October 6, 2006

06-07 ECRHA Season Set to Kick Off

Season Opens Saturday in Feasterville, PA

Only seven months have passed since the ECRHA concluded another action-packed season at the 2006 Regional Championships, with Towson, Neumann, and Suffolk hoisting their respective division titles. In this short period of time, the league has undergone some changes; more teams have been added as members, rule changes have been implemented, and transformations in the overall structure of the league have begun. However, one thing remains the same: October means the start of the ECRHA season.

This weekend, the ECRHA will mark the commencement of its 9th season with the Columbus Day Kickoff Event being held at the Sportsplex in Feasterville, PA. As expected, the weekend will host some intriguing match-ups, as teams will be pitted against familiar division rivals and unfamiliar cross-divisional opponents. Some games will feature old rivalries carried over from last season, while others will be the beginning of some new ones.

In rematches from last yearâ??s Regional Championships, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights will be taking on the Boston University Terriers, with the memory fresh in mind of Boston stunning the Knights in the opening round last season. Additionally, Rutgers B will be in a Regional semifinal re-match against Towson B, and Suffolk B will be taking on SUNY Buffalo B.

Supplementing the re-matches from regionals, cross-divisional games will add to the excitement of the weekend. The Penn State University Nittany Lions will skate against Drexel for bragging rights in the battle of Pennsylvania. Perennial powerhouse Rochester IT will face off in a rare game against Vermont, while Rhode Island will take on the University of Maine in battles for northern hockey supremacy. In an unusual trend, the most exciting games of the weekend could possibly feature Division 3 teams. One of the intriguing match-ups features the talented new club from Nassau Community College taking on perennial D1 powerhouse Towson University. The other interesting game will showcase ECRHA D2 defending champion Hofstra University facing off against the speedy new club from Camden County Community College in a game that could be the start of an intense new rivalry.

The 9^th annual Columbus Day Kickoff Event is sure to be host to some exciting hockey, however hockey will not be the most important event of the weekend. The ECRHA and All Sport Marketing are proud to announce that the Lemonade for Leukemia program will be in full swing once again this season, as the league and its teams will strive to raise money for young Dana K and the Childrenâ??s Hospital. At age 5, Dana K was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. With the high costs of fighting the disease, the Lemonade for Leukemia program helps Dana K. and other children like her to battle their illnesses as strongly as possible. The ECRHA asks everyone at the event to purchase lemonade at the Dana K. Lemonade Stand in the Sportsplex lobby during the weekend hockey event. Every glass helps, and your support makes a difference! We hope to see you all this weekend. Good luck in â??06-â??07.