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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 486th podcast episode. We're counting down to 500. And of course it's Wednesday. It's time to talk Union Mentaki with the head coach, Josh Hagy. Josh, how's it going?
[00:00:38] Speaker D: It's going well. Yourself?
[00:00:39] Speaker C: Not too bad. No train this week, huh?
[00:00:41] Speaker D: Nope.
Right on time.
[00:00:43] Speaker C: All right, well, let's look back at last weekend's games against the north country teams as Clarkson and St Lawrence made their first visits to MT Bank Center. It was a weekend split. Union dropped a 5:1 decision to Clarkson on Friday, but bounced back with a 52 victory over St. Lawrence on Saturday.
Before we get into the specifics of the games, Josh, your general thoughts of last weekend.
[00:01:04] Speaker D: I thought we, we played a lot of, you know, solid hockey, you know, obviously made some mental lapses where we gave up some goals and opportunities that I thought maybe, you know, we'd like to have back. But overall I thought there was a lot, a lot better hockey than it was of, you know, than the hockey are disappointed in.
[00:01:24] Speaker C: Well, let's break down the games. We'll start with the Friday matchup against Clarkson. Great start for Union. The Garner Chargers had fired the first eight shots in the goal and took a one nothing lead on a Ben Muthas ball goal. 211 into the contest. How good were you feeling about the start?
[00:01:38] Speaker D: Felt pretty confident.
I thought that we were controlling the pace, had some opportunities and Brandon Beer hit a post as well. So like, you know, could have been two nothing but, you know, got off to that solid start and you know, getting Ben back on track was, is. Was important for us.
[00:01:55] Speaker C: Well then things went sort of sideways as Clarkson takes a 21 lead in goals that probably should have been stopped by goalie Cameron Corby. And you'll hear from him about that in the few minutes. Ty Brassingan tied it at 1305 of the first period when his shot from along the left wing goal line stuck past the post and Korpi's right arm. Then 2:01 later, Talon Sigurdson put a bouncing puck past Korpi.
Again. Cameron has played outstanding this season, no doubt about that. But how shocking was it to see him to give up those kind of goals.
[00:02:27] Speaker D: I think anytime, you know, Kam lets in a goal, you're kind of shocked because he's just, he, like you said, he's been outstanding this season and you know, for us we gotta, we gotta focus on winning those draws and then if we don't win them, you know, closing out a little quicker so you know, it falls on everybody on the ice.
[00:02:45] Speaker C: Well, it doesn't get much better in the second period. Remy Jelena scores 435 into the second period.
That on a goal corp he had no chance on. Then things get really bad for Union. At the six minute mark, the Garner Chargers are on a power play. But a turnover leads to a breakaway for Clarkson's Sean o'. Donnell.
Muthesburg is trying to chase him down and he slashes o'. Donnell. Korpi stops o', Donnell but Muthersborg is called for high sticking. I think ODonnell should probably have been awarded a penalty shot since it was a clear cut breakaway. But in the meantime, Clarkson coach Jfuhl wants a video challenge because what was seen on the video was Muthabaugh's stick hitting o' Donnell in the helmet. The officials watched the video and they saw the stick making contact with the helmet. The penalty was upgraded to a five minute major and a game misconduct. So Clarkson gets an uninterrupted power play and they score once on to take a 41 lead. I mean how tough of a situation was that.
[00:03:41] Speaker D: Difficult one for us? I mean you look at the fact that we're on the power play and we turn a puck over and next thing you know, a guy's on a breakaway and Ben obviously didn't try to, you know, hit him in the head, but you know, swung his stick.
And when you do that it was, you know, a little reckless and it got up and hit the kid in the head. Obviously again, Ben did not try to do that but you know, gets kicked out of the game and you know, all of a sudden now you got to kill, you know, four more minutes after the four on four for a minute.
[00:04:11] Speaker C: I kept looking at that replay several times and I to me, first of all, it should be called a slashing penalty. I mean he took a swing. I don't know what I mean, it's high stick but I mean there was a slashing motion. To me it just seemed like the stick hits o' Donnell's shoulder, the stick blade and then just rides up and hits him at home. It wasn't a big blow, it was Just sort of a tap more than anything. But it is what it is. It's. It's, it's contact to the head with the high, with the stick. And that's. It's, it's got to be called.
[00:04:43] Speaker D: Yep. And I mean, it's one of those things that obviously didn't try to. And I think you're right, it hits his shoulder and rides up. But when you swing your stick like that, it's, it's. You got to take ownership of it and be accountable for it. And if it hits him in the head, it's going to be a five.
[00:04:58] Speaker C: Yeah. We will learn on Saturday that Muthesbaugh received a one game suspension from ECAC hockey. And we'll talk about that in our second segment. The third period Union is pressing for goals, but Shane Sotawell was playing outstanding in the net. He made 39 saves in the game and capped it by stopping Carter Corporeal on a penalty shot late in the game. Sigurdson scores an empty net goal of 2, 36 left to seal the 51 victory for Clarkson. What did you think of Soto Wall's performance? He's a guy who played Division 3 hockey at Colby.
[00:05:28] Speaker D: Yeah, I thought he was very good in that game and you know, for them, I thought, you know, we had plenty of opportunities to finish and anytime, you know, we thought we were going to be celebrating, he found a way to get a stick on it or a blocker on it or just something. So, yeah, got to give him credit. He played well.
[00:05:48] Speaker C: Yeah, you got shot, Clarkson 40 to 17. But obviously, I mean, you said after the game you thought the team played well. It was just, just a matter of running into a hot goaltender, a little bit of that.
[00:05:57] Speaker D: And then, you know, again, you know, yeah, you have some opportunities. Their third goal we just duplicated on a back check and left the guy wide open.
You know, stuff like that can't happen. So it comes down to, you know, working hard, hard and working smart. And I thought we worked really hard, but at times they're just not. Not as smart as we could have been.
[00:06:16] Speaker C: Well, let's hear from Clarkson head coach, JFU and goalie Shane Soto. Well, well, Jay, if start didn't get wasn't good. Union gets the first eight shots. But what was the key to selling things down there?
[00:06:30] Speaker B: Well, I think, you know, our goalie made some key saves here and obviously scoring that, that first goal kind of settled our bench a little bit and settled into the game. But, you know, Union came out very strong and we're Hard on the forecheck so. But happy that we get the lead.
[00:06:47] Speaker C: Yeah. Two goals that probably should have been stopped by Korpi. One the first one was a bad angle offense. It didn't cover that. Those two goals that really give you guys a lift heading into the second period.
[00:06:58] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure. Getting playing with the lead always helps. You know, it's, it's hard when you chase the game. We've been, we've been in that situation a couple times this year. So it was nice to have a lead and, and learn with for this young team to learn how to play with a lead and know do the little details that will provide you the win.
[00:07:15] Speaker C: Shane, for you. After that goal they scored, what went through your mind the rest of that game?
You made some spectacular saves including the one that capped it all with the penalty shot.
[00:07:24] Speaker A: Yeah, just sticking to my, my whole.
[00:07:29] Speaker D: Process and keeping things things simple was my goal.
[00:07:32] Speaker A: We had some huge, huge goals and.
[00:07:34] Speaker D: Huge blocks to make us come back.
[00:07:35] Speaker A: So it was great.
[00:07:36] Speaker C: It was a battle really of the TR transfer goaltenders. You coming from Division 3. It's of course with the transfer port now it's probably going to be more possibilities of Division 3 guys coming to Division 1. What led you to come to Clarkson and did you think you could play after playing Division 3?
[00:07:52] Speaker A: Yeah, I think just, you know, working super hard and competing each day was, was huge for me and I'm thankful to be here at Clarkson. It's been great so far.
[00:08:01] Speaker C: I mean the pelly shot, you know, if there's score, it's only XP5 too. But what, what, what was going through your mind when Corporate's coming down?
[00:08:08] Speaker A: Yeah, just stick to my whole, whole process of, you know, cutting down that.
[00:08:14] Speaker D: Angle and you know, fortunately it hit my blocker.
[00:08:16] Speaker C: So Jeff, can you talk about the process of getting Shane here sick?
[00:08:21] Speaker B: Clark? Yeah, you know, obviously Shane's dominated at the D3 level. He's a goalie of the year a couple years in a row. He was a key at the key to his team and you know he was available and you know he's a young man with a high ceiling and we're really proud of him and he's doing well for us.
[00:08:42] Speaker C: You guys get a 31 lead and then there's that shorthanded breakaway. Who was the guy that by the way.
[00:08:46] Speaker B: Yeah, they had three shorthand breakaways. We weren't too happy with our power play then but again he made the key saves.
[00:08:52] Speaker C: Well, the one I'll talk about, the one shorthand you. You guys had There. Which led to the major penalty. Who was that going down on the breakaway there?
[00:08:58] Speaker B: I don't remember.
[00:09:00] Speaker C: But anyway. But yeah, yeah. I mean all realistically it should probably. Should have been penalty shot. But you guys saw something on video which led to the challenging.
[00:09:10] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. O' Donnell was going in the. Yeah. And he got hit to the head there. Yeah, there was a. There was a slash, a stick to the head there. We saw it on video. So we decided to challenge that that gave me was a five minute pp.
[00:09:22] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:09:22] Speaker C: Were you mad at first that it wasn't a family shot?
[00:09:26] Speaker B: No, not really. Try to stay calmy on the bench there.
[00:09:28] Speaker C: And then when you saw the five minute mar. Like, oh, okay, we'll take that.
[00:09:32] Speaker B: So pretty happy with that. Yeah.
[00:09:33] Speaker C: And then you score on the goal and make it 4 to 1.
[00:09:35] Speaker B: That was a key goal for us. Yeah.
[00:09:37] Speaker C: Yeah. And going into third, what. What was the goal? Getting through that third.
[00:09:41] Speaker B: Just making sure we get pucks behind, playing the right way, make their D turn, make their them defend and you know, make sure that you. You win the board battles. And that's what we did.
[00:09:52] Speaker C: Now let's hear from union defenseman Nick Young and goalie Cameron Corpy.
Think this was a game. You guys start out so well. Eight nothing in shots, one nothing lead had. You had to feel good what was going on there, right?
[00:10:09] Speaker A: Yeah, no, we. We were totally out playing them.
We had hemmed in their zone. We were playing our way for sure that whole time. Yeah.
[00:10:16] Speaker C: What happened?
[00:10:17] Speaker A: You know, they got a lucky bounce and we let the energy just totally go their way. And you know what? That's completely on me. It starts with me. I can't let that happen on the bench. But we, you know, we let that get to our heads and you know, looking forward, like that's something I will not let be a thing for the year on out.
[00:10:35] Speaker C: What do you have to do then?
[00:10:37] Speaker A: I gotta get loud and get people up. I think that, you know, when we were like hemming them in, we were loud on the bench, we were energetic, we were feeding off each other and I let that get away and I won't do that again.
[00:10:48] Speaker C: Cameron, for you, those first two goals looked like they had a tough one.
The first one. What happened on the first one there?
[00:10:56] Speaker A: Just a bad goal. It's unacceptable. Like you were saying, we were dominating that game and a better bad one and then that's. Our energy just went away and never really found it back after that.
[00:11:07] Speaker C: Did it stick in between the arm and the post?
[00:11:11] Speaker A: I just went on the ice, really bad goal. It's on me. It'll be better.
[00:11:14] Speaker C: What about the second one?
[00:11:15] Speaker A: Second one was, you know, shot from the point. Their guy kind of got a piece of it and kind of just fell and then kind of a loose block after that, they were to get it.
[00:11:25] Speaker C: I mean, is it frustrating that you guys outshoot them, like, 40, 16, and it's a 51 game in their favor?
[00:11:32] Speaker A: Yeah, like, I just got to be better. I mean, their goalie outplayed me, and my number one job is to play better than the guy across.
[00:11:40] Speaker C: For you.
[00:11:40] Speaker A: And you know what? He's.
He's being modest because he's saved us games and everything. And you know what? Like, it's our job to protect him, and we didn't do that. So that's. It's absolutely not on him, and it's on us.
And that's something that, you know, I need to be vocal about and make sure we keep our heads on straight, because this guy's been absolutely phenomenal in the pipes this whole season.
[00:12:00] Speaker C: How do you bounce back Saturday against St. Lawrence?
[00:12:03] Speaker A: Well, I. I told the guys we got to keep this taste in our mouth. That's something that I. I've learned, you know, from my previous experience.
[00:12:10] Speaker D: If you.
[00:12:10] Speaker A: You know, I'm not saying we have to dwell on it. You got to feel it and use it as fuel for tomorrow and just play our way for 60 full minutes.
Yeah, same thing. I think we just gotta stick to what we're doing. I think we played really well at times. We just gotta be able to keep that energy up and be good.
[00:12:29] Speaker C: We move on to Saturday's matchup against St. Lawrence. The same speed RPI on Friday. 4, 3. And the big lineup change you made was giving freshman Braden Gillespie his first collegiate starting goal. Gillespie came to Union from the Ontario Hockey League's Brampton Steelheads, becoming the first major junior player to join the Garner Chargers. With what led to the decision to start Gillespie?
[00:12:49] Speaker D: It was something that we had been talking about for quite some time now. He's, you know, been gaining our confidence as a staff and the team's confidence, and, you know, you gotta get, you know, him in at some point and just felt like it was a good time to give, you know, Cameron a night off and obviously just felt like Gillespie had earned the start.
[00:13:09] Speaker C: Can you talk about the recruiting process with Gillespie?
[00:13:12] Speaker D: A little unique in the sense that he, you know, it happened later, obviously, with everything that happened with Kyle. We were looking for a goaltender and wanted someone that we felt like that had had some experience in playing in big games and, you know, we just kept watching, you know, video and obviously his season was done at that point, so everything was done on video. He came in on visit and we offered him on the spot. Just, you know, type of person you like to be around, has a good personality and, you know, luckily enough for us, he, he committed well.
[00:13:45] Speaker C: He made, played well in the game. He made 27 saves, including a couple of breakaways. How would you assess his play?
[00:13:51] Speaker D: I thought he was very, you know, calm in there. For a guy that is playing his first collegiate game, he never would have known that. Again, like you mentioned, he made some really big saves and, you know, not much he could have done.
You know, the first goal was a really good shot, you know, maybe off like a low angle shot, and then the second one was a tip. So, you know, gave us a lot of confidence and, you know, feel really good about our goaltending.
[00:14:15] Speaker C: Well, there's another storyline in this game. Two senior forwards who had yet to score a goal did so. It started with Nate Hanley getting his first goal of the season on a reverse shot from the right circle with 338 left in the first period. It was just the week before that, in the second RPI game that Hanley was a healthy scratch. So how good was it to see him score?
[00:14:34] Speaker D: I thought this weekend you really saw more of what we're expecting from Nate. He was playing with a lot of confidence, playing with his swagger.
When he's playing that way, we're a different hockey team.
[00:14:44] Speaker C: Then Colby McArthur got going, scoring his first two goals of the season. He got the first one with 102 left in the first and then he scored on a one timer midway through the second period. I mean, how good was him to see him get on track?
[00:14:55] Speaker D: Yeah, we needed that. I mean, if you would have told me that we would be eight games in and, you know, Nate Hanley and Colby MacArthur hadn't scored, I would have thought we would have lost a lot of hockey games because they're, they're a big part of our offense and getting those guys going will be huge for us.
[00:15:10] Speaker C: Brandon Burr had another outstanding game with a goal and two assists. To me, he has been very consistent player and it won't shock me if he scores over 20 goals. He came close last year with getting 19.
Possibly candidate for East Ace hockey player of the year.
[00:15:23] Speaker D: I think he's got to be in the mix. He's that kind of player. He's good every single night.
Everybody knows who he is at this point, so he's on everybody's radar and he, you know, it continues to produce.
[00:15:32] Speaker C: Well, Union wins the game five to two. And afterwards you thought that the effort against the Saints was maybe a bit below the Clarkson game. What was the reasoning behind that?
[00:15:41] Speaker D: I was just frustrated with the, the chances that we gave up. We had a, you know, you have a first year goaltender.
I expected us to lock that down and not give up some breakaways. So I was frustrated with that.
After watching the video, maybe, maybe I was a little bit more upset than maybe I should have been. But I just think that, you know, we can't be a team that's given up, you know, breakaways, especially when a first year guy is playing his first game.
[00:16:06] Speaker C: Well, that was the, that game was the first time that Union failed to outshoot an opponent in a period. Of course, it was tied both shots and going to second and third period. So you'd still outshot the opponent, but it was season low. 31 shots, which I think teams would die to get 31 shots.
[00:16:21] Speaker D: Yeah, it's, you know, we need to get scoring four and five. If we're scoring four and five and only getting 30 shots, we'll take it. But, you know, we want to be a high shot volume team. We want to be getting to the traffic areas and getting second and third opportunities and that'll definitely be a challenge this weekend.
[00:16:37] Speaker C: Well, let's hear from Braden Gillespie, Colby MacArthur and Nate Hanley.
Brady, let me start with you. When did you get the notice that you're going to start tonight?
[00:16:49] Speaker A: I found out this morning, so I was looking forward to that. Came to the rink and then got the, got the word that I was playing. So I, I was super excited to get going.
[00:16:56] Speaker C: Any nerves?
[00:16:57] Speaker A: No, just pure, pure excitement, really. Just wanted to get out there and play. So it was really, really fun.
[00:17:03] Speaker C: How do you feel you played feel?
[00:17:05] Speaker A: I played pretty well. I mean, the boys helped me a lot there with a couple big block shots for me, but other than that, I had their backs when they made some mistakes and I, obviously they had my back when I made some mistakes.
[00:17:15] Speaker C: Let's get the opinion of Colby and Nate. Colby first.
[00:17:18] Speaker A: Yeah, no, he played amazing. You could tell he didn't have any nerves. He, right from the start, from the dress room, he was, he was ready to roll and he played great. Yeah, Giuseppe had a heck of a game. I mean, we obviously know from practice.
[00:17:29] Speaker C: He'S a good goalie.
[00:17:30] Speaker A: So glad to see a translate to a game.
[00:17:32] Speaker C: Nate, for you Obviously, last week you missed the RPI games. A healthy scratch, you know, Nate, I mean, Josh, you know, said some great things about you. You took this, took it. Well, what did you learn from it and how good was it to get your first goal of the season tonight?
[00:17:50] Speaker D: I felt really good.
[00:17:51] Speaker A: Just needed to get my game back and I felt like I did that this weekend.
[00:17:54] Speaker C: What do you think was missing it?
[00:17:56] Speaker A: Probably scoring.
[00:17:58] Speaker C: Colby, for you finally getting on the board.
[00:18:00] Speaker A: Yeah, no, I felt great, obviously getting the win too. So, yeah, it's a good night.
[00:18:04] Speaker C: Were you worried about lack of confidence or did you know it was going to come with the goals?
[00:18:09] Speaker A: Yeah, no, I'm playing with some great guys, obviously, so I knew if I got a chance, I'd be able to bear it sooner or not, sooner or later. So it was good.
[00:18:16] Speaker C: Same for you, Nate, was. Were you worried about your confidence at all?
[00:18:19] Speaker A: No.
[00:18:20] Speaker C: Talk about the goal. Your goal being Lucas passed me, skated.
[00:18:25] Speaker D: On the right side, shot it in the mat.
[00:18:27] Speaker C: What were you getting talked about your goals?
[00:18:29] Speaker A: Yeah. Bersey made some great passes. 1 1. Lindy won the battle behind the net. Hit me on an empty net. So that was good to get the first one and then the second one, same thing. Lindy won a battle. Bary, another one, pretty much wide open. So it's good. Thanks. Thanks.
[00:18:41] Speaker C: Limits for you. I mean, how much pressure was it on you? Because obviously with the loss last night, were you feeling any pressure to try to, you know, play well and get a split this weekend?
[00:18:53] Speaker A: There wasn't really any pressure. I just wanted to go out there and give the boys the best chance to win a game and obviously we won, so, I mean, I was pretty happy with the outcome.
[00:19:00] Speaker C: Oh, how big of a bounce back was this after last night?
Yeah, we needed it.
[00:19:04] Speaker A: We all knew we needed it. So last night I didn't think we played too bad, but bounce didn't go our way, so, yeah, it was a big one tonight.
[00:19:16] Speaker C: Thanks. Appreciate it. Let's take a break. We'll talk more about Ben Luther's bog. One game suspension and preview this weekend's non conference matchups against UMass, Lowell and New Hampshire at MT Bank center and the return of former Union goalie Kyle Chauvet on Saturday.
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.
[00:19:45] Speaker B: ECAC Hockey, an iconic conference, home to.
[00:19:48] Speaker C: 12 of the most prestigious universities and programs in the world and showcasing the best student athletes in the sport.
[00:19:55] Speaker B: Top notch facilities and arenas, incomparable traditions.
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[00:20:02] Speaker B: Become elite professionals, leaders and champions.
[00:20:06] Speaker C: ECAC hockey. There's no experience like it.
If you really want to know what's going on in your community, you have to read the Daily Gazette. We don't take a side. We're right down the middle and we're going to get to the truth. Our reporters and photographers are out the field bringing you updates every minute with trust, accuracy and integrity. From the first page to the last page. Independent, probing journalism. We're finding out what's going on in community where nobody else is covering. It's who we are. It's what we do. Explore the benefits of subscribing to the Daily Gazette like our convenient E Edition app, personalized newsletters and unique reader rewards. When you join, start your membership today offers redeemable at www.dailygazette.com welcome back to the podcast. I'm Gazette Union hockey beatrider Ken Shawn, joined by Union men's head hockey coach Josh Housley. Josh, let's get into the Ben Mutha's box suspension.
Yeah, obviously it's a stick to the head, so I mean, I can see why he's got suspended. But my biggest complaint is that ECAC hockey has a policy of not announcing player suspensions. And to me this is a silly policy. It leads to people like me speculating about whether or not a player has been suspended. I've heard rumblings that the conference doesn't want to hurt the player's chances of future employment. Obviously with social media and Google and search and all that fun stuff.
To me, I don't think it's going to hurt someone because they found out on the Internet a player was suspended for a transgression because, I mean, heck, there's, I can think of worse transgressions than a one game suspension. I tried to get a comment from ECAC hockey commissioner Doug Christensen about it. He declined comment. I mean, should the conference drop this policy? Because, I mean, I just don't.
I look back to what happened with the Marriott's cup role in 2014. If they didn't announce suspensions, then we would have been, you know, going crazy trying to figure out who, you know, who's not in the lineup and how many games are not going to be in the lineup.
[00:22:12] Speaker D: It's.
Yeah, it's, it's a difficult one to like to really say. I mean, I get one vote and every year my vote is to, you know, to, to announce the suspensions because I just think you know, it just simplifies it for everyone and I don't, I don't think it's gonna, you know, hurt, hurt people in the future. But you know, obviously I support our league and whatever our league decides and there's, you know, 11 other coaches that you know, think, think differently. But yeah, I'm going to continue to try to fight for it and just get an announce because I do think it'll save, save some headaches.
[00:22:46] Speaker C: I mean this is an every year vote. I mean what, what was the vote this past week? Can you elaborate?
[00:22:52] Speaker D: I don't even really know. I just know I, I continue to bring it up as you know, for me it's something that, you know, I would like to see be announced. But you know, others, you know, they just think it's kind of a non issue and.
But I just, it's kind of again like you got to. Everybody's wondering why someone's not in the lineup some nights and it's like well, it's because he, we can't play him. So you know, it's there, there's some.
[00:23:15] Speaker C: Is it the Ivy League schools that maybe.
[00:23:17] Speaker D: I think for, you know, for one I think they're, it's, it's a concern for them.
But I, I think that you know, in all reality it's just, it's one of those things that I think people go back and forth on and I think if, if you just keep pressing it, I think, I think I'll get, we'll get it switched at some point.
[00:23:32] Speaker C: No, I'll keep pressing for it. Trust me.
That way you. I'm not asking. Making you feel uncomfortable, coach. Uncomfortable? Well, Union gets to play a pair of games this weekend against Hockey east opponents at MNT Bank Center. First up is UMass Low at 7pm on Friday and then Kyle Chevette returns with New Hampshire coming in for 5pm game on Saturday. Well, let's start with the Friday matchup. The Riverhawks are 5 and 5 on the season and and coming off a split of their two game series against UNH, UMass Lowell is coached by Norm Basin. What do you know about the Riverhawks?
[00:24:03] Speaker D: They're a really hard working hockey team.
They swarm you in their defensive zone. They really like to outnumber their physical and they have some pretty talented players.
[00:24:14] Speaker C: This is the first meeting between Union and UMass Lowell since the NCAA Hockey Tournament Bridgeport Regional Championship game on March 24, 2012. Union won 442 to earned its first trip to the Frozen Four. You were coaching in juniors at that time did you get a chance to watch that game?
[00:24:30] Speaker D: Yeah, I don't think I got to watch the whole thing, but I definitely was following along.
[00:24:35] Speaker C: And what'd you think of the game?
[00:24:38] Speaker D: Impressed with, Obviously Union and UMass. Lowell back then was really humming, so there was two really good hockey teams, of course.
[00:24:45] Speaker C: The big story takes place Saturday with former Union goalie Kyle Chavet returning to Schenectady as he leads UNH into M&T Bank Center. Chauvin spent three seasons with Union and was the team's number one goalie the last two years. I know you have Friday's game to worry about, but there has to be a lot of excitement for Saturday's game and Kyle coming back.
[00:25:04] Speaker D: You know, I. I look at Kyle and was always really good with my family, as his parents would, you know, sometimes watch my kids, you know, if my wife was. Was running to the concession stand or whatnot. So, yeah, it's. It'll be good to see him and looking forward to it.
[00:25:20] Speaker C: A couple of listeners, Jim Calhoun and Allison Bennett, basically asked the same question that I was going to ask. What will it like be? What will it be like facing Kyle?
[00:25:29] Speaker D: It's going to be different, I think. You know, anytime you have someone play for you, you know, you grow to, you know, like them and get to know them, and it's. It'll be different. And I mean, obviously wish them nothing but the best. But not on Saturday, of course.
[00:25:49] Speaker C: Were you disappointed to see Kyle, who's from Gothtown, New Hampshire, leave? And did it surprise you that he chose to play for the team he rooted for as a kid?
[00:25:57] Speaker D: It didn't surprise me that he went to unh.
You know, we. We never want anybody to leave our program, but if they don't feel like it's the right spot for him in the right time, I totally understand.
Which. It's. It's really weird in the transfer portal world.
You know, it's not.
Not what I'm accustomed to and not the way I necessarily like the way the college hockey is right now with some of this stuff as far as transferring and people going elsewhere. But, you know, as much as it, you know, stinks to have a player leave like Kyle, we've got some really good ones that came in, so it really works both ways.
[00:26:31] Speaker C: Well, Kyle also has a four or five start with New Hampshire's played all the games. I spoke with Kyle as well as New Hampshire head coach Mike Souza on Wednesday, and you will hear those interviews on Thursday's podcast.
Mike said that Kyle has been unh's best player so far this season. That doesn't surprise you, right?
[00:26:48] Speaker D: No, he's, he's a talented goalie and you know, I think he has kept him in a lot of hockey games. I do think they, they defend really hard and you know, limit teams chances and you know, I think Kyle's done a nice job for him.
[00:27:02] Speaker C: Well, Mike, Elsa has some nice things to say about you and he thought maybe, maybe when he took over at unh, maybe you weren't under consideration for a head coach, I mean, assistant coach job.
[00:27:12] Speaker D: Yeah, that's nice of him to say. And I've always had a really good relationship with him from back when he was at Brown and I was coaching it in the ushl and you know, it kind of grew a friendship from there.
[00:27:24] Speaker C: Well, we like to take questions from our listeners and we have a couple union Bob one on X asks about thoughts, ideas and plans to motivate guys for both games. Also, will we see more of Gillespie or will it be game to game? And in regards to Gillespie, Ryan Fay asked Gillespie showing on Saturday, did that change the conversation and goal at all or is it still more likely Korpi shoulders the overwhelming amount of time there?
[00:27:49] Speaker D: Yeah, it's, I mean definitely Gillespie has like earned our trust and you know, the opportunity to get some more games here and we try to approach it as a, you know, a weekly day to day kind of basis. So obviously we're really happy with our goaltending. I think, you know, you have a goalie like Cam who started off and played outstanding for us and then, you know, Braden comes in and does his job and then you know what Brendan Holohan is like. He's working extremely hard and is an impressive goalie too. So really confident in all three of them and they're all going to continue to battle.
[00:28:22] Speaker C: Could it be one of these weekends where maybe you give time to one goaltender and another start to the other?
[00:28:28] Speaker D: Yeah, I think there's definitely some time where you'll see that this season. And you know, the out of conference games are a good opportunity for that as well as just, you know, if someone's playing really well too, we want to, you know, ride them as well.
[00:28:40] Speaker C: Yeah. Well, thanks for the question, everyone. Of course. If you have a question for Josh, email them to me at shot. That's s c h o dash t
[email protected] or you can post them on Facebook on my personal page and the Parting Shots podcast page. You can also send them via bluesky x&threads lapshots the Daily Gazette EC Aceaki face off selections are back for another season. I'll post my picks usually on Wednesdays and and then you can send your picks to me. I'll post those picks before the first game, usually on Fridays to play. Send your picks to
[email protected] well Josh, good luck this weekend and we'll talk after these games and we'll do this podcast again next week.
[00:29:16] Speaker D: Sounds great.
[00:29:17] Speaker C: All right, thanks, Josh. Josh Hausee Coming up on Thursday's podcast, I'll preview the Union RPI Football Dutchman's Shoes game. I'll have interviews from Wednesday's press conference and also talk with Union football beat writer Will Spread Springstead Gazette high school writer Drew Wemple breaks down this weekend's Section 2 football tournament championship games. The Gazette's Mike McAdam discusses the life and legacy of former Saratoga Springs High School cross country and track and field coach Art Craddock, who died last Saturday at the age of 74. And I'll talk Union men's and women's hockey. I hope you'll tune in.
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 Shots. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Parting Shots podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good hockey.
