The Union College men's ice hockey team moved up to No. 3 in both the USCHO.com poll and the USA Today and USA Hockey Magazine poll, the highest ranking in the program's 21-year history at the Division I level. Union's previous high in the national rankings was No. 4, which the team achieved in the March 7, 2011 editions of both polls. Union earned 864 points in the USCHO.com poll, and 410 points in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.

Union has appeared in the USCHO.com poll for 62 consecutive weeks since the Dec. 7, 2009 rankings, extending a school record. Union has been ranked in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll in 22 out of a possible 24 weeks this season. The Duchmen have been ranked in the top-10 of both national polls for five consecutive weeks.

After winning the Whitelaw Cup for the program's first ECAC Hockey Championship, No 3/3 Union (24-7-7, 14-4-4 ECAC Hockey) enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed in the East Regional at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT, and will take No. 4 seed Michigan State (19-15-4, 14-11-3 CCHA) on Friday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m.

Friday's meeting will mark the first time in Union's 21-year Division I history that Union and Michigan State will meet.

All-session tickets are available for $60 by calling the Union Athletics box office at 518-388-6020. The box office will be open on Monday and Tuesday from 9-5, and on Wednesday from 9-3.

The preceding information was provided by Jeffrey Weinstein, Assistant Sports Information Director for Union College Athletics.

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