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The Gazette News Group presents the Parting Shots podcast. Now here's your host and shot. Thank you, Scott Geezy, and welcome to the Parting Shots podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe today. Thanks for joining me for the Parting Shots podcast studio in Schenectady, New York for the 491st podcast episode.
And he's back in the United States. Josh. Howdy. Union men said hi Coach Josh, welcome back to America after your sojourn to Belfast, Northern Ireland. How things going?
[00:00:41] Speaker A: It's going well. It's good to be back and it was a great trip.
[00:00:44] Speaker B: Well, you. As I mentioned, you're back from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the team played in the Friendship Four tournament. Union beat Sacred Heart 81 on Friday to reach the championship game for the second time. Union won the 2018 title, was looking to become the first team to win the friendship four since the twice since the tournament started in 2015. Unfortunately for Union, Miami Ohio ruined that chance by winning 3 to 2 on Saturday.
Before we talk about the games, let's discuss the trip. I know we talked a little bit about it last Tuesday, but now that you have returned, how much fun was it?
[00:01:17] Speaker A: You know, it was a lot of fun. I mean, you look back on it and a ton of memories.
A lot of time was time with the guys. My family was able to go. So that was very enjoyable and it was almost a perfect trip. Obviously, if we score one more goal, I think it would have been perfect, but obviously we didn't. But with that being said, it was something that I'll remember forever.
[00:01:41] Speaker B: Other than the games, what were the most memorable moments for you and for the team?
[00:01:45] Speaker A: I mean, I think the Giants Causeway was pretty special just being able to walk around there.
We had Thanksgiving dinner at a local prison.
[00:01:54] Speaker B: Prison?
[00:01:55] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, jail.
[00:01:58] Speaker B: Wait a minute.
[00:01:58] Speaker A: Yeah, it's turned into, you know, now it's the Bushmills Distillery and there's.
We got a tour of it and it was. Yeah, it was pretty crazy. So they had Irish dancers there and yeah, pretty memorable.
[00:02:14] Speaker B: I'm thinking you got in jail. I missed some newsers, but would you like to do it again?
[00:02:20] Speaker A: I would do it again in a second. Yeah, it was, you know, it was a great trip. And like I said, as you know, to have my family be with our Union family, really special.
[00:02:31] Speaker B: Well, let's get into the games. As I mentioned, Union opened the tournament against Sacred Heart. It was the ninth meeting between the two schools in the first since 2016 and Union Look a little sluggish in the opening few minutes of the first period. And Sacred Heart takes advantage of miscommunication between goalie Cameron Korpi and defenseman Will Felicio after Korpi had left the puck behind the Union that led to Gavin Bryant goal 7:13 into the game. Not the way you want to start the game.
[00:02:56] Speaker A: No, definitely was not.
But you know, mistakes happen, it's part of the game and hopefully it's something that, you know, we learn from and never happens again.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: Well, I think the goal of the fire into the Gardner Chargers because I, you know, watching a game on Friday, you guys started to take control of the game and Carter Rhodes Rhodes leads a two on one rush down the right side into the Sacred Heart zone and he passes the puck to Riley Bruik on the left side and he scores a 1333 to tie it at 1. Great play by Rose. Just how big was that goal? Just described that whole two on one.
[00:03:27] Speaker A: Yeah, he, he drove the puck down the right side of the, the ice and you know, kind of, he had the puck right on his hip there and.
[00:03:36] Speaker A: You know, kind of faked as if he was going to shoot and then made a, you know, pass right on Riley's tape. And Riley made no mistake about it. But we, I felt like we had kind of started to turn, turn the momentum of the game and that really kind of sparked everything.
[00:03:48] Speaker B: Yeah. 44 seconds later, Ben Muthesbaug scores and late in the period Brandon Burr scores. So unions ahead three to one. After the first and after that slow start, how you. And how the, with how the team turned things around.
[00:04:02] Speaker A: Yeah, really happy to be able to go into locker room up 3:1 and you know, again like I felt like we had started to turn it so to get rewarded was good.
[00:04:11] Speaker B: Well, the game turned into a route in the second period. Connor Smith, Tyler Dunbar and Buziol scored to make it 6 to 1. Dunbar's goal was impressive. He skated from the right side to the net. He got Sacred Heart goalie Ajit Gundoga and out of position and deposit the puck into the net. How impressive was that goal?
[00:04:31] Speaker A: Yeah, he, you know, drove to that, that back post and I thought like just kind of willed himself there.
You know, their, their forward was, you know, tracking him back and just kind of let him go. And real nice move by Tyler to finish.
[00:04:45] Speaker B: How did you like the team's play in the second period?
[00:04:47] Speaker A: Yeah, I thought we always complete control on, you know, really from the Start of the period on and, you know, we didn't give up too many chances. I think they had a few shots, but overall it was a really good period.
[00:04:58] Speaker B: Well, union does not let up in the third period. It gets goals from Drew Sutton and Muthesbaugh to wrap up the 81 win. I mean, how good was it to see the team keep the skate on the gas, not let up?
[00:05:08] Speaker A: Yeah, we want to have, you know, that. That kind of mentality that we're not going to let somebody up when they're down and, you know, it's easy to kind of just go through the motions and I didn't think we did that. We had good detail in our game and was pleased.
[00:05:21] Speaker B: Well, let's hear what Ben Muthesbaugh, Carter Rose and Tyler Dunbar had to say after the game.
Guys, let me start with you, Ben. Guys were a little sluggish there at the start, but what turned things around there?
[00:05:34] Speaker C: Yeah, you know, just bouncing back after they got that quick one there was huge for us and, you know, everyone kind of came together and got out the early bucks over here, so it was great.
[00:05:46] Speaker B: Did you guys feel, you know, me 3:1 and then get to 6:1. Did you feel you guys were in control of the game after two periods?
[00:05:53] Speaker C: Yeah, you know, going into the third, we just wanted to, you know, stick to our detail and our habits, not really change too much and, you know, just finish out the final 20.
[00:06:01] Speaker B: Carter, for you, talk about the two on one there that started the scoring parade there. What did you see and how important was it to get that goal, to get things going?
[00:06:13] Speaker C: Yeah, no, it was pretty lucky play. It kind of hit my hand and we got the two on one, but I was kind of looking past the third time and then it opened up, so we made a great play.
[00:06:22] Speaker B: How big was that goal?
You get the goal there. Ben scores shortly after that. So it's, you know, you go from a sluggish start to being up 2 to 1.
[00:06:31] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it was a big play. I think it just took us a little time to get our legs under us, obviously with the bigger sheet, but, yeah, from there on, we were pretty good to go.
[00:06:39] Speaker B: Tyler, I want to ask you about that move you make. Well, first of all, you had a breakaway. Have you ever had a breakaway before?
[00:06:45] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, I've had a couple.
I don't think I put as many shots on that are that bad on them. But yeah, I, I saw an opening. I just kind of took it.
[00:06:56] Speaker B: Well, talk about your goal there. Just the move you Made just, you know, just how. How big was that goal?
[00:07:02] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely nice to get insurance. Goal like that made me a nice, nice place to meet down the wall and the seas just kind of parted and, you know, I didn't really expect to have that much time, but it was nice to get one.
[00:07:14] Speaker B: Yeah. To talk about, just. I'll ask about the slugger start too. How tough was it to, you know, get. Get off to that slow start and did that goal they scored maybe wake you guys up a little bit?
[00:07:26] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, I think there's an adjustment period with anything. You know, it's a new size rank and I think we were just confident that we were going to get back to the game, that we know how to play and it was never really, you know, never really something we're worried about. And we knew we would find our game, however long it would take.
[00:07:43] Speaker B: Carter, let me start with you. Going up 6:1 into the third period, how important was it to continue the press, keep the skate on the pedal and not let up and not give Sacred Heart any hope? Because you guys didn't really give him any hope whatsoever.
[00:07:59] Speaker C: Yeah, obviously it's big. You don't want to have any bad habits going into a big game like tomorrow. So, you know, just continuing to play our way and being hard will help us tomorrow for sure.
[00:08:09] Speaker B: Ben, your thoughts on that? Just the way the guys.
[00:08:12] Speaker C: Yeah, it was big. You know, everyone came together and once we got a couple, we just kind of took off from there and, you know, we, we ended the game well going into tomorrow, so, you know, obviously a huge one tomorrow at seven.
[00:08:23] Speaker B: Tyler, for you, your thoughts on that?
[00:08:26] Speaker C: Yeah, no, it's nice to see us continue to do. Continue to stick to our details and hopefully that carries over on Saturday.
[00:08:33] Speaker B: Let me wrap this up with the final question. I'll start with you, Tyler. What's it going to mean to play for the championship And Union could become the first team in this tournament to win two titles?
[00:08:44] Speaker C: Yeah, no, I'm really excited. I think the crowd was great today and it was a really fun place to play. So I can't imagine tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it.
[00:08:52] Speaker B: Ben, your thoughts on that?
[00:08:54] Speaker C: Yeah, you know, it's obviously going to be a huge opportunity for us tomorrow and you know, we'll see who our opponent is after later tonight.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: And Carter, wrap this up with you.
[00:09:05] Speaker C: Yeah, obviously with a ton of family here, supporters, so it'll be a big one, not just for us, but for them. So I think we're excited.
[00:09:12] Speaker B: Now let's move on to the championship game. Union takes on Miami of Ohio for the first ever meeting between the two teams.
The Miami program has been down for a while, but it seems to be on the upswing under head coach Anthony Noreen. What are your thoughts on the job he's doing?
[00:09:27] Speaker A: Yeah, doing a really nice job there. We have a pretty long history kind of coming up through the USHL together and he's always done a nice job wherever he's been and you know, not surprising that they're having a lot of success at Miami.
[00:09:41] Speaker B: Well, once again, Union falls behind. Matteo giampa scores with 658 left in the first period to give Miami a one nothing lead. What were your thoughts about that first period?
[00:09:51] Speaker A: I thought we gave them maybe a little bit too much respect or I don't even know if that's the right way to put it. But I just didn't think we were playing with as much confidence. And you know, we've had a lot of talks since this last game about, you know, what it takes to be, you know, an elite hockey team and you know, we're not far away but at the same point those steps are really big steps. So I just thought you got to come out with, you know, a fighter's mentality and really try to, you know, take the game over. And I thought we were just dipping our toe in.
[00:10:23] Speaker B: Well, as has been the case when falling behind, Union rallies and tienne. Lassard scores on a one timer off Tyler Dunbar pass at 4:18 of the second period. So Union seems to be in control of the game until Lassard takes in at mid. It's an undisciplined cross checking penalty after the whistle at 8:59 giving Miami a power play. And then the Redhawks capitalizes.
Casper Nassen scores. I mean that had to be frustrating.
[00:10:47] Speaker A: Well, you know, ETN plays on the edge.
I think he's one of the most talented first year players in college hockey and that I've ever coached and have a really, really high standard for him.
And part of him growing here is, you know, to play with that fire but also keep his composure. And I mean for him right now it's something he's got to continue to improve on and, and he knows that and he's his biggest critic. But yeah, you know, I think if he could do it again, he wouldn't. But he's got a, he can't be hitting people above, above the shoulders. That's just where you're going to get in a Bad spot.
[00:11:24] Speaker B: Yeah, Lasar. We'll talk about that a little bit later on before we go back to the game. I know Brad Elitch Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald covers North Dakota, had seen Lasar play and he messaged me over the summer that Union got a stud player.
[00:11:38] Speaker A: Yeah, I think he's special. I think we're just scratching the surface of how good he's going to be.
You know, for us, he's a guy that's he's already really good, but I think he's just got so much upside and, you know, as he gains more confidence and just learns how to, you know, keep a little bit more composure at times, you're going to see a player that has a chance to play for a paycheck.
[00:12:01] Speaker B: Well, it's a 2:1 heading into the third period and Connor Smith ties it at 324 into the third when he directs a Lucas Buzzy all shot past goalie Matteo. Drawback. Good way to start the period.
[00:12:12] Speaker A: Yeah, and I mean, how about Connor Smith and how good he's been playing this year? You know, he's getting to dirty areas, he's playing with a lot of pace.
Yeah, it was, it was a big goal and I thought at that point like we were winning for sure.
[00:12:23] Speaker B: Yep. Well, the score stays that way until there was 338 left in the third when a fluky play leads to the go ahead goal for Miami. Giampa takes a shot from the right circle that is stopped by Cameron Corpi. The puck is fluttering to the ice, but before it hits the ice, it hits the back skate of defenseman D.J. hart.
The left skate and Karen's into the net to give Miami a 32 lead.
Just an unfortunate situation, right?
[00:12:52] Speaker A: Yeah, it's. I mean, it happens in the game.
Just don't usually hope it happens to you. And it was a tough one.
[00:13:00] Speaker B: Yeah, well, you pull Korpi for an extra attacker with just over two and a half minutes left in the game and your team's firing shots left and right. I think Ben had about four 1 timers from the right circle and unfortunately Union can't get that tying goal and Miami wins the bell Pot bell with a 32 victory. How disappointed was everyone afterwards?
[00:13:21] Speaker A: It was, it was an unbelievable trip and there were so many great things. But you know, we went there to win that tournament and I think everybody was disappointed and you just felt like.
[00:13:33] Speaker A: That you left something on the table. And we haven't played in a lot of tournaments in my time here.
You know, you get the ecac, you know, at the end of the season. And I think this will be really good for us to have this, you know, this early in the season. So guys know what it's like.
The atmosphere in the building in Belfast was amazing.
It was. It was chaotic, so it was a lot of people. So it was. It was a ton of fun. But I think it'll prepare us for, you know, future playoffs.
[00:14:05] Speaker B: Yeah, that was my next question. What lessons did the team learn that can help them down the road, especially when you get into the postseason?
[00:14:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I think this was exactly what you need to see and how hard it gets in playoff hockey. And that game, you know, on Saturday I thought was a really good hockey game. I thought it went back and forth. I thought at times we were the better team. I thought at times Miami was better.
But I think our guys learned that, like when we're playing our best hockey that we're really good and we can beat anyone.
[00:14:32] Speaker B: Seems like there's not many holiday tournaments anymore. I mean, RPI used to have one every year and around Christmas and it was Thanksgiving. I know Dartmouth still has its Ledger Bank Classic, but it just seems like the tournaments in season tournaments have really faded away.
[00:14:47] Speaker A: Yeah, they have. And there's talk that that Dartmouth tournament is going to be done here in the next couple years. So I think it's just. It's hard to get them in and it's hard to make money and it's hard to.
For them to be successful.
[00:14:57] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, let's hear from Etienne Lessard, Cameron Corpi and Connor Smith.
So Etienne, first of all, talk about your goal there. I mean, to tie it there. It was a nice one Timer shot. Talk about that.
[00:15:12] Speaker C: Well, we knew the group of guys on the ice retired, so we're just moving the puck around and Benny made a great play to freeze the guy in front of him and just gave it to me. And there was traffic at the net, so I put it there and got tipped by their own guy and went in. So it was good. Tied the game up, but gotta finish it.
[00:15:31] Speaker B: I have to ask you about the penalty there. What happened on that cross check?
[00:15:39] Speaker B: It led to the. They were getting the power play goal, unfortunately.
[00:15:42] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:15:44] Speaker C: He cross checked there. He's. He went that ergoali. So I tried to defend him.
Hands were high, so that should.
[00:15:50] Speaker B: Okay, Cameron, for you.
Tough way to lose a game. You make the save. Unfortunately, the puck hits the back of DJ less skating goes in me. What did you see on that play and how helpless did you feel about.
[00:16:05] Speaker C: That, yeah, it was just an unfortunate bounce and, you know, unfortunate for DJ too. He played it the right way and, you know, gave me the easier shot on the outside and just fortunate bounce for us.
[00:16:18] Speaker B: Yeah.
Connor, for you, your goal. Nice tip. What did you see there?
[00:16:26] Speaker C: I mean, I got Trip ready for it, so I didn't really see much after that, but I got right up and I saw that Lucas made a nice turnover. So just go to the net, try to get a nice screen off.
[00:16:38] Speaker B: I mean, how frustrating is. Is me two, two. And you know, you have a shot there and then a flukey goal cost you the game. But how frustrating was that to lose that way?
[00:16:49] Speaker C: I mean, extreme. Extremely frustrating. That's not obviously how you want it to end. I mean, it's kind of a stupid bounce that you wish you could get back. But I mean, it's over now, so gotta move on.
[00:17:00] Speaker B: You guys had some chances there late with Cameron pull for the extra attacker.
Antian, I'll ask you about. You had some chances.
Just disappointed that weren't able to bury one.
[00:17:13] Speaker C: Yeah, for sure. I mean, we were in their zone for I think three minutes, so we got some chances. We just couldn't put it in the back of the net.
They were blocking shots throughout the net, so we couldn't go in. So. Yeah.
[00:17:27] Speaker B: What do you take from this tournament and apply it to when you get back to back to the States here and get ready for conference play and you know, because obviously now, you know, it's like to play in tournament action because you'll, you know, get, if you want to get to the NCAAs, you got, you know, basically, you know, win the ECA season to get there. So what do you learn from this?
[00:17:48] Speaker C: Yeah, well, I mean, it's a big learning experience for us. We need to correct some small details, especially like when we need a goal, need to be better in that area and you know, just a couple details in our game, but I think it's a big learning experience for us and it gave us a taste to what a championship kind of game could be. So I think it's great experience for us.
[00:18:09] Speaker B: Cameron, your thoughts?
[00:18:11] Speaker C: Yeah, same thing. I think it's. I think it's really cool to obviously come overseas and. And playing a tournament style, you know, that's what you play at the end in March. So, yeah, it's a great experience and hopefully we can learn from it and be better when UCAC rolls around and.
[00:18:28] Speaker B: You and you guys. Connor. I'll start with Connor. Go ahead. You guys been playing? I'm Sorry, last question. Yeah, yeah, this will be the last question.
You guys been playing a little bit with fire giving out the first goal. You do have a winning record in games when you give up the first goal. But how important is it for you guys to score that first goal and not have to play from behind all the time?
[00:18:49] Speaker C: I mean, it's huge. In the locker room we consistently talk about, you know, starting on time and that's kind of been a flaw of our team so far this year. So, I mean, no one wants to play from behind. It's not fun. So we're really going to have to dial in and figure out how to start games on time.
[00:19:04] Speaker B: Let's take a break. When we return, we'll Preview this weekend's ECAC hockey matchups against Princeton and 8th ranked Quinnipiac at MT Bank Center. And we'll take a listener's questions. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:19:25] Speaker B: It's the most historic conference in college hockey.
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[00:20:48] Speaker C: Executive Sports Editor Will Sprintsted.
[00:20:50] Speaker B: I would like to wish you a happy holiday season and a great 2026.
[00:20:56] Speaker B: Hi, this is Daily Gazette News Group report reporter Ted Remsnider. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and a Prosperous and Healthy 2026.
[00:21:06] Speaker B: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm Gazette Union hockey beatrider Ken Schad. I'm joined by Union men's head hockey coach Josh Hauge. Well, Josh, after traveling back from Belfast, it's time to get back into ECAC hockey play with two games at M and T Bank center this weekend. The last conference games for 2025. Union will host Princeton at 7pm Friday and they take on 8th ranked Quinnipiac at 5pm on on Saturday.
Before we talk about the matchups, I want to ask you about coming back to the east coast time. Any concerns? It may take a few days to get the body clocks reacquainted to the Eastern Standard Time. And you're gaining five hours coming back from Belfast.
[00:21:43] Speaker A: Yeah, I think it was a little easier coming back than going there. However, it's been a challenge to get back onto the sleep schedule. I mean, I've gotten up every morning at like 4, 4 o' clock and I try to go back to bed for a little bit, but it's just a little bit of trying to, you know, each day get a bit, a little bit closer on the same clock. So it's been a challenge.
[00:22:05] Speaker B: How about the players?
[00:22:06] Speaker A: Yeah, I think, you know, their energy level was, you know, real low on Monday and I thought it got a little bit better on Tuesday and today I thought was our best skate. So we'll be short tomorrow and you know, hopefully ready to go on Friday.
[00:22:18] Speaker B: Well, let's talk about Friday's game against Princeton. The Tigers were swept last weekend by Bowling Green on the road, but the weekend before that at historically frigid Hoby Baker rink. I like to say that all the time.
The Tigers swept St. Lawrence and Clarkson in the St. Lawrence when Kai Daniels scored five goals and he had it one against Clarkson both of the nights he had the game winning goal. So how important will it be to keep him in check?
[00:22:43] Speaker A: Yeah, I think he's a dangerous player and you know, they have some, you know, talented players up front that we'll have to be aware of and, and you know, it'll be a tight checking game. They play extremely hard and they throw pucks at the net.
So it'll be a challenge.
[00:22:57] Speaker B: Well, Ben Sire is in his second season as Princeton's head coach. The Tigers are 2 and 2 for seven points in ECAC 8 hockey play and 5, 40 overall. I mean, how much has he changed the culture at Princeton?
[00:23:08] Speaker A: Well, they're competing at a really high level, which doesn't surprise me the way he coaches. And it's, it's. They've been, you know, a really offensive team, you know, under coach Fogarty and now they're, they've really become a tight Checking hard to play against hockey team. So they have some guys that really can score from the previous staff and now they're, they've learned how to defend under coach Sire.
[00:23:30] Speaker B: Is that because of his time at Cornell, Mike Schaefer influence?
[00:23:35] Speaker A: Yeah, I think there, there's a lot of similarities to how Cornell plays and how Princeton plays.
[00:23:39] Speaker B: What will be the keys to victory?
[00:23:41] Speaker A: Well, I think again, like they don't give you much, so we're going to have to, you know, try to, you know, get shots and pucks to the net.
I think they're averaging just about like 24, 25 shots against. So we're going to have to, you know, make sure we're not passing up opportunities to shoot. I think, you know, using our team speed, but also just, you know, continuing to get pucks to the net and you know, for us it's all about us.
[00:24:09] Speaker A: Have an identity to score five on five when it's not easy. And I think, you know, when we, when things have been easy for us, we've scored in bunches. When it's hard, it's a challenge and we got to continue to keep learning from that.
[00:24:21] Speaker B: Well then on Saturday, Union full face Quinnipiac, a team that has been a pain to the Garden of Chargers. The Bobcats have an 11 game unbeaten streak against the Garner Chargers, including wins in the last 10. Why has Quinnipiac been such a tough team for Union to beat?
[00:24:35] Speaker A: Well, they've been the class of the league here for the, you know, last five or six seasons and you know, I think anytime you're, you know, trying to take, take that step to go from being good to great, it's, you know, challenging yourself against teams like Quinnipiac. So we're excited about the opportunity to play them, but they're as talented as they, they've been and they, they continue to do an outstanding job recruiting.
[00:24:58] Speaker B: Well, the Bobcats had some interesting non league games last week. They beat Holy Cross 76 in overtime the night before Thanksgiving. And in that third period the teams combined for eight goals, five by Holy Cross. Then a few nights later, two late third period goals helped Quinnipiac to a 32 victory over Stonehill. Does that give you hope that Quinnipiac is vulnerable?
[00:25:21] Speaker A: I think that Quinnipiac is really good this season and I know that they've, you know, had some games where they, you know, maybe want him back. But when they're, they're playing teams that they view as like high quality, like they're really good and you've seen what they've done against BU and bc so we know they're going to be talented.
[00:25:38] Speaker B: Why is Quinnipack so good every year?
[00:25:41] Speaker A: I think they have, you know, they stick to their model. They know what they're looking for. They have a recipe in recruiting and they, you know, they, they don't really veer off from it. They have a really strong culture. And I think that's one thing Rand really does is, you know, he, he gets guys to buy into his structure.
[00:25:58] Speaker B: Didn't they recruit a player that was playing in the pros?
[00:26:01] Speaker A: Yeah, so they have a defenseman that's played in the American Hockey League and in the East Coast Hockey League.
[00:26:06] Speaker B: So what are we doing?
[00:26:10] Speaker A: It's. It's so weird. I hope that that stuff gets, you know, straightened out. But, yeah, right now there's, there's. I think there's like 13 guys that are playing college hockey that have played professionally.
[00:26:21] Speaker B: Oh, okay. That's another time. For another time.
Well, this, this is the fun part here. This will be the first installment of the unofficial MNC bank cup play. Union will plays, of course, in the M and T Bank center while Quinnipiac plays in MT bank arena in Hampden, Connecticut. I think we need the marketing geniuses at M and T Bank to make this official. Would you like to have an M and T Bank Cup?
[00:26:45] Speaker A: I would. I think you look at, you know, for us, like, we have a little history with Quinnipiac and there's some, you know, a bit of a rivalry at certain levels. So, like, yeah, we'd love to, you know, get something going with them.
[00:26:57] Speaker B: There's no, there's no love loss between Union and Quinnipac, trust me.
[00:27:02] Speaker B: Well, after a two week run in the USCHO.com college hockey poll, Union dropped out. It had the most points among other teams receiving votes. Colorado College earned 70 points, 13 more than Union. Disappointed that you guys didn't stay in the top 20 this week?
[00:27:17] Speaker A: No, I think we deserve to be out. You know, like, we had a chance to stay in if you beat Miami and, you know, I think we kind of got what we deserve in the poll as moving out. But I, you know, I think we're in a spot where you have a good weekend, you can push yourself right back in. So for us, it's continuing to chase and, you know, string games together.
[00:27:34] Speaker B: As always, we like to take questions from our listeners. Union professor Brian Cohen is asking about the play at the end of the second period against Miami when Ben Muthesbog was boarded by Ilya Morozov. Brian is asking why he was surprised, as the rest of the fans that were over there in Belfast, that the hit on Ben after the buzzer wasn't at least a major.
[00:27:58] Speaker A: It was apparently as close as you can be to a hit not being a major BA minor. So that's what I was told is it was extremely close. They went back and forth on it, but decided to go, you know, with the minor penalty.
[00:28:13] Speaker A: My frustration on that is that we're dealing with NCHC officials in that game. And I thought we should have had the Atlantic Hockey Crew do our game.
Just. But because that's what they do in the NCAA Tournament is you stay away from your conference officials.
[00:28:29] Speaker A: And it was the whole tournament. It was. There's just weird things like that. Like we were the two seed going into the tournament. That's what we got. But we were the away team for all for both games. So just things like that where you just didn't really understand but, you know, that's what the tournament officials decided.
[00:28:43] Speaker B: Why didn't ECAC hockey have officials over there?
[00:28:47] Speaker A: It rotates. And last year Harvard was in the tournament and they had ECAC officials and Harvard got to stick with the ECAC officials. So they went with it again this year.
[00:28:57] Speaker B: Okay, I'll follow up on the question from Professor Cohen.
Did you think about challenging it to upgrade it to a major?
[00:29:05] Speaker A: No, just because they had already reviewed it and they were looking at it. So I just felt like that'd be redundant.
[00:29:11] Speaker B: Regular, of course, if you lose a timeout too, so you don't want that. Regular contributor Ryan Fay wants to talk about Tyler Dunbar.
Ryan says I'd be curious about coach's thoughts on Tyler Dunbar over the summer.
Halji said he was looking for Dunbar to take another step offensively. It seems he has so far averaging a point a game, including eight over his last six. What's been the driving factors in his strong starts of the season? On the offensive side of the puck.
[00:29:38] Speaker A: He's extremely talented and he can do things that are special. And I think it was just being able to come in and have a fresh start and us saying, hey, like, you know, go ahead and play. You're going to make some mistakes here, but let's, let's continue to go and push through those. And he's just really ran with it. So he's been outstanding.
[00:29:57] Speaker B: Ryan at it. Ryan's guessing that his mutual time in Lincoln with Mike Zanello, the assistant coach at Union, played a role in coming here. He's definitely softened the blow of losing John Prokop early, no question.
[00:30:09] Speaker A: You know, Mike does an outstanding job with the D and you know, he has really strong player relationships. So that helped a lot. Also having DJ Hart here, who played with him in junior hockey, Parker Lindauer played with him in Muskegon. So there was a lot of connections and I think just our players telling them how much they hopefully enjoy their experience here.
[00:30:28] Speaker B: Another regular contributor, David Trestic, asked the Union offense can be very explosive. However, both teams union recently lost to Cornell and Miami seem to have very big lineups. What did these teams do well defensively to limit the offensive chances? And was their size a factor as well?
[00:30:46] Speaker A: I think for us right now, you know, it's continuing to learn how to, you know, manufacture offense against teams that defend really well. And, you know, it's hard to score in college hockey. And the funny thing for us is when we do it well, like we make it look pretty easy and it's a bit of a blessing and a curse because I think guys are just expecting that it'll happen again because it's happened in bunches this year.
But we gotta have a B game, we gotta have a C game when things aren't really going our way and the puck's not, you know, getting to the back of the net and that's winning net front battles. And you talk about big hockey teams. Yeah, it's hard to get to those spaces when there's big D back there and big bodies.
[00:31:27] Speaker B: Finally, a regular contributor, Jim Calhoun is asking, during the Belfast TV timeouts broadcast, this show showed. This is during a Miami game, you very animated, talking to players.
[00:31:40] Speaker B: What were you trying to convey to them? Is he always this way animated? During the ESPN broadcast too? He said he never noticed it before.
[00:31:48] Speaker A: I'm pretty soft spoken for the most part, but when I get fiery, I guess I get a little fiery. And I was frustrated with us after we gave up the second goal. I thought we took a lull in our play and didn't respond.
I was just basically saying it doesn't matter what the refs call it, doesn't matter what the linesman call it doesn't matter, you know, what happens. All that matters is your next shift and being ready to go and, you know, and how you respond. I think a lot of times in life there's going to be things that are really a lot worse than a goal and how you respond to them is going to be how you're, you know, you know, the way your life goes. So it's more of just a learning lesson.
[00:32:29] Speaker B: So thanks everybody for the questions. If you have a question for Josh, you can email them to Shot. That's s c H o t
[email protected] or you can post them on Facebook on my personal page and the Party Shots podcast page. You can also send them via bluesky X and threadslapshots.
The Daily Gazette ECAC hockey Face off selections are back for another season. I'll post my pics usually on Wednesdays, and then you can send your pics to me and I will post those picks before the first game, usually on Fridays to play. Send your picks to shot dailygazet.com and I'm tied for first place right now, so I'm feeling pretty good. Well, Josh, good luck this weekend and we'll talk after the games. And of course, next week will probably be our final podcast before Christmas.
[00:33:12] Speaker A: Yeah, crazy. It's almost halfway through the season.
[00:33:14] Speaker B: I know. Unbelievable. Josh, again, thanks a lot. We'll see you. We'll see you on Friday. All right, that's Josh Howgie. Coming up on Thursday's podcast, I'll take talk more Union men's hockey. I'll have interviews with Nick Young, Brandon Burr and Parker Lindauer. The Union women's hockey team returns to ECAC hockey play this weekend with rogue games against Harvard and Dartmouth, the team's last games of 2025. I'll speak with head coach Tony Macy, defenseman Stephanie Bourque and forward Mattie Leaney.
Gazette high school sports writer Drew Wemple talks high school football as we get you set for Saratoga Spring taking on NCBA Syracuse in the state Class Double A championship game on Saturday. And Drew will talk about the dispute between the high school hockey on ice officials and Section two that is disrupting the season.
Gazette executive sports editor Will Springstead will talk about the serious head injury suffered by CNN men's lacrosse coach Liam Gleason. I hope you tune in.
[00:34:09] Speaker B: The views expressed on the Parting Shots podcast are not necessarily those of the Gazette News Group. The Parting Shots podcast is a production of the Gazette News Group. I am Daily Gazette Union hockey beat writer Ken Schottz. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Parting Shots podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good hockey.
