ACHA D1 Nationals, Frisco, Texas

Sunday, March 24, 2019

ACHA D1 Nationals

Final Eight

Ohio U vs Iowa State

Minot State vs Adrian

Davenport vs Michigan-Dearborn

Lindenwood vs Liberty

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Saturday, March 23, 2019

Final Scores

Liberty 7, Arizona University 2

Iowa State 5, Stony Brook  0

Minot State 5, Illinois 3

Davenport 8, Central Oklahoma 3

Quote of the Day

“The most ephemeral and intriguing aspect of hockey is its spontaneity; each rush down the ice blossoms into something different, a new constellation of passes and positioning, like a snowflake.”

Jay Atkinson, writing in his great hockey book Ice Time – A Tale of Fathers, Sons and Hometown Heroes. Three Rivers Press, 2001.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Melfort, Saskatchewan – After a bruising five game playoff series the season came to close for Las Vegas defenseman Steven Avalone of the SJHL Kindersely Klippers. The hometown Melfort Mustangs won 3-2 tonight to win a Best of Seven series four games to one before a big loud crowd of 1179 at the Northern Lights Palace. It was ultra cold in the mid 20s outside the arena during this playoff game. 

Friday, March 21, 2019

By Bethany Drysdale

Day Two from the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas was another early game for the #13 UNLV Skatin’ Rebels. They faced the four-time ACHA D1 Champion #4 Ohio Bobcats, who ended the Rebels season one year ago in Columbus, Ohio. The team from Athens, Ohio, looked to play spoiler for the second time, as they scored their first goal five minutes into the game. OU’s defenseman Jake Houston sent one into the back of the net from the point, going glove side on Ben Giesbrecht, for a power play goal. The seesaw battle between the two evenly matched teams continued through the first period. In the final 2:20 of the first period, Cody Williams skated behind the OU goal, putting the wraparound in an attempt for a controversial goal. The net was dislodged during Williams’ attempt, prompting a quick no goal call on the ice, but was quickly reviewed, giving Williams his first goal of the tournament, assisted by Joseph Kaszupski and Tristan Mayer. At the end of one shots favored UNLV 10 to OU’s 8.

Starting the second with 1:41 left on a power play, the Rebels struggled on special teams to capitalize on the man advantage throughout the game. UNLV dominated the second period with their speed and puck possession. Halfway through the second, UNLV had 15 shots to OU’s 9. But Ohio was not going down easy, scoring their second goal of the game with five minutes left in the second. Tyler Harkins went 2 on 1, finding the far side of the net open, shooting above Giesbrecht’s glove. Still, UNLV was out shooting the Bobcats 20 to 15 at the end of two.

Another wasted powerplay, early in the third period, hurt the momentum of UNLV, as they were stopped on all attempts to score against OU’s Jimmy Thomas. Five minutes into the third, the Bobcats scored their third goal of the game, and second scored by Tyler Hawkins, over Giesbrecht’s blocker. From here it was all Ohio finishing out the game, scoring two more times to move on to play Sunday. With under ten minutes left in the game, OU’s Lubin scored on a one-timer, an odd man rush for the fourth goal. In the final 3:30, the Rebels pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker, but the attempted resulted in an hat trick for Tyler Hawkins, bringing the final score 5 to 1, Bobcats.

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It has been a honor to follow UNLV season this year. With many players returning, look for the Rebels to be back into the ACHA D1 Nationals next season. We wish all the best to the Ohio Bobcats as they continue their path to the finals. Go Rebels and see you when you gets home guys!

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Bethany Drysdale was voted by our readers as the Best Writer here on Vegas Hockey

FLASH UPDATE – FRIDAY

Final Score

UNLV Rebels 1, Ohio 5  (5th goal empty net)

UNLV – Cody Williams scores from crease area; Joseph Kaszupski, Tristan Mayer assists

UNLV goalie – Ben Giesbrecht

//This is a hard, physical game – UNLV nearly scored a few times in 2nd period – Giesbrecht awesome in Rebels net – one of his greatest games….a great season comes to a close for the UNLV Rebels……

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Friday, March 22, 2019

By Lee Samuels

Frisco, Texas – The loss still burns inside of the UNLV players.  One season ago Cody Williams and Joseph Kaszupski scored, goalie Ben Giesbrecht was strong in the net and then #4 Ohio scored in overtime to win 3-2 at the ACHA D1 Nationals in Columbus.

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Now – meaning Friday – UNLV hooks up again vs #4 Ohio in an eliminator game with everything on the line.

UNLV wins and moves on.

UNLV loses and takes the next flight home.

After beating #20 Robert Morris, Pa. University 4-3 yesterday the UNLV Rebels now look for sweet revenge.

“We need to have our best game of the year for sure,” said UNLV head coach Anthony Greener. “We need to have a hot start and put pressure on them right away with this being their first game in this tournament.”

It looks like coach Greener will keep the top line intact and that Ben Giesbrecht, a star goalie, will get the start against 19-4-6 Ohio. The big game will have a 10 am local time start at the Dr. Pepper Center Arena.

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Thursday scores

#13 UNLV 4, #20 Robert Morris, Pa. University 3

#14 Missouri State 4, #19 Buffalo 1

#15 Oklahoma 5, #18 Drexel 4

#17 Robert Morris, Ill. University 3, #16 Jamestown 2

HERE IS HOW UNLV REBELS WON GAME ONE AT ACHA D1 NATIONALS

By Bethany Drysdale

Game One of the ACHA Division 1 men’s hockey championships began today in Frisco, Texas. The #13 Skatin’ Rebels played the #20 Robert Morris University Colonials at 10 am central time, marking the second straight year the Rebels have qualified for the D1 tournament. The RMU Colonials are located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, just outside the city of Pittsburgh. (Approximately 55 miles east from my hometown!) RMU earned its spot in the tournament with an automatic bid, winning the CHMA League Championship in overtime with a goal from Andrew Hachmeister. This critical game was a must win for both teams, as they needed to win to advance – any loss would out them out of the tournament, ending their season. It was RMU’s Hachmeister who opened the scoring today at the 11:32 mark in the first period with a redirected shot, behind UNLV goalie Ben Giesbrecht. The slow start for UNLV did not last long, as Joseph Kaszpski scored his 12th goal of the season, assisted by Tristan Mayer at the 17:03 mark to tie the game 1-1.

The Skatin’ Rebels dominated the second period, not only in goal scoring but puck possession and hits. John Moeller scored 58 seconds from the puck drop to put the Rebels up 2-1. A minute later UNLV was on a power play, when they gave up a short-handed goal at 1:59 to RMU. Joe Kasupski was firing on all cylinders this morning, keeping the Rebels offensive production going at the 6:38 mark, scoring his second goal of the morning, unassisted, for this 13th goal of the season. His wrap around back-handed pass went five-hole on what was a dominating zone shift for UNLV. RMU used a coaches challenge at 7:40 to review a no goal call, but the goal was confirmed by the officials, and the scored remained 3-2 Rebels. At the 13:26 mark, Joe Kaszupski scored his 3rd goal of the game and 14th of the season, assisted by Tristan Mayer, to give Joe the hat trick and increasing the Rebels lead to 4-2. UNLV killed off a penalty before going 4 on 4 to end the second period.

UNLV continued to play their strong, physical game plan into the third. Giving up a goal to RMU’s Hachmeister, his second goal of the game, was the only offense the Colonials could manage in the third. The Rebels held on defensively, with great stops by Giesbrecht to seal the 4-3 win. 

Tomorrow the Rebels will play the #4 Ohio Bobcats at 10 am Central Time here. This is a key matchup between the two teams that faced each other last season, ending the Rebels tournament run in Columbus. Look for an intense, physical game with a lot of emotion on both sides, as they battle for a Division 1 ACHA Championship title.

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Bethany Dysdale was voted ‘Best Writer’ by readers here on Vegas Hockey

Frisco, Texas – UNLV’s Joseph Kaszupski scored three times and John Moeller had a goal to help the UNLV Rebels beat #20 Robert Morris, Pa. University 4-3 and advance today at the ACHA D1 Nationals. Kaszupski has 14 goals, Moeller 9 goals this season. The Rebels next take on #4 Ohio tomorrow.  Ben Giesbrecht was in the net today for UNLV.

Bethany Drysdale’s exclusive game report on the way here….

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Rockford, illinois – Gage Quinney of Las Vegas scored his 17th goal of the season for the AHL Chicago Wolves who were tied 1-1 in regulation, then lost 2-1 in overtime against the hometown Rockford Ice Hogs at the BMO Harris Center.  Chicago is an AHL division leader with a record of 37-19-5, one point ahead of the number two team Grand Rapids Griffins. Outside the arena it was a cold mid-40s rainy night. The AHL Chicago Wolves are an affiliate of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights.

Special to Vegas Hockey

Frisco, Texas – UNLV’s top goalie all season – Ben Giesbrecht – will get the start for the Rebels in Game One against Robert Morris, Pa. University here Thursday at the ACHA D1 Nationals.  The game will be played with a 10 am local start time at the famous Dr. Pepper Center.

THE VEGAS FIVE

Goals

34 – Zach Pochiro, ECHL Allen Americans

24 – Ash Printzen, AAA Detroit Honeybaked girls 19u

22 – Chris Francis, Salle Bulls Halle, Germany3

18 – Derek Sutliffe, SPHL Macon Mayhem

17 – Gage Quinney, AHL Chicago Wolves