The DAN

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After dropping the first two games of the Good Luck DUck series to Oakland this past weekend the D1 Hockey looks to rebound with a busy week ahead playing three games in three days. DU will start their week on Thursday as they host rival Liberty to conclude the Blue-Gray Cup, and then the team will play conference foe Eastern Michigan on Friday and Saturday in Ypsilanti, Mich. The first game on Thursday will be at Patterson Ice Center at 8:30 p.m.
 
Date: November 21, 2013  
Location: Patterson Ice Center
Broadcast Coverage: Davenport Athletic Network (DAN) (Audio Only)
Broadcast Talent: Tom Biondo
Twitter: @DU_D1Hockey | @DUAthletics
 
SCOUTING LIBERTY:
 
The Liberty Flames come into the game with a 17-2-0-0 record on the season and hold the number four ranking in the country. The Flames were part of the ACHA's game of the week this past weekend as they faced-off against No. 11 Stony Brook. Liberty split the series with Stony Brook to carry the 17-2-0-0 record into the rivalry game against the Panthers. Leading the way offensively for the Flames is Lindsay LeBlanc, who leads his teams in goals with nine and points with 24.
 
In net Blair Bennett and Matt Pinel have split time with Bennett playing in nine games and Pinel has been in ten games. Bennett leads the duo with a goals against average of 1.71 and a record of 7-0, Pinel leads the team with 244 saves on the year.
 
LAST MEETING:
 
The last time the Flames and Panthers met was in game two of the Blue-Gray Cup were the Flames were able to hold off a late DU surge after jumping out to a 3-0 lead  to hang on to win 3-2. The Flames were able to sweep Davenport in Lynchburg, Va. to take the Blue-Gray Cup for the first time since its installment last season. 
 
Date: November 22-23, 2013
Location: Ypsilanti, Mich.
Twitter: @DU_D1Hockey | @DUAthletics
 
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN:
 
Leading Eastern Michigan is senior Nick Taurence who has 21 points on the season with 18 of the points coming from assists. Tied for the team in goals are Bryan Kozlowski and Kyle Astalos with eight goals each. Behind the bench is Kevin Gee who is in his fourth season as the Eagles head coach. Gee has led his team a 6-11-0-1 record on the season.
 
In net, Gee looks to senior net minder Andrew Duff to lead the way; Duff has posted a 6-9 record with a goals against average of 4.46 and .89 save percentage to the Eagles in those two departments.
 
WEEKEND RECAP:
 
The Panthers opened the Good Luck DUck series with cross state rival Oakland, and the Panthers were unable to salvage a win as they dropped both games to Oakland. On Friday, the Panthers got off to start slow allowing a goal in the first minute and trailed 2-0 after the first period and were never able to recover as they lost at Oakland 6-3. Saturday brought the same story as the Grizzlies scored five goals in the first to take a 5-1 lead at the break and they went on to win 7-2.
 
THE PANTHERS:
 
Excluding the second game against Kent State two weeks ago the Panthers have had hard time finding the net as they have been held to three goals or less eight times this season. The leading point getter for the team is Robert Kleiman with 17 points and 11 assist which also leads the team. Phil Wendecker is leading the team in goals with seven on the year.
 
In net, Phil Sweeney has had two reliable options with Phil Graveline and Matt Kaludis. Graveline .91 save percentage to led the way for the dynamic duo, while Kaludis is leading in goals against average with 2.40 on the year.
 
GLCHL OUTLOOK:
 
The GLCHL is led by Adrian who has 36 points and a nine point lead over second place Oakland with 27 points. After dropping two games to Oakland, Davenport sits in third place with 15 points followed by Davenport's next conference opponent in Eastern Michigan with 14 points. Western Michigan has a slim lead on Michigan-Dearborn for fifth place by just one point. Kent State rounds out the conference with six points as they sit in seventh place in the conference.
 
ACHA RANKINGS:
Preseason Ranking (9/20)      10th
Week 1 (9/27)                            11th
Week 2 (10/4)                            12th
Week 3 (10/11)                          12th
Week 4 (10/18)                          12th
Week 5 (10/24)                          14th
Week 6 (10/29)                          14th
Week 7 (11/5)                             15th
Week 8 (11/13)                           15th
Week 9 (11/20)                           18th
           
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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