This weekend, the #20 DI-Razorback Hockey (2-0-0) team welcomes a pair of WCHL conference rivals.  First up is a first-ever Thursday contest against a new visitor to the Jones Center–the Colorado State Rams.  Ranked #22 in the first preseason ranking, the Rams will play their first game of the 2016-17 season against the Razorbacks.  On the heels of a 9-24-5 campaign last season, the Rams enter the year with a new coach and a new batch of talent.  The puck drops against the Rams on 8:30 pm.

Next up on Friday and Saturday for the DI Hogs is another conference rival–the Colorado Buffaloes.  Picked to finish first in the WCHL coaches poll, the Buffs enter the weekend ranked #9 in the nation.  After making a stop to take on Missouri State on Thursday, Colorado will settle in for a pair of games against the Razorbacks on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm.  The two teams have not hooked up since Colorado defeated the Hogs 1-0 on October 19 of last year.

While Division I hosts, the DIII Hogs (1-1-0) hit the road to take on first-time opponent, DII-Texas State.  The neutral site games will take place in Dallas.  Game times are 9:30 pm on Friday and 3:00 pm on Saturday at the Dr. Pepper Star Center in Farmers Branch.  Texas State finished with an overall 2015-16 record of 15-9-1 and the Bobcats enter the series having recently swept the University of North Texas last weekend by scores of 6-4 and 4-3, respectively.  For its part, the Division III Hogs enter the weekend after having split a pair of gritty conference games against Ole Miss.  After downing the Rebels 6-5 last Friday, the Razorbacks dropped game two of the series by a 5-2 margin.

The University of Arkansas Men’s Ice Hockey Club opens its tenth anniversary season and second campaign with two teams on Friday, September 9.  This season, unlike any other, the program will open its season by featuring both teams at home on back to back nights.

The Division I team opens up its season against the East Texas Baptist University Tigers (Division II).  The Tigers open their first ever season in the ACHA this year and the programs have never met.  The Razorbacks’ Division I roster (just released here) features thirteen new faces.  The 15-16 season was the first for the Arkansas hockey program fielding two teams.  Last year’s inaugural Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  The puck drops against the Tigers at 7 pm on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Meanwhile, the Division III team plays host to SECHC rival Ole Miss in an immediately critical conference match-up.  The Hogs swept the Rebels last season in Olive Branch by scores of 8-2 and 6-1 on October 30 & 31, 2015, respectively.  Game times are 9:30 pm on both Friday and Saturday nights.  Last year’s Division III team posted a twenty-eight win season, which was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.  The team will be looking for a return to Nationals after falling just short at Regionals last season, losing earlier this year 8-4 to Marquette on February 19.

Friday’s games will be broadcast on both USTREAM and MIXLR.  Saturday’s games will be carried only on the program’s MIXLR station.  Tickets can be purchased at the door starting one hour before puck drop.  Students with ID are admitted free this opening weekend.  More information on tickets is here.

Tryouts are just days away.  Below is the upcoming tryout schedule.  If you’d like to tryout, but have not yet expressed interest, fill out a prospective player form here.

August 25, 6:15-9:00 pm
August 26, 4:30-7:45 pm
August 27, 10 am-12:00 pm & 4:00-6:45 pm
August 28, 8:45-11:45 am

All sessions are open to the public at no admission cost.  Even if you are not interested in trying out, the Arkansas Men’s Ice Hockey team has a few remaining board positions for students during the 2016-17 season.  Academic credit is available.

We are five-time winners of the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference post-season playoff tournament (09-10, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14, 14-15)  and have won the regular season SEC-West conference championship for the past five consecutive seasons (09-10, 10-11, 11-12, 12-13, 13-14).  In our short history, we have appeared at Nationals three times (09-10, 13-14, 14-15), made three appearances at the South Regional tournament (09-10, 10-11, 12-13), and are consistently ranked in the top ten in our region during the regular season.

The 15-16 season was the first for the Arkansas hockey program fielding two teams.  The Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  Meanwhile, Division III’s twenty-eight win season was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.

During the 16-17 season, we will again field both a Division I and Division III team.  You can learn more about the team here and can catch up on some of the team’s media hits here.  If you’re interested in a position with the team, please contact General Manager & Assistant Coach David Valentini (dvalentini@vanguardpkg.com) for more information.

The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that F-Matthew Lasky has transferred to play at Arkansas.  The 6’0″ 195 lb. left-handed forward from Coppell, Texas, recently completed his season playing college hockey for High Point University in the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League.  Playing for the Panthers, Lasky led all freshman in scoring with 13 points in 14 games.

Prior to enrolling in High Point, Lasky played 18 games for his Coppell High School team in 2014-15 when he contributed 11 goals and 20 assists while serving as the team’s captain.  One season earlier, in 2013-14, he scored 14 goals to go along with 22 assists.  Collectively, Laskly has accumulated 80 points in his last 60 games.  A long-time hockey player who began at age six, Lasky is the only two-time winner of “Cowboy Award”, as selected by his coaches, in Coppell High School hockey history as the outstanding player and teammate of the year in both his 2013-14 & 2014-15 seasons.

Said Lasky, “[t]he University of Arkansas offers a great opportunity to study at the acclaimed Walton College of Business in pursuit of undergraduate and master’s degrees in Business Administration, while at the same time playing competitive hockey for a great program with a proven track record of success under Coach Gallini.”

Lasky becomes the twenty-fourth player in a 16-17 recruiting class that has ten different states represented (Texas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Missouri, and California) and players with experience in nine different junior leagues (NA3HL, EHL, NAHL, MnJHL, SJHL, MJAHL, WSHL, GMHL, and USPHL).  He joins the following players:

F-Drew Hill (Dallas Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
F-Chris Stovall (Springfield Express, WSHL)
F-Garrett Jackson (McKinney Northstars)
F-Alex Kueser (Eureka High School)
F-Chris Weatherly (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
F-Ben Koester (Rochester Ice Hawks, NA3HL)
F-Alec Morris (Marian University, NCAA)
F-Niko Ala-Kokko (Dallas Penguins, DJHA)
F-Wesley Moore (Rampart High School, COHS)
F-Christian MacMeeken (Dallas Jr. Stars, DSTHL)
F-Alexx Vil (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
F-Jack Moore (East Coast Wizards, EHL)
F-Anthony Cebell (Plano East)
F-Parker Tillson (The Woodlands)
D-Alex DeGuire (Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL)
D-Dominic De la Guardia (Portland Jr. Pirates, USPHL)
D-Jake Jones (Bobcaygeon Storm, GMHL)
D-Blake Sibley (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
D-Brian Danahy (Abington Green Wave, MAHS)
D-Zach Piekarski (McKinney North Stars, DSTHL)
D-Adam Cooke (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
G-Nick Bretzger (Springfield Express, WSHL)
G-Michael Moore (Chicago Cougars, USPHL)

The 15-16 season was the first for the Arkansas hockey program fielding two teams.  The Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  Meanwhile, Division III’s twenty-eight win season was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.

The 2016-17 Division I & III schedules were recently released.  You can view the Division I schedule here and the Division III schedule is available here.  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.

The Razorback Hockey team is excited to announce that 2015 graduate Easton Oliver has earned a main camp invite with the the Brampton Beast of the ECHL (affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens).  Oliver played last season for the Brewster Bulldogs of the FHL and, in doing so, became the first ever Razorback Hockey alum to crack the professional ranks.  During the 15-16 season, Oliver dressed in 52 games, notching 6 goals to go with 21 assists.  Used on both sides of special teams throughout the season, Oliver accrued several memorable moments during his first pro season including a late-game power play winner against the Port Huron Prowlers back in March.

Oliver, who wore #5 for the Bulldogs, played in the #39 jersey for the Razorbacks for parts of six seasons, during which time he helped the team win five SECHC titles and earn three National Tournament appearances.  Oliver played in 122 games for the Hogs, potting 26 goals alongside 70 assists for a total of 96 points.  He served as the team’s co-captain during the 14-15 season and was selected as an assistant captain for the 13-14 season.  In December of 2014, Oliver was chosen as a defenseman and assistant captain for the Division III ACHA Selects team, which traveled to Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia and Slovenia to play a five game series.

When asked about what he learned during his inaugural professional campaign, Oliver commented, “the biggest thing I learned from this season is that playing with confidence is key. If you don’t have confidence in your game you start to worry too much about mistakes.”  He added, “hockey is a game of mistakes and it’s about how well you can make up for the mistake rather than hanging your head. I think once I realized that, I got a hold of my professional style of play and began to develop into a two-way defenseman.”

Oliver will compete for a roster spot with the Brampton Beast beginning in early October.  If no roster offer materializes, Oliver will return to the FHL for the 16-17 season where he would play for the Danville Dashers.

The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that Zach Piekarski has formally committed to play at Arkansas.  The 6’1″ 185 lb. right-handed defenseman from Frisco, Texas, recently completed his season playing for two teams–McKinney U18AA and Frisco High School.  In 90 combined games between those two teams during the 15-16 season, Piekarski scored 43 goals to go along with 49 assists.

Stats aside, Piekarski’s award-laden season included recognition as Co-MVP on his high school team, selection as captain on his travel team, and high school all-star selection.  His teams finished collectively as high school league champions, state runner-up, and a USA Hockey National quarter-finalist. Piekarski’s previous teams have also won the travel state championship (2009-10) and the high school state championship (2012-13).

Said Piekarski, “the University of Arkansas has one of the best Sports Management programs.  Arkansas allows me to continue my hockey career at a high level without delaying my education.  I look forward to being a Razorback and continuing my hockey career.”

Piekarski becomes the twenty-third player in a 16-17 recruiting class that has ten different states represented (Texas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Missouri, and California) and players with experience in nine different junior leagues (NA3HL, EHL, NAHL, MnJHL, SJHL, MJAHL, WSHL, GMHL, and USPHL).  He joins the following players:

F-Drew Hill (Dallas Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
F-Chris Stovall (Springfield Express, WSHL)
F-Garrett Jackson (McKinney Northstars)
F-Alex Kueser (Eureka High School)
F-Chris Weatherly (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
F-Ben Koester (Rochester Ice Hawks, NA3HL)
F-Alec Morris (Marian University, NCAA)
F-Niko Ala-Kokko (Dallas Penguins, DJHA)
F-Wesley Moore (Rampart High School, COHS)
F-Christian MacMeeken (Dallas Jr. Stars, DSTHL)
F-Alexx Vil (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
F-Jack Moore (East Coast Wizards, EHL)
F-Anthony Cebell (Plano East)
F-Parker Tillson (The Woodlands)
D-Alex DeGuire (Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL)
D-Dominic De la Guardia (Portland Jr. Pirates, USPHL)
D-Jake Jones (Bobcaygeon Storm, GMHL)
D-Blake Sibley (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
D-Brian Danahy (Abington Green Wave, MAHS)
D-Adam Cooke (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
G-Nick Bretzger (Springfield Express, WSHL)
G-Michael Moore (Chicago Cougars, USPHL)

The 15-16 season was the first for the Arkansas hockey program fielding two teams.  The Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  Meanwhile, Division III’s twenty-eight win season was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.

The 2016-17 Division I & III schedules were recently released.  You can view the Division I schedule here and the Division III schedule is available here.  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.

The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that Jack Moore has formally committed to play at Arkansas.  A 1995 birth year, the 5’11″ 190 lb. right-handed forward from Coppell, Texas, recently completed his final junior season with the East Coast Wizards (EHL).

Moore’s junior career includes stops with the Bay State Breakers (USPHL-Elite) and, more recently, the East Coast Wizards (EHL). In 37 games with the Breakers during the 14-15 season, Moore compiled 30 points including 8 goals and 22 assists.  Used by Breakers’ Head Coach Kyle Robertson in a variety of situations, Moore in particular saw time during critical penalty situations.   Said Robertson, “I have been coaching juniors for 20 years and Jack is one of the best leaders I have been around.  He can play all three zones, is a very good face off man, and can shut down the other team’s skilled players.”

With the Wizards this past season, Moore appeared in 33 games and notched five goals to go with an assist.  Said Wizards’ Head Coach Freddy Meyer, “Jack is one of the hardest workers I have coached.  He shows up everyday with a purpose to improve his abilities and to make his teammates better on and off the ice.”

Prior to his junior career, Moore played in the NAPHL for the Texas Tornado where, as team captain during the 13-14 season, he scored 11 goals and added 17 assists in 33 games.  Among his other honors that season, Moore was selected as Offensive Peak Performer of the week, chosen to participate in the Romeoville NAPHL showcase, and selected by the league for the NAPHL Top Prospects All Star Showcase.

Said Moore, “I’m really excited with my decision to attend, and play hockey at the University of Arkansas.  The University has everything to offer, from a great location to a hockey program on the rise.”  He added, “A lot of factors played into my decision to play for the Razorbacks.  After playing in Boston, I realized that being close to home was something important to me along with being close to friends and family in Fayetteville.”

Moore becomes the twentieth player in a 16-17 recruiting class that has ten different states represented (Texas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Missouri, and California) and players with experience in nine different junior leagues (NA3HL, EHL, NAHL, MnJHL, SJHL, MJAHL, WSHL, GMHL, and USPHL).  He joins the following players:

F-Drew Hill (Dallas Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
F-Chris Stovall (Springfield Express, WSHL)
F-Garrett Jackson (McKinney Northstars)
F-Alex Kueser (Eureka High School)
F-Chris Weatherly (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
F-Ben Koester (Rochester Ice Hawks, NA3HL)
F-Alec Morris (Marian University, NCAA)
F-Niko Ala-Kokko (Dallas Penguins, DJHA)
F-Wesley Moore (Rampart High School, COHS)
F-Christian MacMeeken (Dallas Jr. Stars, DSTHL)
F-Alexx Vil (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
D-Alex DeGuire (Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL)
D-Dominic De la Guardia (Portland Jr. Pirates, USPHL)
D-Jake Jones (Bobcaygeon Storm, GMHL)
D-Blake Sibley (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
D-Brian Danahy (Abington Green Wave, MAHS)
D-Adam Cooke (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
G-Nick Bretzger (Springfield Express, WSHL)
G-Michael Moore (Chicago Cougars, USPHL)

The Arkansas hockey program recently finished its first season fielding two teams.  The Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  Meanwhile, Division III’s twenty-eight win season was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.

The 2016-17 Division I & III schedules were recently released.  You can view the Division I schedule here and the Division III schedule is available here.  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.

FAYETTEVILLE, AR — The University of Arkansas Men’s Ice Hockey Club today announced its 2016-17 schedule for the team’s 10th season in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and second at Division I. The schedule features a fan-friendly home slate of 19 weekend games at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.

Fresh from a historic season that saw the team finish #21 in the nation–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII–the Razorbacks are already looking ahead to their second Division I campaign.  Featuring a fierce 39 game regular season slate, 21 of which pit the Hogs against teams that finished last season in the top 25, the season opens with five consecutive home games at the Jones Center including games against two first-time visitors to The Natural State.

The puck drops on the 2016-17 season at 7:00 pm against ACHA newcomer Eastern Texas Baptist University on September 9 & 10.  Notably, opening weekend marks the program’s first ever double-header; the Division III team takes on Ole Miss at 9:30 pm on both nights following the conclusion of each Division I contest.

The Hogs will look to improve on last season’s inaugural Western Collegiate Hockey League campaign, which saw the team finish in 5th place and one point behind 4th place Arizona.  The Razorbacks begin their second season in the WCHL at home on September 15-17 when Colorado State and Colorado both come to visit.

Highlights throughout the remainder of the season include home tilts against Arizona State and Arizona on Oct. 27, 28 & 29 at the Jones Center and a lengthy homestand throughout the months of January and February. Dating to January 20, the Razorbacks will play 9 games at the Jones Center leading up to the National Tournament, hosted by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, where the Razorbacks look to make their first ever tournament appearance.

Other notable dates include Pink the Rink with the University of Arkansas School of Law on October 29 when the Razorbacks tangle with Arizona and Senior Night on February 11 when Missouri State visits.  The regular season winds down with a pair of games on the road against the defending National Champion Lindenwood Lions on February 17 & 18.

Single game tickets for the 2016-17 regular season can be purchased on game day at the Jones Center. Season passes will be available for $129.  Information about season passes will be released in July.  Please visit arhockey.westernchl.com for further information about the team.

VIEW 2016-17 FULL SEASON SCHEDULE

The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that Alexx Vil has formally committed to play at Arkansas.  A 5’9″, 165 lb., forward from Arlington, Texas, Vil recently completed his season with the Texas Jr. Brahmas.  A versatile player with experience at both the defensive and forward positions, Vil served as his team’s captain during the 15-16 campaign.  A two-year veteran with the Brahmas organization, Vil previously suited up for the Dallas Jr. Stars 18U team during the 2013-14 season.

According to Vil, “I chose the University of Arkansas because it has everything I’ve been looking for in a college; an accomplished hockey program, an excellent Health Sciences department, and a vibrant campus.”  He added, “[a]fter speaking with trusted coaches from my previous years, I decided that the University of Arkansas was the best fit for me in continuing my development not only as a player but as a person.”

Vil becomes the nineteenth player in a 16-17 recruiting class that has eleven different states represented (Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Missouri, and California) and players with experience in eight different junior leagues (NA3HL, NAHL, MnJHL, SJHL, MJAHL, WSHL, GMHL, and USPHL).  He joins the following players:

F-Drew Hill (Dallas Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
F-Chris Stovall (Springfield Express, WSHL)
F-Garrett Jackson (McKinney Northstars)
F-Alex Kueser (Eureka High School)
F-Chris Weatherly (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
F-Ben Koester (Rochester Ice Hawks, NA3HL)
F-Alec Morris (Marian University, NCAA)
F-Niko Ala-Kokko (Dallas Penguins, DJHA)
F-Wesley Moore (Rampart High School, COHS)
F-Christian MacMeeken (Dallas Jr. Stars, DSTHL)
D-Alex DeGuire (Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL)
D-Dominic De la Guardia (Portland Jr. Pirates, USPHL)
D-Jake Jones (Bobcaygeon Storm, GMHL)
D-Blake Sibley (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
D-Brian Danahy (Abington Green Wave, MAHS)
D-Adam Cooke (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
G-Nick Bretzger (Springfield Express, WSHL)
G-Michael Moore (Chicago Cougars, USPHL)

The Arkansas hockey program recently finished its first season fielding two teams.  The Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  Meanwhile, Division III’s twenty-eight win season was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.

The 2016-17 Division III schedule was recently released and you can view it here.  The Division I schedule will be released at the end of this month.  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.