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| Appalachian looks to overcome early losses, gain
momentum towards wins |
Brad
Norman
Sports Beat |
In the midst of the Blue Ridge
Hockey Conference’s winter break, the Appalachian State University
club hockey team currently holds a 0-9 record and is looking to
gain some momentum and wins, when the season resumes in mid-January.
Appalachian club hockey was started in 1998 and has since joined
the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC), along with a host of other
schools from around the region.
The BRHC is a Division III member of the Atlantic Coast Hockey Association,
which is the central body for all club hockey teams. Including Appalachian,
the BRHC houses club hockey teams from Clemson University, Radford
University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond,
Hampton Roads, College of Charleston and the North Carolina State
University B-Team. The BRHC also added the College of William &
Mary as a new affiliate member.
Team captain B.J. Radhe played three years of high school hockey
at River-Hill High School in Maryland. The team was a perennial
powerhouse and ranked No. 1 out of the state’s numerous teams.
“We were the team to beat,” Radhe said.
Going from first in the state during high school to last in the
conference in college is not the type of jump he intended, but Radhe
and the team have been working hard all year in hopes of turning
last year’s 1-15 record around. The team practices every week
but is hurt by the lack of facilities in Boone. With no ice rink
in Boone, ASU has been forced to travel to Winston-Salem, and as
far as Charlotte, in order to practice. The majority of their home
games are played in Winston-Salem.
Appalachian, vowing to work hard over the break, will complete a
multitude of conditioning drills to remedy the problem of fatigue.
ASU has been the victim of fatigue this year, particularly in the
third period. With the conditioning drills planned for the break,
Radhe said he hopes a more conditioned team will equate to victories
in the second portion of the season.
When the games resume, the team will also be without David Nemetz
for the remainder of the season. Nemetz, who played with the team
for four years, will be graduating this December. Although his production
will be missed, it is his four years of experience and leadership
that will affect the team the most.
Despite the record, the ASU team is having a fun season.
“Meeting new people is one of the greatest parts of being on
the team,” Radhe said. “We all have fun, and we all just
love to play hockey.”
The love for this game and the love for hard play can be epitomized
by Chris D’Emilio. D’Emilio is the team leader and one
of the league leaders in penalty minutes.
Appalachian will resume the season Jan. 17 at division-leader Radford.
“Some fans will travel with us when we play,” Radhe said.
“We love the fans to come support us, and we love to play in
front of them.” |
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