It?s been two years since the Shippensburg Raiders skated off the rink in Anaheim, CA with an 8-4 defeat at the hands of the UT-Dallas Comets in the first round of the NCRHA National Championship Tournament. It?s been a rough two years since that time, as the Raiders lost their 3^rd consecutive ECRHA Quarter-Final game, this time to Maine University by a score of 6-3. However, even with the loss, the Raiders managed to claim an at-large bid to the national championships. The Raiders however, are not favored to go far as they were handed an extremely tough schedule, which includes #2 SUNY Brockport, #3 UT-Dallas and #8 Emory.

#2 SUNY Brockport (21-3-1)

            The Brockport Golden Eagles took the ECRHA by storm this season, posting an 11-0-1 record before their first loss of the season to Albany University. Brockport are the ECRHA Runner-ups after falling to Neumann College in the Championship game 7-6. Brockport is lead by four seniors who all had tremendous seasons. Brian Bauman finished the season with 56 pts as well as Ryan Marvin with 30pts, Steve Vyn with 27pts, and Ryan Ahl with 25pts. The Golden Eagles also have very solid goaltending in Kyle Shrauger who boast a 3.67 GAA, along with a save percentage of .842 and 1 shut out. The Golden Eagles should be the toughest test for the Raiders who fell to them 6-2 early in the season.

All-Time Series: Brockport Leads: 3-2-0

11/23/02 ? Shippensburg 8 Brockport 1  

11/12/05 ? Brockport 6 Shippensburg 2

#3 UT-Dallas (24-3-0) SCHL Champions

            The Dallas Comets won their 4 consecutive SCHL Championship this season in decisive fashion going 24-0-0 in league play. Dallas has been and impressive team in their region, and on the national scene for the past four years. Dallas is lead by and explosive offense, which saw them outscore their opponents by a score of 298-35. Shippensburg will have their hands full if they are going to contain their offense, as the Comets look to garner some respect on the national level. Shippensburg would likely need to win this game if they intend of advancing far into the national tournament, but that isn?t going to be an easy task. In the only meeting between the two schools, Dallas won 8-4 to advance to the elite 8 in 2004.   

All-Time Series:  UT-Dallas Leads: 1-0-0

4/17/04 ? UT Dallas 8 Shippensburg 4

#8 Emory University (22-7-0) SECRHL Champions

            Emory won the inaugural SECRHL Championship in a thrilling overtime game against NCT bound Elon University. Emory has played spectacular hockey all season, and nobody would expect anything different this time around. In a match-up earlier this season the Raiders travel to Georgia and won an extremely physical and emotional 7-6 roller-coaster battle. This rematch on the national level should draw a huge audience as two of the leagues top players Brandt Jewel (73g-50a-123pts) and Tommy Hagg (62g-42a-104pts) face off for the second time this year. Brandt Jewel won the battle on the score sheet last time around by scoring 4 goals to Tommy Hagg?s 3 goals. But it was Hagg and the Raiders who sailed away with the all-important win. Emory has the guns to go all the way this year, and if they come out hot, it?s going to be hard for the Raiders to catch them.        

All-Time Series:  Shippensburg Leads: 1-0-0

2/18/06 ? Shippensburg 7 Emory 6