MSOE hockey gains national attention
| Published: 02/08/2005 |
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The MSOE men's hockey team, which recently captured the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association title, earned some national recognition on the U.S. College Hockey Online Division III men's poll.
The Raider squad received a vote for the poll, which was released on Monday. MSOE finished off the regular season with a 17-7 overall mark and a 14-2 record in the MCHA.
The Raiders earned 34 points in the conference standings for their first conference crown, beating out second-place Lawrence University (9-7 MCHA record, 26 points).
This week, the Raiders also had three players earn MCHA awards. Junior forward James Shipley (Oak Park, Ill.) was named the MCHA player of the week after recording a league-best eight-point weekend. He had two goals and six assists during the Raiders' sweep over Northland on Friday and Saturday.
Shipley had two goals and two assists on Friday and then four assists in Saturday's win. In MCHA games, Shipley tied for third in the league with 1.62 points per game, scoring eight goals and dishing off 18 assists in 16 games.
MSOE sophomore goalies Matt Burzon (Danby, Vt.) and Joe Dovalina (Evergreen Park, Ill.) shared the MCHA defensive player of the week award. Each player was responsible for a game in the net. Dovalina was 5-0 this season in conference play with a 2.60 goals against average. Burzon earned this award for a second time this season, compiling a 9-2 conference record and allowing just 2.26 goals per game.
MSOE will obviously be a target in the MCHA playoffs. The Raiders will have a week off, awaiting the winner of No. 4 Finlandia and No. 5 Marian. MSOE next hosts its semifinal game on Feb. 18. The MCHA championship starts on Feb. 25.