| Japchen |
BY Ken Schott
Sports Editor of the Daily Gazette
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (November 25, 2023) - Defenseman Greg Japchen didn't get much playing time with the Union College men's hockey team last season. But he can't wait to get back to Messa Rink this weekend.
Japchen entered the transfer portal at the end of last season, and then committed to Stonehill. The Skyhawks, playing their second season at the NCAA Division I level, will be facing the Garnet Chargers at Messa Rink for games Friday and Saturday. Each game starts at 4 p.m.
"[I'm] super excited," the sophomore Japchen said during a telephone interview Thursday morning. "I'll see a lot of familiar faces, a lot of people I haven't seen in a little over a year now. It should be really fun to catch up with them and, hopefully, have a pretty competitive hockey game."
Japchen played in just eight games for Union last season. He didn't register a point.
With Stonehill, Japchen is the team's leading scorer with a goal and seven assists in 12 games.
Japchen said he was disappointed with how things turned out at Union.
"It was a struggle," Japchen said. "But it's a part of the sport, it's part of the business of the game. Obviously, they saw things that they didn't want to see, or I wasn't falling into place with their systems and what they wanted. That's just the way it goes. You just kind of have to roll that."
During an interview on Wednesday's "The Parting Schotts Podcast," Union head coach Josh Hauge talked about Japchen's time at Union.
"The points are the reason why we recruited him here," Hauge said. "He's someone who's got a great shot from the point. He's good on the power play. Hopefully, he continues to grow his game from here, and that's maybe why he's having success. We always thought Greg was going to be a really good player, and I'm happy that he is doing it.
"If he would have liked to stay, we would love to have him, but he decided to go. We're wishing him all the best as he's there, except for this weekend."
Stonehill coach David Borges has been impressed with Japchen.
"He has the ability to get up and down the ice," Borges said during a telephone interview Tuesday. "That's where his contribution has come this year [by] pushing the pace of the game. He's playing his best when he's moving pucks up by ice, getting pucks out of the zone quickly and not hesitating. That's when he can be a very effective player for us."
Even though Stonehill is in its second Division I season, this is the first year that it's playing a full Division I schedule. Most of the Skyhawks' games last season were against Division II, the level they previously played, and Division III schools.
The Skyhawks are 0-12, but Japchen is thrilled to be part of growing a program.
| Allen |
"It's definitely different," Japchen said. "It's got its struggles, the growing pains of not really knowing what's going on, or obviously having a pretty young team. But it's a lot of fun. We're trying to build a culture, we're trying to build an identity for our team members and we're working towards that every day."
Japchen isn't the only former Union player on Stonehill's team.
Graduate student forward Matthew Allen is also playing for the Skyhawks. Unfortunately, Allen won't be making the trip to Union. Borges said Allen hurt his shoulder and is out. Borges said the team rule is injured players do not go on road trips.
Japchen is happy to have a fellow former Union player with him at Stonehill.
"It's awesome," Japchen said. "Me and Matty were really good friends at Union. We actually committed to go to Stonehill on the same day. He just committed a little earlier in the morning. It was awesome news when I finally found out that he was coming in. It's definitely made the transition easier."
Another Stonehill player with ties to the Capital Region is former RPI forward Henri Schreifels, who has three goals and an assist in 12 games. Schreifels played in 39 games in two seasons for the Engineers and had one goal.
For the full interviews with Japchen, Borges and Hauge, listen to "The Parting Schotts Podcast."
