PROF-ITEERING
The Rowan University Profs are making noise in Division II collegiate roller hockey.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:46AM April 3rd, 2009 4:50AM
by Richard Graham
The Rowan University Profs made it to the National Collegiate
Roller Hockey Association’s Division II national championship in just
its second year of existence. A stellar record of 14 wins, 2 losses and
two ties gave them 30 points, enabling the Profs to take first place in
the Eastern College Roller Hockey Association’s Central Conference,
four points ahead of the Brockport Golden Eagles. The team finished the
regular season with a five-game winning streak, and scored 119 goals
with just 61 goals against in 18 games.
“Rowan has been a great first year program for the ECRHA,†said
William Bourque, an Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey League staff
member. “They have set the bar high for all the up-and-coming programs
on the east coast and have set the perfect example of how to act on and
off the rink.â€
“I didn’t want to give up hockey, said team founder and goaltender
Phil DaSilva, when asked why he put the team together. DaSilva, of
Glassboro, New Jersey, put up fliers around campus and depended on word
of mouth to gather enough players for the team, which is now chartered
and funded by the university.
“We played in a men’s league at Good Sports Allaire [in Wall Township, New Jersey] our first year,†DaSilva said.
Last October, Rowan came back from two goals down to defeat
Division II powerhouse Neumann, 9-8, for the team’s biggest win of the
team’s short history. In their opening game of the NCRHA Finals, the
Profs again battled back again, turning a three-goal disadvantage in
the third period into a 7-5 victory over Missouri State.
“The key to the game was Matt Grossi,†said Rowan’s Eric Jones.
“He stepped up and turned on the intensity. If he didn’t do that, we
wouldn’t have won.â€
Rocco Aquino, a forward for the Profs, had a lot to say for this
article, but nothing very quotable. Rowan’s next game is tomorrow at
4:30 p.m. We’ll talk to Rocco again then and give him another chance. ;)
