Schenectady, NY (June 9, 2005) – A return trip to Colorado Springs will kick off the 2005-06 schedule for the Union men's hockey team. Head coach Nate Leaman and the Dutchmen will begin their 36-game campaign against 2004 Frozen Four participant Colorado College in the IceBreaker Invitational on October 7. “We are looking forward to playing one of the nation's best programs for our first game,” said Leaman. “Being that they lose very few players and have two Hobey Baker finalists returning they will be a very good test for us early on.” They will face Air Force in the second game of the IceBreaker. Union will also take part in the Mariucci Classic at Minnesota and will battle Ohio State on the road in December. Fans will have plenty of chances to catch the Dutchmen at home as well with 18 games slated at Messa Rink beginning with the home-opener against Atlantic Hockey member Sacred Heart on October 14.
Union will get its fill of the Atlantic Hockey League during the season. In addition to facing Sacred Heart, Union will host Connecticut and Bentley, and will renew an old rivalry against RIT, who will play its first season of Division I hockey as an independent before joining Atlantic Hockey for the 2006-07 season. Additional non-league games include a trip to Lowell, MA to face Hockey East opponent UMass-Lowell and a pair of home games against CHA member Wayne State.
Union will make its second appearance in the Mariucci Classic when they play the host Gophers on December 30. The Dutchmen will close out 2005 against either Canisius or UMass-Lowell in the second game of the tournament.
The Dutchmen will face the usual suspects Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, and Yale in their 15th season as a member of the ECAC Hockey League. “Every year we try to make our schedule as challenging as possible to improve our players,” stated Leaman. “The league will be extremely tough as it is every year and we believe we have put together a schedule that will get us prepared for the ECACHL season.”
There will also be a new face in the crowd with league newcomer Quinnipiac, who replaced Vermont after the Catamounts moved over to Hockey East. Union will get its first look at the Bobcats in a home contest on November 12. “Quinnipiac entering the league is great for the ECACHL,” commented Leaman. “They have the opportunity to be very competitive in our league. The school has made a commitment to putting a winning product on the ice and will be an exciting addition.”
Union begins league play with a trip to the North Country November 4-5 to take on St. Lawrence and Clarkson. The homestretch of the schedule includes the most storied rivalry in college athletics on February 3-4 with a home and away series against Rensselaer.
For single game and season ticket information contact the Achilles Center Ticket Office at 518-388-6134.