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MEN'S CLUB ICE HOCKEY ANNOUNCES D2 TEAM WHO START SEASON 2-1
The University of Delaware is excited to announce the addition of an ACHA Division II team to its Club Ice Hockey Program. Vince Falkowski, who has spent the last two seasons on the coaching staff at the Salesianum School in Wilmington, Delaware, has been named Head Coach for the newly formed team, dubbed "UD D2". Vince will take over the D2 program entering its inaugural season and will compete in the North division of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA). The UD ACHA-DII program will play a 25-game schedule this season.
UD D2 opened up their inaugural season with a 5-0 decision against Saint Joseph's University at Skatium in Haverford, PA on Sunday, October 2nd evening in front of a rather large, Hen-supportive crowd. Late in the first period Michael Gunderson scored from an assist by Ryan Pate to lead 1-0 after the first period. UD battle back and forth with SJU until 4:00 in the 2nd period remained when Matt Gumina and Ryan Knox assisted Gunderson for the goal to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room after two frames. In the third period the Hens offense opened up the ice, and pressured the Hawks on their end of the ice for the majority of the final frame. With 13:30 in the game remaining, Trevor Richmond found the net from Joe Bastone and Ben Salzer. One minute later Gunderson scored for his hat trick with the lone assist coming from Matt Gumina, and Ben Salzer from Kei Toeda finding the net two minutes after that.
This past weekend UD D2 took a 6-4 loss to ACHA Southeast Regional Finalist, University of Maryland on Friday, October 9th at Laurel Ice Gardens in Laurel, MD. The University of Delaware saw themselves late in the third period with a 4-3 lead and small mistakes led to the quick 2-goal swing on the scoreboard. Coach Falkowski stated about the loss, "I really found this as the perfect teaching moment...as our team matures and grows in our inaugural season we can take confidence in that we are getting better week to week and continued work will lead us to our season goals."
UD D2 didn't let the previous night's loss hang over them for too long as they took to the ice Saturday night at the Class of 1923 arena in Philadelphia to take on the Quakers of UPenn and impressed with a 15-1 win. Goalie, Brandon Smith took control in between the pipes and made several significant saves in the game to keep the Hens offensive momentum from turning in the Quakers favor.
The UD D2 Team takes on Rowan University this Friday at 8pm in the Gold Ice Arena. Tickets for all attendees are free, so come on out and check out the UD D2 team in the fastest sport on campus!
