Rock The Rink
Rock The Rink
Episode #136 - Nattys Preview
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With Nationals around the corner, we take a look at are teams that made their respective national tournaments and their opening matchups.
Welcome back to the Rocky Ring podcast presented to you on the campus of Liberty University. This is my favorite podcast of the year, guys. The Natty's preview podcast. Doesn't get much better than this. Nationals get started next week. And I feel like we have a pretty good collective group heading to nationals this season, Forth.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Four of our five teams going to nationals this year. I think we've got a good representation. And to be honest, I think everybody's got a pretty decent shot of whether it's just getting out of pool play, making a semifinal team, or going on a run.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. I totally agree. I think all four teams that are making it, which actually it's kind of crazy, all four teams that are making it would be considered ranked in the top ten of the respective leagues nation, right? Like, so like that's kind of impressive too. So like uh I think that Coach Forf said is right. Like, I think all the teams could either go on a run or definitely all should be able to make the final four.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's gonna be fun. We're gonna break down each team for you guys today, starting with our men's division one team, our D1 Flames heading to the national tournament as the number five ranking in. Yeah, first of all, what do we think of this final ranking? I feel like it's it's a pretty good one for Liberty considering the ups and downs they've had throughout the year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think the biggest thing for them, I know, especially the way they left things after you split with Ohio at Bird Arena, giving them their first loss. You're thinking, okay, they're coming back here. Their road record hasn't been that great, especially as of late. This is our chance to really see some momentum. Game one, I thought you saw a lot of fight from Liberty in that game, especially after going down 3-0. They come back, find a way to force overtime. Fortunately, you drop a heartbreaker, 6-5 in OT, and then the next day you get dumped. Uh, Liberty needed some help and they got it, right? Teams above them lost, and so I think that helped them as well as also their strength of schedule, right? When you basically they have played 11 teams that are in the current field right now, right? So, like that's huge. Yeah, so uh that helps with the strength of schedule. They're well versed, they're battle tested, and uh hopefully, yeah, you know, in the words of the great Ted Lasso, be a goldfish, right? Have a short memory after last and start getting healthy and get ready for a team that really feels like they can make a final four run and really truthfully, they're in a championship window. Like we thought that last year after what happened last year at Nationals, still feel that way about this year's team.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, moving up to five, I think, is gonna be huge for their path to nationals. Yes. Uh as we've broken it down previously. Um, but like Pat said, I we they need to have a short memory on this one. Uh, the emotional loss and overtime, it's obviously tough. And and I think this speaks to the coach Handy's strength of schedule and why he builds it and why they build it this way. Um, obviously they're they're gonna be battle tested and ready to go. And and I think you've learned some things even in those tough losses, that like you can't make those emotional decisions, right? And and as far as far as coaches, like who you can look at what you've done and who did we have out in which situation, and do we like that? And we're gonna commit to it, or we're gonna tweak it and change it. Yep. Uh, going forward, and like I like you were talking about, there's tons of video against the number two team in the nation, right? Four in a row. So I think going into this tournament, they're gonna be ready to go.
SPEAKER_01So let's kind of take a look at where they're heading bracket-wise. Right now, Liberty is slated to face the winner of the game, number 12 Utah versus number 21 Northwood. Now, like in all honesty, you expect Utah to come out with this one and Liberty to end up facing Utah in their first round of play. But just taking a good glance at both of those teams, Utah again, number 12 in the nation. They were a first round exit in the past two national tournaments. Liberty faced them earlier this year, beat them 8-2 and 3-2 in a shootout. So that second one was pretty close. Um, and then for Northwood, you know, they're a team that's number 21 in the nation. They're 21-1 in their last 22 games. But again, like where Liberty just separates themselves is that strength of schedule. Like these teams aren't playing the kind of competition that Liberty is. And so kudos to Liberty's coaching staff for scheduling those games and Kirk Candy for making sure they are battle tested. Um, first off, Pat, any thoughts on the potential matchup with either Utah or Northwood?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think for both teams, I think for Liberty, they have to know that, hey, neither is gonna be a bit of a cakewalk, right? Like, obviously, you just brought up a good point. Like, yes, you thumped Utah in game one, but it took game two, they made great adjustments, and you went behind twice in that game. You went down one-nothing and two-one, and you scored late to force overtime. So, like obviously, the Utes uh under Coach Feeney has done a great job with figuring things out, and then also they're coming in, excuse me, with some momentum themselves. Big split versus the number four team, UNLV, uh, before to close out their regular season. So that's huge for them. Northwood, on the other hand, you just talked about very impressive record, uh, especially on were on a bit of a heater until they played Adrian, but that was a close game, 5-3, right? Like they took them to the brink, scoring an empty net goal for their final game, and they're also the GLCHL conference champ. So that's a very talented team, and I'm sure they're looking to continue building on their program too. So both games winnable for Liberty, but not easy tasks to start things up. But I think it's good momentum because potentially then uh they have a chance to face either UNLV, who the Flames definitely want, or Grand Canyon and Grand Valley, depending on who comes out of that.
SPEAKER_05Uh from kind of like the announcement show last week, it was like, okay, this is a good bracket. Like, I really like our looks and everything, but we have to remember to always look at schedules and look at who teams are playing consistently, how close those games are. So for both of these teams, you look at Northwood and like they've kept it close and they've had great games against great teams. And then when I think of Utah, they are in a really, really good conference, right? So Utah is taking regular games against the defending champs UNLV. So a lot of these guys coming in are battle tested, and yeah, maybe they've dropped one or two games here and there that kind of push them down the ranks, so to speak. Um, but we're really gonna have to have our head on a swivel because uh they'll have just played a game and then play us, I believe, or they'll also have a day off. I can't remember exactly uh when the teams play, it's right here in front of me. But uh that first game is just so important to kind of get momentum going. But what I do like about our our bracket, our schedule is we always seem to, and Pat, you remember this, we always seem to play those 10-15 a.m. games. No matter who we're playing, I always think that's an advantage for Liberty, right? We just have the the human resources, we have the logistics, uh, we st we are we own our ice rink, so we're able to set practice schedules, we're able to kind of get ice around and in that practice time, we're always gonna have an advantage, and I always will give us again, no matter who we're playing, that kind of nod when it's an early game like that. So I'm excited about no matter who we play, kind of that game one or uh game two on Sunday, like man, 10 15 a.m. games are for us. We'll we'll take that all day long. And then also, too, Lord willing, we we move on from those games, then we get the most rest at anybody, depending if we play the 445 or 8 o'clock game on Monday. Um, so I feel great about it. Kind of whoever we're playing, yes, they're gonna be battle tested, but we just gotta take care of business.
SPEAKER_01It's funny because you look at where Liberty is, and they could potentially just be in the middle of this, I feel like, big battle between the teams of the West. You know, you could have Liberty and then Grand Canyon and UNLV. It feels like they're they're at their conference tournament with those teams from the West. Um, but fourth, in my mind, I'm like, okay, let's say Liberty makes it out of that game, Utah or Northwood, whoever it is, and potentially they have a date with UNLV in that quarterfinal. I'm honestly feeling pretty good about Liberty's chances in that one. I know that they they haven't seen UNLV this year, correct? Nope. So um it's a team that you haven't seen. Um, maybe I don't know if you take that as a positive or a negative, but I feel like you know, Liberty, they have recent history with UNLV that they would like to get some revenge from.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, uh, like you just talked about, they have a little bit of that tackle and fuel based off of last year. Um, I think UNLV is maybe not a shell of the team they were last year, but they're definitely down on offense and their goaltending. Um, obviously they're good and their structure is gonna be good, and their their coaching staff is uh similar, especially with their head coach. So they have a plan, they have a championship culture, and they know how to play the right way and win big games when it matters, but personnel-wise, they're down comparatively to last year, and I think Liberty is as good or better than they were last year. So I totally agree. Um, once Liberty takes care of either Northwood or Utah, which, like you guys talked about, will be no easy task. Um, but I think they're up for the challenge, and then hopefully that that matchup against UNLV again, I think Liberty's gonna be primed and ready uh and to win that game too.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I think the biggest thing too for Liberty, right? Like uh we've seen it throughout a lot of the season, gotta start out fast, right? Like dictate the pace, own puck possession, because obviously UNLV, they're a fast team still, and they still do heavy and puck possession. So if you can dictate that, and especially we've talked about it, Liberty, talent and skill-wise, up there with any of these teams in the country, right? Like, arguably, it's just about the consistency. So, like, right, be consistent, play that full 60, especially in a game that I think out of most of these teams here, there's a couple that they check that they're like, oh man, we really want that team. And this is a prime team that they really want, right? Like, so like if they can just do all those little things right too and stay out of the box, I think good things could happen for this Flames team, and potentially they could be staring at their first time going back to back to the final four. Like they've never done it in two consecutive years, and this could be a chance for them to do that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, if you were to craft, I guess, Liberty's dream path to a national championship game, what would it be? Like in my mind, I think, okay, if you're able to knock out UNLV, then I'm hoping in the final four, Jamestown's still in it. So Jamestown would end up because what do they ranked?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that'd be a wild team.
SPEAKER_01Jamestown takes on Minot. Yeah. I'm hoping that's on one side and then Liberty either like Ohio, Niagara, something like that. Teams that you've seen a lot this year in the final four, because I think that that's that's a winnable game.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that'd be interesting if let's just say Jamestown does everyone a favor, right? Somehow takes out Minot State, which they have uh given Minot State two of their three losses, right? So like possible the big rivalry game potentially could happen in the quarters. Uh but uh if Liberty had to face, let's say, Niagara, that would be an interesting game too, right? Like another rivalry that you take on in the semifinal. Niagara did win the season series, but this is when it all counts, right? Like, so for Liberty, I think they would be chomping at the bit in that one as well.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I wouldn't want to play Niagara, but either way, it it doesn't really matter. We can chalk it up, but you just have to win your way to the end. Um, but yeah, it would be really interesting to see an upset on the other side. Let's cheer for that. Um, kind of honestly across the board against all these teams. Yeah. But yeah, I I totally agree. It would be really interesting to see Jamestown do that um job of taking out my knot, which like you said, Pat, they've won the two of their three losses on the year came to them. Yeah. So like in like you said, like the Battle of the West, it's like they just have these family parties that other teams just kind of show up to, and it's like that of you're that awkward. These guys are these guys hate each other.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_02But like it'd be interesting too, because Adrian also would face Jamestown in the first game, too. Yeah, so like that's gonna be arguably one of the best games of the of the first opening matches, you've gotta say. Uh, obviously, Adrian has to get past West Virginia, which I think we all feel pretty confident about. Uh no offense to the Mountaineers. But uh yeah, like If y'all are watching, no. That's right, yeah. But um, at the same time, I feel like then also too, the Bulldogs have a chance to do it as well because of their championship culture and their pedigree. Um, not the same Minot State team, or sorry, Adrian team that beat Minot last year, but still, so like tough out for Minot State in their second round as well. Well, really, everybody, like you look at this tournament, I feel like uh you opened it or off the pod we were talking, but like really there are a lot of these teams that even in day one could make a run. Like, Hope is a dark horse team I know a lot of people like, and so same with Calvin. So, yeah, it's not this is gonna be a very interesting tournament, and it'd be interesting to see if it does go to chalk throughout the whole to the final four and even championship.
SPEAKER_01Do we have any concerns goaltending-wise for Liberty? Because you know, if if you're gonna win a national championship, you have to have great goaltending. I know that last series probably wasn't ideal for Liberty's goaltending tandem. Um, what are our thoughts there heading into the tournament fourth?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think there's zero issue in my end. I I'm really encouraged by our goal tend goaltending duel, right? You've got Couch, let's say one A, and you've got Bernstein one B. Right. I don't think I don't think goaltending itself was the problem this past week in Ohio. I think um maybe the decision who to start that second night through a bit of the issue. Obviously, it's an emotional night before. In my mind, you give Bernstein that next start from the beginning because obviously he's got to be ready to play pet playoff hockey too. Um, so I think moving forward, I think this tournament, Liberty's goaltending's top three in the nation for sure.
SPEAKER_02Right. Yeah, and I agree. I don't think there's uh much concern. I think they'll have it dialed, uh, figuring things out once it gets going. It'll be uh more so just the matchups, right? Like uh throughout up and down the lineup because Liberty should be again healthy completely once they enter the tournament. That's what the it's being talked about. Uh so it'll be interesting to see what the lineup is, right? And like can they do an excellent job line matching and then also building chemistry and consistency, right? Because a lot of these, some of these pairs haven't really played with each other as much as they have with other guys throughout the season. So yeah, I think that'll be the biggest thing, and hopefully they can get their footing in the first couple shifts uh of that first game.
SPEAKER_01And if we were going to choose one uh MVP for Liberty throughout the tournament, like who do you think is the guy that's gonna come to life and propel Liberty through this national tournament?
SPEAKER_03Uh for me it has to be Couch. Yeah, right. He's gotta be the guy. Um, he's proven himself to be um an elite goaltender, and can he continue to do that throughout the entirety of a national tournament? And I believe he can.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think uh Conrad Couch has to be the big playmaker too, but from a player standpoint, I'm gonna say the captain, Sam Feemster, right? Like every year he has gotten better at the national tournament, right? Like I don't know what it is, something about playoff hockey, which makes sense, right? Like for him, uh, that he just knows how to dial it up at the right time. And so I know the year isn't exactly how he's been hoping for it to be for him personally, but I feel like he's gonna have a big national tournament again and probably hopefully lead the team in points and then like hopefully propel them to a championship.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm gonna go with uh Ryan Finch. I think he has had too good of a regular season for it not to carry over into the tournament, so I'm hoping for big things.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I like that pick a lot just based on the fact that he's the kind of guy who's dynamic and he can change a game. And he's a guy, he's a special player in the sense that he can dictate the pace of play and make a difference every single shift. And so hopefully uh he's got the met that mentality uh and be a dog at the national tournament. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05So I like what you guys have said. Uh individuals, uh, I'm gonna kind of say of I think our power play units are gonna come alive. I I see, I hear everything we're kind of doing in practices, right? A little bit more uh than you guys would be able to, and nothing I really want to share and discuss. But when I think back to last year, we put some power play units together towards the end of the year, and man, we really got some big goals out of them at nationals. Like I believe in most of our games we had A or two power play goals last year. And so I'm gonna give that kind of like X factor to that. And we've talked about it before, where right, like Pat, we're there. Anytime we get a power play or we go on the PK, everyone in the crowd just starts to hold their breath because we know those are such prime scoring opportunities. So I'm really looking forward to like, man, we're gonna put together a cohesive teamworking, however you kind of want to word it, puck moving, uh possessive of the puck power play unit. And that's gonna have to really be an X factor. We know we have goaltending that could stop the puck, D that could keep you know, pucks out of the crease, and we know that we have forwards that could score, but in those opportune moments, in those big games, big moments, we're really gonna need an X factor of a power play unit. And I feel like we're building towards that day after day, uh, as you know, we're in the trenches with the boys getting ready.
SPEAKER_01It's gonna be a really fun men's division one tournament. Like liberty aside, I cannot wait to see what unfolds with this uh Division I pool. We turn our attention now to our other Division I program, our women's D1 team, high expectations heading into this national tournament, number one in the nation, but they know how to handle the high expectations. They've been doing it year in and year out. Come off another, they come off of another WMCH conference championship, and we really haven't had a chance to uh talk about that one just yet. Pat, what stuck out to you from that dominant conference championship outing?
SPEAKER_02I think I love the adjustments that they were able to make, right? Like a great team game, and they got the showcase of their death big time in that. Like uh obviously there's some things happening behind the scenes we won't go too much into, but I think that's good that their depth showcase. I also thought special teams was a big factor. Uh, got a power play goal in each game, gave up a power play goal in the championship to one of the best power play units in the country, but then you tightened things up because that was the team that also had the most power play chances versus you throughout the whole tournament. So you were very disciplined as well, and then you made the right adjustments to be able to combat that. And like I said, you gave up a power play goal, but you also scored a power play goal, too. So you traded one there and then locked it down the rest of the way. Uh, I thought Alex Keith, sensational once again, um uh having a solid showing versus Minot State, and then also against uh Midland. Uh so you took out the three and the two team in the country, and then also even bigger factor, uh um the depth, like I said, uh Petem Shand. Uh, I don't know if she won it, but gotta think she was tournament MVP, eight-point outing for her, so great job by her just leading the way points wise, and then a lot of different players were able to contribute in this team. So great showcase of the depth.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, what a pickup that Petem Shand is for Coach Lowe's in this program. Uh, after spending four years at Indiana Tech and coming over here for her graduate year, and and she's been like a huge staple all across in like in every situation. Five on five, she's a special player, obviously power play and and PK. She's a type of girl that's smart and sees the game and and she's gonna be on your your PK one. So she's she can play in all situations. And like you said, like for me, Keith, obviously, she's the stud and she's the the backbone of this team. Um, she keeps them in games, even if you know there may be some breakdowns here and there, but I think playing with such a good goaltender, the team is confident no matter what, right? So obviously they they want to tweak and make adjustments as as they need to, but I think just having that confidence in a goaltender goes a long way. Um, but like you talked about the depth this weekend, right? Like Liberty is not 100% healthy going into this long trip. Um, but obviously girls like um Koo stepped up with three points, two goals, uh, and then Olson scored a big one in the final against um Midland to get them started, right? So it's not even like she's scoring, you know, goal five and eleven against Minnesota and Mina. She's scoring the first goal in a championship game, right? Right. So like I think that speaks volumes for to where the depth of this program is. Um and it's just awesome to see, like you said, Pat, like 40% on the power play uh in this tournament. It's right where you want it to be going into the national.
SPEAKER_05When we're talking you know, depth and everything for the ladies, and I've kind of been giving this speech to men's D3 as well. Part of our depth is because we are so good, right? So why do we have some of the best goaltending in the league? It's because they're getting shots every day from some of the best forwards in the league, some of the best D in the league. Uh, why do we have some of the best D? Because they're having to, you know, stop plays and odd man rushes and practice from some of the best forwards in the league. And when you have kind of, you know, our top-tier talent, like we do, and a lot of teams do, the real difference maker is we have just so many good hockey players and we're extremely well coached, right? Everybody top to bottom could throw a marker at the board and be able to draw up every sort of detail in our systems or every detail of other teams' systems and how it's going to be executed. Um, you know, things I'm seeing in practices and meetings right now is all right, if and when we play this team, blah blah blah, if and when we play this team, blah blah blah. So part of that depth is just great coaching from Coach Lowe's, Coach Keaton, then uh Coach Morrison. And then yeah, like you have no option but to improve your skills. You have no option but to improve, you know, your shot, your scanning ability, and everything because you're just playing and you're practicing against such quality multiple times a week. Um, and I think that's a huge part of it. But uh, somebody I was able to talk to this morning of just like, hey, for uh Victoria Coo, like we Talked about her before of uh came in uh rehabbing ish something to not get into those details. Uh we saw a need and saw her gifts and abilities to fill a different role for us, and we switched her position then, you know, gets big goals for us in big games. This last couple weeks when we're we've been down a few bodies. Um, so I feel so good about our team and our talent and our depth because we're well coached and from like the top down, they just know how to make each other better. They know how to push, and it's kind of just the standard of this team, really. Like, hey, we have high expectations. Everybody has to meet that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you're in a great spot heading into the tournament. And I look at this group that's going to nationals and it's like, man, you have a lot of potential. I don't know all the fifth-year situations, who's thinking about doing what, but you have a lot of potential graduating seniors on this team, like the backbones of your team. You know, you mentioned like Shaw, Petem Shand, who have played huge roles on the group this season, but then like Fossey, Keith, you know, battles. Oh, because you have uh Peebles, so many backbones of this team that could potentially be making their last ride and hopefully hoisting their last national championship trophy. Um, I think it just adds to the motivation. Um, it adds to the suspense for what this group is gonna do out there. You want to see it go extremely well, and I think there's confidence it will. I mean, you look at what the setup is gonna look like, the pool for Liberty heading into the tournament. There's the Flames, there's Niagara, Grand Canyon. So it's the same pool that Liberty had at the tournament last year. They have handled these teams pretty easily this season. Again, National Tournament Ice is always different. But uh, Pat, I feel like there's um just it's a lot of confidence from this group heading into the tournament. It's not a spot they haven't seen before.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, familiarity, right? Like uh obviously, uh, like you just said, same exact pool, right? Like, I think they're the only team that has the exact same pool of what they had a year ago. So for Liberty, you're excited. Basically, you have a lot of film, especially versus Niagara. You played them four times and you got better every game versus them. So I think that's huge. Grand Canyon, you haven't seen yet this year, but very similar team makeup as they were last year, uh, after they won the West. Uh, so yeah, it'll be interesting for Liberty basically go getting things started. They're gonna start their first game versus Grand Canyon, and then the games will rev up from there. So uh yeah, I mean I think they're hoping to take care of business those first two days, get that day off, and then be ready for semis and then hopefully finals.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think the pool play situation is probably the worst case scenario for every other team to have Liberty in a pool play to warm up and then think about semifinal games, right? So two years ago when Liberty unfortunately lost in the semifinal, that was the situation where they came in, got a bye, played a really tough quarterfinal game against Minot State ASU and squeaked that one out in overtime? Uh yeah. Yeah, that was in overtime. So that's the first one, and then unfortunately they lost uh in this very similar fashion with a goalie that just stood on her head um to my knot to be kicked out of the tournament. But this is uh this is great for Liberty, right? They get a couple games under their belt. Obviously, they have to do what they need to do and take care of business, but they're gonna be very confident going into this team. But I like this pool. I I mean, even watching games against Niagara this year, they're a good team, right? They they play a trap system. Maybe that's not the best choice against the Liberty team, but I think um when a team like Niagara comes in, they want to keep it close and respectable against Liberty and try to execute on the few chances that they get. And so it'll be interesting to see how they've changed a little bit and what have what they've tweaked um at the national tournament.
SPEAKER_05Is our pool the exact same as last year? I remember Niagara. Yeah, I I don't remember playing GCU, but as you mention it now, I do remember uh the men's team of GCU out there because I don't think you were in town yet, Pat. Or you maybe you were filming another game. We went and watched the men did watch GCU play another team at some random St. Louis ice rink after the tornado. Uh that was wild. It's a huge mall, all the stores closed except the rink and like Cabela's. So that was uh interesting. It's like a wasteland of just ice and uh taxidermy. But how do I like our pool? It Sorges is what it is. Uh I I think no matter again who it is, I have confidence in our preparation, uh in our game plans, and then we just have so many veterans that are gonna show up and like know how to lead, right? And really only having two rookies on the team, the whole team is basically a veteran-laden team. So uh feel really confident about that. Um, any team is dangerous, obviously. Uh, and we've played close games against Niagara, not to overlook GCU or anyone, but that's definitely one to kind of circle on the calendar there, where if we do not execute well and right and properly, like any game, they can make you pay. Uh and they can kind of lull you into a, hey, maybe we should be up by two, maybe we should be up by three. Uh, and then you know, you go into the third period kind of stressed out a little bit. But I feel confident in executing, getting the job done, having that day off, uh, a little bit of rest on Friday is gonna be massive as we prepare for you know semis finals and see how the rest of pool play shakes out.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I think on one end of it, it's no matter how smooth it seems like the regular season has gone for this team, there's always in the postseason, it feels like that heart pounding game where it's going into OT, possibly double. Um, but the the positive to that scenario is that they've been in these situations time and time again. They know how to play under that kind of pressure. So if you guys are looking at this field of teams, who do you think is that group that's going to challenge Liberty in that way that they might be in that OT situation with this season?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean, obviously there's the the Maryville, if Maryville's able to get through, uh they're a very emotional team. They have a lot of top-end talent up front. I think the big holes for them is in net, seemingly this year, right? They have um their record doesn't reflect how talented they are, so to speak. Um and I think there was a bit of a an emotional blow-up, so to speak, at this conference tournament. So they've got some tweaking uh of things to do. But for me, though, the big sleeper that's been consistent all year is the Michigan Dearborn team. Right. Right. I haven't seen them much, but they're winning games they're supposed to win. Their record's very, very good. And they slip in at the number six seed. Is that correct, Pat? Yeah, number six. So uh I expect them to get out of their pool and maybe see a matchup with Liberty um in a semifinal.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, which could be very dangerous, right? Like obviously, but and you're hoping Liberty can just find a way to take care of business versus them. Uh, especially, I believe they won the their conference too, right? Like, so knocking Adrian off, who really won what, six, seven straight years of that conference. Yeah. So like straight. So like taking them out, and so uh it'll be very interesting to see who that extra team is. I mean, to me, honestly, I think any of those teams that make the final four probably are a threat for Liberty, right? Like, and not because Liberty's not capable, but like teams just play you differently, right? Like, please teams gas up and for that game, and they want to be the one that takes out the not only the defending champ, but the number one team in the country. So, like I think uh it could be a very amount of those teams all could be a threat, and I think they all should have that mentality, right? Like knowing that uh hey, everyone's coming for us, so we have to do the little things that we need to do correctly so we can be able to uh win four more games.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I would feel like as we continue to move into the tournament, really any team in the top six as a threat to you know challenge us in the semifinals and the finals or anything, uh Lord willing we make it that far. When you look at the WMCHL conference, basically it was like all the top teams are in there, minus a few. Um, and then uh the scores were crazy at that conference tournament where you know Maryville lost 10-2. Like that's crazy. Uh, we were able to beat Mina, I believe, 5-1. Like, that's crazy as well. Um, but a team that's a sleeper for me, and I keep bringing them up, is Adrian. Maybe not the season that they necessarily wanted, but when you look at goaltending for them, the um their goaltender, Jesse Gorelli, I think she's gonna show up and really shock a lot of teams. Um, I can't exactly remember who's in their pool with them, but uh we've faced it uh against ASU in 2024, where it was just like, all right, we've shot in the puck 72 times, and this girl safe 70, right? Like you start to get into a game like that, and Adrian has some girls that could definitely score. I really think that Adrian's gonna you know shock some teams and maybe uh have a have a chance of making it out of pool play, where some people may not have expected that, just because when you have a hot goalie and a couple good bounces, like you just never know what's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. It's all gonna start soon. And it women's D1 is always like the back. Like, aren't they the very last team?
SPEAKER_02Yep, it's them and men's D3 will be the last ones.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, they last year they did it all at the same time. They tweak it every every couple years, but yeah, this year they're gonna fall at the end. Men's one obviously starts, and then women's D2 trickled, sprinkled rather, within the middle there.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, well, they make you wait extra, but it's probably still gonna be very entertaining. Um, so now we move on along to our other woman's team. Come on now! Yeah. First DVCHC conference crown in program history, major accomplishment. We have a piece of that team right here with us in Houston. Right here. Go jump in.
SPEAKER_03I'm wearing it for the week.
SPEAKER_01Repping the DVC.
SPEAKER_03Pretend like I've done it before.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I mean, it was it was a dominant showing. You guys beat Delaware 7-0, Navy 7-1 in the championship. Just a great way to go into the national tournament.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, the girls did great, right? Um, obviously, uh, I didn't ex honestly as a coach, I didn't expect us to win 7-0 and 7-1. Um, I think it was a combination of the girls being ready, executing on chances, and we did run into some not so great goaltending, but that's that's part of playoff hockey. Um, that's what kind of happens. But the girls did a great job, and obviously, kudos to Coach Leone. Um recruit recruiting a huge class with depth, right? So I think um this speaks volumes to where her vision of the program is and and what what we're doing and what the girls are are doing and putting the work in and and taking this very seriously. And and it's I'm really happy to see them get rewarded uh after this weekend.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean you talk about the depth, right? Like obviously nine different goal scores on your 14 goals, like that's huge, right? Like, so contributing basically on every line and every aspect that you want. Uh, you got some solid goaltending from Mebs, which is I think huge for her. Uh, and that's what you want, especially leading into the national championship. Potentially, well, you'll be the number one from the southeast, but where it all shakes up for you guys will be still the question. But uh I I like the momentum that you guys have going into the nationals, right? Like uh I said it at the very beginning of the year, I still feel that way. Like, I think you guys could be uh win your or be the first time you make it out of your pool and win the final four, right? Like, so um you already checked one of my boxes, made me a believer. Said you in the DVC EC. So, like, yeah, I think there's no reason why you can't make your first final four appearance here this year.
SPEAKER_03Yep, one of uh four boxes checked so far. Conference, that was the first box. And like you said, we got we had some depth of scoring this past weekend. Um, over the season, I did a little math. 30% of our goals came from Cora Williams and Calissa Klein. Uh, but obviously, like you said, Pat, there was nine different goal scores this past weekend. Um, and so that speaks huge. And I think another thing for us this weekend is the fact that we scored um we went two for two on the power play in the final game. We also scored a short-handed goal, and then one for three against Delaware and also scored a short-handed goal. So short-handed goals against they're really very deflating. Um, but yeah, like we talked about the girls uh have done a great job, and we like our pool matchup for this season.
SPEAKER_01Can you reveal the pool matchup to us?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so this will this will come out after uh the final rankings. So we have um we're the first in the southeast, and so we match up against Jamestown, who is going to be um the fourth seed in the west, and then we also have St. Thomas, who's the second in the West, and so they're obviously gonna be a tough team, and then we get the third uh seed in the central, which is northeastern. Uh sorry, they're in the northeast, hence northeastern. So northeastern St. Thomas and Jamestown. So it'll be a really tough pool. Um, but we're excited to to get going and and really prep for those games.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think it'll be an exciting pool for y'all. That's interesting that uh Jamestown's gonna be there. So the Lady Jimmies are gonna be there. Wow, good for them. They uh as of right now, I know they have three teams that are gonna be at the national tournament, potentially four if they have a men's D2 team there too. So, like, yeah, good for them. But uh yeah, I th I still believe it doesn't matter what the pod look what the pool looks like, I think you guys still will be able to roll and have success there.
SPEAKER_03I'm really glad that you're super confident about us rolling through this pool. Um, as a coach, I like to always think about okay, what do we got to do? But like I think this also speaks to the depth of the league. As as we continue to get better, I feel like in the last few years, um, Liberty's made massive jumps uh with the talent that coaches brought in. And I think just the again, the depth in the league, like other teams are also getting better almost as fast, especially those northeast and west teams, uh, and also through the central. They've got a ton of teams. Um, the central's a bit of a scary one. They've got Sioux, they've got northern Michigan, um, and teams like that who have had great seasons. Um, so hopefully we can do what we need to do to get through our pool. That'll be a huge task. Uh, but then hopefully somebody in pool D does us a huge favor and gets rid of Sioux College, who would be the match. That'd be in pretty well. Yeah. So, but again, it's it's never taken anything for granted. They've got Providence and Ohio State against Rowan also in their pool. So, yeah, it's gonna be exciting.
SPEAKER_05So, Coach Ford, just to comment on that, you have been playing or coaching in the ACHA for a long time. What way, right? Over a decade. Yep. You have seen that climb and that trajectory, specifically in the women's side. Yeah. Like, how, why do you think that growth is happening? Because I could just even talk to our team from our first national championship uh to now, like, yeah, top end players, but we just have more depth now. It just seems like there's just more talented hockey players out there on the women's side. You're sort of seeing experiencing that too. Any insights into like the hows, the whys, is like the game just growing?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think I think it's the growth of the game top to bottom across the United States and Canada. Um, I think people are now realizing that like, hey, hockey's a sport for guys and girls, and there's opportunities and more schools opening these programs for girls to have a place to play. And the you know, the Division II ten years ago was kind of a joke, and now it's not, right? And and obviously, as women's one continues to get better and women's two, um, and I obviously see it at the the top levels, like Team USA uh absolutely dominating in the Olympics, yeah, and going all the way there, and the half, not half, but five to six of their top players are University of Wisconsin badgers. So I think just like the amount of money and effort that people are putting into all these programs to grow the women's game, it it speaks volumes. Um, and it it goes you know top to bottom.
SPEAKER_05I'll be interested this year on the women's two side to see if uh the media teams have in increased. There was one year, Texas 2019. I'm sitting there and watching a game, and uh, I think is it Sia Boyne? Some guy was trying to like cut a reel just to say, like, we're playing here tomorrow at the Comerica Center, and like it took him 50 clips. Like it was so bad. It was like him, the cameraman, and like two producers. Yeah, and Buddy was struggling. Yeah, but they won.
SPEAKER_03That was the first year they upset Minot, who was at D2 and that year, and I remember because they were waiting for us at the hotel, and they had already been uh celebrating several hours and then we became and that was like a big game because they had lost, I think they had played them like six or eight times that year.
SPEAKER_02They had played my notes every time.
SPEAKER_03And it got better, like it was like 10-0 at the beginning, and then like you know, later in the season they would lose three to one. Yeah, and then they shut them out at I think in the in the one-nothing. One nothing in the America center in the first America. Everybody's favorite places.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, Turkish Pizza. Where were we when like the the buses pulled up? Because I like you tell the story. Yeah, like we sure had your memory.
SPEAKER_02We like and they like came on the bus.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I don't remember the stuff. It was like there was a girl like near the end, like looked like Michael Scott from the office, like the boom box over top, and it's like so yeah, they they enjoyed their themselves. Yes, they did.
SPEAKER_01Now I'm curious for it. You said there's four boxes to check. One was the conference championship, it's two pool play, pool play, three, semi, semi. Okay, I guess that's pretty self-explanatory.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, like a team board you have the check off. Like, no, it's just in my mind. Oh, all right. You know, this last week. The coaching mind. Yeah, I enjoyed that. All right, here we go.
SPEAKER_01We cannot wait to watch what happens with the Women's D2 tournament. Very successful regular season for them. So we hope it carries over into nationals. And now we move on to our men's division two team, who unfortunately will not be joining everyone else in St. Louis. They fall short at the regional tournament, which I mean, they had a really good outing in those first two games. They were battling. Um, game one, they come back from being down 3-0 and they win it in OT. Um, but then they end up uh losing in the tournament to number the number two seed, Tampa. Um, you know, Pat, I'm I'm just curious when you when you think about just the overall story of the men's division two team this year, I like I feel like it ended on a pretty positive note with the way you battle at the regional tournament.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think so too. Obviously, uh I'm sure they feel better in that uh second game, right? Like, especially you play Tampa earlier this year, you lose five-nothing, right? So like you only lose two one. And in the first half of that game, you were all over them too, right? Like, so and unfortunately, the biggest thing for the Liberty, you got in penalty trouble, especially late. Uh, and so that would ended up being the difference maker in that game. But uh, I think there's still a lot of optimism for the future of this group. Like basically, more than half the team will be back next year. I would say two-thirds of the team should be on that roster, and then you should have some key additions, depending on how recruiting goes uh across the board, and hopefully you get that trickle-down effect um from men's D1 as well. But yeah, I mean, I think this is a group, especially after how it started, you should be very pleased with how things ended up for your team.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think going off of this tournament, right? I think you had to spend way too much emotional bandwidth in the first game, right? You have to deal with being down 3-0, you have to have a dramatic comeback and you celebrate the win in OT. That's a huge win. And then that's just like that that wave of emotion that has to leave, and then you have to prep for the next day. And unfortunately, I just don't think they had much left to get the job done against Tampa.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and just like physically, what you're talking about there is very real. Where when you're going, you're going, you're going, your uh adrenal glands are just dumping out so much that like eventually you just don't have any left in the tank, right? The for a kid, the worst days of the year are the day after their birthday and the day after Christmas because you're riding so high that that dopamine falls off. It's really hard to kind of get that back and get that going. I said to Coach Garland, I believe, or Coach Graham at some point like you guys were one or two weeks away, right? It was just like a steady build throughout the year. You start to see them really connect a lot of the dots there in the spring, got some bodies back on the ice that uh were missing a majority of the year, or guys that were just kind of banged up, not too healthy. I really think when you think back to that September loss to Tampa, uh going down, losing 5-0 to losing 2-1 in the the winner go to nationals game, tons of growth from that team. And to your point, too, Pat, like they're gonna return so many key pieces. And then, you know, we've talked about it. A lot of new guys on the team are now gonna be vets. I think the trajectory is super high there for Coach Garland and and Coach Graham.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, Cooper Frederick, I think, um, went down in that first game, too. So when your star player goes down, right? That's just in addition to that um emotional taxing that we talked about. It'd be interesting to see um what men's division two does as a league this uh in Nashville this year, just based on regionals and what happened over in the central region. Yeah. Lindenwood getting beat out by the number 13 seed MSU. That's a wild situation. So I don't know if they'll have the uh everybody has to go to regionals or if they're gonna vote back into that one, two seed. But if they if they don't and this continues, I would like to see maybe some tweaks in Liberty schedule, right? And obviously you want to prep for nationals and you want to prep for a regional tournament, but I think there needs to either be maybe a couple weekends off or maybe uh a couple of easier, yeah, easier games just throughout the season to build confidence. Um, obviously, when you have a tough schedule, strength of schedule is important, but also I think wins are also very important. Yeah, but now we're podcasting this. Now we're getting into it. I love it. Yeah,
SPEAKER_01Wood went 30 and 2 this season.
SPEAKER_03There's 60 and three in the last three seasons.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's crazy to me. Like that doesn't make it to the national tournament. And I mean you look at it with Liberty. I mean, Tampa was the number two seed. Technically, they should have, if this was by old standards, they would have the auto bid. Liberty ends up going to the national tournament as well. Um, it just in my opinion, it takes away meaning from the regular season as right.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I mean you think about you talked about tweaks to the schedule. Think about Oklahoma State, right? Like we talked about it, they are destroying teams, right? Like because their strength is they have some good games, but like I would say they also play a fair amount of teams that, yeah, this is a stat game. And for them, they still stayed the number one team in the West all year, right? Like, and then they roll, and they were it they had enough ready to go and then in the tank to roll through the West region because what was it, 19 to 2 is what the scoring was. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03They absolutely thump teams. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So like that's funny to see like them because I believe they're in the pool of Michigan State. So that's their first game. So now I'm kind of like, oh well, we'll see what happens here.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, I and like you talked about like that that team for me, that that's a team I'm circling to want to watch, right? To see if they are as good as they present themselves on paper, or if it's like, uh, like you said, an inflated because of a an easier, so to speak, schedule. But like you still, if you play easy teams, you still got to get that seven goal split. Right. Yeah. So like compared to pumping teams when you should pump them, right? And so you've got how many guys with 50 plus points on that team? Yeah, for the thing. Right. So like those guys are playing confident hockey. You know, they're not playing two to one hockey. Yes, that might happen at nationals if they they meet up with uh a Florida golf, and obviously um in pool play, there's gonna be tight games, but like I expect them to continue that brand of hockey, and then you also have a team that's like, great, Lyndon Woods out. There's one team that we had in our the back of our minds, it's gonna be tough. Now there's probably Florida Golf is the one they're only worried about.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it is such a good point as a coach, is you are making the schedule. Do we go with it? Is what it is, a lighter schedule where we know we will beat teams, but the pressure of we have to beat them by seven, right? So statistically, for those listening as uh rankings are considered, if you should beat a team, uh you have to get the max goal differential of seven points, right? So uh do you play that kind of game or do you play a tougher schedule and just if you keep it close, it's still a win, right? Like it's it's hard. Yeah, yeah. I don't I don't know if there is a right answer.
SPEAKER_02No, I mean you you're hoping for a balance, right? Like that's the goal. But yeah, I mean it's tough, right? Like it's and it all depends on, like you just said, what happens at the meeting if they go back to the format of the top two get through, or if they still do all 16. In my mind, I think all 16 are still gonna be there next year. Like they're all gonna have to go to regional uh at least for another year, maybe even two more years, and then to see how, because I think in the league's mind, it's all about which shouldn't be their goal, it should be the best teams go to nationals, but for them it's they're trying to get diverse teams at nationals and give everyone a chance.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, I mean just thinking through that schedule, not to like be the deadly, but like you can play um V Tech four times, you can play Penn State four times, Ohio four times, uh High Point four times, right? You can try to sweet talk your way into uh against a UNC on a Tuesday night kind of thing. Obviously, there's lots lots to consider in other people's schedules as well, but yeah, there's opportunity there for sure. Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there'll be a lot of time for off-season discussion about it as well. Um what what time of year does those meetings happen, Pat?
SPEAKER_02Uh they usually happen what, May? June? May. May.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_03It's gonna be May. Oh wow, that was good. That was good.
SPEAKER_01So we move on now to our men's division three team. ACCHL tournament champions won it in their home rank over here at the La Haye Center. That was a fun weekend. Yep. Lots of teams here in Lynchburg uh going at it for the ACCHL conference title, and Liberty did it in pretty much dominant fashion. I mean, 13-1, 6-1, game two against Rowan, and then they beat William and Mary 3-1, a little bit of a tighter contest in the championship, but still able to walk away with their second consecutive ACCHL title. A fun weekend, and again, like just a great way to soar into the national tournament because it feels like the expectations for this team are are a little bit higher than they ever have been.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think for them, uh a few things happened for sure in that championship game. I'm sure they thought they were gonna win by more, and I think that's one credit, William and Mary, right? Like by trying to limit Liberty for and making that a game throughout the entire game, right? Like, and they had to get that empty netter goal at the end there to give them the two goal cushion. But and so I think that's a good lesson for Liberty. Like, hey, like if we don't do what we're supposed to do for 60 minutes, like the games are gonna get tighter, and they could have had uh gotten some bounces to help them be able to get that tying goal. So I think that's big. And then but I do like the mentality this team had though, too. They won, no buckets were off, no gloves were thrown. I like I did like stepping steps. Yep, exactly. They were like, Yep, this is just uh another piece to the puzzle of what we're trying to get to, the ultimate goal. So I do like their mentality of where they are, but I do think like, hey, still gotta dial it up another level, especially as they prepare for the national tournament next week.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean, this is kind of a really good learning point for them, too, right? You're gonna run into hot goalies at the national tournament. Like this is the conference, and William and Mary's goalie decided to stand on his head, right? Right? 55 or 56 saves uh to keep it close. And the goal that William and Mary scored, I kind of hate it. Yeah, right. Like there's a missed assignment up near the point. The puck goes from the far point of the blue line all the way across the golden road or the royal road back door. Like nobody has a stick in the lane, nobody was paying attention, so to speak. So, like, if you want to show one thing on film, show that. Like, guys, this can't happen. Um, so obviously, and then they got 24 shots against also not great. Again, what are you gonna nitpick against a perfect season like Liberty's displaying? Like, those I think are the details that you have to kind of hound on and just know that that's not gonna fly uh at the national tournament. But yeah, heck of a weekend, took care of business, got the job done, like you said, no Sally. They've been there before. This is not the end goal, this is just the stepping stone.
SPEAKER_05I was very, very happy to see a close game. Uh, because if we go back on their schedule, their last kind of like close game, a two-goal game, was uh January 17th. Other than that, they've just been blowing teams out of the water or canceled. Uh that was uh MTSU. Okay. Middle, middle Tennessee. Yeah. So seven and then four three. Yeah. So it's like, man, if we go into nationals with kind of just your point of like extreme confidence, like we deserve, then those little assignments kind of get missed. The the focus in practice could kind of go down a little bit. So I think running into a hot goalie, uh, and then yeah, a few mistakes here and there is really good for the team. With all that being said, like, man, they're good. Yeah, they're this is like by far. Uh last year was a great year, but uh adding Maguire Graham, adding Will Blair to an already like great team this semester, it's like whole.
SPEAKER_03I didn't see I didn't realize Maguire Graham got added. When did he get added? The spring, because I saw him in uh on Pat's recap, and I was like, oh, that's great. That's a great pickup.
SPEAKER_05It's a massive pickup, yeah. Uh for on ice, off-ice types of reasons, and uh yeah, kind of just battling through what he's been through. It gives no excuse to anybody else on the team, but just man, their zone entries, uh, whether it's you know even or odd man rushes, the somebody on the team said they just have such great chemistry. Yeah, right. I'm gonna go here. I know that guy's gonna be coming down this lane, I'm gonna have a drop pass here, I'm gonna crash in that, whatever it is, like that impressed me. They're gonna get a lot of shots up national tournament time, I believe. And then they all know it. Uh, locker room post-championship game, like they got a bury, and the everyone kind of knows that. So hopefully we're gonna keep building off of all the focus here. But another thing, too, like between Nolan Sheets, uh, Zachary Lemons, and Roman Lamaru, they're the three fastest guys in the league, and they're all on the same team. They beat out so many icings, that's really gonna catch teams off guard in the championship. Like, we're gonna get puck possession really deep on a should have been icing uh and cause a lot of chaos there. Teams that haven't played us yet, haven't seen film, they're not gonna be ready for that kind of speed. Come tournament time.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, when life gives you lemons. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_05Quick comment on lemons too. Sorry. Uh the the Rowan game. I am a natural uh pessimist when it comes to emotional intelligence. So there's a hit, there's a scrum, lemons comes out of it with his helmet off, uh is escorted to the box. I'm I'm saying words in my head of like his intelligence. So I'm just like, you dummy, like what are you doing? Then there's a 30-minute film review, and you could see he got his helmet ripped off. Perhaps maybe he shouldn't have uh hit a guy or retaliated to defend Ethan Locklear, but like he was so smart in that. Like, my helmet's off, I'm not doing anything, I'm keeping my gloves on, and the Roman guy got ejected from it, right? And so just little moments like that is so much growth for this program. Not singling Zach out, but just years ago, that would have been a line brawl.
SPEAKER_03An opportunity to show the crowd something. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_05Instead of having you know the bigger picture in mind. Yeah, put put the team over yourself there and like, yeah, let's go up on a power play here, kick that guy out of the game. Like the emotional intelligence that Zach displayed in that moment, and then the team in general throughout the whole weekend. I'm very happy about that. Because D3, it's like if if it starts to go bad, it starts to go bad real quick. You get beat on power plays, and then you lose. Like that's kind of the MO of that league, in my opinion. So very exciting for that as well, heading into tournament time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so much to look forward to for this team, too. I mean, just with the regular season they've had, big, big hopes for what they can do in the postseason. It all starts for them on Wednesday, March 11th, the first team out of the four that are going to nationals to get it all started, and then uh the madness begins. So can't wait for it. Thanks so much for tuning in for tuning in to the Rock the Ring podcast. We'll be here soon for a madness. Very excited for that. Hopefully, hopefully, see you guys later.