He then went scoreless in seven straight games and, after breaking the slip, went scoreless in 11 straight games. However, he has performed well, scoring five goals in the Union’s last four games. Villegas had a two-goal performance against Brown in Union’s 6-0 win in a first-round game of the ECAC Hockey Tournament on March 9. He scored both of Union’s goals in the season-ending 4-2 loss to Dartmouth in Game 2 of the ECACH. Quarterfinals of the tournament on March 16th. Villegas finished the game with 12 goals, the second most behind Chaz Smedsrud’s 14 goals.
But in the Garnet Chargers’ first nine games this season, Villegas has yet to score a goal. The senior forward and vice-captain especially got his chance in Saturday’s 6-4 non-conference loss to Alaska Fairbanks at Mesa Rink. Villegas was in the left circle when he rebounded a Nate Hanley shot less than five minutes into the game. Nanooks goaltender Nicholas Grabko was out of position after blocking Hanley’s shot from the right circle, so Villegas had an open net to put the puck in. Unfortunately for Villegas, he shot wide.
The Union men’s hockey team will be tested both on and off the ice. The Garnet Chargers travel to St. Louis for ECAC hockey action this weekend. Hosts Lawrence and Clarkson and begins the first three months of finals on Thursday. Union men’s coach Josh Hauge discusses Caden Villegas’ goal-scoring struggles ahead of the start of the season.
Villegas is doing his best to stay confident.
“Sometimes you don’t get the bounce,” Villegas said Tuesday during Union’s media availability at Messa Rink. “I will keep working hard and hope they come soon. But I had to forget about that and stay in the moment during the game and do what I could to help the team win. “That’s all I’m worried about right now.”
Union coach Josh Hauge believes Villegas has been bitten by a snake at the moment.
“We want to get the puck on Caden’s stick,” Hauge said. “Once he gets the first one and takes a deep breath, he’ll be completely fine. He’s putting more pressure on himself. He’s creating opportunities. So the coaching staff is happy with his energy and effort and the way he leads the group. But he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself, so he needs to take a deep breath and relax. Then it will come to him.”
Villegas, who ranked second in Union scoring last season with 30 points, has contributed to the offense with assists. He had seven on the season. This tied him for the team lead with Ben Muthersbaugh, Nate Hanley and Colby MacArthur.
The Union men’s hockey team will be tested both on and off the ice. The Garnet Chargers travel to St. Louis for ECAC hockey action this weekend. Hosts Lawrence and Clarkson and begins the first three months of finals on Thursday. Union players Cullen Ferguson, Caden Villegas and Nate Hanley talk about it and Villegas’ goal-scoring slump to start the season.
His biggest assist of the season came in the Garnet Chargers’ 4-3 come-from-behind ECAC hockey win over RPI on October 26. He had the key assist on Muthersbaugh’s tying goal with 3:07 left in the game.
“My favorite thing about hockey is being able to set my teammates up for success,” Villegas said. “And as long as I can do that, I’m happy. But obviously I want to get back on the scoreboard with the goal of being able to help more. … I have to keep working to make it happen.”
Villegas is on the Union’s top line along with Hanley and Muthersbaugh. The three combined for 12 goals and 21 assists. They have been a lethal combination so far this season.
“He means a lot to me,” Hanley, who had four goals and seven assists, said of Villegas. “We have been playing together for the past few years. I think we work really well together and it’s proven. (We) know where each other is going. I think Ben is a good addition. He has a good chance. Me and Caden are both playmakers, so it works perfectly.”
“We’re very positive every time we go back to the bench,” Villegas said. “We are trying to find holes in our defense and we have been doing that recently.”
Villegas said Friday that Union will face St. Louis at 7 p.m. They’ll be expected to break out of their goal-scoring slump as they return to ECAC hockey action when they host St. Lawrence.
“I believe that if given the opportunity on Friday night, the first shot will be successful,” Hauge said. “He has to put himself in that position.”
