Season Preview: Union Dutchmen

The ECAC season is just under two months away, and the Union College Dutchmen are coming off a decent season that saw the team get eliminated in the Frozen Four semifinals. Now, it’s time to focus on the year ahead.

Twenty-two players will return this fall from last season’s successful team, while six new freshmen players will join the squad.

Eight of the Dutchmen who will suit up for Union this coming season attended an NHL development camp this summer.

Returning players include junior goaltender Troy Grosenick, a managerial economics major who was named Union’s first Hobey Baker Award finalist. The 22-year-old Wisconsin native earned a number of recognitions for his outstanding play last season, including first-team AHCA All-American and the Ken Dryden Award (ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year)

Grosenick also ranked first in conference action in GAA, save percentage and win percentage and had an overall record of 22-6-3. This summer, he was invited to camps by the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers.

Also returning is junior forward Daniel Carr, of Sherwood Park, Alberta. The 20-year-old economics major had 20 goals and 20 assists last season in 41 games, scoring Union’s lone goal in the loss to Ferris State in the Frozen Four. Carr also attended NHL camps this summer, for the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

Seniors Wayne Simpson (forward) and Greg Coburn (defense) will also return to the team this year, for their final seasons with the Dutchmen. Simpson, 22, was one of a handful of players to appear in all 41 contests this season, playing on the top line. He had 18 goals and 13 assists, including nine power play goals, in that time. Like Carr, Simpson also attended the Bruins training camp – which should come as no surprise, since in 2009 he received the team’s  John Carlton Award.

Coburn, 24, is considered one of Union’s top “puck-moving defensemen” and had five goals and 10 assists in 40 games last season. He is the brother of current NHLer Braydon Coburn and attended Philadelphia Flyers development camp this summer.

Another returning player is sophomore Shayne Gostisbehere, who was the highest scoring freshman on the team last season. The Florida native appeared in all 41 games, scoring five goals and 17 assists and earning ECAC All-Rookie Team honors. The 18-year-old engineering major was selected in this year’s NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Meanwhile, six new freshman are preparing to enter the Dutchmen’s quarters this fall: defensemen Tim Boyle and Sebastien Gingras, as well as forwards Theo DiPauli, Nick Cruice, Matt Wilkins and David Roy.

Boyle attended the NHL’s Ottawa Senators development camp in June.

Union kicks off its season at home against Merrimack College October 6. The regular season play runs until March 2, when the Dutchmen close the season against Clarkson.