a Union win and Brown and Dartmouth losses on Friday), Saturday's Senior Appreciation Night showdown with Dartmouth will be HUGE!
Ticket prices for the ECAC playoff series have been set and are as follows:
- Box $10
- Bleacher $8
- Student Box $10
- Student Bleacher $5
- Children – Ages 12-4 are $5
- Children – 3 and under are free
Union College faculty and staff will pay face-value on all tickets. Tickets are on sale now at the Achilles Rink Box Office. Opponent and dates of the series will be determined after this weekend.
A hospitality tent will be available each night of the playoffs starting at 5:30 (closing 2 minutes into period one) and during intermissions (closing 2 minutes into the second and third period). Tickets to the hospitality tent will be available to season ticket holders first. Remaining tickets will be available at the box office beginning Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Getting back to this weekend, on Saturday, immediately following the game with Dartmouth, the Dutchmen players and coaches will honor the five members of the senior class. They are: defenseman
Randy Dagenais (Val Rita, ONT/Collingwood), forward Kris Goodjohn (Calgary, AB/Bowness), defenseman
Jason Kean (Nanaimo, BC/Dover Bay), forward, and captain, Nathan Gillies (Cambridge,ONT/St. Benedict's), and goaltender
Marc Wise (Aspen, CO/Aspen).