ACHA Showcase Schedule

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport Division I hockey team is coming off a weekend sweep of GLCHL conference foe Western Michigan. This week they will have a tough test playing three games in three days. With all of these games being out of the GLCHL head coach Phil Sweeney and his squad will be able to show the rest of the ACHA what they can do. They will play No. 9 Delaware, Colorado State, and Towson while at the showcase.
 
Date: October 11-13, 2013
Location: Cleveland, Ohio (Mentor Civic Ice Arena)
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SCOUTING No. 9 Delaware:
 
Delaware will be led by head coach, M.F. Schurman. On the offensive side of the puck the Blue Hens are led by seniors Mark Zeszut and Chris Volonnino. Zeszut has 12 points in six games player to lead the Blue Hens. Volonnino is the only other Blue Hen with double digit points with 10 and has five goals and five assists. Schurman is still looking to find someone in net to standout. In the first six games each of the three goaltenders has played two games apiece.
 
The last time the Panthers and Blue Hens met was in the 2012 National Tournament when Delaware knocked the Panthers out in the second round of the tournament. The Blue Hens would go onto win the national championship that season.
 
SCOUTING Colorado State:
 
Colorado State is entering their first season at the Division 1 level of the ACHA. The Rams sit at 3-2 on the season in the first year of the WCHL. Colorado State is led by three underclassman in freshmen Will Neff and Collin Abitz, and sophomore Connor Tamai. Neff leads the team with nine points and Abitz is right behind with eight. Tamia has six points on the season. In net the Rams will have Alex Steidler who has a record of 3-2 and post a goals against average of 2.85.
 
The matchup against the Rams renews an old rivalry between the Rams and Panthers from when both teams were in ACHA Division 2. The Panthers who three consecutive games against the Rams. One of the biggest matchups came in 2009 when Davenport knocked Colorado State out of the national tournament with a 6-2 victory.
 
SCOUTING Towson:
 
Towson heads into the showcase with a record of 2-3. The Tigers play in the ECHA conference. Head coach of Towson, Edward Slusher, looks to Mike Cifelli to lead his offense. Cifelli leads the team with five points. Also helping the Tigers attack is Matt McGuire who leads the team in goals with three. In net, Towson spits time with time between Stephen Kelly and Tyler Stewardson. This is the first meeting ever between Towson and Davenport.
 
WEEKEND RECAP:
 
This past weekend Davenport had a home and home series against Western Michigan to open their season. In the first game the Panthers had work out their opening game kinks, but they were able to walk away with a 4-3 victory. In game two of the series coach Sweeney's squad was able to correct their mistakes from the night before and was able to play a very physical style of play. Davenport would sweep the series with a 6-1 score in game two.
 
THE PANTHERS:
 
The Panthers will be playing three games in three days. A test like this will show the depth of the team. The Panther goaltending will look to continue their success. Phil Graveline and Matt Kaludis split the games this past weekend and both picked up their first victories of the season. Davenport will play: Delaware, Friday at 7:15 p.m.; Colorado State, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; and Towson, Sunday at 10:15 a.m.
 
After the showcase the Panthers will make the long trip to Lynchburg, Va. to open up the Blue-Gray Cup as they take on Liberty October 18 and 19
 
GLCHL OUTLOOK:
 
The conference is currently lead by Oakland with 15 points, and their only lose thus far coming from Michigan-Dearborn who sits in fifth place with three points and their only win comes from the game against Oakland. Adrian College is undefeated 5-2 overall, but undefeated in conference as they sit in second place in conference with 12 points. The Panthers sit in fourth place with six points playing just two games and coming away with a win in both games.
 
ACHA RANKINGS:
Preseason Ranking (9/20)                 10th
Week #1 (9/27)                                    11th
Week #2 (10/4)                                    12th
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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