Men’s College Hockey
MAINE vs. UNION COLLEGE
Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Messa Rink, Schenectady, New York
Records: Maine 0-0-2, Union 1-0-1
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 7-4; Union 5-2 on 10/18/14
Key players: Maine — RW Blaine Byron (1 goal, 2 assists), C Cam Brown (1 & 1), D Eric Schurhamer (0 & 2), RW Will Merchant (1 & 0), C Steven Swavely (0 & 0), G Rob McGovern (0-0-1, 0.92 goals-against average, .978 save percentage), G Matt Morris (0-0-1, 2.78, .917); Union— C Mike Vecchione (0 & 3), LW Matt Wilkins (1 & 2), RW Michael Pontarelli (1 & 1), C Eli Lichtenwald (1 & 0), C Ryan Scarfo (1 & 0), D Jeff Taylor (0 & 0), G Alex Sakellaropoulos (1-0-1, 1.92, .923)
Game notes: The Dutchmen are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games against Hockey East teams including last season’s 3-0, 5-2 wins in Orono. Union returns nine of its top 11 scorers off a 19-18-2 team that missed the NCAA tournament after winning the national championship the previous year. Vecchione was a 50-point scorer last season and was tied for ninth in the country in points per game (1.28). Union coach Rick Bennett, who notched his 100th career win vs. Boston University (5-3) on Saturday, feels his team has to shore up its defensive zone coverage against Maine. The Black Bears must generate a more sustained forecheck after struggling to do so against North Dakota in Saturday’s 1-1 tie. Sakellaropoulos has only played 24 career games so Maine needs to attack the net and try to take advantage of his inexperience. Vecchione had a goal and four assists in the two victories over Maine so the Black Bears will have to neutralize him. Vecchione and Taylor were preseason All-ECAC picks. Union was picked to finished sixth by the league’s coaches.