Spring Break
Hockey rolling along in St. Louis
Triangle Sports Desk
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
For the first time in club history, Drexel's Division II team, playing in the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey League, has received an invitation to play in the Ninth Collegiate Roller Hockey Championship. This national tournament, which will feature the top roller hockey teams in the nation, will be played April 4-7 in St. Louis, Mo.
Coming into last weekend's tournament at the Sportsplex in Feasterville, Pa., Drexel was ranked 10th overall and hoping to improve. During the round-robin matches, Drexel competed for a seed in the elimination rounds. In their first match, Drexel played No. 1-ranked Neumann College. Although Drexel was able to match Neumann goal for goal for the majority of the game, Neumann was able to squeeze in a few last-minute goals against Drexel goaltender Justin Brennan to take a 5-2 win.
After the game, coach Bob Raynor told the team, "This is your chance. It's either win or go home. Since this is already our home rink, we might as well win."
Coach Raynor's words of inspiration had a positive effect, as Drexel came back the following morning to triumph over Millersville and SUNY Brockport and earn a No. 5 seed in the tournament. However, in the quarterfinal round, Hofstra came back hard in the third period to overcome a four-goal deficit and defeat Drexel. Because of their fine play in the tournament, Drexel's rank in the ECRHA jumped to No. 5 - earning them a spot in the NCRHA National tournament, as well as earning national rankings for Bill Sherwood for goals, and Justin Brennan for wins and saves.
In addition to the Drexel Division II team making nationals, it is also worth mentioning Drexel's accomplishments in the Philadelphia Collegiate Roller Hockey League, in which goaltender Jimmy Heisler and defenseman Luke Kwiecinski were voted onto the PCRHL All-Star Team. Drexel forward Scott Oskin and defender Donnie Bielak were named as alternates to the squad.
Coming into last weekend's tournament at the Sportsplex in Feasterville, Pa., Drexel was ranked 10th overall and hoping to improve. During the round-robin matches, Drexel competed for a seed in the elimination rounds. In their first match, Drexel played No. 1-ranked Neumann College. Although Drexel was able to match Neumann goal for goal for the majority of the game, Neumann was able to squeeze in a few last-minute goals against Drexel goaltender Justin Brennan to take a 5-2 win.
After the game, coach Bob Raynor told the team, "This is your chance. It's either win or go home. Since this is already our home rink, we might as well win."
Coach Raynor's words of inspiration had a positive effect, as Drexel came back the following morning to triumph over Millersville and SUNY Brockport and earn a No. 5 seed in the tournament. However, in the quarterfinal round, Hofstra came back hard in the third period to overcome a four-goal deficit and defeat Drexel. Because of their fine play in the tournament, Drexel's rank in the ECRHA jumped to No. 5 - earning them a spot in the NCRHA National tournament, as well as earning national rankings for Bill Sherwood for goals, and Justin Brennan for wins and saves.
In addition to the Drexel Division II team making nationals, it is also worth mentioning Drexel's accomplishments in the Philadelphia Collegiate Roller Hockey League, in which goaltender Jimmy Heisler and defenseman Luke Kwiecinski were voted onto the PCRHL All-Star Team. Drexel forward Scott Oskin and defender Donnie Bielak were named as alternates to the squad.
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