2008 Woodie Awards
Golden Ram Hockey team rights the ship
By Matt Chandik
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Sports
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The WCU Hockey team came into this season with high expectations. That's what happens when you return nearly all of your key players, including the entire top line who combined for 168 points last season as well as the ACHA Rookie of the Year Runner-Up in goaltender Corey Hackney. Surprisingly, the team had remained stagnant. Well, that was until Saturday night.
West Chester's win over Stony Brook University, a first year team in Division I but a legitimate ECHA title contender, sent a message to the rest of the ECHA that West Chester is still the top dog in the league.
The Rams increased their lead in the ECHA standings as they notched their seventh conference win of the season to remain perfect in league play. After a close loss to Delaware and a pair of losses to Rhode Island, including one via blowout, whispers were getting increasingly louder that last season's team that finished with a spectacular #7 overall national ranking was a fluke. These same whispers were saying that Stony Brook had a cakewalk to the conference title, and discarded WCU to the side.
Since the 7-2 loss at Brad Boss Arena in Rhode Island which came on the heels of an emotionally draining overtime loss the night before, the Golden Rams are 5-0 and they are scoring goals in bunches. They have averaged nine goals per game in that span and the trio of Pat Johnson, Jim Gehring and Eddie Devine have helped to offset the recent injury woes of junior forward Robert Bushman, a player that tallied 53 points last season. Johnson, Gehring and Devine all headed into this weekend's action ranked 3rd, 5th and 7th in the national scoring leaders list and have ranged from very good to downright incredible at times this season. The trio has established themselves as arguably the top line in the entire country and when they're on. No team can stop them.
Over reliance on one line can hurt; however, someone must step up for some complementary scoring. Drew Mervin had a big game against Stony Brook, doubling his season total of points in one night when he tallied a goal and added two assists to go with it. If Mervin and other players can continue balancing the scoring, teams will not be able to key in on Johnson, Devine and Gehring.
West Chester's win over Stony Brook University, a first year team in Division I but a legitimate ECHA title contender, sent a message to the rest of the ECHA that West Chester is still the top dog in the league.
The Rams increased their lead in the ECHA standings as they notched their seventh conference win of the season to remain perfect in league play. After a close loss to Delaware and a pair of losses to Rhode Island, including one via blowout, whispers were getting increasingly louder that last season's team that finished with a spectacular #7 overall national ranking was a fluke. These same whispers were saying that Stony Brook had a cakewalk to the conference title, and discarded WCU to the side.
Since the 7-2 loss at Brad Boss Arena in Rhode Island which came on the heels of an emotionally draining overtime loss the night before, the Golden Rams are 5-0 and they are scoring goals in bunches. They have averaged nine goals per game in that span and the trio of Pat Johnson, Jim Gehring and Eddie Devine have helped to offset the recent injury woes of junior forward Robert Bushman, a player that tallied 53 points last season. Johnson, Gehring and Devine all headed into this weekend's action ranked 3rd, 5th and 7th in the national scoring leaders list and have ranged from very good to downright incredible at times this season. The trio has established themselves as arguably the top line in the entire country and when they're on. No team can stop them.
Over reliance on one line can hurt; however, someone must step up for some complementary scoring. Drew Mervin had a big game against Stony Brook, doubling his season total of points in one night when he tallied a goal and added two assists to go with it. If Mervin and other players can continue balancing the scoring, teams will not be able to key in on Johnson, Devine and Gehring.
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