Union's Coatta will miss three to five weeks with an undisclosed injury

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ken Schott

Late in the third period of Union’s 5-1 loss to Cornell on Friday, Dutchmen senior forward Sam Coatta got checked near the Big Red bench. He skated back to the Union bench not feeling that great.

The Dutchmen won’t have Coatta for a while. He will miss three to five weeks after suffering an undisclosed injury.

Neither Coatta nor Union coach Rick Bennett would give specifics on what part of Coatta’s upper body is injured.

“Depending on where he holds this injury, it could be an upper- or a lower-body injury,” Bennett said. “It’s a tremendous blow for us. He’s been part of many [big] games for us. He’s a phenomenal guy, and great in the locker room. He’s a guy who we’re going to miss tremendously.”

Coatta did admit it is upper body.

“It was just a scrum on the wall,” Coatta said. “I had a collision with a guy. I didn’t really know the magnitude of it or how bad it was until I got to the bench. I finished the shift and got to the bench and talked to [trainer] Cheryl [Rockwood]. She felt like I shouldn’t go back in the game, and that’s that.”

Coatta has three goals and three assists in 22 games. He has played in 130 career games, and has 13 goals and 15 assists.

Missing games because of injury is tough enough. Sitting out games while recovering from an injury in your senior year makes it even more difficult.

“It’s, obviously, tough to miss time, especially this late in the year,” Coatta said. “It is frustrating. It’s tough to think about, but I’m just trying to be positive and get back as soon as I can.

“You don’t want to miss any games any year. But it’s a magnitude when it’s your senior year.”

While he recovers from his injury, Coatta will do all he can to aid his teammates snap out of the malaise they seem to be in. Since opening the season 5-0, the Dutchmen are 6-10-2. They are 4-7-1 in ECAC Hockey play, and are in ninth place. They need to do some work to get home ice for at least the first round of the ECACH tournament.

“Seeing a different perspective from up top is helpful,” Coatta said. “I can help the guys out that way, and maybe give little tips here and there and try to do my role off the ice.”