Inside College Hockey | Splits, Firsts Prevalent for CHA Programs

November 26, 2008

Splits, Firsts Prevalent for CHA Programs

By Warren Kozireski

All four College Hockey America teams played twice and every team split their series.

In the only conference series, Niagara and Bemidji State swapped 3-1 outcomes in Niagara while Alabama-Huntsville registered the first 1-0 victory in the program’s history before falling to Yale in game two. Robert Morris reversed that with a second game win at Lake Superior State to also earn the split.

“Road games are good to get out of the way if you split,” said Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore. “I don’t know anybody who is going into a road series thinking they’re going to come out with a sweep. If that happens it’s just a bonus, but you’re hoping to split.

“You always want to get it done on Friday night, because if you don’t your back is against the wall.”

Ted Cook is the leading goal-scorer in Niagara history.

Niagara was outshot 36-19, but came out with a 3-1 win in the series opener. The first goal of the game came off the stick of Ted Cook, who wasn’t expected back from his broken wrist until January. The goal gave him the school record for most career goals with 72.

“We’ve had some very good players in our history here at Niagara and for him to be the all-time leading scorer is pretty special,” Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder. “It stamps his career to date. He’s a special kid, he’s well-liked and I know he’ll fluff it off, but it is pretty special.”

The shots were virtually even for the second game, but it was Bemidji State who jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Purple Eagles finally tallied in the third period. An empty-netter put the game away.

“That was a classic CHA game,” said Burkholder after the first game. “At times the speed of Bemidji was an issue which we knew it would be. Their high-end guys were high end and we got into penalty trouble.”

“It’s difficult for us right now scoring goals, but all we can do is keep applying pressure and hope the chips fall in. We feel we have pretty good chemistry amongst our lines.”

Game of Firsts

Alabama-Huntsville allowed 33 shots to Yale, but got a mid-third period goal from Joe Federoff to win the first game of the series.

It marked the first 1-0 victory in the program’s history, the first shutout in sophomore goaltender Cameron Talbot’s career and his first win of the season and Joe Federoff netted the third period game-winner—not only his first goal of the season, but the team’s first short-handed effort of the season as well.

A string of six unanswered goals on Saturday was too much to overcome in the Bulldogs 6-2 win.

Late Heroics

Coaches often talk about big players coming up at the right time and senior Chris Margott did just that to help Robert Morris salvage a split with Lake Superior State.

Leading 3-2 in the final minute, the Lakers pulled their goaltender and scored the tying goal. But on the next shift and 28 seconds later, Margott scored the game-winner—one of only four shots the Colonials managed in the period.

Earlier, freshman Brandon Blandina scored his first collegiate goal and Jason Towsley scored twice for Robert Morris.

Bemidji State and the WCHA Vote

Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore on the decision by the WCHA to hold a vote on lifting the expansion moratorium in January: “This is one hurdle that they vote on the moratorium in January, but that’s just step one. It’s a process and we have to let nature take its course. If they vote to lift, then anybody can apply and it opens things up for anybody. There is no way it could happen for next season.”