Although the National Hockey League has been stalled for the beginning of its season, the Eastern Michigan University hockey team is in full swing.
With a current record of 6-7 this year, the team is ranked 20th in the Top 25, only losing to teams that are ranked top 10 in the nation.
Every player on the team has been vital in some aspect of the game and they have a very even layout this year.
Bryan Kozlowski is the lead scorer for the Eagles with 21 points in 13 games followed by Nick Taurence who was scored 19 points in 13 games. Two of the captains, Bobby Gasser and Jason Simota, both have nine points for the team.
Even the goalies have gotten in on the action. Kevin Kissaw has averaged 3.17 goals and has a 92 save percentage in six games. Andrew Duff has averaged 4.27 goals and has averaged a 92 save percentage in five games.
“We prepare for our next games the same way week in and week out,” Duff said. “After a long weekend in Arizona we get back to practice and workouts and just make sure we are doing everything we need to do during the week to prepare for who we are playing the next weekend.”
The biggest accomplishment for the team has been being able to be ranked in the Top 25 teams in the nation, which is an achievement that has not been done by an EMU hockey team in many years.
Other key highlights included this past weekend when the team traveled to Arizona to play Arizona State University and the University of Arizona and traveling to Florida to play the defending Division 2 champions, Florida Gulf Coast University.
“As a team, I would say the consensus is that we are looking forward to the national tournament, which is our number one goal this season,” Duff said. “We won’t find out who will make the tournament until February, but in our heads that’s where we need to be and that is what we are looking forward to the most.”
The team plays their home matches at Taylor Sportsplex in Taylor, Mich. and the admission is free for EMU students.
You can visit the team Facebook page, Eastern Michigan University Men’s Ice Hockey or follow them on Twitter @emuhockey.
Their next two games are home against Kent State University. The first game is Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the second game is Nov. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
