“Arkansas 4, Central Oklahoma 3 OT” was more than just another line score from the ACHA action on the night of Nov. 22.
Way more!
Arkansas is a Division III non-varsity hockey team. Central Oklahoma is a Division I team. More than that, the Broncos are a ranked DI team, No. 10 going into their two-game series with the Hogs.
DIII teams rarely beat DI teams — ranked or otherwise — and certainly not on the road as the Razorbacks did. (According to the ACHA, four of the 144 other DIII teams — all Atlantic Division teams — have turned the trick five times this season, but none defeated a DI top 25 opponent.)
“Unquestionably, this was the biggest win of our [seven-year] existence,” said head coach Brian Gallini, whose Arkansas team (shown celebrating a goal against Central Oklahoma in photo) is 17-5-0-0, ranked No. 1 in the ACHA’s Pacific Region and in first place in the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference’s West Division.
He said the Central Oklahoma coaches were very complimentary of the Razorbacks, telling him … [read the rest of the story here].