Cameron Korpi was nearly perfect in Union’s two wins at home over the weekend against UMass Lowell and New Hampshire.
He made a season-high 32 saves against the River Hawks in a 7-1 win on Friday and posted his third shutout of the season the next night against the Wildcats.
The defending ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Month boasted a 98.2 percent save percentage overall on the weekend.
This improved his season mark to .927 and lowered his goals-against-average to 1.60.
He leads the league with three shutouts and is in a three-way tie for the national lead with Michigan State’s Trey Augustine and Northeastern’s Lawton Zacher.
The Union penalty kill successfully erased all 13 power-play opportunities for their opponents.
The defense benefited from 21 saves from Korpi during man-down situations.
Union’s PK unit is the second-best across NCAA Division I men’s hockey at 95.1 percent.
Only Harvard’s penalty kill ranks higher, though they have faced 24 fewer power plays than the Garnet Chargers have.
Korpi transferred to Union from the University of Michigan after earning Big Ten All-Freshman team honors last season.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore goaltender from Goffstown, New Hampshire, has been exceptional in his first season with the Garnet Chargers.
He started all six games in October and earned ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Month honors.
Korpi is the first Union goaltender to earn that monthly honor since Darion Hanson in November 2018.
His October highlight came on October 18 when he stopped all 24 shots in a 6-0 win over Niagara for his first collegiate shutout.
That performance was part of a 113:11 scoreless streak that spanned parts of three games.
In his Union debut on October 4 against Army West Point, Korpi made 26 saves in a 1-1 tie.
He also earned ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Week after that debut performance.
This marks his second Goalie of the Week award this season.
Union’s defense ranks 10th nationally in NCAA Division I men’s hockey, allowing just 1.86 goals per game.
The penalty kill unit has been particularly dominant, going 20 straight opportunities without surrendering a goal at one point.
Korpi holds a 6-2-1 record this season with a .722 winning percentage.
He ranks among the nation’s leaders in multiple goaltending categories.
His three shutouts lead ECAC Hockey and tie him with Augustine and Zacher for the most in Division I.
His .927 save percentage ranks among the best in the conference.
The Garnet Chargers currently sit in strong position in the ECAC standings.
Union has rebounded well after losses throughout the season, going 10-1 following defeats since the start of last season.
Korpi and Union hit the road for a weekend series against Cornell on Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m.
The team then travels to face Colgate on Saturday, November 22.
Both games will test the Union’s strong penalty kill and Korpi’s hot streak.
Cornell and Colgate present tough challenges as conference rivals.
The road trip gives Korpi a chance to add to his shutout total and continue his dominance.
His performances have been instrumental in Union’s success this season.
Union’s coaching staff, led by head coach Josh Hauge has praised the goaltending stability Korpi provides.
The transfer from Michigan has exceeded expectations in his first season with the program.
Senior leadership has also been strong for Union this season.
The seniors accounted for 11 of Union’s 15 points in a recent 5-2 win over St. Lawrence.
Korpi’s emergence gives Union a legitimate chance to compete for an ECAC championship.
Strong goaltending often proves decisive in conference tournament play.
The sophomore has already established himself as one of the premier netminders in college hockey.
His combination of size, athleticism, and consistency makes him difficult to beat.
Union fans have embraced Korpi quickly after his transfer.
His weekly and monthly honors demonstrate his impact on the program.
The upcoming road games will show whether Korpi can maintain his excellence away from home.
His performance could determine Union’s positioning heading into the second half of the season.
