Schenectady, NY (June 9, 2005) – A pair of road games against Division I newcomer Boston University of Hockey East kicks off the 2005-06 season for the Union women's hockey team. The 29-game schedule includes other non-league tilts against Sacred Heart, Rensselaer, and Robert Morris, who also starts its inaugural season. Union, entering its seventh season of NCAA competition, will play 14 home games.
“We are very happy with the way the schedule has come together for the upcoming season,” second year head coach Tim Gerrish said. “It gives us a chance to match up against some established teams as well as some teams that are starting out at the Division I level.” Union plays Boston on October 4-5 before a four-game home stand that starts on October 29-30 against ECACHL opponent Clarkson and ends against Sacred Heart on November 4-5.
Union enters just its third season as a Division I member of the prestigious ECAC Hockey League. A league that saw three of its teams in the 2005 NCAA Women's Frozen Four. The Dutchwomen will face two of those three teams in Harvard and St. Lawrence during an 11-game road trip November 11-January 7. They face off against the Crimson on December 2-3 before heading to Canton, NY the following weekend to play the Saints, December 9-10.
The road trip will commence against first-year league member Quinnipiac on November 11-12. The Bobcats replaced Vermont in the ECACHL after the Catamounts made the move to Hockey East. “We are sad to see our good friends from Vermont leave but we are indeed happy with the addition of Quinnipiac, a team that we have a great rivalry with,” commented Gerrish. After that Union reunites against Sacred Heart for a single game on November 22.
The Dutchwomen will play a pair of exhibition games up in St. Catharines, Ontario against Brock University December 14-15 before wrapping up the road trip against cross town rival Rensselaer to ring in the New Year on January 6-7. “We were fortunate to be able to schedule games on the road while our student body is on break,” said Gerrish. “We were also able to offer our Canadian Athletes a chance to play in Canada just before Christmas.”
Following its lengthy road trip Union returns to Messa Rink for eight straight starting with a two-game series against CHA member Robert Morris on January 14-15. That series will conclude non-league play as the Dutchwomen host Brown the following weekend on January 20-21 before facing 2005 Frozen Four participant Dartmouth on January 27-28 and wrapping up the homestand against Cornell February 4-5.
Union will play its home finale against Princeton February 17-18 in between a pair of road trips against Yale February 10-11 and Colgate in the regular-season finale on February 24-25.
For single game and season ticket information contact the Achilles Center Ticket Office at 518-388-6134.