HOCKEY: #17 Navy at #19 URI
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 1:18 am
I was told by staff during the first intermission last Friday that attendance was already at 750, and noticed many groups lining up for entrance well into the second period! This week's tilt will likely draw a smaller crowd, especially since it's the second of three URI Hockey games this season scheduled at the same time as Basketball. Still, like last week I highly recommend coming down to catch the third period after the game at the Ryan Center (before you head to the Mews) as this will be another exciting weekend at the Boss! You can also listen to the game on WRIU2 (since WRIU is carrying the basketball).
After cruising through the cupcakes early in the non-conference and ESCHL season, the Rams ran into their first real challenge last week when they faced the (now) #3 Delaware Blue Hens at the Boss. URI took an early lead Friday, going up 2-0 in the second period, but the Blue Hens rallied to tie the game 3-3 and then scored twice in the third period (both on the heels of URI penalties) to win the game 5-3.
Saturday UDel dominated early, up 4-1 by the middle of the third period. The Rams made a valiant comeback effort for the next 30 minutes, even outscoring UDel 2-1 in the third period. However, the Hens held their leads and Rhody ran out of time, losing 6-4.
This weekend is a whole new series, and marks another good opportunity as the Boss plays host to arguably the toughest team in URI's non-conference schedule this season, #17 Navy. The Midshipmen have been on a bit of a tear this season, thanks in no small part to senior forward Thomas Krysil, who was recently picked for the US Hockey Team at this year's Winter University Games. The Leominster, MA native is currently 4th in the nation in goals, and 2nd in scoring (he finished last year ranked 1st in both categories, notching an impressive 88 points in 36 games). Scoring down the rest of the roster has been good for Navy as well, earning them a 10-3-2 record on the season thus far. Still, similar to URI they haven't faced a very grueling schedule, and have struggled against the few ranked teams they've played; they were swept by Delaware in a home-home series and took a split with the (mystifyingly) 21st ranked Rutgers, who are 5-8-1.
On the Rams side, you can probably count on sophomore forward and current team scoring leader Daniel Grogan to make some noise offensively this weekend - he notched 2 points a game in last week's series with Delaware. Coach Joe Augustine seems to be continuing with a two-goalie system so far, playing both junior Andrew Sherman and Caleb Neal last weekend. Despite the recent losses the two remain formidable, and with nearly identical save pct (Sherman .903 and Neal .900 against ACHA D1 teams) both will probably be looking to distinguish themselves this weekend and edge closer to the top spot.
A home sweep could do wonders for Rhody confidence after last week and would start the climb to safer altitudes in the rankings for tournament considerations down the road.
After cruising through the cupcakes early in the non-conference and ESCHL season, the Rams ran into their first real challenge last week when they faced the (now) #3 Delaware Blue Hens at the Boss. URI took an early lead Friday, going up 2-0 in the second period, but the Blue Hens rallied to tie the game 3-3 and then scored twice in the third period (both on the heels of URI penalties) to win the game 5-3.
Saturday UDel dominated early, up 4-1 by the middle of the third period. The Rams made a valiant comeback effort for the next 30 minutes, even outscoring UDel 2-1 in the third period. However, the Hens held their leads and Rhody ran out of time, losing 6-4.
This weekend is a whole new series, and marks another good opportunity as the Boss plays host to arguably the toughest team in URI's non-conference schedule this season, #17 Navy. The Midshipmen have been on a bit of a tear this season, thanks in no small part to senior forward Thomas Krysil, who was recently picked for the US Hockey Team at this year's Winter University Games. The Leominster, MA native is currently 4th in the nation in goals, and 2nd in scoring (he finished last year ranked 1st in both categories, notching an impressive 88 points in 36 games). Scoring down the rest of the roster has been good for Navy as well, earning them a 10-3-2 record on the season thus far. Still, similar to URI they haven't faced a very grueling schedule, and have struggled against the few ranked teams they've played; they were swept by Delaware in a home-home series and took a split with the (mystifyingly) 21st ranked Rutgers, who are 5-8-1.
On the Rams side, you can probably count on sophomore forward and current team scoring leader Daniel Grogan to make some noise offensively this weekend - he notched 2 points a game in last week's series with Delaware. Coach Joe Augustine seems to be continuing with a two-goalie system so far, playing both junior Andrew Sherman and Caleb Neal last weekend. Despite the recent losses the two remain formidable, and with nearly identical save pct (Sherman .903 and Neal .900 against ACHA D1 teams) both will probably be looking to distinguish themselves this weekend and edge closer to the top spot.
A home sweep could do wonders for Rhody confidence after last week and would start the climb to safer altitudes in the rankings for tournament considerations down the road.