The Adrian College NCAA men’s hockey team is preparing to compete against Concordia Wisconsin in the NCHA Harris Cup Quarterfinals this weekend. As the top seed in the tournament, the Bulldogs are determined to continue their winning streak after securing their third consecutive Peters Cup. Meanwhile, the Falcons enter the playoffs as the 8th seed and are focused on upsetting their higher-ranked opponents.
Adrian College boasts an impressive 19-5-1 record for the season, with a dominant 16-2-0 record in conference play. The team has secured the No. 3 spot in the USCHO.com Coaches Poll and the Pairwise Rankings. Their recent sweep over No. 10 Trine has further solidified their position as a formidable contender in the playoffs.
With an average of 4.4 goals per game and a strong defence allowing only 1.9 goals per game, Adrian’s offensive prowess is not to be underestimated. Leading the charge is Mathew Rehding, who has scored 14 goals and provided 22 assists, amounting to a team-high 36 points. Alongside Rehding, Zachary Heintz, Ryan Pitoscia, and Jacob Suede have contributed 12 and 11 goals respectively. Jaden Shields leads the team in assists with 25, followed by Bradley Somers with 18 and Suede with 16.
In goal, Dershahn Stewart has been a stalwart presence for the Bulldogs, boasting a record of 15-5-1 with four shutouts for the season. With a goals against average of 1.84 and a save percentage of 93.5%, Stewart’s performance has been instrumental in the team’s success.
Having previously swept Concordia Wisconsin in a two-game series earlier in the season, the Bulldogs are poised to maintain their dominance. In their last encounter, Adrian secured an 8-0 victory and a 6-2 victory in the two games, with standout performances from Heintz and Somers.
On the other side, Concordia Wisconsin enters the tournament with an 8-17 record and a three-game losing streak. The Falcons are led by Alex Ochitwa, their top scorer with 11 goals for the year. In goal, Gabe Rosek is expected to start for the Falcons, with an 8-15 record and a 4.11 goals against average.
The Harris Cup Quarterfinals will take place at Adrian, with the first game scheduled for Friday, February 16 at 3:00 PM, followed by the second game on Saturday at 1:00 PM. In the event of a series tie, a mini-game will follow Saturday’s contest to determine the advancing team. Tickets are available at www.adrianbulldogs.com.
As the Bulldogs and the Falcons prepare to face off, the tension is palpable, and fans eagerly anticipate an exhilarating match-up between the two teams. With their eyes set on the prize, both teams will undoubtedly leave it all on the ice as they battle for victory.