NEWS: Hawks finished 0-0-0-0 in MACHA league play

    

Article from The Hawk

Recreation News
By: Geoff Roberts '08 and Matthew De George '10
Posted: 2/20/08
The Saint Joseph's University ice hockey team might be the best kept secret on campus. The Ice Hawks are currently in fifth place in the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA), and are ranked 12th in the nation-the highest ranking the team has received in its 36-year history.

The team is led by Chris Brennan, '09, a MACHA All-Star selection. Brennan currently leads the MACHA with 35 points and was recently chosen to represent the United States in a tournament in Europe. The team was comprised of student athletes from across the United States, and allowed them the opportunity to play against professional hockey teams from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Brennan's team enjoyed success in this tournament, helping the squad to a 5-0 record.

In addition to Brennan, sniper Justin Stewart, '11, is also a league All-Star selection. Stewart is currently fifth in the MACHA with 27 points on the season.

The Ice Hawks will be graduating five seniors this year, most notably defensemen Peter Philis and Toph Bollard, as well as forward Justin Britton. A strong core of underclassmen, led by Ryan Smith, '10, Justin Hudacko, '10, Brad Rushton, '11, Connor Loop, '11, and Eric Engels, '11, are ready to carry on the strong tradition of Saint Joseph's ice hockey.

"I really think we have a great deal of talent and a great future," said Loop. "The amount of young players is larger this year than most years, and combined with the veteran talent, we were able to put together a deep lineup."

Even though it is just a club team, the commitment to be a part of this winning squad is equal to that of most varsity teams.

"Because we have such a long season starting in September and ending in March, it takes a lot of commitment to play hockey here," said Hudacko. "We practice twice a week and play games Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, sometimes spending hours at a time traveling to many different states in the Northeast."

With two games left in the season, the Ice Hawks are preparing for the MACHA playoffs scheduled for Feb. 29 through March 2 in Wayne, NJ.