A Season To Remember

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark- The following quote was given by the Razorback Hockey Team via their Facebook page, “We have elected to voluntarily withdraw ourselves from participation in the SECHC playoffs. We respect the DIII Commissioner’s ruling to suspend us from the post-season and the ACHA Rules Committee’s decision to uphold that suspension. Our program at its core teaches honesty, ethical behavior, accountability, responsibility, and trustworthiness; we do not think it consistent with those values to participate in SECHC post-season play while suspended. We thank our fans, our seniors, and the SECHC for their support. We are already looking forward to a fresh start next season.”

It’s a shame for what has happened in the past week, but you live and you learn, and all you can do is look forward to what the next season has to bring.

Although the past week has brought a lot of turmoil, we can’t let it overshadow what the Ice Hogs have done this season, it was most definitely one to remember. Razorback Hockey was in route in for a third straight South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference Title, and they were going to potentially be the first team in conference history to get an automatic bid to the National Tournament, as well as be legitimate contenders for a National Title.

The Hogs opened up their season with a true test against D1 Oklahoma, but fell by a score of 7-3. Arkansas used that game as a great learning experience for the rest season.

Following big wins over Missouri State D3 and Auburn, as well as 2 losses to Lindenwood University, the Razorbacks were set to face Grand Valley State University, a native Michigan team. This would be the first time a Michigan team has ever came to play a southern team, this was seen as the biggest two games in the programs history at the time.

The Hogs fell 3-1 in the first game, but bounced back to win game two 6-5 in a dramatic 8 round shootout.

Arkansas lost their first and only conference game to Ole Miss on Novemeber 12th, but never lost a game since then.

During the 13 game win streak the Hogs put together, they saw the biggest wins the program has ever seen. First by beating the University of North Texas twice who was 22-1-0 at the time, followed by a win over the University of Central Florida who ranked 2nd in the southern region, and finally the two wins against rival Alabama for the top spot in the west.

The Ice Hogs finished with a record of 22-6-0, and 9-1 in the SECHC.

Martin Sundstedt led the team in goals and assists with 23 apiece, and a leading point total of 46.

Brendan Desjardins finished with a 12-5-0 record along with a 2.79 GAA and an 0.88 Save Percentage.

Next season is sure to be another exiting one given all the young guys the team has, but according to Head Coach Brian Gallini, the off-season workouts is what really has to be taken care of in order to keep the core group together and transfer in to success next season.

This season had its fare share of ups and downs for the Razorbacks, but it was undoubtedly a season to remember.