The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that CCHL alum Chris Boswell plans to attend the University of Arkansas next season.  Chris is the first official Razorback Hockey commitment for the 2015 recruiting season.  A 6’1″ 195 lb. defenseman, Chris last played for the Carleton Place Canadians for Coach Jason Clarke.  Carleton Place regularly produces scholarship-ready student-athletes alongside NHL draft selections.  Said Chris about choosing Arkansas, “Arkansas has a great winning tradition combined with outstanding academics which was a big draw for me.”  He added, “I hope to be a key contributor to the expansion and growth of this successful organization as it moves up to Division I.”

Division I Head Coach Brian Gallini is equally pleased.  “Attracting players of Chris’s quality speaks volumes about the growth of our program.  We expect him to bring a physical presence to our blueline.”

Since 2009, the Arkansas hockey program has amassed an overall record of 161-48-4, including three trips to the Division III National Tournament and five SECHC conference playoff tournament championships.  The team’s home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.

Coach Rob Thomas will join the University of Arkansas Razorback Hockey program as the Division III head coach effective immediately. “I see an opportunity to grow hockey here in Northwest Arkansas and wanted to be part of that,” Thomas said about becoming the Division III head coach.  “I believe that the program Arkansas has put together is a very good one, and they’re doing everything right to make hockey exciting to watch in this area.”

Thomas is a USA Hockey level V certified coach and has more than 30 years of coaching experience.  His playing career began at age 3. He competitively competed through midget AAA before he was invited to the Washington Capitals training camp. He played professionally for the American Hockey League Philadelphia Firebirds until a shoulder injury forced him to retire.

Thomas joined the Army after his injury healed, and he played for six years with the REV Heilbronn Club in West Germany. He began his coaching career in 1984 when he became a coach for West Germany’s junior league. There, he found the love of coaching and used a combined North American and European style of play that led his team to a winning record.

Thomas served as the head coach for the Bristol Blazers, a junior B team near Philadelphia, when he returned to the States in 1987. He recorded more than 50 wins and only seven losses in his two-year coaching stint there before becoming the head coach at Temple University.

In his two years at Temple University, Thomas led the team to two undefeated seasons, 18-0-2 and 20-0, and two Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey League champion titles. He was elected to coach the 1990-91 All Star Team.  Seven of his players were selected to play on the team, and his goalie was chosen as the season’s MVP.

Thomas, who was stationed in Tampa Bay, Fla. during Operation Desert Storm, then went on to led the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning to a winning record in 1992. He also coached the Tampa Bay Blades, a women’s team, for five years and led them to two championships in the world’s largest women’s hockey tournament in Brampton, Ontario.

In the 1993-94 season, Thomas played a key role in developing a youth program that included mites to midgets. He was involved with that program for four years.  Since then, Thomas organized and instructed various hockey camps around the country including in West Point, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. He currently serves as a consultant to the AHL Charlotte Checkers.

“I’m going to really enjoy being the Division III coach because I believe the main focal point at this level is going to be developing the players for the Division I team to get them prepared for Coach Gallini,” Thomas added. “I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

He lives with his wife, Valerie, and son, Cole, in Rogers.

Although the Razorbacks won two games in pool play at this year’s National Tournament by defeating Fairfield (6-2) and Calvin (9-2), a 6-1 loss to Florida Gulf Coast derailed the team’s plans to advance.  Arkansas therefore finished pool play with a 2-1 record and ends its season with an overall 29-10-2 record.  Looking back, the season was a memorable one loaded with highlights including an eleven game win streak, three victories over a Division I opponent, a fifth SEC playoff championship, and two victories at Nationals.  Collectively, the team’s play over this past season and the several before it also enabled the program to, beginning with the 2015-16 season, become the first ever SEC school to advance to Division I.

As the season winds down, Arkansas says goodbye to graduating seniors Easton Oliver (#39), Marcel Toure (#33), Taylor Jones (#79), Connor Crumblish (#26), and Spencer Mulgrew (#37).  Oliver played for the Razorbacks for parts of six seasons and was the first ever Razorback player selected to play for the ACHA Division III Selects team.  He will graduate with his degree in Mechanical Engineering and hopes to continue his playing career next season as a professional in Europe.  A staple in the Razorbacks’ lineup over the last several years, Toure’s scoring presence will be missed.  He will graduate with a degree in Business Management.

Crumblish leaves the program as the only player in the team’s history to graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  Recognized consistently on the SEC All-Academic Team, Crumblish also earned 2015 SEC Tournament MVP honors.  He will graduate with his degree in Management this May.  Taylor Jones transferred as a sophomore from Oklahoma State whose finishing ability around the net will be missed.  Jones will graduate with a Small Business Entrepreneurship degree.  Finally, Mulgrew leaves the program after having backstopped the team to numerous victories including notable wins over UCF in the 2014 National Tournament, Division I Midland University this season, and Fairfield University in this year’s National Tournament.  He will graduate with his degree in Marketing.

As we say goodbye to our five seniors, we are excited to introduce our new recruiting class.   Stay tuned during the off-season for stories about the newest incoming Hogs who will compete for a roster spot in August.  Thank you again to all of our fantastic fans for another memorable season.

In front of a raucous Missouri State crowd, the Razorbacks dropped a 3-0 contest to the Ice Bears on Friday, February 27.  Missouri State got on the board twice in the first period and never looked back.  Although the teams played even in the second period, the Bears added a third marker in the third period on a short-handed tally.  The loss marked the first shutout loss for the Razorbacks all season.

All eyes now shift to the Division III National Tournament where the Hogs will begin pool play on Tuesday, March 10, against the Fairfield Stags.  Fairfield enters pool play sporting an impressive 15-3 overall record as the #3 seed from the Atlantic.  Arkansas then faces the fourth seed from the north–Calvin College–on Wednesday and closes pool play against top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.

The full schedule is here.  Articles previewing the team’s appearance at Nationals are here and here.  Fans can watch individual games on Fasthockey.com (PPV).

The Hogs played host to Division II Missouri State on Saturday, February 21. The Ice Bears got on the board first with a goal from Connor Millard at the 12:28 mark in the first period.  Mason Brower knotted the score at 16:48 of the second period on a tally assisted by Ryan Machos.  The second period was a see-saw affair that saw three more goals.  Missouri State’s Alex Turin reclaimed the lead for the Bears under a minute later at the 16:02 mark.  The Hogs once again battled back and potted two more before end of the period behind goals from Forest Mudgett and Connor Crumblish.

The Razorbacks never looked back.  Entering the third period down a man, the Hogs had to kill a double minor penalty assessed to assistant captain Ryan Machos.  After killing the extended penalty, Arkansas scored three consecutive goals to close out the contest (M. Robinson, E. Robinson, Van Rooyen).  The win pushed the Hogs’ overall record to 27-8-2.  Next up for the team is a trip to Springfield, Missouri, on Friday, February 27, for a rematch against the Division II Ice Bears at 7 pm.  The game will be broadcast live at websportsradio.com.

As the No. 2-ranked team in the DIII Pacific Region, the Hogs earned an automatic birth in the National Tournament in Pelham, Alabama.  The tournament will start on March 10 when the Razorbacks take on Fairfield at 10 am.  For the complete Nationals schedule, click here.

Some late changes to the Ice Hogs schedule have just been made.

1. This Saturday (Feb. 21st) at 7:30 pm we will be hosting Missouri State.

2. Friday the 27th we will play at Missouri State for a 7:00pm game time.

3. Saturday the 28th, we will have the Red / White game at 4pm and after the game we will host a skate with the HOGS for 1 hour after the game.
Tickets will be available at the door. Ice Hogs merchandise and auction items will also be on sale.
Tell your friends and please share this announcement!
Come out and support the Razorbacks – Go Hogs!

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.”