MD1 Sweeps Cardinals; Finishes Regular Season with Best Record in Program History
The Men’s ACHA D1 team took on the Red Birds of Illinois State University this past weekend for their final home series of the regular season.
Marcus Rose struck first on Saturday night, grabbing the first goal of the game at the 4:54 mark of the first. Rose’s goal would be assisted by Brad Kobryn and Marcel Kottek. A breakaway goal from Ted Anstett would give the Bulldogs a two goal lead at the 13:10 mark of the first. Anstett’s goal would be assisted by Justin Fisher and Mark Fratarcangeli. A beautiful Brad Kobryn to Chris Derochie play on a 5-on-3 powerplay would lead to the third Bulldog goal of the night. Kobryn would grab the lone assist on Derochie’s powerplay goal. Kobryn would snag one of his own at the 17:54 mark of the first while still on the powerplay. Marcel Kottek and JP Grineau would assist on Kobryn’s goal. After one, the Bulldogs lead the Red Birds 4-0 and outshoot them 21-4.
Dominic Moore wasted no time getting started in the second, scoring at the 1:49 mark of the period. Rainer Glimpel and Nikolas Sakellaropoulos would assist on Moore’s goal. Fisher would bury one of his own 5 seconds later with assists going to Anstett and Fratarcangeli. That would do it for the starting Illinois goaltender after 6 goals on less than 30 shots. Illinois State would be assessed a five minute major for head contact at the 2:26 mark of the second period, giving the Bulldogs a five minute powerplay opportunity. Rose’s second of the night would come on the five minute powerplay at the 4:42 mark of the second. Kottek would be given the lone assist. CJ Nicholson’s first of the night at the 8:13 mark would give the home team an 8-0 lead. Justin Polischuk would grab his first of the night at the 12:40 mark on the penalty kill with the lone assist going to Sam Johnston for the 9th goal of the game for the Bulldogs. Goals from Mark Fratarcangeli and Michael Tratar in the final two minutes of the game would give the Bulldogs a 9-0 lead heading into the final period. Kottek would grab the lone assist on Fratarcangeli’s goal and Tratar’s goal would be assisted by Polischuk.
Illinois State would get on the board for the first time of the night at the 1:27 mark of the final frame and 1:30 later be assessed another five minute major for kneeing. Rose’s third of the night would come on the five minute powerplay with assists going to Grineau and Kottek. 68 penalty minutes later, Johnston would net one of his own at even strength at the 15:45 mark of the third period. Polischuk and McKinnon would assist on the final goal of the game. Final score was 13-1 in favor of the Bulldogs and the home team would outshoot their opponents 65-12.
The following afternoon would be senior night for the MD1 team as they honored their 8 members of the Class of 2017 prior to the game.
Dominic Moore started the scoring in game #2 at the 2:17 mark of the first. Moore’s goal would be assisted by Justin Fisher and Josh Hosking for a powerplay goal. A beautiful backhand shot from Chris Derochie on the powerplay would give the Bulldogs a 2-0 at the 11:21 mark of the first. Brad Kobryn and Marcus Rose would assist on Derochie’s powerplay goal. Ted Anstett’s first of the night at the 16:15 mark would give the home team another more comfortable lead. Fisher would snag his second assist of the night on Anstett’s goal. The Red Birds would find the back of the net at the 16:47 mark of the first but Rose would add his fourth in two games at the 18:01 mark of the first to regain the three goal lead. Nikolas Sakellaropoulos would be awarded the lone assist. After one, the Bulldogs lead the Red Birds 4-1 and outshoot their opponents 18-9.
Michael Tratar’s second in as many games would put the Bulldogs up 5-1 at the 5:12 mark of the second period of play. Anstett and Rose would assist on Tratar’s goal. Sam Johnston would snag his second in as many games as well during the second, coming at the 6:05 mark of the second. Steven Szekesy and Sakellaropoulos would grab the assists. Tratar would strike again at the 7:10 mark of the second with assists going to Justin Polischuk and JP Grineau. Marcel Kottek’s shot from the point would find its way into the back of the net at the 9:13 mark for his 7th of the season. Kottek’s goal was assisted by Kobryn and Archie McKinnon. After two, your Bulldogs lead the Red Birds 8-1 and outshoot their opponents 35-15.
Tempers flared at the beginning of the third period as Morin of Illinois State got into a scrum with Ted Anstett, pulling off his helmet and continuing to hit him even though his stick was still in his hands. Morin would take a trip to the box and then back to the locker room for an early shower, being handed a five minute major and a game disqualification. The Bulldogs would not convert on the five minute major, however, Anstett would grab his second of the night with only 6 seconds remaining in the game to go out with a bang and give the Class of 2017 a 9-1 victory on senior night.
17 different players grabbed points on Saturday night and 15 had at least a point Sunday afternoon. Four players would grab 5 points or more (Marcel Kottek with 1G-5A-6pts, Marcus Rose 3G-3A-6pts, Brad Kobryn 1G-4A-5pts and Ted Anstett 3G-2A-5pts). The Bulldogs travel to Kent, OH this Friday night to face off against the winner of Oakland vs. Eastern Michigan for the first game of GLCHL Playoffs. More info on playoffs and nationals can be found on Facebook or on Twitter @ac_achahockey.
The Class of 2017 leaves Arrington Ice Arena with the best regular season record in program history (29-1) while only dropping 6 games at home during their four years. The seniors have been a part of 3 GLCHL Regular Season titles, 2 GLCHL Playoff titles and 3 (soon to be 4) National Tournament appearances. And the best part?
They’re not done yet.