Monday, March 18, 2019

UNLV’s Countdown Clock is Ticking

By Lee Samuels

Practice today on home ice, practice tomorrow, then head for Frisco, Texas and guess what – one last practice there on Wednesday. That should get the UNLV Rebels wired in for their first game at the ACHA D1 Nationals. The Rebels will take on Robert Morris, Pa. University in a first round eliminator game on Thursday at the famous Dr. Pepper Arena. 

Win that one, then the Rebels tangle with #4 seed Ohio.

This is the third straight season the Anthony Greener-coached UNLV Rebels have qualified and played in ACHA Nationals at different levels. ACHA D1 is the top level.

For the first game for sure the top line will be Cody Williams, Joseph Kaszupski and Tristan Mayer. Ben Giesbrecht should get the nod to start as goalie but it has not yet been formally announced.

“To win at the Nationals we need to be ourselves, compete hard for a full 60 minutes and play our style of game,” Greener said.

UNLV’s top goal scorers per ACHA D1 official statistics:

Goals

16 – Paxton Malone

15 – Cody Williams – 99 career goals

11 – Joseph Kaszupski

11 – Jared Turcotte

9 – D’Andre John

9 – Bryce Woodward

8 – John Moeller

7 – Zach Lawson

6 – Tristan Mayer

6 – Eric Williams – Vegas Hockey’s Defenseman of the Year

4 – Sean Plonski

3 – Kameron Fink

3 – Jake Saxe

2 – Angelos Tsalafos

2 – Kane Toriumi

1 – Viktor Brask

1 – Thomas Harrison

1 – Jordan Rea

Goaliies

Ben Giesbrecht 15-4-0, 2.17 gaa, 92.5% save percentage

Erik Eidissen, 3-3-0, 2.91 gaa, 89.1% save percentage

Ryan Coughlin  no starts yet

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ACHA D1 Natiionals – Thursday

First Round Games

#13 UNLV Rebels vs #20 Robert Morris, Pa. University

#14 Missouri State vs #19 Buffalo

#15 Oklahoma vs #18 Drexel

#16 Jamestown vs #17 Robert Morris, Ill. University

From the Blue Line – Outside the arena on Thursday temps will be in mid 60s. There be an overnight low of 39 degrees. Rain showers coming to Frisco during the weekend games…