2008 Woodie Awards
Solving Kassel would make for glorious weekend for men's hockey
Brian Fitzsimmons
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Sports
The task has weighed heavily on the minds of the Sacred Heart men's hockey team. Logic says by finding some way - any way possible- to break the wall of Army's standout goaltender, Josh Kassel, it will enter the playoffs as the top seed. Math, however, makes the scenario seem a bit more daunting.
Last weekend Kassel's shutout streak of 170:17 was snapped, but he still currently sits on top of Atlantic Hockey's goals against average (1.94), win percentage (.600), and save percentage (.923).
If the Pioneers lose both games of this weekend's home-and-home season series finale they could drop to the fourth or fifth seed in the league playoffs, and if they split, can own second or third.
"We are aware of the fact that if we win both games this weekend we will put ourselves in a position to finish first," said coach Shaun Hannah. "If RIT wins both and we finish tied for first with them, we will be the second seed as we lose the tie breaker with RIT. On the flip side we are also aware that two losses this weekend would drop us down to a fourth or fifth place finish, a scenario we would like to avoid. However, our main concern is to prepare well and play well this in back-to-back games."
Since the Pioneers are steering their own destiny, some relief can come from not having to look at the out of town scoreboard constantly. They have their own problems to figure out. The biggest one, being Kassel.
"I think you got to just do what you always do," said junior Bear Trapp. "Army is a very good defensive team and Kassel doesn't give up weak goals. We just have to make sure that we are going to score on the chances we get."
It's up to Alexandre Parent, who is riding a 14-game point streak, to pull some tricks of out his magic bag once again. It's up to Stefan Drew, who is this week's conference goaltender of the week, to outshine his opponent and truly step up in a way Jason Smith didn't. It's up to the supporting cast to convert on the power play and make this weekend the starting point of a longer journey in the playoffs than usual.
Last weekend Kassel's shutout streak of 170:17 was snapped, but he still currently sits on top of Atlantic Hockey's goals against average (1.94), win percentage (.600), and save percentage (.923).
If the Pioneers lose both games of this weekend's home-and-home season series finale they could drop to the fourth or fifth seed in the league playoffs, and if they split, can own second or third.
"We are aware of the fact that if we win both games this weekend we will put ourselves in a position to finish first," said coach Shaun Hannah. "If RIT wins both and we finish tied for first with them, we will be the second seed as we lose the tie breaker with RIT. On the flip side we are also aware that two losses this weekend would drop us down to a fourth or fifth place finish, a scenario we would like to avoid. However, our main concern is to prepare well and play well this in back-to-back games."
Since the Pioneers are steering their own destiny, some relief can come from not having to look at the out of town scoreboard constantly. They have their own problems to figure out. The biggest one, being Kassel.
"I think you got to just do what you always do," said junior Bear Trapp. "Army is a very good defensive team and Kassel doesn't give up weak goals. We just have to make sure that we are going to score on the chances we get."
It's up to Alexandre Parent, who is riding a 14-game point streak, to pull some tricks of out his magic bag once again. It's up to Stefan Drew, who is this week's conference goaltender of the week, to outshine his opponent and truly step up in a way Jason Smith didn't. It's up to the supporting cast to convert on the power play and make this weekend the starting point of a longer journey in the playoffs than usual.
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