2008 Woodie Awards
Redbird hockey starts 6-4-1 in Gold division
Frank Savaglio
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Sports
The ISU Redbird hockey team is coming off of a rough overtime loss to Missouri State University last weekend and now holds a record of 6-4-1.
Despite the 5-4 defeat, Head Coach Brian Corley believes it was still a victory in itself to play as well as the team did against an experienced Missouri State team.
"With our team losing to Missouri State, while you would like to win every game, that performance was kind of a victory for us because Missouri State is the MACHA Gold champions from last year, and this being our first year in MACHA Gold and taking them into overtime is a big step forward for us," Corley said.
Corley would like to see ISU hockey have a continued progression after the success they were able to achieve last season, and expects a top-10 finish in their region.
"We did have a lot of success last season. We were 31-2, but that was playing a silver schedule and now we're playing a gold schedule," Corley said.
"So, while our record is not as good as it was last year the team is actually far better."
The Redbirds have been powered by players such as John Orlak, Kevin Kruszynski and Brett Kahanec last season and this season, but Corley believes there are even more players that can step up and play.
"We have a number of freshmen that are off to a tremendous start, some kids like Dustin Karrison and Steven Hong are guys that you will see as they gain more experience and get to the point where they are right there with Kevin and Brett."
The Redbirds are currently seeded just outside of the top-10 of the Central division and will need to move up at least a spot if they want to qualify for a National Tournament spot.
The team will have its chance to move up when they play teams such as Depaul and Iowa later in the season.
"Depaul is a very tough program, they are probably underrated in the rankings, to split with them would be a solid step forward," Corley said.
"Iowa we feel we can sweep them, but that will not be until January."
The Redbirds will also have an opportunity this weekend to improve their ranking when they host the University of St. Thomas.
Corley believes that the games against St. Thomas will be huge for the team, because they are also in the top-15.
If one team can sweep the other it will almost certainly knock the losing team out of contention, putting the other in a much stronger position.
"They are a real strong organization out of Minnesota, they are 9-2 right now and all of their games have been in Minnesota against teams we do not normally see, so it's hard to gauge where they are at," said Corley.
"Here you have two very good teams that will be going head to head and who ever brings their better game is going to succeed this weekend."
ISU will play the University of St. Thomas at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum on November 9 at 8 p.m. and again on November 10 at 12 p.m.
Despite the 5-4 defeat, Head Coach Brian Corley believes it was still a victory in itself to play as well as the team did against an experienced Missouri State team.
"With our team losing to Missouri State, while you would like to win every game, that performance was kind of a victory for us because Missouri State is the MACHA Gold champions from last year, and this being our first year in MACHA Gold and taking them into overtime is a big step forward for us," Corley said.
Corley would like to see ISU hockey have a continued progression after the success they were able to achieve last season, and expects a top-10 finish in their region.
"We did have a lot of success last season. We were 31-2, but that was playing a silver schedule and now we're playing a gold schedule," Corley said.
"So, while our record is not as good as it was last year the team is actually far better."
The Redbirds have been powered by players such as John Orlak, Kevin Kruszynski and Brett Kahanec last season and this season, but Corley believes there are even more players that can step up and play.
"We have a number of freshmen that are off to a tremendous start, some kids like Dustin Karrison and Steven Hong are guys that you will see as they gain more experience and get to the point where they are right there with Kevin and Brett."
The Redbirds are currently seeded just outside of the top-10 of the Central division and will need to move up at least a spot if they want to qualify for a National Tournament spot.
The team will have its chance to move up when they play teams such as Depaul and Iowa later in the season.
"Depaul is a very tough program, they are probably underrated in the rankings, to split with them would be a solid step forward," Corley said.
"Iowa we feel we can sweep them, but that will not be until January."
The Redbirds will also have an opportunity this weekend to improve their ranking when they host the University of St. Thomas.
Corley believes that the games against St. Thomas will be huge for the team, because they are also in the top-15.
If one team can sweep the other it will almost certainly knock the losing team out of contention, putting the other in a much stronger position.
"They are a real strong organization out of Minnesota, they are 9-2 right now and all of their games have been in Minnesota against teams we do not normally see, so it's hard to gauge where they are at," said Corley.
"Here you have two very good teams that will be going head to head and who ever brings their better game is going to succeed this weekend."
ISU will play the University of St. Thomas at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum on November 9 at 8 p.m. and again on November 10 at 12 p.m.
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