November 20, 2014

The University of Arkansas Razorbacks are the 2014 Clash in the Corn Champions!

Both #1 ranked Arkansas and #2 Colorado State finished the tournament with 6 points, and both teams outscored their opponents by seven goals over the weekend. Arkansas is declared the winner by virtue of the third tie-breaker, Fewest Goals Against, as they allowed 3 goals, whereas Colorado State allowed 8 goals.

http://www.dordt.edu/cgi-bin/news/get_news.pl?id=7735

Razorback defenseman and co-captain Easton Oliver has been chosen for the 2014-15 ACHA Division III Select Team!
Head Coach Mike Petrusma (Calvin College) along with assistant coaches John Hoos (University of Georgia) and Craig Bioni (Robert Morris Univ. PA) and the player selection committee began the evaluation process during the 2013-14 season which culminated in March at the ACHA All-Star Challenge in West Chester, PA.

The challenge featured over 200 of the top players in ACHA Division III competing on 10 teams from each of our 4 regions.The skill level, speed, and competition among the players on the All-Star teams was among the best that has been seen and provided a large pool of potential players for the 2014-15 Select team.

The Select team will gather for preparations in Atlanta and Athens, GA prior to leaving for Europe. The team will be traveling to Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Germany.

A huge Razorback congratulations to Easton! Go Hogs!
(photo courtesy Ed Matthews photography)

The University of Arkansas Ice Hogs pulled off an historic accomplishment by sweeping Division I opponent Midland University!

The Ice Hogs came into the weekend series having won four in a row.However, the Ice Hogs found themselves stepping up in class, and work cut out for them from the opening drop of the puck Friday night.

Midland University, located in Fremont, Nebraska exhibited skill, speed and a tight checking style that bottled up the Hogs for long stretches of the game. In turn, Midland possessed a formidable transition game of their own and continually forced the action. The Warriors were rewarded at the 11:35 mark of the 1st period when Alex Cooper found the back of the net. The first period ended with the Hogs trailing for the first time since October 11th.

Physical play picked up in the 2nd period with several penalties being called by referee Chip Excell. The Ice Hogs finally broke through midway through the period when Matt Robinson buried a wrist shot past Midland goal tender Matt Goedeke. Michael Tallo, and Erik Robinson picked up assists and it was 1-1. Checking remained tight, and open ice was scarce. At the 5:16 mark, Mason Brower gave the Hogs the lead with assists going to Ryan Machos, and James Haddock. The 2nd ended with the Hogs holding a tenuous 2-1 lead.

The 3rd period started with play opening up as Midland looked to even the score. But, Hogs goalie Kevin Scheer made several good saves to keep the Hogs in the lead. Three minutes into the 3rd period, Connor Crumblish gave the Hogs some breathing room at 3-1 when he snapped a shot after driving the right wing with a defender on his back. Play continued to be physical and the Hogs were holding on by a thread as Midland continually drove to the net. After the Warriors pulled their goalie, Michael Tallo settled the issue with 40 seconds left as he chased down a loose puck in the Midland zone and battled three defenders to score in the empty net.

The Ice Hogs pulled off the weekend sweep over the Midland Warriors on Saturday by a 7-2 score. The Razorbacks were led by James Haddock with a goal and 2 assists, and captain Forest Mudgett contributing 3 assists.
The game began ominously for the Ice Hogs as defensive breakdowns led to a quick 2-0 lead for the Warriors. Another disallowed goal on a late offside call almost cost the Hogs. Spencer Mulgrew deserved a better fate, but was pulled in favor of Kevin Scheer. The Hogs dug in and responded.
With 2 minutes left in the first period, Marcel Toure banged home a Ryan Machos rebound to close at 2-1 at the end of the 1st.

Tight checking and big hits followed the 1st period and the Hogs struggled to get anything going against a fast and skilled Midland club. Mason Brower tied the game at the 13:29 mark with a goal that caught the short side and the Hogs were back in business.
With an assist from Forest Mudgett 29 seconds later, Erik Robinson gave the Hogs the lead for good and the period ended with the Hogs up 3-2.

Less than 5 minutes into the 3rd period, John Duranczyk gave the Hogs some breathing room and a 2 goal lead with assists going to James Haddock and Ryan Machos. Play continued to be tight and turned chippy with referee Tanner Rogers calling several penalties in succession. James Haddock scored an unassisted power play goal and the Hogs followed up 17 seconds later when Michael Tallo connected on a feed from Brower. Connor Crumblish closed out the scoring with less than 4 minutes left in the game with a rising shot from the point.

The Razorbacks were tested by a skilled club, and responded to some adversity by making big plays. A big positive sign for the Hogs is 12 different players recorded points this weekend. The Hogs will need contributions from all areas as the competition gets gets ramped up even more with a conference showdown with Alabama on the schedule November 7th and 8th in Pelham, Alabama.

The Hog are off next weekend, but resume action at home on November 14th and 15th when they take on Missouri State at the Jones Center.

After dropping two games to DI foe Central Oklahoma last week, the Razorbacks bounced back by sweeping two games over the Marquette Golden Eagles this weekend. The Ice Hogs never trailed, dominated time of possession, and hurled over 100 shots at Marquette Goaltender Thomas Place.

The Hogs were led by Plano, Texas product Matt Robinson who scored 5 goals, including a Hat Trick in the Saturday night contest. Ryan Machos chipped in with 2 goals and 2 assists. Spencer Mulgrew threw a shutout in the first game and the Hogs outscored Marquette 14-3 in the two game series.

Taylor Jones got the Hogs started in the first game by scoring on a breakaway at 11:37. Ryan Machos followed up with a goal on a nice assist from Matt Robinson with less than two minutes left in the first period.

The Razorbacks took charge in the second period when newcomer Landyn Howze finished on a nice feed from captain Forest Mudgett, and Jacob Brown followed up 27 seconds later with assists from Machos and James Haddock. Matt Robinson connected on the first of his five goals with assists from Jacob Brown and Michael Tallo and the Hogs closed out the period up 5-0.

The Ice Hogs carried the play in the third period and they struck twice within four minutes on goals by Colin South and Matt Robinson with assists going to Forest Mudgett, Jesse Foskey and Erik Robinson. The Hogs closed down defensively and Spencer Mulgrew and the Hogs had the shutout victory 7-0.

Game two started quickly for the Hogs as Matt Robinson scored the first of his three goals on a shorthanded giveaway in the offensive zone by Marquette at 16:45. As in the first game, Ryan Machos followed 5 minutes later with assists going to Jesse Foskey and Kyle Summerford and the Hogs led 2-0. Marquette broke through on a wild scramble in front of the net to close within 2-1. But, the Razorbacks asserted control and closed out the first period on goals by Marcel Toure, Jacob Brown and once again, Matt Robinson who netted two goals. The last coming with 5 seconds left in the period and the Hogs led comfortably 6-2.

James Haddock scored a power play goal midway through the second period for a 7-2 lead. But, the Golden Eagles showed some life and scored a power play goal of their own with 1:30 left in the second period to close the gap to 7-3. The third period started with referee Tanner Rogers calling several penalties that spilled over into some chippy play at the end of the game and several players were escorted off the ice. The final 7-3 held up and the Ice Hogs recorded their seventh home win.

The Ice Hogs dominated play throughout both games by converting chances generated by their transition game. They displayed good speed and tight checking against a quality opponent.

The Razorbacks resume conference play as they travel to Olive Branch, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss on Monday and Tuesday. The Hogs will be back in Springdale October 24^th and 25^th for a weekend series with Division I opponent Midland University. Both games have a 7:30pm start time. Come on out and support your Ice Hogs!

The Ice Hogs rolled over the Robert Morris University – Peoria Eagles last night by a score of 5-1. The Razorbacks led by captain Forest Mudgett’s hat trick, unloaded a total of 68 shots at Eagles goaltender Zac Cook.

The Ice Hogs started out quickly and dominated play in the first period, but were slowed by two penalties and came away with just one goal at the 12:48 mark by Forest Mudgett with an assist by newcomer Landyn Howze. The Razorbacks continued to dominate play in the second period and launched 29 shots at Cook who made save after miraculous save, taking several shots from point blank range. The Ice Hogs finally broke through with three quick goals near the end of the period to take a 4-0 lead into the third period.

The Eagles spoiled Spencer Mulgrew’s shutout bid early in the third period on a giveaway in the Hogs zone and the Eagles had some life. However, the Ice Hogs nailed it down with a final goal by Mudgett two minutes later and clamped down the defense securing the win.

The Razorbacks were led by captain Forest Mudgett with the hat trick and freshman Landyn Howze picking up two assists. Taylor Jones and Matt Robinson contributed a goal a piece. Colin South, James Haddock, Ryan Machos, Chris Green, and Jacob Brown also pitched in contributing assists tonight.

The Ice Hogs and the Eagles play again tonight at 7:30pm.

Tonight’s game is the Pink the Rink event. The ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha along with the University of Arkansas Community Life Committee will be selling T-shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Come on out and support this cause and the Ice Hogs!

Go Hogs!

The University of Arkansas Community Life Committee, and the Zeta Tau Sorority is sponsoring a Pink the Rink event on Saturday October 4th! Sales will be tomorrow in the law school atrium from 11-12 and 1-2.
The Zeta Tau ladies will be selling t-shirts for this worthy cause during the game at the Jones Center in Springdale. A $10 donation will support the breast cancer awareness program. The puck drops at 7:30pm.
Come on out and support the Ice Hogs and wear Pink to support breast cancer awareness!

The Ice Hogs step up in class this weekend with a pair of games against Division I Oklahoma. The Sooners present a formidable challenge for the Razorbacks. Oklahoma opened their season last week by splitting a pair of games with #5 ranked Iowa State.

Led by their outstanding senior goalie Colin Fernandes, the Sooners play a tight checking defensive style of game. The Sooners are coached by former Oklahoma City Blazer Peter Arvanitis. Arvantis is from Montreal, Canada. He will be entering his 4th full season as Head Coach of the University of Oklahoma Hockey Team. In just 3 full seasons as Head Coach, Peter has a record of 76-31-12 which makes him the winningest coach in Sooner hockey history.

Coming off last year’s very successful 28-5-4 campaign, the Sooners are ranked #4 in the latest ACHA’s Division I rankings.

Blazers Ice Centre 8000 S I-35 Service Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73149

General Admission seating is $5.00 for students and the public. Depending upon availability, reserved seating is $10.00. Kids 6 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

The Ice Hogs will begin defense of their SECHC title in the conference opener against Auburn tomorrow and Saturday at the Jones Center in Springdale. Games times are 7:30pm.

Auburn opened their 2014-2015 campaign this past Saturday against Georgia Tech losing 12-2. There were questions leading up to the weekend if the club would be able to fill a roster due to a lack of a goaltender. The team decided to go ahead and push through the schedule this season with the uncertainty of who would be in net. Without a goalie with previous experience on the roster, the team needed to select a forward or defensemen to fill the roll. Wil Rodell, a forward and the club’s vice-president, volunteered to play in net against the Yellow Jackets.

Although Auburn has struggled at times since joining the SECHC, they would like nothing better than to knock off the Ice Hogs. Tickets are: $8 seating- $5 standing room (glass level) $3 children- 12 and under FREE.