ECRHA Roundtable, Feasterville Weekend, 11/5-11/6/11

Chris Culot: Thanks for having me on the show.

Bill Bourque: For you, Mr. Creek, anything.

JC: Let's get right to it. Forty-nine games on the schedule this past weekend. Lots of games, lots of candidates. Let's start with Division I. Bill- who stood out to you this past weekend

BB: Before we get going, I would like to address our predictions from last week. I think you had Hofstra upsetting West Chester, how did that pan out?

JC: Not well. I would like to add in my defense, my prediction? BOLD. You didn't really stick your neck out there very much on your "bold" prediction, Bill.

BB: Slippery Rock had beaten Pittsburgh in the previous meeting between the teams, I think it was my words that inspired them to such a big victory. Chris, do you have anything to add from the Hofstra-West Chester game?

CC: I thought it was a great back and forth game between two very good teams. West Chester is a great squad and we're hoping that we get another chance to play them at regionals.

BB: So who stood out this weekend?

BB: To me, I think that Jonathan Lucente from West Chester University was hands down the best player on the weekend, scoring 15 points in 4 games, including 13 goals. His best performance came against Rhode Island, scoring 6 goals.

CC: I know I am bias but I would definitely say that our goaltender, Jared Occhicone, had a great weekend. Coming off a fractured hip and having not played since preseason, he was unbelievable in our wins against Army and Temple and only let up 4 goals to West Chester. I think something has to be said about his performance. I do agree though that Lucente was very impressive in his point production this past weekend.

BB: I also had noted Jared's awesome play this past weekend, posting a 2.67 goals against average and a .899 save percentage while going 2-1 on the weekend. 30 saves in a 3-2 win against Temple and 19 saves in a 4-2 win over West Point. That is some good stuff.

JC: Both players are very good candidates- no doubt about it. I think a great nominee for this past weekend is Troy Wegnaar from Suffolk JC. Granted, he didn't have as many points as Lucente did, but he amass 9 points (5 goals and 4 assists) in four games. Even bigger, he was downright HUGE in the upset against West Chester, putting up 5 points in that game alone.

CC: I also think that Anthony Ehinger from Neumann had a great weekend as well, posting some huge numbers.

BB: Talking about coming up HUGE, what about the performance turned in by Anthony Ehinger of Neumann University? Ehinger scored 13 points on the weekend (10 goals and 3 assists) but his big moment came against Temple, scoring the GWG with just 18 seconds left in a tied contest for a 5-4 victory. The goal completed his hat trick for the game.

CC: Great minds think alike there Bill.

JC: A simple mind resides over here.

BB: Can this trio of minds come to some type of decision for this week’s POTW? I am going Lucente, Ehinger, Occhicone - What about you guys?

CC: I would agree with your line-up, Bill.

BB: It all comes down to Jesse, what you got cooking in that mind of yours?

JC: I still think you have to show some love to Wegnaar. Suffolk went up against some of the best teams Division I has to offer- West Chester, Neumann, Penn State, Rowan, and they went 3-0-1 in that span. I'd go Lucente, Occhicone, Wegnaar. Sorry Anthony- I know you put up more points, but Wegnaar was instrumental in taking down WCU.

BB: I think you make a good point there Jesse. I think that Wegnaar earns our third star of the week!

JC: Excellent choice, guys.

CC: I have to say Suffolk was very impressive this weekend against some stiff competition.

BB: Agreed, now it is time to get this moving along. Time to turn our focus to Division II.

JC: As a goalie- I have to at least acknowledge the awesomeness that was the 0-0 tie between Slippery Rock and Queens. Good stuff between Josh Krantz and Christian Ricketts.

BB: Agreed. Those games don't come along very often, but I feel like someone on this panel may have played in the previous 0-0 game...

JC: It wasn't that exciting or gratifying. Nonetheless- in a league known for its offensive, it's very cool to see a scoreless draw.

CC: You have to be impressed by the play of Pittsburgh. They blew through their games this weekend.

BB: This weekend’s action was dominated by a pair of Pitt Panthers, and so I think that both Carlin Crombie and Nathan Gerger deserve to be honored this week. Crombie scored 11 goals and added 8 assists, including 3 goals and 4 assists against previously unbeaten Slippery Rock. Gerger was just as good, scoring 8 goals and adding 12 assists, including 6 assists against Queens.

JC: Agreed. They were runaway winners for players of the week. PIttsburgh looked downright scary this week, blowing through some of Division II's best competition.

CC: After watching Pittsburgh this weekend, I would definitely say they could be a competitive D1 team in the future.

BB: I agree. I think Pittsburgh may be one of the top DII teams in the country, I expect them to do well at nationals this season and predict a move to Division I next season.

BB: Corey Bauman from UMass caught my eye this weekend, he scored 7 goals and added 5 assists for 12 points. His biggest game was against Delaware, scoring a pair of goals while setting up 3 more in a 6-3 victory.

JC: You read my mind. He was big this weekend for UMass, who went 3-0-1 this weekend. I gotta believe he's going to get that third star.

BB: Are we forgetting anyone?

BB: I personally don't think so, I think that if Ricketts and Krantz saw any other team this weekend besides Pittsburgh, they may have had a strong case for consideration.

JC: I was going to mention Krantz- but that Pittsburgh game was the lone blemish on an otherwise outstanding weekend. Bauman, to me, was more instrumental because he lead his team to a 7 point weekend.

BB: Agreed, so what is the order?

CC: Crombie, Gerger, Bauman.

BB: Crombie, Gerger, Bauman.

JC: Crombie, Gerger, Bauman. Sounds like a law firm. I like it.

BB: Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Let's move on to the B Division! Anyone stand out to you this weekend in B?

CC: Some of the West Chester guys put up huge numbers as they rolled through the competition. Justin Dickel was a top 3 star in each one of his 4 games.

JC: You can throw a dart at West Chester's roster and pick a player of the week- I'm going to venture away from that.

BB: I'd say, just looking at the league leaders and 7 of the top 10 scores all play for West Chester.

JC: I'd like to nominate the Rowan goaltending duo of Matt Renschler/Paul Goobic of Rowan for their work this weekend. They went 4-0-0, each playing two games, and combining to post a GAA of 2.25 and a save percentage of .902. Pretty impressive stuff.

BB: That is impressive.

BB: I would also like to nominate Ricky Goadango from Suffolk, Ricky scored 14 points this weekend, including a massive total of 10 goals. He scored a hat trick against Rowan, despite his team falling in the game 7-6.

BB: And despite the fact that West Chester is extremely talented and balanced, Justin Dickel deserves a nomination as well, scoring 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 4 games. Those are some crazy numbers on any team.

JC: Goadagno (watch your spelling, Bill) had a great weekend. He single-handedly kept Suffolk in some of those games this past weekend.

CC: 18 points in 4 games is a hard feat to accomplish against any teams.

CC: Goadagno was impressive, though. I'd go as far as to put him number 1 star of the weekend.

BB: I need a hooked on phonics book or something, because my spelling/grammar is the worst.

JC: It's OK.

CC: Rosetta Stone (English version) is the way to go Bill.

JC: My selections: Goadagno, Dickel, Renschler/Goobic.

CC: Agreed.

BB: Agreed. That should just about do it for this version, so let's get down to some predictions for this weekend in Pottstown.

CC: I think that Towson will run the table in D1.

BB: I am going to pick Towson (2-1-0) to hand Stony Brook (3-0-0) their first loss of the season. I expect Stony Brook to be 5-0-0 coming into the game. Trying to steal my thunder Chris?

JC: Okay, so let's see whose team I jinx this weekend…

CC: Thanks a lot, Jesse.

JC: I predict that Northeastern not only beats Binghamton, but will win by at least four goals. I know this matchup has been anticipated for a while- but I think Northeastern is very hungry, and I like what I have seen from them so far. I think they will/should move back up to Division I next year, as well as Pittsburgh.

BB: That should just about do it then. I want to thank Chris for joining us this week and I look forward to this weekend.

JC: Thanks for stopping by, Chris.

CC: Thanks for having me on guys. It was a pleasure.