Brassard savors the full Union experience

Union coach Rick Bennett had one promise for JC Brassard when the Noble and Greenough senior visited the Schenectady, N.Y., campus four years ago while the defenseman was on the recruiting trail.

“Coach Bennett said, ‘You’re never going to not work hard at Union,’” Brassard said. “I’m sure he’s had that conversation with every guy that’s come in.”

That approach is tried and tested, and it’s working again for Bennett (Springfield, Mass.), who won a national championship at Union in 2014 — the winter before Brassard arrived on campus. The Dutchmen have managed to stay relevant on the national stage during Brassard’s four years, and are again surpassing expectations this season after the loss of Hobey Baker finalist Mike Vecchione (Saugus, Mass.) and linemate Spencer Yoo. Union entered the final month of its regular season in third place in the ECAC Hockey standings at 10-4 in conference play. The Dutchmen were picked to finish sixth in ECAC Hockey in both the coaches and media preseason polls.

“Everyone counted us out after losing our top two scorers,” Brassard said. “Everyone on this team bounced back with fire.”

Brassard, a senior from Scituate, Mass., has been one of the most productive defensemen in NCAA Division 1 with 15 points (1 goal, 14 assists) through 27 games. He has successfully carried on the tradition of Union’s offensive defensemen — a list that also includes national champions such as Mat Bodie, Greg Coburn, Shayne Gostisbehere and Jeff Taylor.

Brassard credits the tradition to the work ethic that is instilled in the players by the Union coaching staff. Union coaches routinely meet players at the rink for extra one-on-one player development sessions outside of practice. “It’s just you and a coach working on specific aspects of your game,” Brassard said. “We do it a couple times a week. It might be working on shooting from the blue line or stick-on-puck defense. If you give a coach a heads-up, he’ll give you 30 minutes.”

The Notebook

Colgate sophomore Colton Point is having quite the winter. In January, Point won gold with Canada at the World Junior Championship in Buffalo. He also earned a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award. He was ECAC Hockey’s Goaltender of the Month in October. …

Yale junior goalie Sam Tucker (Wilton, Conn.) has held on to his starting job after claiming it heading into the 2017 ECAC playoffs. Tucker has been solid this season, recording a 2.93 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage in his first 13 games. …

Former Islanders Hockey Club player Brent Beaudoin (Londonderry, N.H.) leads Brown in scoring with 15 points, with Berkshire School product Charlie Corcoran (New Canaan, Conn.) next at 3-6-9.

Dartmouth goaltender Devin Buffalo was one of 11 student-athletes from across all levels of college hockey — and the lone men’s player in ECAC Hockey — to earn a nomination for the 2018 Hockey Humanitarian Award. The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation presents this honor annually to college hockey’s finest citizen — a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team, but also to the community through leadership in volunteerism.

Buffalo, who hails from Wetaskiwin, Alberta, was recognized for his involvement within his home community, volunteering with the three levels of the Indigenous Games across Canada last summer.

The senior netminder has been heavily involved in giving back to his community in Alberta. Last summer, Buffalo worked the World Indigenous Games on the Treaty 6 Territory in Alberta after having also volunteered his time at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto in July.

Buffalo capped his summer in August, serving as an event coordinator for ball hockey at the Alberta Indigenous Games in Edmonton.

While at Dartmouth, Buffalo has been heavily involved in the team’s relationship with Go Team Impact as well as the annual toy drive and subsequent visit to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Dartmouth earned a big sweep Jan. 19-20, besting St. Lawrence then Clarkson by identical 3-2 scores.

In the Spotlight

Quin Foreman, Dartmouth

The Needham, Mass., native has been one of Dartmouth’s best players as a freshman, leading all defensemen with three goals and nine points. Foreman spent two years in the BCHL and also played U-16 and U-18 Midget AAA for the Boston Advantage in the TIEHL.

Ryan Ferland, Princeton

The Franklin, Mass., native was ECAC Hockey’s Goaltender of the Month in December and has continued adding to his impressive freshman campaign since. Ferland was 7-8-3 with a 3.00 GAA and .913 save percentage through 18 starts.

Jack Badini, Harvard

The freshman forward from Old Greenwich, Conn., netted his first career overtime game-winning Jan. 20 in a 5-3 victory over St. Lawrence at Appleton Arena. Badini has been an immediate contributor at Harvard with seven goals and six assists in 19 games.

The Quote

‘We’re one of the most penalized teams in the country and we haven’t learned that lesson yet … and it’s been our demise up to this point of the season.’

— St. Lawrence coach Mark Morris