 |
|
| Club hockey begins first ACHA season, looks to
claim second championship |
by Michael Trivette
Staff Writer |
How can a hockey team with no home ice rink win
a championship?
The Appalachian State University men’s club hockey team, who
travel to Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Charlotte to practice, won
the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC) championship last season.
This season, the men’s hockey club has only one goal in mind:
to win another BRHC championship.
“We want to win the championship again and we want to go out
and prove ourselves,” William (BJ) Radhe, who returns as a
four-year starter and third year captain this season, said.
Last season the men’s hockey team went 9-12 and still managed
to secure the conference championship.
The fall semester’s record was 0-11, while in the spring semester
the team managed to go 9-1.
Apparently they found the right time to peak in the season.
“We had some distractions last year in the first semester and
our record showed that,” Brent Dabb, who will be the head coach
for this season, said. “We can’t have that again.”
“Last year we pulled it together during the second semester
when we had a coach behind the bench, and we found a way to peak
at the right time during the season,” Dabb said.
This will be the first year in which the Mountaineers have a full
time coach behind the bench for the entire season.
Dabb is no stranger, having played for the team and providing the
goal tending for last year’s championship team.
“I’m looking forward to being a coach this year and I
feel I said that at our last practice,” Dabb said. “They
know my expectations and how I work, so I think it will be good
from the get-go.”
This year’s team will be competing in 22 to 25 matches. Team
members include 17 players and one goalie.
Tending the goal this season will be first-year goalie Brian Dolan.
“It’s going to be a big responsibility, but I’m excited
about it,” Dolan said. “We’re going to be real solid
[in the goal].”
The entire team will need to be solid this year to repeat on last
season’s success.
“We have a very good offense with team leaders such as Bobby
Hathaway and Adam Bullin, who both know how to contribute to the
team,” Radhe said. “Our defense is solid too and I think
we’ll be fine.”
Last season Bullin scored five goals in one game and set a league
record for nine goals in a three-game playoff. The result was a
conference championship.
The team hopes that Bullin’s hot hand will continue into this
season.The club joined the American Collegiate Hockey Association
(ACHA) for 2003-04.
The ACHA lists national rankings each year and divides member schools
into divisions.
ASU is listed in the Southeastern division and has not received
rankings yet, being in their first season with the ACHA.
The first match is scheduled for Sept. 19 at South Carolina University.
The conference opener is set for Sept. 27 against Mary Washington
College in Fredericksburg, Va. |
 |
|
|
For an up tp date sports calendar and box scores
click below!
|
|
 |
 |
