the greatest season in Union Hockey history. There were so many great moments and I am just honored to be a small part of it. I know that I should have done this awhile ago, but this is a perfect time for me to do the Top 10 moments of the season. I know some of you might disagree with me, but that's what makes this fun. Also, be sure to check out my Top 10 Moments in Union Athletics 2009-2010 on Concordy.com.In the first game of the RPI Tournament both Union and LSSU went 65 minutes without scoring a goal, so the game went into the shootout. The Dutchmen won the shootout 1-0 with the lone goal coming from senior star forward 'Super' Mario Valery-Trabucco. Freshman netminder Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves and all of the shootout attempts for his first career shutout. 0-0 scores are rare in college hockey and I think the only time I have seen a 0-0 game was a game in 1995-96 at Army when they went scoreless with... Union.
By now most of you have realized how much I hate Quinnipiac, so this win was extra sweet to me. With first place in the ECAC on the line the game headed into overtime. Sophomore Luke Cain was the hero as his wraparound attempt beat the QU goaltender to give Union a 2-1 victory and first place. The goal was Cain's first of the season, and after the game Cain was a mainstay in the Dutchmen lineup for the rest of the season. Also, senior forward Jason Walters collected his 100th career point as he assisted on Union's first goal of the game.
This game proved that the Dutchmen had guts. The Big Green scored four goals in the first 7:20 of the game to take an early 4-0 lead. Being down four goals on the road is a tough thing to comeback from, but Union was able to do it. In the second period freshman Jeremy Welsh and senior Jason Walters scored power-play goals, while freshman defender Shawn Stuart tallied an even-strength goal to bring the Dutchmen within one heading into the final period. Luke Cain tied the game with about six minutes remaining, and freshman Kyle Bodie scored the game-winner with 2:45 left in regulation. You can see video from the game here.
Pretty much every game this year against RPI was wild, and this one was no different. You knew this game was going to be interesting considering Head Coach Nate Leaman suspended top scorers Mario Valery-Trabucco (14pts), junior Adam Presizniuk (11pts), junior John Simpson (9pts),
and sophomore Brian Yanovitch (8) for breaking team rules, so the Dutchmen skated with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. It didn't seem that the Dutchmen were bothered by this in the first period as senior Mike Schreiber, and freshmen Jeremy Welsh and Kyle Bodie scored goals to give Union a 3-0 victory after 20 minutes. But, the Engineers chipped away with a late second period power-play goal and an early third period power-play goal to cut the lead to one. The Dutchmen seemed to have the game won when Jason Walters scored a power-play goal to give his team a two goal lead with less than four minutes remaining. But, Paul Kerins came to the rescue for RPI as he scored a goal 55 seconds later and then tied the game with a dramatic goal with no time remaining. Luckily for Union, tournament MVP Jason Walters wouldn't let this game slip away as he scored the game-winning goal 3:39 into overtime finishing the game with two goals, two assists, and four points. Check out the Kerins goal and Walters goal on YouTube.This was one of the most memorable games I covered all season as I was flustered (along with everyone else in the press box) as soon as the puck dropped. Also, the game was on National Television. Clarkson got off to a quick start with a goal 20 seconds into the game. But, Luke Cain tied the game 28 seconds later. The Dutchmen didn't look back as they proceeded to score four more goals in the first, three in the second, and three more in the third to give themselves an 11-2 victory. The 11 goals is a team record. Also, 'Super' Mario had a hat trick and an assist on his way to his 100th point. Check out video from the game here.
This game might be the best college hockey game I have ever attended. It took place during Winter Break, but that didn't stop me from driving almost three hours to Troy with my Dad and brothers to watch the game... and it was soooooo worth it! This game proved that this was a special team with a special senior class as seniors Mike Schreiber, Jason Walters, and Mario Valery-Trabucco carried the team on their backs. RPI was up 2-1 heading into the third period, but ECAC MVP and All-American Chase Polacek gave the Engineers a 3-1 lead just 1:40 into the final frame. But, Valery-Trabucco scored a goal just over two minutes later and another one less than two minutes after that to tie the game. But, Polacek wasn't finished as he put his team up one with a power-play goal with 7:31 remaining. With under a minute left and down by one Coach Leaman pulled the goalie in favor of an extra attacker, and it paid off as Walters tied the game with 51 seconds left. It seemed that the game would be heading into overtime, but Schreiber scored the game-winner on a floater shot with 19 seconds left in the game to give his team the victory. Check out video from the end of the game here.
Have I mentioned how much I hate Quinnipiac? This was such a great moment for any Union fan as there were so many storylines in this 7-3 
victory. The game started off with five seniors announced in the starting lineup and ended with all of the seniors being honored at the end of the game. Senior Jeff Christiansen was inserted into the lineup after other players went to Coach Leaman and insisted that he play (kind of like in Rudy). Leaman gave in and Christiansen made him look like a genius as Jeff scored a goal and tallied an assist in his first game all season. Jason Shaffer, another sparingly used senior, also registered a goal and an assist. By the end of the game six of the seven seniors were on the scoresheet. The only one to not have a point was captain Mike Wakita. Also, senior goaltender Rich Sillery got to play the final two minutes of the game in front of his family. For more of my thoughts on this game check out my blog post from the game here. To see highlights from the game click here.
victory. The game started off with five seniors announced in the starting lineup and ended with all of the seniors being honored at the end of the game. Senior Jeff Christiansen was inserted into the lineup after other players went to Coach Leaman and insisted that he play (kind of like in Rudy). Leaman gave in and Christiansen made him look like a genius as Jeff scored a goal and tallied an assist in his first game all season. Jason Shaffer, another sparingly used senior, also registered a goal and an assist. By the end of the game six of the seven seniors were on the scoresheet. The only one to not have a point was captain Mike Wakita. Also, senior goaltender Rich Sillery got to play the final two minutes of the game in front of his family. For more of my thoughts on this game check out my blog post from the game here. To see highlights from the game click here.3. Loss against Quinnipiac in longest game in NCAA history (3/12/10)
This is the only loss in the Top 10, but it is probably the most memorable game of the season
and maybe in the history of Union College Hockey. The only reason this isn't #1 is because, well, Union lost in the 5th overtime. After 150:22 of hockey QU's Greg Holt finally ended the game when he put the puck past Keith Kinkaid. Ironically, the previous longest game in NCAA history was a 141:35 long game where Yale beat Union 3-2 at Messa Rink in 2006. The game was exhausting for us in the press box and the fans in the stands, and even though Union lost all Union fans will remember this game for a very long time. To see highlights from the game click here.
This is the only loss in the Top 10, but it is probably the most memorable game of the season
and maybe in the history of Union College Hockey. The only reason this isn't #1 is because, well, Union lost in the 5th overtime. After 150:22 of hockey QU's Greg Holt finally ended the game when he put the puck past Keith Kinkaid. Ironically, the previous longest game in NCAA history was a 141:35 long game where Yale beat Union 3-2 at Messa Rink in 2006. The game was exhausting for us in the press box and the fans in the stands, and even though Union lost all Union fans will remember this game for a very long time. To see highlights from the game click here.Sadly for Union this game took place during Spring Break so very few students stuck around for the game (there was just a handful of us), and this is why this is #2 and not #1. The energy and excitement from the student section just wasn't there for Union's first trip to the ECAC Final Four. But, many non-student Union fans showed up to the Times Union Center in their garnet apparel and cheered on their team to 3-1 victory over the Saints to reach the ECAC Championship game against Cornell. With the game tied at one in the third period, Union's Adam Presizniuk put Union on top with a goal midway through the final frame. On the play Jason Walters picked up an assist, which was his 115th career point, a Union Division I record. 'Super' Mario scored an empty netter with five seconds remaining to seal the victory. To see footage from the game click here.
The feeling when the final horn went off in Union's 2-1 win over the Bobcats was something that I never felt before. It was amazing watching my team from the student section (there was no way I could have watched this game from the press box) do something they have never done before. It was a do-or-die game as the winner would clinch a berth to the ECAC Final Four. It was the freshmen who came through for the Dutchmen as Wayne Simpson and Jeremy Welsh scored Union's two goals early in the first and second periods, respectively. Behind some stellar goaltending from junior Corey Milan (30 saves), Union was able to hold off the Quinnipiac attack. The celebration in the student section and on the ice after the game was so memorable. There are a few videos of the moment which you can see here, here, and here.
Honorable Mention: 3-1 win against RPI (1/16), Loss to Cornell in ECAC Championship game (3/20/10), OT victory at Army (1/2/10... I was at the game in the front row)
What a great season! Hopefully next season will be even better!
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