Davenport Athletic Network

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After having four games at home to start the 2014 portion of their schedule the D1 hockey team will hit the road for the first time in 2014 as they have a home-an-home series with Western Michigan this weekend. The Panthers have won their last five games and look to continue rolling this weekend against the Stallions of Western Michigan. Head coach Phil Sweeney has been pleased with his team's offensive output over the past few games including a power play that went 5-for-11 last weekend in two games against Eastern Michigan. DU will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. on Friday for 7:30 p.m. game, before they return home on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.   
 
Date:  January 17, 2014 (Game 1)/January 18, 2014 (Game 2)  
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich. (Game 1)/Patterson Ice Center (Game 2)
Broadcast Coverage: Davenport Athletic Network (Game 2 only)
Broadcast Talent: Thomas Biondo
Twitter: @DU_D1Hockey | @DUAthletics
 
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN:
 
The Stallions are coming into the weekend after a big win over Oakland this past weekend. Michael Moroso is leading the way for the Stallions in the scoring department with 15 goals and 28 points. Mitch Rogowski is leads the team in assists with 15 and has eight goals for a total of 21 points. The third Western Michigan player with at least 20 points is Jacob Taiariol with 12 goals and eight assists.
 
On the back end for the Stallions, head coach Chris Brassard, looks to freshman net minder Brandon Haase who has appeared in 20 games to post a 6-12-1 record. Haase has a 4.77 goals against average and a .84 save percentage to lead the Stallions.
 
LAST MEETING:
 
The last time the Panthers and Stallions met was in the Panthers first weekend of the season, and DU hosted Western Michigan in the second game of the weekend series. The Panthers were able to dominate the game using a balanced attack with five different goal scorers in the game. Davenport scored the first four goals of the game before Western Michigan finally got on the board. In the third period, DU scored two more goals to put the game out of reach.
 
Bo Jacobs scored two goals in the game to lead the Panthers to the 6-1 win, while Jake Holden tallied his goal and first assist in his first collegiate game. Kevin Noble, Matt Ogden and Robert Kleiman also scored for the Panthers in the win.
 
WEEKEND RECAP:
 
Last weekend, DU hosted Eastern Michigan in two games and the Panthers were able to win both games at home to closeout a four game home stand. In the first game, Davenport won the game 5-2 as Luke McCarthy led the way for the team scoring two goals and an assist in the game. DU was able to jump out to an early lead and after the Eagles scored twice, the Panthers regained control of the game as Dustin Wischmeyer iced the game with a third period goal.
 
In the second game of the weekend, the first period was a back and forth affair that was tied at two after the first period. However, DU took control of the game in the second and third period as they scored five straight goals to take a 7-2 lead. Eastern Michigan found the back of the net with 2:52 left in the game, but Cody Walsh found the back of the net to regain the five goal lead as Davenport won the game 8-3 to complete the season sweep of Eastern Michigan.
 
THE PANTHERS:
 
Davenport is currently 17-8-0-1 on the season and is in second place in the GLCHL. Andrew Frank is currently on an 11 game point streak that dates back to November. During the streak Frank has moved himself to the top of the team in points with 30. After Mason Bohlinger scored four goals last Saturday he leads the team with 17 goals and is tied for second on the team in points with 28. Robert Kleiman is leading the team in assists with 21, while Frank is right behind him with 20 assists. Luke McCarthy and Phil Wendecker are tied for second on the team in goals with 13 each.
 
In the net Phil Sweeney has gone with a little different rotation by starting Matt Kaludis on Fridays and Phil Graveline on Saturdays. Both have been in great in net for the Panthers as Kaludis has 7-2 record with a 1.79 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. Graveline has a 2.88 goals against average with a.909 save percentage to go along with his 10-7 record.
 
GLCHL OUTLOOK:
 
Adrian leads the way in the way in the conference with 48 points after two wins over Kent State this past weekend. With the two wins over Eastern Michigan, Davenport takes over sole possession second place in the conference, and with Oakland loss to Western Michigan, Oakland drops to third place with 36 points just three points behind Davenport. Western Michigan takes over fourth place in the conference with 19 points, while Eastern Michigan drops to fifth place in conference. Michigan-Dearborn and Kent State sit in sixth and seventh place, respectively.
 
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
Week 10 (11/27)                                   16th
Week 11 (12/5)                                     12th
Week 12 (12/11)                                   13th
Week 13 (12/17)                                   13th
Week 14 (1/8)                                       13th    
Week 15 (1/16)                                      12th                     
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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