The Arkansas Ice Hogs concluded their regular season by charging into the SECHC playoffs on a 7 game winning streak. The Razorbacks, who will move up to Division I next season, made short work of the competition by sweeping the 3 games.

The Ice Hogs outscored Florida, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina by a combined score of 23 – 4.  Although the Hogs trailed for two periods against Florida, the team stormed back with four goals in the third period en route to a 4-1 victory.  Saturday and Sunday’s games were less competitive.  Against Vanderbilt on Saturday, the team potted four goals within the first five minutes and, against South Carolina in the Championship, the team compiled twelve total goals.

The Ice Hogs finish the season with a record of 26-8-2, and on a 10 game winning streak that has seen the offense explode and outscore the opposition by a combined 117-16.  Having come close to a National title last year, the Hogs will be contending for the title again this year when Pelham, Alabama hosts the tournament March 10th – 14th.

Next year, the Ice Hogs will will be moving up to Division I competition, but will also field a Division III club.

The Razorbacks want to thank all their fans who have supported the team throughout the past several years. There are more exciting games on the horizon. Please stay informed of our progress on the website and Facebook page. http://arkansas.sechchockey.com/

The ACHA has released the third of four D3 rankings which finds Alabama and Arkansas solidly positioned in the South (Alabama) and Pacific (Arkansas) Regions as their Region’s  #2 teams. The Final Rankings will be posted a week after next month’s SECHC Playoffs. The two teams ranked #1 and #2 in each of the four Regions receive an automatic bid to Nationals (hosted by Alabama & the City of Pelham) and do not have to compete at Regionals.  Teams ranked #3 to #10 will compete at Regionals; the two teams winning two games at Regionals advance to Nationals.

The Frozen Tide received 3 of 8 first place votes and are a solid second place trailing only Florida Gulf Coast University and clearly ahead of 3^rd place Central Florida. The South Region’s 3^rd rankings also have South Carolina ranked #6 and surging Vanderbilt ranked #9 with Ole Miss dropping #11, but in the hunt to qualify for Regionals. The Final Rankings will be posted on February 13^th. The South Regional’s will take place 20-21 February in Orlando, FL. Nationals will take place 10-14 March in Pelham, AL

The Arkansas Ice Hogs, who recently announced a move to ACHA D1 starting in the 2015-16 season are once again ranked #2 in the Pacific Region.  Arkansas received 3 of 9 first place votes from the Pacific Region’s rankings committee and are on the heels of 1^st place Colorado State.  The SECHC Playoffs scheduled for 6-8 February in Pelham, AL will play a major role in the Final Rankings because our Playoff games will count towards the Final Rankings. This is an exciting time for the SECHC, our fans, players, parents, coaches, alumni and everyone who follows college hockey in the south. Best of luck to all our teams as they make the final push for the SECHC Playoffs and to qualify for Regionals…or for the all-important auto bid to Nationals! See Rankings below, like golf, the lower the score the better.

Unlike Football, you can’t deflate our pucks and You Can’t Step Out of Bounds in Hockey!

Pacific Region

Rank          Team                                              Pts.

1.                 Colorado State                                11

2.                Arkansas                                            13

3.                Metro State                                       19

4.                Northern Colorado                        28

5.                Northern Arizona                          36

6.                Marquette                                         44

7.                Iowa State                                         53

8.                Nebraska                                            63

9.                Missouri State                                  65

10.             Robert Morris Univ. – White      70

11.              New Mexico                                      84

12.              Santa Rosa – JC                                88

13.              Aurora – Blue                                   92

14.              Air Force                                           100

15.              Loyola – Chicago                            103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ice Hogs celebrated their announced move to Division I next season by dominating the McKendree university Warriors 15-3 at the Jones Center in Springdale.  A total team effort with multiple players trading the spotlight and the Razorbacks combined to score 32 goals against the team from Lebanon, Illinois this weekend.

The Hogs were led by Mason Brower and James Haddock who both recorded hat tricks today. Matt Robinson continued his canny ability to score short-handed goals by picking up another plus an even strength goal. Marcel Toure continues to find the back of the net adding two goals and two assists while Michael Tallo added two goals and two assists. Captain Forest Mudgett contributed 5 assists to the stat sheet.

The game began much the same as Saturday’s tilt with the Hogs taking a 4-0 lead after the first period. However, the Mckendree Warriors got on the board on the power play less than 30 seconds into the second period. James Haddock answered for the Ice Hogs and Mason Brower followed up 5 minutes later to restore the Hogs to a comfortable 6-1 lead. But, some poor defensive coverage led to 2 quick goals by the Warriors, and it looked to be a game. But, a power play goal by Landyn Howze and a short-handed goal by Matt Robinson 5 minutes apart sunk any hope McKendree might have had about a come back. The Hogs finished up strong in the 3rd period scoring 7 unanswered goals to win going away by the 15-3 final.

The Ice Hogs take on Division II opponent Dallas Baptist on January 23rd & 24th. Game times are 7:30pm on the 23rd and a matinee 4pm start on the 24th. Go Hogs!

The University of Arkansas Men’s Ice Hockey Club has been elevated by the American Collegiate Hockey Association to Division I, its top division.

“We are excited for this next chapter in the life of our program,” said head coach Brian Gallini, who is also a faculty member of the University of Arkansas School of Law. “We owe this accomplishment to the hard work of our players — past and current — alongside the dedication of our coaching staff and support of our tremendous fan base. The future is bright for Razorback hockey.”

The University of Arkansas Hockey Club program also announced that it will join the Western Collegiate Hockey League for the 2015-16 season. This is arguably the strongest conference in the nation at any level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, with five Western League teams currently boasting a Division I national ranking. The Western League is comprised of Arizona State University (No. 1), the University of Central Oklahoma (No. 2), Oklahoma University (No. 6), the University of Arizona (No. 20), the University of Colorado (No. 22), and Colorado State. The league will also welcome familiar Razorback rival Missouri State to its ranks for the 2015-16 season.

“The WCHL is already the most competitive league in the ACHA DI ranks and it just got tougher with the addition of Arkansas and Missouri State,” said Chris Perry, commissioner of the  Western Collegiate Hockey League. “The fact that Arkansas — along with Missouri State — was unanimously accepted into the WCHL speaks volumes about the quality of the Razorback hockey program and the respect they’ve earned throughout all levels of ACHA hockey. Congratulations to Coach Gallini and everyone in the University of Arkansas hockey program.”

Current players are equally excited about the program’s direction.  “We’ve been in growth mode for some time in this program,” said co-captain Forest Mudgett, a junior from Denver, Colorado. “It’s a challenging task but this is a rewarding next step.”  Assistant captain Ryan Machos, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, agreed.  “It’s eye-opening to actually see the progress that we have made,” he said. “Building on the foundation laid by our former players, the team is very excited to bring its talent to the Division I level.”

The University of Arkansas is the first SEC school to make the move to Division I within the American Collegiate Hockey Association.  “We are thrilled to be the first ever SEC school to make this move and build on the University of Arkansas’ rich tradition of providing top-caliber academic and athletic opportunities for its students,” Gallini said. “We look forward to continuing to grow the hockey footprint in Arkansas.”  The Hogs also hope to maintain a Division III ACHA hockey team that will continue to compete in the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Since 2009, the Arkansas hockey program has amassed an overall record of 148-45-4, including two trips to the Division III National Tournament and four SECHC conference playoff tournament championships. Building on its historic 2013-14 campaign, the Razorbacks are enjoying continued success this season amid a fierce 37-game regular season schedule. Arkansas currently owns a 17-8-2 record entering the last portion of the season.

“We have a blueprint for success that transcends divisions or levels of play,” said Gallini.  “Our best hockey is in front of us, and we are excited to see how truly great our program can become.”

Tis the season – if you’re in a giving mood, the Ice Hogs appreciate any donation towards the remodel of the team locker room area at the Jones Center. In order to attract better competition, or move up in class, the club must provide better amenities for visiting teams.
Please utilize this form and designate “Ice Hogs locker room project”
https://onlinegiving.uark.edu/
Please share, and have a great Holiday Season!

SECHC, SAHA and SYTHL to host 2nd Annual Future Collegiate Showcase! http://sechchockey.com/?p=8105

To all High School ice hockey players and future SEC Hockey conference Players: The SECHC is proud to once again partner with the Southern Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA) and the Southern Youth Travel Hockey League (SYTHL) to sponsor our 2nd annual Future Collegiate Showcase during the SECHC Playoffs.

When: 6-7-8 February 2015. Where: Pelham Civic Complex located at: 500 Amphitheater Road, Pelham, AL 35124

The SECHC Playoffs begins on Friday afternoon, Feb 6th and continues on Feb 7th and concludes with the 3rd Place Game and Championship Game on Sunday, Feb 8th. The U18 Showcase games will begin on Saturday, Feb 7th and conclude with a championship game on Sunday, Feb 8th prior to the SEC Hockey Conference’s Championship Game!

Last year’s event was a huge success and this year’s Showcase will be even better! Last year was the first showcase of players from all parts of SAHA & SYTHL during the SECHC championship. The Showcase was a successful event that exposed players to all 11 SECHC teams. Last year, many great connections were made between players, parents and SEC hockey programs. The hockey was great, but the best part of the weekend was the interaction between the players and their families with the representatives of the SEC Hockey Conference teams. Many questions were answered about college application timelines, financial and time commitments, expectations for players and parents and the importance of academics in all of the outstanding SEC schools.

Additionally, there will be opportunities for players and parents to meet and talk to representatives from all of the SECHC teams during a meet & greet brunch on Saturday morning. Each player will be participating in three full games with SEC hockey coaches manning the benches. We have added two more things to the agenda this year; the SEC Hockey Conference’s annual awards ceremony will be held on Friday night and all of the Future Collegiate Showcase players will be recognized. Additionally, the SECHC coaches will be grading players throughout the showcase games and will be selecting the “Best of the Best” for an additional game before the SECHC championship. Expect to be playing before the biggest crowds you have ever played before!

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by to participate in the best exposure to SECHC hockey. Looking forward to seeing you in Pelham, Alabama!

Sincerely,

Sarge Day, Commissioner, SECHC, sargeday@comcast.net
Russ Beatse, SYTHL Vice President, russbeatse@att.net
Paul Petrarca, SAHA Collegiate Director, paulpetrarca@ymail.com

Below is a link to fill out the application for the Future Collegiate Showcase event. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 6, 2015. We need completed applications which means all information must be completed 100% before the application can be submitted. This application will be used to determine participants and as an avenue for contact and player information to the college teams. Please go to this link below to fill out the application and remember, “You Can’t Step Out Of Bounds In Hockey!”

https://futurecollegiateshowcase.wufoo.com/forms/sahasythl-future-collegiate-showcase/

The Ice Hogs avenged last night’s 4-3 overtime loss by pounding the Nebraska Cornhuskers into corn meal this afternoon by a 9-1 score. The Razorback attack was led by captain Forest Mudgett who had two goals and an assist. Ryan Machos had a goal and added an assist and Kyle Summerford scored his first goal of the season to get the Hogs off to a fast start.
The Hogs got off to a quick 3- 0 lead in the first period and never looked back. Eight different players scored goals in a balanced attack and they dominated play throughout most of the game. The Ice Hogs had numerous good scoring chances all game long. Spencer Mulgrew was rarely tested and picked up the victory in goal.

The Ice Hogs will take a break until January 9th and 10 when they travel to Fremont, Nebraska for a rematch with Division I opponent Midland University. The Ice Hogs defeated Midland in a pair of games in October at the Jones Center. The Ice Hogs will be back home at the Jones Center on Saturday January 17th at 4:00pm and Sunday the18th at 11:00am to take on McKendree University. Go Hogs!

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.