However, during his first season at Union, MacArthur didn't get much playing time. He appeared in 11 matches and recorded only two assists.
At the beginning of last season, it seemed that returning to the ice would be difficult. However, as the season progressed, MacArthur climbed into the lineup to the point that head coach Josh Hauge could not afford to have him as a healthy starter. MacArthur scored four goals and six assists in 29 games. His play improved as the season progressed, which was noticed by his teammates, who selected him as the winner of the team's Most Improved Player award.
“Everyone wants to play every game, right?” MacArthur, 22, said during Tuesday's news conference at Messa Rink. “I think it was good for me to come from the Maritime Ice Hockey League, where it's a high-scoring league, and get some points, and then come here and focus on the defense (games), gain the confidence of the coaches, and then chip away aggressively. “
MacArthur was a huge contributor in Sunday's game against Army West Point at Messa Rink.
Early in 3-on-3 overtime, MacArthur pounced on the puck near the right boards in the Black Knights' zone. MacArthur managed to get it and pass it to an open John Prokop in the slot. Prokop found the net and scored 58 seconds into overtime, giving the Garnet Chargers a 4-3 victory.
Union College hockey players Cullen Ferguson, Caden Villegas and Colby MacArthur talk about the Garnet Chargers as they prepare for their first road trip of the season: Friday at Stonehill and Saturday at No. 3 Boston University.
“Parker (Lindauer) made a really good play on the blue line, gave me the puck and I hit John out the back door,” MacArthur said. “The goalkeeper made a really good save. Instead of staying high, I thought John was going to bury it. So I kind of fell. Trying to get the puck was something of a desperate dive. They would probably lose 2 to 0. So it was a really happy ending. And of course, if you get John to run, he'll probably score.
Hauge was impressed when he saw the art unfold in person. When he saw it on tape, he was even more impressed.
“Usually guys stay on their feet and he made a diving move,” Hauge said. “He came back and made an unbelievable pass to John. He just never gives up and that's what he's been doing this whole time. He just continues to work and was rewarded with more and more ice time for it, and then he was rewarded with a game-winning assist.
Union College men's hockey coach Josh Hauge talks about the Garnet Chargers as they prepare for their first trip of the season: Friday at Stonehill and Saturday at No. 3 Boston University. Hauge also mentioned Union junior forward Colby MacArtur.
MacArthur was recruited by then-Union head coach Rick Bennett's assistant coach, T.J. Manastersky, and committed to the program. Shortly after Hauge was hired as Union's head coach in April 2022, he spoke with MacArthur and outlined his expectations.
“The first thing I did with each recruit was watch film of them and just give them my thoughts and maybe how we thought we could use them,” Hauge said. “From there, I just had a few conversations where I could get to know you guys and see where everyone was at. The staff did a really good job with him. He was committed to the Union. I didn't have to sell it for that.
“We just thought you could come and play and we're going to encourage you. You will make some mistakes, but keep growing. And that's exactly what he did.”
When MacArthur arrived at Union two years ago, he immediately noticed the difference between junior hockey and college hockey. He knew he would have to work hard and prove his worth.
“Obviously, the speed of college hockey and the size of people is a whole different level,” MacArthur said. “I think it comes down to the coaches trusting me and believing in myself that I can play here, and obviously it took me a year and a while to be consistently in the lineup. I think I've incorporated it a little better and it's all about the trust of the coaches and teammates.
MacArthur's teammates noticed.
“Coming in as a freshman, he didn't step in right away, which is pretty normal,” team captain Cullen Ferguson said. “He was just getting used to the league. I think I had to do the same. I think every player goes through this. And then I really saw how he played in training at the beginning of last year and how well he saw on the ice that there was really something there. It all came down to getting that chance. I think that's huge in hockey.”
MESSA RINK CELEBRATION
Union College Athletics announced Thursday its plans to celebrate the final season of men's and women's hockey at Messa Rink.
The Union College women's hockey team will face Penn State on Friday and Saturday at Messa Rink. This is what assistant coach Shawn Skelly and players Maddie Suitor and Jill Willis say.
Here's what's planned.
Fans can share their favorite memories by tagging the hockey teams on Instagram (@unionmhockey, @unioncollegewhky), X (@unionmhockey, @unionwhockey) or on Facebook (@unionmhockey, @unionwhockey) and using the hashtag #MessaMemories. Fans can also share their favorite memories by sending photos and videos via Dropbox or email sportsinfo@union.edu.
Union fans will have the opportunity to vote for the best players who have donned navy blue and white over the years. Votes (both online and in-person at Messa Rink) will help determine which players will be honored on the Union Hockey All-Messa Rink teams, which will be announced later in the season. The team consists of men's and women's divisions and men's divisions II/III.
On Friday, January 24, the women's hockey team will recognize the 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 teams, commemorating the first varsity team and first Division I team in program history.
On Saturday, February 1, the men's team will welcome back the inaugural team from the 1975-76 season, as well as the Division III national runner-up from the 1983-84 season, who will be honored during the Union game against Brown. On Saturday, February 15, Union will once again invite members of the 1991-92 Division I team, as well as the 2011-12 Frozen Four team, who will be honored during the game against Princeton.
The women's team will host Alumni Weekend on February 7-8, while the men's Alumni Weekend will be held on February 28-March 1.
CHILDREN BURNED OUT
Former Union men's hockey assistant coach Lennie Childs' tenure as head coach of the United States Hockey League's Omaha Lancers didn't last long.
Childs was released late Wednesday evening. The team lost the first four games.
ColtonSt. Clair replaced Childs.
“We thank Lennie and wish him and his family all the best,” Lancers majority owner Mike Picozzi said in a press release on the team's website. “It wasn't an easy decision, but I believe now is the best time for Lancers to make the decision. go in a different direction.”
Childs was an assistant coach under Hauge for two seasons. His work on penalty kicks helped Union be one of the best in the country last season.
When I spoke with him in April, after the Lancers hired him, he said the team reached out to him to gauge his interest.
“(It) just sparked some conversations about them wanting to restructure their hierarchy a little bit,” Childs said. “Dave Wilkie wanted to be a general manager and wanted to bring some youth and some energy to coaching.”
Childs believed he was ready for the job.
“I'm definitely prepared,” Childs said. “They tell you that you want to be overprepared for work. I definitely feel like I've taken the appropriate steps to learn what it's like at the next level of college that all players want to get to. Now it's just a matter of mapping out that path for them and being able to dangle the carrot in a certain way and push and nudge them along the way to get them to that level. I'm just excited to work with some really good young players.”
Childs did not respond to a text message.
