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| © FGCU Hockey Team 2007. This is an official Florida Gulf Coast University Hockey Team webpage. The FGCU Hockey Team is a proud member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. 20301 Grande Oaks Boulevard, Suite #118, Box #26, Estero, Florida, 33928 E-mail Address: hockey@eagle.fgcu.edu Website Development: eMCee Productions |
| FGCU Hockey Earns Bid to National Championship Eagles Knock off Kentucky & Dayton at Southeast Regionals! February 18, 2007 It's official - the FGCU Eagles are headed to Fort Collins, Colorado, to participate in the 2007 Division II National Championship Tournament! After beating the University of Dayton Flyers and winning a tough game against the University of Kentucky Wildcats at the Southeast Regional Tournament this weekend, the Eagles defended their #3 ranking in the Southeast and earned a spot at the National Tournament. This will be the team's fourth post-season appearance at the National Tournament in five years and marks the first time in the Florida Gulf Coast University's history that a hockey team has qualified at the Division II level. This is an amazing accomplishment for such a young team, especially since this is the Eagles first year in Division II. Before it was official, however, the Eagles battled through the snow and ice to participate in the Southeast Regionals Tournament held in Youngstown, Ohio. Teams ranked #3 - #10 attend the Regional tournaments to earn a spot to the National Tournament two weeks later. On Friday night, the Eagles faced the #10 University of Dayton Flyers and the Eagles easily dominated the game. The weekend belonged to the line of Williams, Messer, and Galbraith as they accounted for more than half of the goals between the two games, and claimed their rights as the most productive offensive line at the tournament. The Eagles got on the board early, about four minutes into the first period, and they never looked back, racking up nine goals by the time the buzzer sounded in the third period. Goals were scored by Tanner Bacik, Zach Messer (2), Nic Williams (2), Brett Galbraith, Justin Moore (2), and Mike Marrero. FGCU outshot the Dayton Flyers 76 to 15 - marking a new team record! The previous record of 69 shots on goal had recently been set against the Mississauga Hornets two weeks ago. |
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| Opening faceoff against the Kentucky Wildcats at the IceZone in Youngstown, Ohio |
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| FGCU in the offensive zone against the University of Kentucky Wildcats. |
| Assistant Captain Allan Penney faces off againsts Wildcats Captain Mike Barnes |
| Kentucky Wildcats turn in dismay after letting in the fifth goal during the final game. |
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| Matt Maida is caught between two Kentucky defenseman during the Southeast Regionals. |
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| Kevin Olsen, Brett Galbraith, and Tyler Mackereth celebrate after the game. |
| Florida Gulf Coast University defeated the University of Kentucky Wildcats by a score of 5-2. |
| The Eagles earned the program's first ever Division 2 National Championship Tourney Bid. |
| Saturday, however, was the game to watch as the Eagles took on the University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats were coming off a tough game against the #7 William Patterson Pioneers on Friday, playing almost two full overtime periods before Kentucky scored in a scramble near the net to earn their spot in the Nationals berth game against the Eagles. Kentucky was ranked only three spots below FGCU at the conclusion of the regular season and had some impressive results including one goal losses to national powerhouse Davenport University and two ties with Southeast #4 Indiana University Hoosiers. In the long awaited match-up of the southeast rivals, two styles of play clashed to produce one exciting match-up. FGCU utilized its speed and offense while Kentucky countered with a very physical game. It was a nerve-racking contest that stayed intense until the final moments of the third period. Full of big hits and even bigger goals, FGCU proved why they should be at the National Tournament, beating the Wildcats 5-2. The Eagles were on the board first after Nic Williams, on the power play, rocketed the puck into the back of the net with a slapshot from the high slot, but Kentucky quickly answered with a goal of their own five minutes later to send the game tied into the first intermission. |
| Capitalizing on a power play advantage after a brutal hit to Justin Moore, the Eagles put two more on the board in under five minutes to build their advantage to 3-1, with Nic Williams and Brett Galbraith both executing the power play perfectly. Kentucky quickly responded with an important goal when they slipped one past FGCU goaltender Andrew Kobrin to pull within one and make the score 3-2. The Eagles were determined to earn their first ever National tournament bid and their play from then on reflected that of a championship team. Again, capitalizing on a power play advantage in the waning moments of the second period, Nic Williams, assisted by Tyler Mackereth, tickled the twine to give the Eagles a two goal lead heading into the third period with the score set at 4-2. In the third period, FGCU sealed the deal thank in part to a great individual effort from Matt Maida. While on the penalty kill, Maida blocked a shot then carried the puck into the Kentucky zone only to be hauled down by a Wildcat. As Maida was sent sprawling to the ice, he managed to sweep the puck right to Kevin Olsen who was left all alone in front of the Kentucky goal and made no mistake in burying the goal that sent the Eagles bench into a frenzy and cemented FGCU's win over Kentucky by a final score of 5-2. The Eagles are now getting ready to fly to Colorado in two weeks to participate in the National Tournament. They have been placed in Pool A and will compete against the Stonybrook University Seawolves (#1 Northeast), Michigan State Spartans (#2 Central), and San Jose State Spartans (#4 West). The Eagles will play each team in their pool and the winner of Pool A will go on to the Semi-final game against the winner of Pool C, which includes the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks, Colorado State Rams, Siena Saints, and Grand Valley State Lakers. Whoever wins in the semifinals, will then move on to the Championship Game on Saturday night. The National Championship promises to be an intense showdown of the sixteen best Division 2 hockey teams where no one is assured a win and anything can happen. For more information visit the following tournament links: Northern Colorado Sports Commission Webpage ACHA Championship Coverage |