Dates: November 21-22, 2009
Location: Center Ice Arena; Delmont, PA
CHE Teams: CUP-I, Fredonia-I and RMU D-III
MET Teams: Albany, Farmingdale and Southern Ct. State
Winner: College Hockey East (CHE)
Final Score: CHE 27 d. ECHC 9
The 4th Annual CHE vs. Empire League Shwodown was once again hosted by Center Ice Arena located in Delmont, PA. CHE defeated the Empire League (ECHC) 27-9. This final score marks the biggest margin of victory ever for this event. This is also the first event to be reduced to six games due to a last minute cancellation.
Overall the weekend was played well and enjoyed by all. CHE would like to thank the staff of Center Ice Arena for hosting the event along with Scott Solomon and Jon LaRochester from the Empire league. We would also like to thank the players and coaches from the Albany, Farmingdale and Southern Connecticut teams for making the trip and the weekend enjoyable!
Game Recaps:
California od PA-I 9 vs Southern Connecticut State 1
The short-handed Owls kept the contest close for the first period before the Vulcans pulled away. Joe Powell and Josh Werner each had four points and Josh Gilliam stopped 23 shots for Cal. Dan Tonnini started the scoring eight minutes in. Seven minutes later Tim Gleason scored another Power Play goal for California. SCSU scored their own Power Play goal to end the period, a Mike Dubecky marker from Chris Richtelli and Pete Bontempo. The Vulcans pulled away in the 2nd, scoring four goals. Cal continued to widen its lead in the 3rd on goals from Tonnini, Powell, and Mitch Faust.
Farmingdale State 6 vs Robert Morris D-III 3
A wild first period saw six goals, with the Rams leading 4-2. JR Berotti had two goals for FSU, with Joe Mazzie and Frank Florio scoring the others. RMU got goals from Eric Boden and Grant Faulkner to cut the lead to two. Farmingdale extended its lead in the 2nd and RMU never threatened. Mazzie scored his 2nd goal of the game 12 minutes in and Bobby Thomas extended the lead four minutes later. Pat Mione made 25 saves in the winning effort.
Fredonia State-I 4 vs Albany 3 (OT)
By far the best game of the tournament, the Blue Devils come up on top in the extra frame. The Fighting Danes started strong, scoring the first two goals, Power Play scores from Nate Silvera and John Mitts. Fredonia came right back, scoring two goals late in the 2nd to tie the game. Dan Schwab’s short-handed goal turned the tide for FSU. Ryan Theophilus gave Fredonia the lead in the 3rd period. Albany tied the game with four minutes left on an Alex Leipsic goal. Goalie Charlie Farrell made several great saves to keep the Danes in the game (He finished with 45 saves). In OT, a Vince Epping shot from the point won the game for FSU. Aaron Miller and Matt Pfalzer from FSU, plus Mitts and Silveria from Albany each had two points.
Robert Morris D-III 5 vs Albany 2
Robert Morris rebounds from its loss to Farmingdale to win an exciting game against the Great Danes. Albany won the first period 2-1 on goals from Mike Van Baaran and John Amaden. RMU tied the game in the 2nd on a PP goal from Broc McCroskey. The Colonials owned the third period, Eric Bogden broke the logjam four minutes in to give RMU a lead they would never relinquish. Bryan Hosko and Bogden added goals to end the scoring. Hosko finished with three points and goalie Matt Wynn stop 31 of the 33 shots he faced.
Fredonia State-I 8 vs Southern Connecticut State 5
The Blue Devils cap off an impressive weekend, but not before withstanding a late SCSU charge. FSU scored the first four goals of the game, all in the first to get a lead they would never give up. Dan Schwab, Brian Becker (2), and Dave Weidert scored the goals for FSU. The 2nd period was a lot closer, with each team notching two goals. In the 3rd, SCSU came marching back on goals from Frank Grecco, Rob Talloni, and Chris Richtelli, which cut the lead to 6-5. FSU finished off the game one minute later on a Pat Cappella goal. Schwab and Capella each had three points in the victory.
California of PA-I 9 vs Farmingdale State 4
A close game until the end, the Vulcans overpowered the Rams in the 3rd period. A great back and forth first period lead to a 2-2 score after one. Ryan Jones scored twice for Cal, while Kyle Pistani scored twice for Farmingdale (one short-handed.) Cal took a two goal lead on Tyler Hagy and Dan Tonnini goals, but JR Berotti closed the gap to one going to the third. In the third period, it was the Ryan Jones show, as he notched three goals, two on the Power Play. FSU outshot Cal most of the game, but they couldn’t solve goalie Shane Bickar enough times to challenge the lead. Jones finished with five goals and Mitch Faust had four points. Pistanti finished with three points for Farmingdale.
