Men's Ice Hockey poised for big year
Zach Frank
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Sports
As the temperature starts to drop and the ponds begin to freeze over, hockey season is upon us.
The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team is preparing to get their '08-'09 season underway.
For these warriors on ice, it is more than just a season, it's what they've been looking forward to all year.
It's a time when the brutal two-hour practices and year-round agility workouts finally get put to the test, and with a single whistle and drop of the puck, the next five months of their life belong to the game of hockey.
The hockey team is no newcomer to success in the rink.
Last year, the Pioneers finished the season with a 17-21 overall record, getting them a bid for the playoffs.
After advancing to the Final Five, the team ended their season with a loss to Mercyhurst, who went on to play in the Atlantic Hockey Association championship game versus Air Force.
With last season a distant memory, the team is looking to build off of their loss in the post-season.
"Our team will come back and be successful because we have a great group returning with solid leadership," said junior defenseman Corey Laurysen. "We only lost a couple guys from last year's team and the incoming freshman seem to be adapting very well. Our team feels that we have something to prove to the league this year and we won't settle for anything less than the Atlantic Hockey title."
The Pioneers will look to prove to the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) that they are here to compete, receiving a ranking of fourth overall in their conference in the AHA's preseason coaches' poll.
It will be tough to fill the skates of Scott Marchesi and Alexandre Parent, who graduated last spring, but the Pioneers are confident in their ability to work and play as a unit to replace these clutch leaders.
With senior Dave Grimson as captain, and fellow senior Bear Trapp and junior Matt Gordon as the new assistant captains at the helm of the team, the players look to improve and take their game to a new level.
The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team is preparing to get their '08-'09 season underway.
For these warriors on ice, it is more than just a season, it's what they've been looking forward to all year.
It's a time when the brutal two-hour practices and year-round agility workouts finally get put to the test, and with a single whistle and drop of the puck, the next five months of their life belong to the game of hockey.
The hockey team is no newcomer to success in the rink.
Last year, the Pioneers finished the season with a 17-21 overall record, getting them a bid for the playoffs.
After advancing to the Final Five, the team ended their season with a loss to Mercyhurst, who went on to play in the Atlantic Hockey Association championship game versus Air Force.
With last season a distant memory, the team is looking to build off of their loss in the post-season.
"Our team will come back and be successful because we have a great group returning with solid leadership," said junior defenseman Corey Laurysen. "We only lost a couple guys from last year's team and the incoming freshman seem to be adapting very well. Our team feels that we have something to prove to the league this year and we won't settle for anything less than the Atlantic Hockey title."
The Pioneers will look to prove to the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) that they are here to compete, receiving a ranking of fourth overall in their conference in the AHA's preseason coaches' poll.
It will be tough to fill the skates of Scott Marchesi and Alexandre Parent, who graduated last spring, but the Pioneers are confident in their ability to work and play as a unit to replace these clutch leaders.
With senior Dave Grimson as captain, and fellow senior Bear Trapp and junior Matt Gordon as the new assistant captains at the helm of the team, the players look to improve and take their game to a new level.
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