2024–25 Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey season was the 84th season of play for the program, the 33rd at the Division I level and the 33rd in the ECAC Hockey conference. The Garnet Chargers represented Union College in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at Achilles Center and were coached by Josh Hauge in his 3rd season.

2024–25 Union Garnet Chargers
men's ice hockey season
Conference4th ECAC Hockey
Home iceAchilles Center
Rankings
USCHONR
USA HockeyNR
Record
Overall19–14–3
Conference12–8–2
Home9–9–2
Road9–5–1
Neutral1–0–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachJosh Hauge
Assistant coachesJohn Ronan
Mike Zannella
Bryan McDonald
CaptainCullen Ferguson
Alternate captain(s)Josh Nixon
John Prokop
Caden Villegas
Nick Young
Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey seasons
« 2023–24 2025–26 »

Season

edit

Union's season started well for the team with the Chargers winning six of their first seven games. The club's success was largely based upon their offense at this point which was averaging 4 goals a game, albeit mostly against weak opposition. While no one player was leading the charge at this time, Union got a considerable boost from freshman Ben Muthersbaugh who was among the team leaders in points. The Garnet Chargers continued to score their way to victories through November as well, holding a 9–3–1 record after two months of play. In spite of this, however, the team remained outside the polls due to the fact that all of their wins came against lesser squads. The strongest team they were able to defeat to that point was Army who finished 47th in the national polls. To make matters worse, the team went through an offensive slump in December, losing four consecutive game to lose any argument for their inclusion among the best collegiate teams in the country.

The team returned after the winter break and got back to its winning ways, but saw very similar results to the first half of the season; Union would win against weak opponents but lost whenever they faced a moderately strong opponent. The only outlier in this trend was Cornell, whom Union was able to defeat twice during the season. The relative weakness of the conference this season was a catch-22 for Union because, since they faced a sizable array of weak opponents, the team was able to post a good record by season's end. However, their overall rating suffered due to their poor strength of schedule. Union remained in the bottom half of the PairWise despite going 10–5–2 since the start of January and had no chance for an at-large berth.

The team was able to edge ahead of Dartmouth for 4th place and earn the final bye into the quarterfinal round. Unfortunately, the Big Green were none too pleased about the result and took their revenge on Union when the two met. The Chargers were able to twice get into the lead in the first game but appeared to weaken as the game progressed. The Union attack was able to fire 15 shots on goal in the first but could only conjure up 2 shots in the third. This happened despite the team being behind in the final 12 minutes and desperate to tie the score. The rematch saw a complete implosion on the back end with the team surrendering 7 goals to Dartmouth. The Chargers seemed completely at a loss at how to handle the speed of the visitors and the resounding defeat brought their season to an end.

Departures

edit
Player Position Nationality Cause
Ville ImmonenForward FinlandGraduate transfer to (Bowling Green)
Nathan KellyDefenseman CanadaGraduation (signed with Norfolk Admirals)
Cole KodsiForward United StatesGraduate transfer to (Canisius)
Joey PotterDefenseman United StatesTransferred to (Alaska Anchorage)
Aksel ReidGoaltender United StatesTransferred to (Hamilton)
Liam RobertsonForward CanadaGraduation (signed with Wichita Thunder)
Chaz SmedsrudForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Allen Americans)
Ben TupkerForward CanadaGraduation (signed with Trois-Rivières Lions)
Tyler WatkinsForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák)

Recruiting

edit
Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Riley BrueckForward United States21Chesterfield, MO
Lucas BuzziolForward Canada20Mississauga, ON
David CôtéDefenseman Canada20Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC
Parker LindauerForward United States23Madison, WI; transfer from Maine
Lucas MassieGoaltender United States21Claremont, CA
Brendan MilesDefenseman United States22Farmington Hills, MI; transfer from Michigan
Ben MuthersbaughForward United States20Gilford, NH
Connor SmithForward United States21Hugo, MN
Drew SuttonForward United States21Hortonville, WI

Roster

edit

As of September 21, 2024.[1]

No. Nat. Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
2 United States D. J. Hart Sophomore D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2002-02-23 Stamford, Connecticut Lincoln Stars (USHL)
3 United States Cal Mell Junior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2011-01-30 Alpharetta, Georgia Janesville Jets (NAHL)
4 United States Josh Phillips Senior D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-05-24 Getzville, New York Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
5 Canada David Côté Freshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 2003-10-08 Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
6 Canada Cullen Ferguson (C) Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-02-16 Binbrook, Ontario Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
7 United States Nick Young (A) Junior D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2001-09-12 Raleigh, North Carolina St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL)
8 United States Connor Smith Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2003-06-06 Hugo, Minnesota Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)
9 United States Thomas Richter Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-06-06 Greenwich, Connecticut Penticton Vees (BCHL)
10 United States Ethan Benz Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-03-29 Shakopee, Minnesota St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL)
11 Canada Colby MacArthur Junior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-11-02 Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
12 United States Carter Korpi Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-07-28 South Lyon, Michigan Wichita Falls Warriors (NAHL)
14 Canada Brandon Buhr Junior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-07-07 North Vancouver, British Columbia Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)
15 Canada Josh Nixon Senior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-05-09 Mississauga, Ontario Lake Superior State (CCHA)
16 Canada Lucas Buzziol Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2004-04-05 Mississauga, Ontario Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)
17 United States Parker Lindauer Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2001-05-17 Madison, Wisconsin Maine (HEA)
18 United States Ben Muthersbaugh Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2004-02-15 Gilford, New Hampshire Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
19 United States Drew Sutton Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2003-02-10 Hortonville, Wisconsin Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)
20 Canada Eli Pilosof Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-06-10 Toronto, Ontario Pickering Panthers (OJHL)
21 United States John Prokop (A) Junior D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-05-13 Wausau, Wisconsin Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
22 United States Jacob Jeannette Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-12-13 Duluth, Minnesota Tri-City Storm (USHL)
23 Canada Joseph Messina Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-02-01 Woodbridge, Ontario Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
24 United States Nate Hanley Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-05-30 Rocky Point, New York Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
26 United States Brendan Miles Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-12-12 Farmington Hills, Michigan Michigan (Big Ten)
27 United States Riley Brueck Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-05-07 Chesterfield, Missouri Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)
28 United States Caden Villegas (A) Senior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 167 lb (76 kg) 2001-02-19 Plano, Texas Tri-City Storm (USHL)
31 United States Lucas Massie Freshman G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-04-11 Claremont, California Lincoln Stars (USHL)
35 United States Joe Sharib Senior G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-08-16 Natick, Massachusetts Connecticut Jr. Rangers (NCDC)
36 United States Kyle Chauvette Junior G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-10-05 Goffstown, New Hampshire Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Standings

edit
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#15 Quinnipiac221651230507942382412213583
#20 Clarkson221561210457447392412312187
Colgate2213722214280653618153114116
Union2212820024067613619143112109
Dartmouth221291020397052331813211084
#12 Cornell *221084103366953361911611282
Harvard22910322131565633131738597
Brown22911230228536332141537985
Princeton22712322125557330121537186
Rensselaer2271500202357823512212101131
Yale22514311119528030621367121
St. Lawrence22515211118438135924271121
Championship: March 22, 2025
† indicates conference regular season champion (Cleary Cup)
* indicates conference tournament champion (Whitelaw Cup)
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll

Schedule and results

edit
DateTimeOpponent#Rank#SiteTVDecisionResultAttendanceRecord
Exhibition
October 5 1:00 pm #13 Providence* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New York (Exhibition)ESPN+   L 1–4   
Regular Season
October 6 4:00 pm Army* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 4–3 OT 1,553 1–0–0
October 11 7:00 pm at Stonehill* Bridgewater Ice ArenaBridgewater, MassachusettsNEC Front Row Chauvette W 4–2  337 2–0–0
October 12 7:00 pm at #3 Boston University* Agganis ArenaBoston, MassachusettsESPN+ Chauvette L 1–4  4,954 2–1–0
October 18 7:00 pm Mercyhurst* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 6–2  1,605 3–1–0
October 19 5:00 pm Mercyhurst* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 3–2  1,983 4–1–0
October 25 7:00 pm at Rensselaer Houston Field HouseTroy, New York (Rivalry)ESPN+ Chauvette W 6–3  2,931 5–1–0 (1–0–0)
October 26 7:00 pm Rensselaer Achilles RinkSchenectady, New York (Rivalry)ESPN+ Chauvette W 4–3  2,076 6–1–0 (2–0–0)
November 8 7:00 pm Alaska* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette T 3–3 OT 1,267 6–1–1
November 9 4:00 pm Alaska* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Massie L 4–6  1,681 6–2–1
November 15 7:00 pm St. Lawrence Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 4–0  1,724 7–2–1 (3–0–0)
November 16 4:00 pm Clarkson Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 1–4  2,061 7–3–1 (3–1–0)
November 29 6:00 pm at Niagara* Dwyer ArenaLewiston, New YorkFloHockey Chauvette W 4–2  769 8–3–1
November 30 5:00 pm at Niagara* Dwyer ArenaLewiston, New YorkFloHockey Chauvette W 5–3  628 9–3–1
December 6 7:00 pm at Princeton Hobey Baker Memorial RinkPrinceton, New JerseyESPN+ Chauvette L 1–2  1,384 9–4–1 (3–2–0)
December 7 4:00 pm at #18 Quinnipiac M&T Bank ArenaHamden, ConnecticutESPN+ Chauvette L 1–3  3,008 9–5–1 (3–3–0)
December 13 7:00 pm Vermont* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 2–6  1,328 9–6–1
December 14 4:00 pm Vermont* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 2–3  1,746 9–7–1
January 3 7:00 pm at Brown Meehan AuditoriumProvidence, Rhode IslandESPN+ Chauvette W 3–1  844 10–7–1 (4–3–1)
January 4 7:00 pm at Yale Ingalls RinkNew Haven, ConnecticutESPN+ Chauvette W 4–3  1,394 11–7–1 (5–3–1)
January 10 7:00 pm at #19 Clarkson Cheel ArenaPotsdam, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 3–5  2,473 11–8–1 (5–4–1)
January 11 7:00 pm at St. Lawrence Appleton ArenaCanton, New YorkESPN+ Massie W 8–5  1,116 12–8–1 (6–4–1)
January 17 7:00 pm Dartmouth Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 0–4  1,621 12–9–1 (6–5–1)
January 18 4:00 pm Harvard Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 4–1  1,973 13–9–1 (7–5–1)
January 25 6:00 pm vs. Rensselaer* MVP ArenaAlbany, New York (Mayor's Cup)  Chauvette W 3–2 OT 7,306 14–9–1
January 31 7:00 pm Yale Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette T 3–3 SOW 1,419 14–9–2 (7–5–2)
February 1 4:00 pm Brown Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 2–1  1,986 15–9–2 (8–5–2)
February 7 7:00 pm at Colgate Class of 1965 ArenaHamilton, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette T 2–2 SOW 921 15–9–3 (8–5–3)
February 8 7:00 pm at Cornell Lynah RinkIthaca, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 4–1  3,893 16–9–3 (9–5–3)
February 14 7:00 pm #15 Quinnipiac Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 2–7  1,889 16–10–3 (9–6–3)
February 15 4:00 pm Princeton Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 7–4  1,625 17–10–3 (10–6–3)
February 21 7:00 pm at Harvard Bright-Landry Hockey CenterBoston, MassachusettsESPN+ Chauvette W 2–1  2,372 18–10–3 (11–6–3)
February 22 4:00 pm at Dartmouth Thompson ArenaHanover, New HampshireESPN+ Chauvette L 1–2  2,500 18–11–3 (11–7–3)
February 28 7:00 pm Cornell Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette W 4–1  2,112 19–11–3 (12–7–3)
March 1 4:00 pm Colgate Achilles RinkSchenectady, New YorkESPN+ Chauvette L 1–5  2,296 19–12–3 (12–8–3)
ECAC Hockey Tournament
March 14 7:00 pm Dartmouth* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New York (ECAC Quarterfinal Game 1)ESPN+ Chauvette L 2–3  2,302 19–13–3
March 15 7:00 pm Dartmouth* Achilles RinkSchenectady, New York (ECAC Quarterfinal Game 2)ESPN+ Chauvette L 2–7  2,298 19–14–3
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
Source:[2]

Scoring statistics

edit
Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Caden VillegasF367222916
Colby MacArthurRW367222918
Brandon BuhrF361992825
Ben MuthersbaughLW3613152831
Nate HanleyC351018284
John ProkopD368192720
Josh NixonRW361492320
Cullen FergusonD364121639
Parker LindauerF343111410
Lucas BuzziolC29581314
Riley BrueckF3337106
Nick YoungD36281018
Carter KorpiF186288
D. J. HartD3235833
Brendan MilesD2907710
Drew SuttonF353362
Jacob JeannetteRW2923512
Joseph MessinaD261344
Ethan BenzF141120
Connor SmithF221016
Thomas RichterF70110
Josh PhillipsD180112
Cal MellD240116
Lucas MassieG20000
Joe SharibG30000
David CôtéD120002
Kyle ChauvetteG350000
Bench10
Total112187299316

[3]

Goaltending statistics

edit
Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals against Saves Shut outs SV % GAA
Joe Sharib329:370000701.0000.00
Kyle Chauvette352036:5618133958171.8962.80
Lucas Massie283:491108330.8055.73
Empty Net-39:32---6----
Total362179:54191431098571.8873.00

Rankings

edit
Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 (Final)
USCHO.com NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR - NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR - NR
USA Hockey NR NR NR NR NR 20 NR RV RV RV NR NR - NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12 or 26.[4]
Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.

Awards and honors

edit
Player Award Ref
Kyle Chauvette All-ECAC Hockey Third Team [5]
John Prokop
Brandon Buhr
Ben Muthersbaugh ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team [6]

References

edit
  1. "Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Union Garnet Chargers. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  2. "2024-25 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule". Union Garnet Chargers. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  3. "Union College 2024-2025 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  4. "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. "Union Trio Headlines Third Team All-ECAC Selections". ecachockey.com. March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  6. "Harvard Duo, Four Other First-Year Standouts Comprise Men's All-Rookie Team". ecachockey.com. March 10, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.