Union College Men’s Hockey is riding high after a statement 4–1 upset over No. 9 Cornell Big Red Men’s Ice Hockey (17–7–1), a win that adds even more momentum to an already strong season. At 18–10–2, Union has positioned itself as a serious contender heading into the ECAC Hockey playoffs.
This senior class has been central to that success. Defensemen Cal Mell, captain Nick Young, and Brendan Miles anchor the blue line, while forwards Ethan Benz, Colby MacArthur, Carter Korpi, Brandon Buhr, Parker Lindauer, and Nate Hanley bring experience and depth up front. In net, sophomores Cameron Korpi and Brayden Gillespie have split time, giving Union steady goaltending throughout the season.
Union’s first opponent this weekend is Harvard Crimson Men’s Ice Hockey, which enters Friday night at 13–11–2. The Crimson are led offensively by sophomore forward Mick Thompson, who has seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points. Senior forward Casey Savero is Harvard’s top goal scorer with nine tallies. Between the pipes, sophomore goaltender Ben Charette carries a 2.68 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage, numbers that suggest Union will need to generate consistent pressure to break through.
On Senior Day, Union will host Dartmouth Big Green Men’s Ice Hockey, a team that comes in at 17–7–2. Dartmouth is powered by sophomore forward Hayden Stavroff, who leads the team with 22 goals and 36 total points. Sophomore forward Hank Cleaves has been the primary playmaker with 18 assists. In goal, junior Emmett Croteau has been one of the conference’s most reliable netminders, posting a 1.99 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
With two competitive matchups ahead, Union has an opportunity to strengthen its postseason résumé. A pair of strong performances, especially a Senior Day win over Dartmouth, would send a clear message to the rest of the conference that Union is a team to watch in ECAC play.
