February 27, 2006
Division II Round Robin Previews
Will Any of The Top Teams Fall?
POOL A
#2 SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles? Brockport currently sits ranked on top of the division after narrowly winning the northern conference over Wentworth. Brockport has top-level talent on their team, including the DII assists leader Brian Bauman. Brockport has a great core of veterans, which have playoff experience after their good showing at the DII national tournament last year. Ryan Marvin, Steve Vyn and Ryan Ahl should put plenty of goals in the net to give the Golden Eagles a chance to win the ECRHA Regional Championship, and its automatic bid to the NCRHA National Championship. To help their case, the Eagles have a dominant goalie in net in Kyle Shrauger (3.67 GAA, .842 SV%). With their depth, the Eagles are the overwhelming favorites to advance from Pool A.
#20 University of Maine Black Bears ? Maine is a team that many in the country wrote off after starting the season with a 3-5-2 record. Since that time, Maine has returned to its old form, posting a 7-1-0 record in the second half of the season. During that stretch, they defeated the then ranked #1 Neumann Knights 7-6. Could Brockport be the second #1 team to fall at the hands of the Black Bears? The Black Bears rely on good defense and solid goaltending to win games, and the formula is working. If Maine is going to pull some upsets, they are going to have to start with strong goaltending from Drew Borkovitz (3.43, .871) and some timely scoring from other players including all-star Chris Pendagast.
SUNY Stony Brook Seawolves? Stony Brook is in the playoffs for the first time in school history, thanks to a key tie against Duquesne University at the end of the regular season. The tie placed them into the final playoff spot, 1 point ahead of the University of Vermont. Stony Brook lacks the experience of Brockport and Maine, and could struggle to produce offense against two excellent defensive teams. As some teams found out this year, despite their record, the Seawolves can surprise you if taken lightly. Expect every game to be a battle for Stony Brook.
POOL B
#3 Neumann College Knights ? The Knights started off the season in a fashion that had many people shaking their heads in disbelief. The Knights didn?t surrender a goal until their 6th game of the season, posting five consecutive shutouts while outscoring their opponents 57-0 to start the season. Since that time Neumann has struggled at times to show its dominance of years past. But don?t let their record fool you, this team is deeper than any team in their succesful history. Neumann is a three-time national runner-up, and they would like to rid themselves of the runner-up tag, and the Regional Championship would be the springboard they would need.
#13 SUNY Albany Great Danes ? Albany is a team that is hard to judge coming into the regional championships. The Danes have posted some impressive wins, including an 8-4 defeat of #3 SUNY Brockport. But at the same time have struggled to put games away. The Great Danes should rely on a pair of Suffolk transfers, Jeff Whitley and Al Monica, to lead their way to a possible upset, and maybe even a bid to the national championships. If Albany can put it all together at the end of the season, this team could make a huge run by the time things are said and done.
#22 Drexel University Dragons ? Drexel came down from DI this year to compete in DII, and they found out that its no easy trip. After starting off the season strong, the Dragons limped into the playoffs with a 9-9 record. Even with their .500 record, the Dragons are a force to recon with, and should not be overlooked. With solid goaltending, and strong team defense, Drexel has shut teams down. If the offense can get going, this team could upset some of the favorites, right out of the gate.
POOL C
#6 Hofstra University Pride? The defending regional champs have not been playing that way recently. The Pride have posted a 1-4 record against playoff teams in the second half of the season and need to get things in order soon, as they have a hard playoff pool awaiting them. If the duo of Jonathan Mosenson and Dino Virone can carry the team like last season, the Pride should be able to advance deep into the playoffs, and maybe to a repeat Regional Championship, only time will tell with this team.
#14 West Chester University Golden Rams? If there is any team that is prepared for the playoffs its WCU. West Chester has played in 12 games where the score was decided by less than 3 goals. The Golden Rams are led by a duo of goaltenders that stand heads and shoulders above any other duo in the league. West Chester has been in the playoffs before and knows how to win. If the Golden Rams get ahead, be warned that it?s hard to come back against them. Expect them to knock off one of the favorites early, and make a threat at the Final Four, and maybe even a Regional Championship.
#24 Temple University Owls? The Owls make their second straight playoff appearance since joining the league last season. This years Temple team is much improved over the one that fell just short of advancing to the single elimination games last year. With the experience from last season behind them, the Owls, winners of 4 of the last 5 games, hope to ride that streak to some upsets, in the hope of advancing. Temple and West Chester split their season series, so the rubber match comes in the playoffs, where the losers go home.
POOL D
#9 Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards ? The Leopards could be the most underrated team in the league. Although they fell just 1 point short of winning the #1 overall seed, nobody seems to notice, and don?t think the Leopards haven't. After being disrespected on the All-Star voting, and constantly being overlooked, Wentworth looks for its first ECRHA title, and they have the guns to do it (Vienneau 66pts, Burns 61). Expect to be hearing a lot more from this team come the single elimination round, as they make their assault on first place.
#12 Shippensburg University Raiders ? After starting off the season very slowly, the Raiders have compiled a second-half record of 9-2-1. The Raiders have posted victories over many national favorites, but still are looking to improve. After Duquesne hammered the Raiders just three weeks ago, by a score of 12-5, the Raiders look forward to a rematch. On top of that, the Raiders match-up against Wentworth for the third straight year in the RR. If the Raiders can survive the RR, they might be able to make some noise in the latter stages of the tourney.
#21 Duquesne University Roller Dukes ? The Roller Dukes have being playing their best hockey in the second half of the season, and should continue to roll into the playoffs on fire. After a slow start, the Dukes have turned it up behind Rob Culbertson and Mike Joyce. Duquesne has never advanced out of the RR, but with this being their best team in school history, they should have no problem advancing to the top 10, but from there, anything can happen. Expectations are high for the Dukes, and if they play their game, they could be heading to the national tournament behind some strong play, and big upsets.
#2 SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles? Brockport currently sits ranked on top of the division after narrowly winning the northern conference over Wentworth. Brockport has top-level talent on their team, including the DII assists leader Brian Bauman. Brockport has a great core of veterans, which have playoff experience after their good showing at the DII national tournament last year. Ryan Marvin, Steve Vyn and Ryan Ahl should put plenty of goals in the net to give the Golden Eagles a chance to win the ECRHA Regional Championship, and its automatic bid to the NCRHA National Championship. To help their case, the Eagles have a dominant goalie in net in Kyle Shrauger (3.67 GAA, .842 SV%). With their depth, the Eagles are the overwhelming favorites to advance from Pool A.
#20 University of Maine Black Bears ? Maine is a team that many in the country wrote off after starting the season with a 3-5-2 record. Since that time, Maine has returned to its old form, posting a 7-1-0 record in the second half of the season. During that stretch, they defeated the then ranked #1 Neumann Knights 7-6. Could Brockport be the second #1 team to fall at the hands of the Black Bears? The Black Bears rely on good defense and solid goaltending to win games, and the formula is working. If Maine is going to pull some upsets, they are going to have to start with strong goaltending from Drew Borkovitz (3.43, .871) and some timely scoring from other players including all-star Chris Pendagast.
SUNY Stony Brook Seawolves? Stony Brook is in the playoffs for the first time in school history, thanks to a key tie against Duquesne University at the end of the regular season. The tie placed them into the final playoff spot, 1 point ahead of the University of Vermont. Stony Brook lacks the experience of Brockport and Maine, and could struggle to produce offense against two excellent defensive teams. As some teams found out this year, despite their record, the Seawolves can surprise you if taken lightly. Expect every game to be a battle for Stony Brook.
POOL B
#3 Neumann College Knights ? The Knights started off the season in a fashion that had many people shaking their heads in disbelief. The Knights didn?t surrender a goal until their 6th game of the season, posting five consecutive shutouts while outscoring their opponents 57-0 to start the season. Since that time Neumann has struggled at times to show its dominance of years past. But don?t let their record fool you, this team is deeper than any team in their succesful history. Neumann is a three-time national runner-up, and they would like to rid themselves of the runner-up tag, and the Regional Championship would be the springboard they would need.
#13 SUNY Albany Great Danes ? Albany is a team that is hard to judge coming into the regional championships. The Danes have posted some impressive wins, including an 8-4 defeat of #3 SUNY Brockport. But at the same time have struggled to put games away. The Great Danes should rely on a pair of Suffolk transfers, Jeff Whitley and Al Monica, to lead their way to a possible upset, and maybe even a bid to the national championships. If Albany can put it all together at the end of the season, this team could make a huge run by the time things are said and done.
#22 Drexel University Dragons ? Drexel came down from DI this year to compete in DII, and they found out that its no easy trip. After starting off the season strong, the Dragons limped into the playoffs with a 9-9 record. Even with their .500 record, the Dragons are a force to recon with, and should not be overlooked. With solid goaltending, and strong team defense, Drexel has shut teams down. If the offense can get going, this team could upset some of the favorites, right out of the gate.
POOL C
#6 Hofstra University Pride? The defending regional champs have not been playing that way recently. The Pride have posted a 1-4 record against playoff teams in the second half of the season and need to get things in order soon, as they have a hard playoff pool awaiting them. If the duo of Jonathan Mosenson and Dino Virone can carry the team like last season, the Pride should be able to advance deep into the playoffs, and maybe to a repeat Regional Championship, only time will tell with this team.
#14 West Chester University Golden Rams? If there is any team that is prepared for the playoffs its WCU. West Chester has played in 12 games where the score was decided by less than 3 goals. The Golden Rams are led by a duo of goaltenders that stand heads and shoulders above any other duo in the league. West Chester has been in the playoffs before and knows how to win. If the Golden Rams get ahead, be warned that it?s hard to come back against them. Expect them to knock off one of the favorites early, and make a threat at the Final Four, and maybe even a Regional Championship.
#24 Temple University Owls? The Owls make their second straight playoff appearance since joining the league last season. This years Temple team is much improved over the one that fell just short of advancing to the single elimination games last year. With the experience from last season behind them, the Owls, winners of 4 of the last 5 games, hope to ride that streak to some upsets, in the hope of advancing. Temple and West Chester split their season series, so the rubber match comes in the playoffs, where the losers go home.
POOL D
#9 Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards ? The Leopards could be the most underrated team in the league. Although they fell just 1 point short of winning the #1 overall seed, nobody seems to notice, and don?t think the Leopards haven't. After being disrespected on the All-Star voting, and constantly being overlooked, Wentworth looks for its first ECRHA title, and they have the guns to do it (Vienneau 66pts, Burns 61). Expect to be hearing a lot more from this team come the single elimination round, as they make their assault on first place.
#12 Shippensburg University Raiders ? After starting off the season very slowly, the Raiders have compiled a second-half record of 9-2-1. The Raiders have posted victories over many national favorites, but still are looking to improve. After Duquesne hammered the Raiders just three weeks ago, by a score of 12-5, the Raiders look forward to a rematch. On top of that, the Raiders match-up against Wentworth for the third straight year in the RR. If the Raiders can survive the RR, they might be able to make some noise in the latter stages of the tourney.
#21 Duquesne University Roller Dukes ? The Roller Dukes have being playing their best hockey in the second half of the season, and should continue to roll into the playoffs on fire. After a slow start, the Dukes have turned it up behind Rob Culbertson and Mike Joyce. Duquesne has never advanced out of the RR, but with this being their best team in school history, they should have no problem advancing to the top 10, but from there, anything can happen. Expectations are high for the Dukes, and if they play their game, they could be heading to the national tournament behind some strong play, and big upsets.