For 18 years, I have covered Union College hockey. I've seen the program start its Division I life, watched some good teams, and several bad ones in the early years.
I've covered 10 of 11 Union's previous ECAC Hockey tournament series. The one time I didn't, I covered RPI losing to Dartmouth in 2001. Union hadn't won a playoff series in 11 tries. Several of those series were winnable ones, but somehow, the fates were never kind to the Dutchmen. From Ben Barr's two short-handed goals that helped RPI win the 2003 first-round series, to three overtime games against Clarkson in 2005, to the five-overtime thriller with Yale the following year and the heartbreak of losing to Cornell in last year's quarterfinals, the Dutchmen seemed to be cursed.
Heading into this weekend's first-round matchup with Clarkson, the question had to be asked about the Dutchmen's postseason failures. You know that coach Nate Leaman and the players don't want to hear about it. But, until you win a playoff series, the questions are fair game.
But not anymore.
The Dutchmen made an emphatic statement Saturday night, burying the ghosts of playoff failures past by rolling to a 7-2 win over the Golden Knights at Messa Rink.
Union swept the best-of-three series, 2-0. Now, they will face either Princeton or St. Lawrence in the best-of-three series next weekend. The Dutchmen will find out where they are headed after Colgate and Quinnipiac play the deciding game of their series. Colgate pulled out a 5-4 overtime win, their sixth straight OT game and NCAA-record 18th this season, to tie that series at 1-1. A Colgate win sends Union to St. Lawrence, while a Quinnipiac victory means the Dutchmen head to Princeton.
The Dutchmen scored three times in the first period, survived a shaky second period and scored four times in a wild third period — two goals by Andrew Buote were empty-netters — to send the Knights home for the season.
As a reporter, you are supposed to remain neutral and not root for the team you cover. However, you can't help but have wonderful feeling for the Dutchmen. Leaman has guided this program with a steady hand. He and his staff have recruited some outstanding talent. Now, for the second straight year, the Dutchmen are two wins away from playing in the ECACH final four for the first time.
And, as I wrote last year, I promised that if the Dutchmen make it to the Times Union Center for the final four, I will wear a tuxedo to cover their semifinal game.
Congratulations to the Dutchmen. They deserve this moment.
Three stars
1) Chris Potts, Union — scores two goals, including a back-breaking short-handed one late in the first, and had an assist.
2) Adam Presizniuk, Union — sets game's tone with first goal, and sets up Potts' second goal.
3) Andrew Buote, Union —first two-goal game of his career.
That's all from Messa Rink for the final time this season, but it's a happy finale. Catch my College Hockey Slap Schotts blog Monday, and all my other blogs on what will be a very busy week. And congratulations to the RPI men's and women's team. The men swept Dartmouth to advance to a quarterfinal-round matchup with Cornell, while women upset Harvard, 3-2, in overtime in the ECACH tournament semifinals. They will face Dartmouth for the title Sunday.
Good Night! Good Hockey!
