The Ice Hogs (0-4-0) return home this weekend, September 28 & 29, to take on Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (2-0-0).  This weekend marks the first time the two programs have played one another.  The Hogs are coming off a challenging pair of weekends against two ACHA Division I opponents — the University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma — and are anxious to play for the first time this season in front of their home crowd.  The Hogs are currently led in scoring by junior forward Billy Dolan (3G, 1A) and sophomore forward Forest Mudgett (1G, 2A).

Southern Illinois enters the weekend having swept Wheaton College (ACHA DIII) in a pair of games on September 21 and 22.  Jay Albers leads the Cougars’ offensive attack, having notched five goals in two games last weekend.  The Cougars took game one from Wheaton by a score of 4-3 and earned a dominant 9-0 victory in game two.  Southern Illinois boasts a tradition dating back to 1996 that includes multiple conference championships and numerous appearances in the national rankings.

Game times for both games on Friday and Saturday are 7:30 pm.  Season ticket information is available here.  Tickets are also available for sale at the rink on the day of the game.  General seating tickets are $8, standing room only is $5, and students with an ID are admitted for $3.

After dropping a pair of games to the University of Central Oklahoma (ACHA-DI) last weekend, the Ice Hogs (0-2-0) head back to Oklahoma to take on another Division I opponent–the University of Oklahoma.  The University of Oklahoma Hockey club finished the 2011-2012 regular season ranked 7th nationally with a 26-13-2 record after a 6-3 loss to Penn State in the quarterfinals of the ACHA DI National Championship Tournament.  In their only prior meeting, the Hogs dropped their home opener last season to the Sooners by a score of 7-3.

Friday’s contest will get underway at 7:30 P.M. while Saturday’s game will have a 4:00 P.M. faceoff.

 

 

Season ticket information for all Ice Hogs is now available!  VIP passes will be available from today (9/20) through the end of our first home game (9/29).  There are a limited number of VIP passes so act quickly!  Click here for more information:  season ticket information

Tryout dates and times are set for the Arkansas Men’s Hockey Team. From August 16-19, players will compete for a spot on the 2012-13 roster. Tryouts begin with off-ice testing on the 16th followed by three on-ice days. This year’s recruiting class is the most geographically diverse in the program’s short history, featuring players from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Connecticut, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

Players who would like to tryout but have not yet expressed interest in doing so should contact Assistant Coach Collin Hesse at collin4hesse@gmail.com for more information. Any full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at the University of Arkansas is welcome to tryout for the team.

Tryouts are free and open to the public. All sessions occur at the Jones Center in Springdale, Arkansas. The schedule is as follows:

August 17: 10-11:45 am

August 18: 3:30-6:45 pm

August 19: 12-1:15 pm

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark- The 2011-2012 season for the Arkansas Razorbacks is now in the books with a successful 22-6-0 record, and many of the players were recognized for their on-ice efforts, as well as a few for their off-ice efforts.

Goaltenders Brendan Desjardins and Nick Jabs as well as forward Garth Derry were named to the SECHC All-Academic team.

Brendan Desjardins was also named to the third-team All-South Region of the ACHA and the first-team All-SECHC.

Justin Gaddy and Easton Oliver were named to the third-team All-SECHC.

The Ice Hogs will be well represented on the SECHC All-Star team which will play in April in Philadelphia, the Arkansas players that will be there are: Brendan Desjardins, Justin McDowell, Justin Gaddy, Matin Sundstedt, Clay Kasten, and Easton Oliver.

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.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark- The winner-take-all showdown between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Alabama Crimson Tide took place Saturday night in front of a packed Jones Center in Springdale, Arkansas.

The winner of this game would take the top seed in the SECHC West Division. Arkansas was looking to complete a 3-peat as regular season West Division champions, while Alabama was looking to win it’s first West Division title since the 2008-2009 season.

It was Senior Night for Arkansas as goaltender Brendan Desjardins and forwards Garth Derry and Justin Gaddy would play their final games as Arkansas Razorbacks, and what a way it was to finish in front of the largest crowd the Razorbacks have ever seen at the Jones Center.

The first period got off to a good start for each team as the energy ran high, but the Ice Hogs struck first with 9:50 left to play in the period when Billy Dolan scored his first of two goals, giving the Razorbacks an early 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Alabama tied the game back up in the second period off a shot from Brandon Butler 2:24 in, but Martin Sundstedt of the Razorbacks took back the lead with 3:27 left in the second frame, leaving the score at 2-1 in favor of Arkansas heading in to what would be an exciting third period.

Billy Dolan extended the Ice Hog lead with his second goal of the game 3:54 in to the period, but with 8:28 left to play in the game, Clay Link of Alabama scored to inch the Tide closer to tying the game back.

As the clock ticked down Alabama came full force on the Razorbacks, giving it all they had, but Brendan Desjardins wouldn’t let anything through, securing a 3-2 victory for Arkansas, and their third straight West Division title.

Not only did tonight’s win for Arkansas give them their third West title, but it also gave them the opportunity to receive an automatic bid in to the National Tournament March 14th-17th. No SECHC team has ever gotten an automatic bid to the National Tournament.

The Hogs will also look to win their third straight SECHC Conference Championship February 24th-26th in Columbus, Georgia.

Saturday night’s game will be aired Sunday night at 7:00 pm on UATV, you can find the game at uatvonline.net.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark- The Arkansas Razorbacks faced off against the Alabama Crimson Tide Friday night in the first of two games this weekend to wrap up regular season play.

Riding a two goal performance from Martin Sundstedt, the Ice Hogs topped the Tide by a score of 4-2.

Arkansas opened up the scoring 6:02 in to the game off the stick of Junior defenseman Clay Kasten, and Martin Sundstedt would get his first goal with 9:11 left to play in the first, giving the Hogs a 2-0 lead heading in to the second period.

Sundstedt picked up where he left off 6:15 in to the second frame by grabbing his second goal of the game, but Alabama fought back with a goal of their own from Zach Dailey 9:48 in. Easton Oliver answered the Tide goal just a couple minutes later, but Alabama’s Mark Wysock had answer for the Hog goal as well with 5:19 left to play in the period, leaving the score at 4-2 in favor of Arkansas.

Brendan Desjardins kept the Tide at bay with a shutout third period to secure the Razorback victory.

Arkansas and Alabama are now tied at 16 points a piece in the SECHC, making tomorrow nights game a winner take all game for the #1 spot in the west division.

Tomorrow nights game will also be aired by UATV (University of Arkansas Television). You can find UATV on channel 214 of Cox Digital Cable or on their 24/7 stream at uatvonline.net. The game will be re-aired Sunday night at 7:00 pm.

Be sure to join us at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale, Arkansas for what is sure to be a thriller. Tickets are $6 for adults, $2 for students, and free for children under the age of 10.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark- The South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference held their annual showcase this weekend in Pelham, Alabama and the Ice Hogs of Arkansas came away from it with 3 wins and no loses.

On Friday night the Razorbacks played their first game of the weekend against the east’s top seed Florida where they would come away with a 6-1 win.

4 minutes in to the game Johnny Stromp scored to give the Hogs an early lead, and one minute later Billy Dolan added to it. With 8:20 left to play in the first period, Justin McDowell scored his first goal of the game and got his second 4 minutes later giving Arkansas a comfortable 4-0 lead at the end of the first.

5:03 in to the second period the Gators got on the board with a goal from Michael Jugon, but Ryan Holloway of the Razorbacks would have an answer for that though 2 minutes later leaving the score at 5-1 heading in to the third period.

Brendan Desjardins would stay sharp between the pipes for the rest of the game and Martin Sundstedt would add one more goal to the Ice Hog total finalizing the score at 6-1.

Saturday afternoon Arkansas faced Tennessee where they ran wild on the Volunteers, beating them by a score of 15-1.

Justin McDowell opened the scoring with his first goal of the game 2:44 in followed by Trent Ritchie’s first goal of the game just a couple minutes later. Halfway through the first period Johnny Stromp added to the Hog goal total with 7:24 left in the period Marcel Toure scored leaving the first period at a 4-0 lead for the Hogs.

Marcel Toure picked up where he left off in the second period scoring his second goal of the game 1:12 in to the second period and just 30 seconds later Justin McDowell grabbed his second goal of the game. Kasey Womble got himself on the board 5:05 in to the second and so did Martin Sundstedt with 6:51 left to play in the period. Ross Miller netted on before the period was over and so did Justin Gaddy with 42 seconds left in the second giving the Ice Hogs a 10-0 lead heading in to the third.

4:34 in to the third period Trent Ritchie scored his second goal of the game followed by a goal from Easton Oliver and one from Michael Kress, but the Vols wouldn’t be shut out in this game as they snuck one past Kevin Sheer. The hat trick would be completed by Trent Ritchie with 4:45 left in the game and Bryce Derry finished out the scoring for the Razorbacks, leaving the final at 15-1 in favor of Arkansas.

Sunday afternoon would see the Razorbacks biggest game of the season as the faced the #2 ranked Central Florida Knights.

The Ice Hogs would strike first with 7:35 left to play in the first period with goal from Martin Sundstedt, but Josh Drazin of the Knights answered with 2:45 left in the first leaving the score all tied up at 1 at the end of the first period.

Halfway through the second period Trent Ritchie gave the Razorbacks another lead, but once again Central Florida would tie it back up, this time from Jeremy Roberts. Easton Oliver grabbed the lead right back for the Razorbacks one minute later and Justin Gaddy added one more to the Arkansas lead before the period was over giving the Hogs a 4-2 lead heading in to the third.

4:30 in to the third period Justin McDowell scored to extend the Razorback lead. Nick Parise scored for the Knights in an effort to get back in the game, but Brendan Desjardins kept it from happening, securing the Razorbacks biggest win of the season with a 5-3 victory of Central Florida.

Next weekend the Alabama Frozen Tide will make a trip to Springdale, Arkansas to face the Razorbacks in a weekend that will determine the conference’s top seed. The Tide is currently sitting atop the SECHC with 16 points while the Razorbacks are at a close second with 14 points, and riding on a 9 game win streak.

Be sure to come out and help pack the Jones Center for Families in Springdale, Arkansas Friday February 3^rd and Saturday February 4^th, tickets are $6 for adults, $2 for students and free for children under the age of 10.