[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:03] Speaker B: The following program is brought to you in living color on Dell gazette.com or wherever you get your podcast.
The Daily Gazette Company presents the parting Shots podcast. Now here's your host, Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Shot. Thank you, Scott Gezy, and welcome to the Parting Shots podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe today. Thanks for joining me from the Parting Shots podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. And that's our first podcast of 2025. And it's the return of Josh Haugy, the new men's hockey head coach, after a couple weeks off. Josh, welcome back. Happy New Year. How are things?
[00:00:45] Speaker C: Yeah, happy New Year to you and everybody out there. I mean, things are good. It's, it's crazy that we're in the second half of the season and it's the, you know, turn of the calendar, but exciting and, you know, good to be back on the ice.
[00:00:55] Speaker B: And the countdown to the end of Messerink begins now. So it's, it's going to hit, hit reality there in the next couple months.
[00:01:01] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, we had the ability to get over and see the building, the new building from the inside, and it's really coming together quick. So it's an exciting but sad time as well.
[00:01:12] Speaker B: Yeah. Talk about a little bit. What have you seen in the new building?
[00:01:15] Speaker C: You know, we've been able to get in there and just kind of, you know, just see, like, what it's like to be on the bench and how the stands are going to fit. And, you know, it really is kind of special. Just like they're going to be right. The fans are going to be right on top of the play.
You know, I think just the concourses and the amenities that the building's gonna have is gonna be, you know, it's gonna be a big improvement. And then, you know, underneath it's gonna be nice. It's gonna give us more space and, you know, just give us the ability to kind of have our, our own area and whether it's gonna be our strength and conditioning program or our, you know, medical treatment center. So there's just a lot of things that are, you know, we have them now, but to all. To have them in one spot is gonna be great.
[00:01:59] Speaker B: I don't know if we're gonna. This is a secret or not, but maybe I'll let the cat out of the bag. The bench and the penalty box for you guys will be next to each other instead of the benches being on the same side.
[00:02:08] Speaker C: Yeah. So it's, the benches are gonna be, you know, on the other opposite sides and it will be nice, like we'll be able to, you know, walk right out onto our bench and the visiting team will be able to do that as well.
[00:02:18] Speaker B: Yeah, I just wait and can't wait to see the press box on the side. After all these years of covering from the end zone, I gotta get used to seeing it on the side. So. But first of all, how was your Christmas with the family?
[00:02:29] Speaker C: It was good. You know, we're able to back to, to Minnesota and see some families. My, you know, my mom and brothers and, and you know, obviously for our kids to see their grandparents is always, always great. And then, you know, a lot of high school hockey and junior hockey, you know, thrown in there as well.
[00:02:45] Speaker B: Yeah. Did you get a chance to recruit?
[00:02:47] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean that's, you know, for, for us to be able to get out and see high school and you know, you know, some junior games and you know, check in on a couple of our guys.
It was, you know, you get, you have these big grand ideas that you're going to just take 10 days off and you know, just kind of give yourself a reset and then next thing you know, you're getting in the car, driving to Minot, North Dakota. And then, you know, you're going, you're going, you know, to this place, to that place. And you know, every, every single night I felt like I was at a game. It was nice on, on Christmas, even Christmas Day, I just was, hey, no hockey. And I was able to just focus on family.
[00:03:23] Speaker B: Yeah, that's great, that's great. And we'll have some recruiting news later on in this podcast, but let's, let's get back to. Yeah, it's been a few weeks since the two game series against Vermont. It didn't turn out well for the Garner Chargers. The Cannonball swept the series by scores of 62 and 3 2. Let's start with that 62 game. Vermont dominated the game and it seemed like Union was a step slower the entire contest. I mean, Vermont scored three unanswered goals in the first period to snap a 11 tie and roll to the win. And then afterwards in the post game press conference, you were not happy with the effort and you said that we were on Christmas break already with that effort. For the most part, I take full responsibility of the group, but at the same point I can't sit there and beg them to work. I was really frustrated with that. Why do you think the effort was lacking in that game?
[00:04:07] Speaker C: You know, I think that, you know, for the most part, that's been something we haven't had to, you know, haven't had to really deal with as a coaching staff. It's been nice. The guys have competed every single, you know, you know, day and, you know, you pick your game here or there where maybe it's happened, but they've been pretty consistent. So, you know, you kind of just write it off as. I do think it's a. It's a hard stretch for us when, you know, you're in your routine and you're in classes and things are kind of going, you know, going normal. And then all of a sudden you have this block of like five or six weeks where it's just hockey, but then you have a lot of free time on your hand. And I think we need to do a better job of managing that free time for them a little bit, because I think that, you know, instead of, you know, being active, I think, you know, I felt like maybe we're just in our, in our dorm rooms and not being as active as we needed to. And I think we needed to spend more time at the rink next time and just get them, you know, maybe doing some projects around the community.
[00:05:04] Speaker B: I felt bad for goalie Kyle Sovette. None of those goals were his fault, in fact, I mean, he was left alone on the all the four first period goals. It was just a complete breakdown in front of him. Was there a thought of pulling him at the start of the second period just to, you know, get. Get him out of there and getting either Joe Sheriff or Lucas Massey a chance to play?
[00:05:21] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it was definitely, you know, something we, we considered, you know, then we watched the goals against, and I'm like, hey, you know, there was nothing he could really do, so we went back with him. I think if they might have got one, you know, early there in the second, we might have made that switch just to get him out of there and kind of protect him. But at the same point, you know, he's a competitor and he wants to be in the net.
[00:05:44] Speaker B: Certainly you wanted to win the rematch, but you also wanted to see a better effort than the. Than you had in game one. I think you got that better effort. Unfortunately for Union, the team came up short. A late third period goal by Simon Jealous gave him out the 32 win. How happy were you with the effort?
[00:06:00] Speaker C: I thought the effort was, you know, I was pleased with that. You know, this is a game of, you know, really inches. I mean, we have a chance where we hit a post a few minutes earlier. And it's as hard and loud of a post as I've heard in a long time. And then it comes back down a couple minutes later and they take advantage. And, you know, we're coaching for the process. We're not always coaching for the results because, I mean, at the end of the day, it's that we're playing our best hockey at the end of the season. And so I was happy with the effort, but not the result.
[00:06:32] Speaker B: I thought the first, for the first half of the game, the players were focused on playing a better defensive game. And I think the offensive was maybe a little affected by that. Union had just four shots on goal in that first period. Did you think the players were worried about playing well defensively, that it affected generating offense?
[00:06:47] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, I mean, I can see that a little bit. I got to give Vermont, Vermont a little credit in that they limited our chances. But I thought as we worked our way into the game, just really we're moving our feet and possessing pucks and I thought, I thought we were the better team, especially the second half, but, you know, they made one more play than us.
[00:07:06] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, Vermont did score twice in the second period to take a 2 nothing lead. But shortly after Vermont's second goal, Jon Prokop scored and then Joseph Messina tied it. I mean, how good did you feel?
How good did that feel for the team?
[00:07:18] Speaker C: Yeah, and I thought at that point we had all the momentum and I thought, you know, if you're asking me on the bench there, I would have said 100 out of 100 times we're winning that game just the way it was going. But, you know, I felt really good. And anytime we're, we're in a third period and we're either plus or minus one, I feel like we're going to win that game. Unfortunately, we didn't.
[00:07:37] Speaker B: Yeah. In the third period and you know, most sexually, as you mentioned, with, there's about six minutes left with Ben Muthersberg's slot shot. I don't know if it damaged the post. I mean, even the Vermont coach was very impressed with how hard that shot was going off the post. Of course, then 301 left, jealous gets the game winner. Certainly not the way to head into Christmas break.
[00:07:59] Speaker C: Yeah, it was disappointing. You know, it's one of those things that, you know when you're out on the recruiting trail and you want to brag about your team. We're still above.500 and done some good things, but, you know, kind of went in on the slide and that was disappointing. So I think, I think everybody had a bad taste in their mouth.
[00:08:15] Speaker B: Just kind of lay down. Well, let's take a break and when we come back, I'll have another massive break memory. And we'll preview this weekend's road games at Brown and Yale. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
Explore the benefits of subscribing to the Daily Gazette like our convenient E Edition app, personalized newsletters and unique reader rewards. When you join Point Start your membership today offers redeemable at www.dailygazette.com Man, I.
[00:08:49] Speaker C: Loved playing high school sports growing up.
[00:08:52] Speaker B: And it's fun being a fan now, don't get me wrong, but sitting in the stands feels like I'm missing out.
[00:08:57] Speaker C: On all the action.
[00:08:58] Speaker B: You know, I wanted to get back in the game, so I signed up to be a high school official. It takes me back to my playing days.
[00:09:06] Speaker C: I'm supporting students and I get paid to make the big calls. Do you want to see the game up close?
[00:09:13] Speaker B: Sign up to become an official in.
[00:09:14] Speaker C: New
[email protected].
[00:09:20] Speaker B: Hi, this is Greg Floyd, Emmy award winning they made me say that news anchor at CBS 6 in Schenectady. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast with my friend, Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Schott.
The Parting Shots podcast presents another Messerink memory, this one from current Dartmouth head coach and former Quinnipiac defenseman and assistant coach Reed Cashman. Man, we had some, we had some battles when I was at Quinnipiac as a coach and honestly, my best, my, my, the memory that sticks out the most is Shane Gossiper, who was maybe the best college player I've ever seen. Scored his own goal on a delayed penalty stick kennel into his own nets. He would dive it in to try to get it out. He missed it, so put in, he goes flying through the net. And our guys are all yelling at them and they came back and won that game. And I just remember the intensity of those games, those teams. But I mean, Shane was so good to kind of make that kind of such a funny hockey play you don't see very often. So if you ask me for one memory, that's kind of, that's the one play that sticks out, but just the emotion of those games and how good those teams were.
Welcome back to the podcast. I'm host Ken Shot, joined by Union men's hockey head coach Josh Hauge. Josh the team returns to ECAC hockey play this weekend with games at Brown on Friday and at Yale on Saturday and with the exception of the Mayors cup game against RPI on January 25th which is a non conference game, it's all conference games the rest of the way. Union is 33 with 9 points. The Garner Chargers have 16 ecach gains remaining. So how good is it to get back to conference play?
[00:11:03] Speaker C: Yeah, this is, you know, the best time of the year. You know, a chance to really climb the standings. Obviously some, you know, tough games ahead of us this is. The next four are all on the road, but should be, should be a lot of fun.
[00:11:14] Speaker B: Well, let's talk about Brown. The last time the Garner Chargers saw the Bears they eliminated them from the ECAC hockey tournament with a 6 nothing win in that first round game last March. That margin of victory is a rarity in this series because the games always seem to be tight. Checking what makes Brown a frustrating team to play against?
[00:11:31] Speaker C: Well, you know, just watching them on video, you know, it starts with their goaltender like he's, he makes some big time saves for them. He battles really hard and their team is, you know, committed to defend. You know, you'll see shifts where guys are diving in front of pucks and you know, really making it, making it hard to get to their net front. So they take a ton of pride in that and then they have some, you know, pretty talented young players that are, that are coming into their own.
[00:11:55] Speaker B: To me, Brown's arena me an auditorium is one of those the more underrated ranks in the ecach. Unfortunately for Brown, the team doesn't attract many fans. Watching a game there feels like you're in the library and that can lull the opposition to sleep. How do you avoid that on Friday?
[00:12:10] Speaker C: Well, we have to, you know, you know, carry our energy in there and really, you know, push the pace of the game and you know, for us I think it's, you know, it's always exciting to get back to play. So I'm hoping that you know, whether or not there's you know, one person there or they have a sold out building that we're going to, you know, it'll bring in an outstanding effort and be excited to play again.
[00:12:30] Speaker B: Well, Brown is 41 and 2 in its last seven games. It's coming off a 3 nothing win over Ellis.
How much of an advantage do the Bears have having played Sunday while Union hasn't played since December 14th?
[00:12:41] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's, you know, it's always a transition to go from, you know, that, that first game where it's you know, a little bit of sloppy hockey and you know, your details aren't as sharp. So I think for us that's been a focal point, you know, really, you know, all week of practice of trying to get back into game shape. And you know, I think it is nice we've got a full week of practice where they had to, you know, play on Sunday and get a little bit shorter break.
[00:13:05] Speaker B: Any concern about Russ for your team?
[00:13:07] Speaker C: Yeah, a little bit, but I think it's, you know, hopefully our energy and our effort carry us through.
[00:13:11] Speaker B: The Garner Chargers then head to New Haven, Connecticut to take on Yale at Ingalls rig. Yale is another pesky team. Yale is 721 its last 10 games against Union and they're coming off a 75 upset of Boston University on Sunday. What concerns do you have about them?
[00:13:27] Speaker C: Well, yeah, they have an outstanding goaltender. They're really committed to defenders. You know, this is a difficult trip in the sense of you have two teams that really defend hard and you know, again, I think, you know, they're a program that's taken some steps here in the last couple years.
[00:13:42] Speaker B: Union has won 61 in its last eight visits to Yale. That win was a 3 nothing triumph in game one of the ECAC Hockey Tournament first round series on March 6, 2020. The last regular season win at Yale was a 32 triumph on January 19, 2018. There was a shootout victory in that, that's that tie there. But why is Ingalls a tough place to play?
[00:14:03] Speaker C: Yeah, it's a historic venue. You know, it's a cool place to play and I think they take a ton of pride in their, you know, protecting their own, their own rink. And you know, it's, it's one of those things. The benches are a little bit misshaped and it's just a unique place to play.
[00:14:19] Speaker B: Misshaped.
[00:14:21] Speaker C: So you have like the long, like the bench is like in the middle of the, in the middle of the rink. So you have the long change on the visiting team two periods. So it's, it's unique. It's like one of the only places where that happens.
[00:14:33] Speaker B: That's weird. So. Well, you mentioned the goaltending at Yale. Yale goalie Jack Start was outstanding as a freshman last season, posting a 2.2, three goals against average, a.9 19 save percentage and two shutouts. But this season he has struggled. His GAA is 3.77. His save percentage is.877 in nine games. Stark got pulled from the BU game after allowing four goals on 16 shots and was replaced by Noah Pack who allowed just one goal on 16 shots. Pac, who is a freshman has a 2.21 goals against average and a.930 save percentage in four games. Are you surprised that Stark has struggled this season and do you think you might see Pac in Saturday's game?
[00:15:10] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, I think for them it'll, you know, really depend on what, what they do on Friday and how that, that game goes for them. I think the biggest adjustment for any, any player in college hockey is when you have a lot of success as a, as a first year player. The second year I think you, you come in and you think you have it figured out and it's going to be easy and you're going to just step right back into what you've done and it takes some time there and there's some adversity for guys a lot of times in that second year. So maybe that's something he's going through. And you know, he'll, he's a pretty talented goalie, so it wouldn't surprise me if he figures that out quickly.
[00:15:46] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, Union is on the road this weekend and next weekend. The Garner Chargers play at Clarkson and St. Lawrence next weekend. So how important will it be for the team to get some road wins over the next two weeks?
[00:15:57] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, just with, you know, kind of the way things went the last couple weekends for us, you know, it's a priority for us to get some points and to, you know, keep developing and keep growing as a team. So this, these next two weekends are huge.
[00:16:12] Speaker B: Well, we mentioned recruiting news and we mentioned that you did some recruiting on the road, but with the scholarships now you're able to announce national letters of intent and you have four players who signed their national. I got to be careful with national letters of intent, then the Nils name, image and likeness. But four players have signed Etienne Lessard, Cooper Sharp, Ali Chesler and Clifton park native Troy Pelton. And I wrote a story about Troy and we'll talk about him in a little bit. But let's begin with NTN Lassard, playing for the Lincoln Stars of the U.S. hockey League. His position, and he's obviously he's a defenseman. Sorry, defenseman. What do you like about him?
[00:16:55] Speaker C: Well, I think he's going to be, you know, the next guy, when you really look at who's going to, you know, quarterback a power play for us, you know, he's got a dynamic skill set. He's about a half a point a game guy in the ushl, which as a defenseman is, you know, the guys that come in and have impact in college hockey. They're usually at that point he's, he can break pucks out on his own, he can really skate. You know, for us, he's somebody that we're really excited about and, and you know, for us trying to get, you know, the program, you know, go, you know, keep taking steps, we think he's that, you know, next difference maker. As far as the defenseman goes.
[00:17:34] Speaker B: He's from Blaineville, Quebec.
How did you discover him?
[00:17:39] Speaker C: So he was actually playing in Cornwall in the CCHL and he, I think he had like 50 points, you know, in 35 games. I mean, he was leading the league as a defenseman and you know, we watched him and we were like, this kid's different and he's special. And then he went out and played on Canada east in the world Junior a challenge. And that was, that was the deciding factor for me as I was out there. And you know, it's one thing to point in a junior hockey league, but then to go and play against, you know, Canada west and the USHL all star team and seeing how he defended against those players that are, you know, elite players, because he wasn't really challenged that way defensively in the league he was in, was kind of the deciding factor. Ended up going out to the BCHL and finishing his season out there and then was drafted in the ushl. Went to the USHL this season.
[00:18:34] Speaker B: Cooper Sharp is a left handed defenseman playing for Sherwood park of the bchl. He's from Camrose, Alberta.
What do you like about him?
[00:18:43] Speaker C: Yeah, so Cooper is maybe a little different in the sense that he's going to be your PK defenseman, a guy who plays extremely hard as somebody that is a captain of his hockey team. He lives and breathes hockey.
He's going to be hard to play against and just really, really dependable. So a little bit different than ETN in that way. But you know, you need both of those, those styles of play to win.
[00:19:13] Speaker B: When did you discover him?
[00:19:14] Speaker C: Yeah, so that was. Coach Ronin was out in, you know, Alberta and watching him play and just, you know, again, he played on Canada west last year in the world Junior a challenge. And just for us, a guy that, you know, we kind of built a relationship with and made a commitment out.
[00:19:34] Speaker B: Of another defenseman, Ali Chesler out of Watertown, Massachusetts, playing for Oklahoma in the North American Hockey League.
What's his story?
[00:19:45] Speaker C: So Ali is a flat out warrior, you know, a guy that will do whatever it takes to win. He's a leader.
It's been really good for him. This Year. He's really taken a step with his offensive game. You know, somebody that has just really developed in junior hockey, played prep school at Rivers, and then ended up just kind of, you know, working his way to junior hockey, where he played for Green Bay for a little bit and then is now, you know, a captain in Oklahoma City.
[00:20:15] Speaker B: Yeah. And then the final one is Clifton park natives Troy Pelton. I wrote a story about him. I think it was over the summer.
How did you discover him? Almost neighbors, I think. Weren't you?
[00:20:26] Speaker C: Yeah. So we live pretty close together, but, you know, Troy just. He's somebody like, my kids are pretty involved in, you know, the Clifton Park Youth Hockey Association. And no matter what coach you talk to in the organization, they have nothing but, you know, great things to say about Troy.
He's really just worked his game and worked so hard and earned his way for this opportunity.
You know, I think he's got a high ceiling and is just kind of growing into who he's going to be as a hockey player. He's big, he's strong. We're going to need him to be a, you know, a physical presence for us and, you know, someone we're excited to work with.
[00:21:04] Speaker B: He's playing in Corpus Christi in the North American Hockey League. How is he doing so far?
[00:21:07] Speaker C: Yeah, he's. He's off to a good start, and their team's in first place and in their division, and he's a big part of that, so. Yeah. And then we have one more guy that should be, you know, they have to do some things here to get done, but so our class is coming together, and, you know, once. Once he gets done, we'll be, you know, sitting in a pretty good position.
[00:21:26] Speaker B: How many do you expect by the time, you know, offseason? And, you know, right now we have four. Do you expect. How big a class do you expect to have?
[00:21:34] Speaker C: Yeah, you know, so we got, you know, one guy that, like, he's. He's basically done. It's just. It's a matter of, like, the paperwork getting kind of signed. And so there's a couple ways to do it now with. So the ni.
The national letter of intent is actually gone. So you have to either sign an aid agreement or you have to be, you know, paid deposit to school to be able to communicate on. And so we got one guy who's just. We're waiting on that deposit.
[00:21:59] Speaker B: It's all confusing these days with that stuff. So it's, you know, it's right now, looking at that list, three of the players Are defensemen. Is that going to be something you're looking for, More defensive or. It doesn't matter.
[00:22:11] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, at this point, right now, we got to get a forward in, which, again, if I can't comment on, but, like, would probably be there. And then we'll need to add a goaltender as well.
[00:22:22] Speaker B: How is the recruiting going with regards to the Central Canadian Hockey League with the major juniors?
[00:22:29] Speaker C: Yeah, well, we.
[00:22:31] Speaker B: Without specifying players, obviously.
[00:22:33] Speaker C: Well, we did get a verbal commitment from one player, so that's already been a little bit different in the sense that we're involved in it and we're there and, you know, we're just trying to. And that. I don't even think he's. Anybody's even put anything out on that. So that's unique. And then, you know, we have a couple guys that we have committed that have left their junior teams to go play in that league. So it's. It's definitely different. And, you know, you have a routine of going to, you know, this rink where you're going to see this coach, and, you know, you kind of know what to expect, and now your world's flipped upside down. So I think it's kind of. It's kind of fun and it's, you know, it's a whole new world for everyone.
[00:23:11] Speaker B: You almost need a third assistant to go out and, you know, recruit those conferences, those leagues well, and I think.
[00:23:18] Speaker C: That'S, you know, something that's being transitioned to in college hockey. And, you know, I think you'll start seeing that from us at some point.
[00:23:27] Speaker B: I don't. I've covered this sport a long time. I don't understand why the NCAA doesn't allow coaches to talk about players that have gotten verbal commitments. I mean, at this stage, what's the point of keeping you guys from commenting?
[00:23:43] Speaker C: I don't really know, you know, and to be quite honest, like, verbal commitments now, it's really weird, like, how much they don't mean to some people. So I don't know if they're ahead of themselves thinking that the verbal commitment doesn't mean anything. But, I mean, we have guys that have done everything but, like, you know, like I said, send a check in and I can't talk about them. So it's like, I don't know, it's unique and, you know, I don't really have a good, you know, answer for that one.
[00:24:13] Speaker B: Of course, there's also always a transfer portal. That's another avenue of recruiting.
[00:24:18] Speaker C: Yeah. And I think for us, the transfer portal is the Most important thing is that we keep. Keep our guys. Like, we think we're building something special in the group we have coming back next year, even will, you know, be pretty talented. And we've. When we kind of put a plan together, it was for this year and next year to really start taking steps. And I think hopefully people are starting to see that and can really see it here in the second half, and then we don't want to look forward to next season. But I think we have a lot of really good players that could return, and that'll be a big focal point for us, is to make sure that we, you know, protect our assets and keep everybody in, you know, that could go in the portal, stay out of it and then, you know. But we may supplement from the portal as well.
[00:25:06] Speaker B: Does having that new rink coming, how much does that mean? Are you able to show prospective recruits what that's going to be like? And obviously the current players, I mean, that's also got to be exciting for them. Maybe that keeps them, some of them out of thinking about transferring.
[00:25:24] Speaker C: Yeah, I think. I mean, all the guys that have, you know, been over there kind of seen it or, you know, like, we. They allowed the seniors to go over and take a look, and they were just, you know, talking about how jealous they were and just, you know, the fact that everything's going to be brand new. So I think it will, you know, hopefully protect us in that sense. But, you know, at the end of the day, we want players that want to be here and want to keep building on what we've started. And, you know, I owe a ton of credit to the guys that are in the locker room right now making it, you know, be a great culture in a place where guys are, you know, having a lot of fun and excited to be at the rink.
[00:26:02] Speaker B: Well, of course, we always like to take questions from our listeners, and none this week. Of course, everybody's on holiday, so I can understand that. But if you have a question for Josh, you can email to shot@daily gazette.com of course. That's S C H O T T. You can also post them on my Facebook page and on Blue Sky X threads at Slapshots. Josh, appreciate the visit. Good luck this weekend. We'll talk after the games.
[00:26:25] Speaker C: Thank you. Appreciate it.
[00:26:26] Speaker B: All right, that's Josh Alie when we come back, awesome sound from Tuesday's Zoom Call with the union men's and women's teams, you just might hear Josh, Howie again, you're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
It's the most historic conference in college hockey. It's a battle night in and night out. ECAC hockey. An iconic conference, home to 12 of the most prestigious universities and programs in.
[00:27:06] Speaker A: The world and showcasing the best student.
[00:27:09] Speaker B: Athletes in the sport. Top notch facilities and arenas, incomparable traditions, passionate fans, alumni who go on to become elite professionals, leaders and champions. ECAC hockey. There's no experience like it.
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Welcome back to the podcast. On Tuesday was media availability day for the Union men's and women's hockey team, the Last 1 of 2024. It happened on New Year's Eve due to some scheduling conflicts. There was actually a zoom call that we had with the men's and women's teams. So we talked to not only Josh Algae, as I mentioned, he's going to be heard from again on the Zoom call. But we would talk to the players, Caden Villegas, John Prokop and Colin Ferguson to get their thoughts on this weekend getting ready to play Brown and Yale. So here is the men's portion of Tuesday's Zoom Call.
Josh, how good does it get to get back in action and with the time off, how much reflection you think you did and the players did after the Vermont series?
[00:29:10] Speaker D: I think it's. It's something that we all kind of focused on and, you know, I hope that the guys, you know, got over it really quick and enjoyed time with family. I think as a. As a coaching staff, it sits with you probably a little bit longer than, you know, the guys, but, you know, try to put it to bed and, you know, enjoy family time because you don't get a ton of it. During the season.
But, yeah, it was. It's exciting to get back just because, you know, we weren't pleased with how we ended.
[00:29:38] Speaker B: Obviously, this is a critical two weeks coming up here. You know, the road, all on the road. Brown yell this coming weekend, the north country trip. So how important is it to get back to where you guys were playing prior to the Vermont series?
[00:29:53] Speaker D: Yeah, I think, you know, it's. For us, it's all. All the focus is right on Brown right now and trying to be, you know, dialed in for them and being ready to go. And, you know, sometimes when you come off a break, it's, you know, making sure that you're playing physical, you're playing hard, you're playing with detail, and, you know, you're not playing pond hockey, which, you know, some of the guys, that's what they go home and, you know, they jump on the ice or, you know, they don't. They don't really play the same way. So just getting back into the groove.
Josh.
[00:30:22] Speaker B: Josh, given the logistics of Christmas being a Wednesday and the travel and everything, did you consider scheduling a game last.
[00:30:30] Speaker A: Weekend at all to kind of get.
[00:30:31] Speaker B: The rust off before conference play restarts?
[00:30:35] Speaker D: Well, we practiced Friday and Saturday and then, you know, went with Sunday off and gets us into a regular week.
You know, it would have been nice to have an exhibition if we could have got one, but, you know, unfortunately weren't able to do that with the same. With that being said, too, we have a lot of games here in the second half with no weekends off, so didn't want to, you know, put any unnecessary, you know, physical contact if we didn't need it, especially with, you know, I think it's really important that the guys spend time with their family, you know, over break, so I didn't want to short shortchange them there.
[00:31:11] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:14] Speaker A: Josh, you know, where do you think this team was maybe falling short a little bit going into the break? And what are you hoping to see maybe corrected in these first few games as you guys make your return?
[00:31:24] Speaker D: You know, I thought for the first, you know, 14 games, we knew exactly kind of what we were going to get. It was going to be a good, honest effort. The last two weekends, I just thought it was a little bit of a coin flip. I still thought there was some really good hockey from us, you know, at times, but just not as consistent. So just getting back to the consistency of playing hard and, you know, for the most part, it's been. It's, you know, we've been pretty lucky as a staff because we haven't had to, you know, beg them to work hard or do anything that way. It's just been there. They continue to work hard all the time and, and focus on the detail and, you know, I think that's probably the one area maybe the last couple.
[00:32:01] Speaker B: Weeks we fell a little short for the guys. Start with Kaden. You guys headed into the break with a couple losses there against Vermont.
How much did I sit with you guys as you guys were home with the holidays and how good is it to get back to playing hockey? Start with Kaden, then John, then Cullen.
[00:32:23] Speaker D: Yeah, obviously not how we wanted it in the first, but I hope and I have a feeling that it's been sparking. Guys, as we've come back, everyone's getting to work. They're working their ass off.
So yeah, I'm excited to get back in the weekend. We all want to get the big six points this weekend. Yeah, I think everybody's excited to be back. I know I am for sure. And we got a second half here that you know, are fortunate enough to play. So we're ready to get going here. Yeah, same thing. It was nice to get home and see the family, but I'm ready to.
[00:32:56] Speaker B: Yeah. Obviously this is just a tough two week stretch here. Road games, Brown, Yale, the North Country. So how important is it to get back to where you guys were playing prior to the Vermont games? We'll start with Cullen, then John, then Kaden.
[00:33:13] Speaker D: Yeah, it's definitely important we know what we're capable of, so we just need to get back to it. That means get back to our structures and our systems and playing Uni Naku. Yeah, the next game is the biggest game and I think we're taking one game at a time and that's how we're going to start off the second half here. Every point matters. So yeah, I mean, we got a hard working group of guys just focusing on the detail right now what we're going to have to do to win this weekend.
[00:33:39] Speaker B: Can you guys speak to just the.
[00:33:40] Speaker A: Difference now with ECAC play pretty much.
[00:33:43] Speaker B: Picking up the rest of the year, Last one game. The difference in preparation for conference games.
[00:33:47] Speaker A: Versus a non league series. Let's start with Caden.
[00:33:52] Speaker D: Yeah, for me, honestly, it feels like the most important game, most important part of the year is those in conference games because each point matters and you know, our route is either, you know, be up there pairwise or another route is to win our league. And that's, that's the main goal, that you can control yourself. So we just Got to keep stacking up those points and, and that's why each game matters so much. Yeah, every game right now is like a playoff game. Every point matters. And when you look back at it at the end of the season, you want every point you can get.
[00:34:24] Speaker B: So.
[00:34:26] Speaker D: Yeah, they said it best every game. The next game is going to be the biggest game this season moving forward.
[00:34:32] Speaker B: That's how we have to handle it, guys. I mean, Browns always have been a tough team. I know you beat them in the first round game last year pretty handily 6 nothing. But, you know, going to Brown is always a tough task because there's nobody there at me in auditorium and they're just. Brown's always a pesky team start. Josh, first, let me ask you about that. How important is it to, you know, create your own excitement there at Brown and, you know, come away with a win and then the players can answer that as well.
[00:35:00] Speaker D: I think it's a great game for us to have as the first game back after break because, you know, there isn't a ton of, you know, energy in that building. But I think everybody's really excited to play and, you know, put the jersey on and, you know, this is, this is the final stretch for, you know, our seniors and, you know, this group. So I, I think it's, it's a great way to get started and, you know, for us, it's always about us. I mean, it's about us creating our own energy and us, you know, playing with purpose together.
[00:35:29] Speaker B: Guys.
Sorry, Kaden.
[00:35:33] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, like coach said, as seniors, we want to bring that energy because it's going to be the last time we play in some of these barns. So we want to make all of them count and have a blast on each last go around here. So we're going to try to lead the way and bring that energy because who cares if there's fans or not? We're our own fans and we're going to bring that energy.
[00:35:54] Speaker B: I think they said it best.
[00:35:55] Speaker D: It's all about us and it's always been about us, I think, you know, creating our own energy and our own pace and our own shift. Everything that goes into a hockey game. So we need to focus on.
Yeah, like coach said, it's our last half. It's college hockey players, so you don't need any extra motivation. You know, you walk in every game just with everything you got. And I can only ask if the guys in the dress room will do the same thing, and I know they will on Friday. Saturday.
[00:36:28] Speaker B: The union women's team gets back to action this weekend. In fact, they have four straight home games beginning Friday at 6:00 when Quinnipiac comes to town. And then Princeton will visit on Saturday afternoon at 3:00. Next weekend St. Lawrence and Clarkson will be at Messerink. All four teams are nationally ranked in the USCHO.com poll, so it's a good test for the Garnet Chargers. Of course, Union has won five conference games already. That's ties for the most in pro program history.
But of course, the last couple years Union women have struggled in the second half.
Last year they lost 13 straight to close out the season. But they're trying to get erase those memories in the second half of this year.
So I spoke with Tony Macy, the head coach and co captains Marin Friday and Emma Aber. Here's what they had to say on the zoom call.
Well, Tony, how good is it to get back after about almost a month off and you guys went into the break with the wind. So I mean how good is it to get back and have some rebuild that momentum?
[00:37:42] Speaker A: Yeah, I think, you know, we were able to take about three weeks off, get ourselves refreshed, ready to go for the second half push here. So I think we came back in good skating shape. We had some good practices already, you know, so we want to try and build off the momentum we we had there at the end of last semester and before break and kind of take that into, you know, the start of this week here with QPAC Brinson coming into town.
[00:38:10] Speaker B: Marin.
[00:38:12] Speaker E: Yeah, I think the break really allows us to allow our bodies to recover and kind of get a mental break from the demand of the season. So I think coming in we're all excited to get back into it and the energy at practice so far has been really great.
[00:38:27] Speaker B: And Emma?
[00:38:30] Speaker E: Yeah, I mean, I think it's been said it's always good to go home and see the family and, and whatnot. But I was excited to come back and I know everybody else was, so I think that's, that's exciting and I'm excited for the weekend.
[00:38:42] Speaker B: Now you guys have four straight at home starting Friday.
So how important, Tony, is it to be able to have four straight home games to start the second half of the year and maybe build some momentum with getting some victories?
[00:38:57] Speaker A: Yeah, I think, you know, one thing is I think we can't look too far ahead. We got to just take it game by game here.
You know, we're going to be seeing top 15 opponents every game pretty much for about a month. It seems like so, you know, we can't look too far ahead. We just got to make sure we're taking care of the game that's in front of us. So taking care of Q Pack this Friday is going to be our goal. Get ready for them and then move on to Princeton from there. But I. I think it's, you know, a good way to start out the semester. You know, if we can garner a couple wins right away, it'll get us, you know, a little bit more solidified in the standings and help us moving forward into that first half or that second half push.
[00:39:42] Speaker B: Emma, your thoughts?
[00:39:46] Speaker E: Yeah, no, I agree. From, like. Like Tony said, taking it game by game, from experience, this next weekend is going to be a tough one, and from experience, the next weekend after that's going to be a tough one. So I think just taking that game by game and taking it practice by practice as well, I think we'll have success.
[00:40:01] Speaker B: Martin?
[00:40:03] Speaker E: I think having games at home is a advantage for us coming back off the break of not having to deal with the strain of travel. And so I think we're trying to build as much confidence as we can going into first the QPAC Princeton weekend, and then we'll build from there.
[00:40:21] Speaker B: Tony, just.
[00:40:22] Speaker A: Could you talk about your assessment of where this team kind of is after.
[00:40:27] Speaker B: The first half of the season?
[00:40:28] Speaker A: Obviously, a tick above.500 in conference play, and, you know, you guys are right in the thick of the race in the standings.
Yeah, you know, I think we've always talked about, you know, trying to build throughout the year. You know, start of the year, I think we can all agree that we let some games get away from us that we look back on now that we're like, all right, we should probably should have had those, but, you know, we use those as learning and kind of jumped off of those to give us the record that we have right now and our play in the ecac, you know, at the end of the day, you want to make sure you're winning games within your league, so I think we've done a pretty good job of that so far. You know, taking some games from people, I. I think people didn't think we would be able to do that. So, you know, moving forward, I think we just got to do a little bit of the same. I think we're going to not surprise some teams anymore. You know, I think now that we had that first half that we did and where we are in the standings, I think teams will be a little bit more prepared and ready and maybe not Take us lightly. So we've got to be ready for that to happen, you know, and going to every game knowing that, hey, you know, we're going to get everybody's best game now.
[00:41:45] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:41:46] Speaker A: And then, Mary, just, you know, if.
[00:41:47] Speaker C: You could talk about how, you know.
[00:41:48] Speaker A: How good you guys have feel from a player's standpoint, you know, coming back from this break and where you guys are positioned in the standings.
[00:41:57] Speaker E: I think it gives us a lot of confidence knowing how we grew from the beginning of the season to where we were right at the end of break. And I think we allowed ourselves to have a little bit of learning and kind of learning how to mesh with the new coaching staff. And so I think once we started working together really well, I think you saw the results that we had during that first season, half of the season. And so I think we just want to keep improving, keep allowing for growth on our team so that we can perform even better than we did during the first half.
[00:42:32] Speaker B: Marin and Emma, last couple years, the second half of the season has been tough for your team. You faded guys faded down the stretch, cost you a playoff spot two years ago, and you guys ended up 11th last year. What do you got to do to avoid that?
Collapse might be a strong word, but just how do you have to maintain the way you play in the first half, into the second half this year, or start? Marin.
[00:43:00] Speaker E: Yeah, I think that's definitely been a weakness for us in the past couple seasons, But I think going into the break this season, we had a very outlined goal for how we wanted to keep improving over the break individually and stay in contact with each other so that we can kind of hold each other accountable for how we're training over the break. And so I think that will allow us to have success in the second half.
[00:43:24] Speaker B: Eva.
[00:43:26] Speaker E: Yeah, I agree. I think we just gotta keep the foot on the gas and keep pushing forward. I think in the past, we kind of just let off a little bit. Maybe there was some burnout there. But I think with the way we are going, I think everyone's head spaces in the right. In the right mindset. So I think just continuing to go and continuing to push and get better.
[00:43:44] Speaker B: Tony, man, from a distance, when you were at clarkson, did you notice anything different about a union team in the second half of the year? And what. What can you do to make sure that doesn't happen?
[00:43:56] Speaker A: To be honest, I was more worried about what we were doing.
[00:43:59] Speaker B: I understand. Yeah.
[00:44:00] Speaker A: Really didn't notice too much, you know, but looking back at, you know, the Records and things like that from past years. You know, you can definitely see that something, you know, happened in those times. But, you know, we're taking it a little bit differently this year. Again, we're of the mindset of building every week. You know, we want to worry about how we're playing and where we're at and not about, you know, potentially like, oh, is somebody else going to try and help us out? We gotta, we're under the control of what we can control. So we've got to really, you know, push that. Our players understand that their, their focus is on that. So I think that would be the difference is, hey, we're just gonna worry about what we're doing and, you know, that's all you can control from there.
[00:44:48] Speaker B: Everybody pretty healthy at this point.
[00:44:51] Speaker A: Everybody's pretty healthy. Knocked on wood.
[00:44:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:56] Speaker A: Tony, just one more quick question. Just what are some of the concerns you come back from a long layoff like you guys had, you know, from a coach's perspective, what are, you know, some of the concerns and maybe some of the kinks that you guys will.
[00:45:06] Speaker B: Have to work out this first weekend?
[00:45:09] Speaker A: Yeah, I think it's just like any other team. You know, you get into like those that first period, you know, you're playing against somebody. Yeah, we can do scrimmages and things like that. But getting back just into competing against somebody who's not yourself is always, you know, something you got to kind of work through.
But, you know, I'm really happy again. Marin brought it up. You know, our girls did a great job over the course of the break of staying in shape. You know, our coaching staff was out recruiting so I was texting them, they were asking about practices, you know, and I thought our practices, we had good pace, we had good compete coming back, which is great to see. You know, sometimes you see a little bit of the rust or you see a little bit of the slow stuff there. But you know, I think we were ahead of what even, you know, I might have been expecting right away.
So that's good to see.
[00:46:05] Speaker B: I'll be back to wrap up the podcast and have the latest winners in the Daily Gazettes. You pick them. Football contest in just a moment. You're listening. Welcome to the Parting Shots podcast.
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[00:47:25] Speaker A: Hi, this is Union College hockey alum Brock Mathison. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:47:29] Speaker B: With Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Shot.
Back to wrap up the podcast. The Week 17 winner in the Daily Gazette's U Pick a Football contest was Mary Peretta of Amsterdam with a 16. 0 record. Way to go, Mary. Mary wins a $100 Hannaford gift card. Congratulations, Mary. The VIP winners were Dwayne Leach of All Season Equipment, Nick Platel, Grand Premier tires, Jim DeMarco of Terry Morris Ford and me. We all went 14 2. I improved to 187 and 69 and moved into a tie for first place with Scott Hudson of Emericks. My Gazette colleague Adam Schinder was 13 and 3. He is 181 and 75. I'll announce the U Pickham Football Contest winner's name and that winner's name will appear in Thursday's Daily Gazette. To play, go to dailygazette.com and click on the you pick em football banner.
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That wraps up another edition of the Parting Shots podcast. I want to thank Josh Halji, Kaden Villegas, Jon Prokop, Cullen Ferguson, Tony Macy, Marin Friday and Emma Hebert for being on the show. If you have questions or comments about the podcast, email them to me at shot. That's s c h o t
[email protected] follow me on X Threads and Blue sky at Slap Shot.
The views expressed on the Parting Shots podcast are not necessarily those of the Daily Gazette company The Parting Shots podcast is a production of the Daily Gazette company I'm Daily Gazette Sports Editor Ken Schatz. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Pawning Shots podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good hockey SA.
