CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 19 Harvard men's ice hockey (7-4-1, 5-2-1 ECAC Hockey) returns to league play this weekend with a Saturday night (Jan. 8, 4 pm, ESPN+) contest against Union (5-9-3, 3-4-1 ECAC Hockey) at Bright-Landry Hockey Center. Union is coming off a long layoff, having not played since Dec. 11 (L, 4-3 at Maine). Harvard has won its last two contests, inclduing a 6-3 win over UConn last Sunday (Jan. 2) to kick off the new year.

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Union Game Stream: ESPN+ | International
Game Notes: Harvard 
Social Media: @HarvardMHockey | #GoCrimson | #OneCrimson

What to Know
• On Sunday, sophomore forwards Alex Laferriere and Sean Farrell each had a goal and two assists, and junior captain Nick Abruzzese also had a goal and two assists to help Harvard to a 6-3 win over Connecticut at Bright-Landry Hockey Center. Junior goaltender Mitchell Gibson had 32 saves to earn the win in net, including 22 in the second period alone.

• Junior captain Nick Abruzzese is among the nation's best point producers, averaging 1.5 points per game (2nd in NCAA) with 18 points (4-14-18) in 12 games. Abruzzese has recorded a team best six multiple-point efforts so far this season, most recently with three points (goal, two assists) in Sunday's win over UConn. A native of Slate Hill, NY, Abruzzese had a prolific first-year season for Harvard in 2019-20. He earned CCM/AHCA Hockey Second Team All-America honors. He led all NCAA first-years in scoring with 44 points and was named the ECAC Hockey and Ivy League Rookie of the Year, First Team All-ECAC Hockey and First Team All-Ivy.
 
• Harvard's penalty kill is off to a solid start through 12 games, allowing just five goals in 48 power play opportunities (89.6%, 5th, NCAA). Harvard is perfect on the penalty kill in its last six games (16-for-16), killing off a nearly two-minute 5-on-3 against UConn on Sunday.

• Sophomore forward Sean Farrell (7-10-17) has been excellent for the Crimson. Farrell has points in eight of 12 games for Harvard, including a team-best five power play goals (9th, NCAA). He is sixth in the nation with an average of 1.42 points per game.

• Heading into the holiday break, Union was playing its best hockey of the season, with a 3-2-1 mark in its last six games. Junior goaltender Connor Murphy (5-8-2, 2.61 GAA, .923 Save%) has been strong in net, and had shutouts against Colgate and Princeton during Union's recent stretch of good play.
 
• Up front, the Dutchmen are led by Liam Robertson (6-3-9) and Michael Hodge (5-4-9). Senior defenseman Brandon Estes (3-6-9) is an offensive threat from the blue line.

At the Helm
Following success as a player, Harvard head coach Ted Donato has compiled a long list of accomplishments as head coach of the Crimson. The former Harvard captain has guided Harvard to four ECAC Hockey titles and three Ivy League championships, claimed six NCAA Tournament berths, coached 13 All-Americans and 17 National Hockey Leaguers. Donato, who won an NCAA Championship as a Harvard player in 1989 and enjoyed a 13-year NHL career, has represented Team USA at the World Junior Championships, multiple World Championships, and was the leading scorer of the 1992 Olympic Team in Albertville, France.
 
Up Next
Harvard will continue ECAC Hockey play on the road with games at No. 2/2 Quinnipiac and Princeton next weekend (Jan. 14-15).