January 19, 2009
ECRHA All-Star Weekend Is Here!
Every ECRHA Team Will Be On The Rink This Weekend.
In Division I, The Rutgers University Scarlet Knights have
been the story of the first half this season. After posting 21 wins last
season, Rutgers has a good chance to eclipse that total this season after
starting 10-0-1 in league play and (13-0-1) overall. Defense has been the name
of the game, allowing fewer than three goals a game (2.72). Defenseman Robbie
Fulton and goaltender Ryan McCoyd were both named to the Division I All-Star
Team this season. Three Division I game you can’t miss:
Stony Brook (5-3-1)
vs. Towson (6-4-1):
Stony Brook and Towson
both come into the game with only two more wins than losses. Both programs have
enjoyed recent success including multiple trips to the national championship
tournament. Ryan Cowdell, Mike Inge and Dane Houser lead the Tigers, while Ryan
Keane, Tom Cartwright and Nick Gullo lead the Seawolves.
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1-0
Last Game: Towson
wins 6-3 (1/17/08)
Buffalo (11-2-0) vs. Rhode Island (7-1-2):
Two of the top teams nationally, Buffalo
and Rhode Island
will square off in my most anticipated matchup of the evening. It seems that
whenever these two squads come together, it’s an instant classic. Buffalo’s 4-3, triple overtime win over a young Rhode Island squad in 07
comes to mind immediately. With six All-Stars between the two teams, an
exciting fast pace battle should take place once again. Buffalo has won the previous six matchups
between the two teams, with four games being decided by two goals or less.
All-Time Series: Buffalo
Leads 7-0-4
Last Game: Buffalo
wins 7-6 (11/17/07)
Rutgers (10-0-1) vs. Rhode Island (7-1-2):
This is the second meeting between the two squads this year.
In the first meeting, Eric Rieger, Brendan
Nelson and Justin Lundh scored early for the Rams, building an early 3-1 lead
in the first four minutes of the game. However, Andrew
Brodsky, Chris Notley and Collin Brady scored goals in the
first period to put Rutgers on top 4-3. A pair
of second period goals by Dave Buddenhagen and Eric Rieger put the Rams back on
top 5-4 until midway through the third period. In the third period the Scarlet
Knights took over, scoring 3 goals in a 2:12 span to take a 7-5 lead on the way
to an 8-6 victory. If the first meeting was any indication on what to expect, everyone
should be in for a treat.
All-Time Series: Rhode Island
Leads 5-4-2
Last Game: Rutgers wins 8-6
(11/08/08)
In Division II, most of the talk early in the season was
about the first year squad, The Rowan University Profs. Rowan posted an
impressive 9-1-2 record to start the season and more impressively defeated the
defending national champions, Neumann
College, 9-8 in their
only meeting of the season. Just two games later, Rowan tied the national
runner-up and first place West
Chester University
5-5. Rowan lead 5-3 in that game before WCU tied things up with just 27 seconds
remaining. Rowan’s tilt against unbeaten Brockport on Feb 7th could
decide the central conference champions. Three Division II games you can’t miss:
Shippensburg (7-2-1)
vs. Rowan (9-1-2)
When most teams are just settling into their hotel rooms on
Friday night, the Raiders and Profs will be going head to head in a very
important regular season game. Eric Jones (23g) and Andrew Amand (21g) lead the
attack for Rowan with over twenty goals in just twelve games. Cameron Rowand is
also lethal for the Profs, when he is in the lineup, posting 17 goals in just 7
games. Shippensburg uses a balanced attack and outstanding goaltending from all
star goalie Tyler Anderson. Neither team can afford a setback in what could
prove to be a pivotal game come the regional playoffs.
All-Time Series: Tied 0-0-0
Last Game: First Meeting
West
Chester (10-1-1) vs. Shippensburg
(7-2-1)
After not meeting last season during the regular season, the
Rams & Raiders will lock into another intense matchup. After meeting in the
playoffs in 3 of the past 4 seasons, there are plenty of reasons this
overlooked rivalry should be one of the best games on Saturday. West Chester embarrassed the Raiders last year with an
8-2 playoff victory, scoring 3 power play goals in a 5 goal second period. West Chester is lead by a lethal attack, having nine
players averaging more than one point per game.
All-Time Series: West Chester
leads 9-1-1
Last Game: West Chester
wins 8-2
Neumann (10-2-0) vs.
Brockport (7-0-4)
Brockport is the only remaining unbeaten team in the ECRHA
and they will try to keep that going by defeating the Knights from Neumann College. Neumann handed Brockport a 12-0
defeat a preseason game earlier this season. Since that time, Brockport has
failed to lose, but continues to struggle finding the back of the net. The key
for Brockport is the play of all-star goaltender Patrick Keyes. Keyes has been phenomenal
in net all season and should continue his play against Neumann. The defending
national champions won’t give up that easily with one of the most feared
offensive attacks in the country. The Knights have won 9 straight games and
have yet to score less than 7 goals in a game during that stretch, going into
double digits five times.
Last Game: Neumann wins 12-0 (10/11/08)
All-Time Series: Neumann leads 6-1-1
Stay tuned to www.ecrha.net
for Scores & Updates throughout the weekend.