Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Flames reload, build foundation for future, Friday's opener
9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey
Opening night for Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team brings with it the anticipation of Christmas morning for Head Coach Kirk Handy, with each of his new players like an unopened present.
When the Flames, ranked No. 17 in the ACHA DI preseason poll, face off against the Richmond Generals Junior "Elite" squad in their season-opener, Friday at 7 p.m. in the frosty air of the LaHaye Ice Center, he will find out what gifts each member of the largest recruiting class in program history brings to the table.
"We're ecstatic with the 15 new players that we have coming in," Handy said. "We believe they embody the character and compete level that we're looking for going into this year and the work ethic that they possess is going to make us a better team. We know that God brought each of them here for a special purpose. I really like the vibe that we have in the locker room. I feel that we've got something really special inside there. We're super excited to see what this team can do."
A promising season is in store for the Flames, who expect to challenge for the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL) regular-season and tournament championships in their first year in the league and to return to the ACHA DI National Championships for the ninth time in the 11 seasons they have competed at that level.
"We're focused on the process that is going to get us to the level of the ESCHL elite and to play with the elite of ACHA Division I," Handy said. "I believe we'll see it day-in and day-out as we grow game-in and game-out. We're going to become better and push ourselves to reach the highest level of potential we can this year."
Handy and his coaching staff have instilled a blue-collar work ethic through early-morning runs up Candlers Mountain, two-a-day practices, and conditioning, highlighted by a retreat to The Master's Inn near Altavista, Va., this past weekend.
At the team retreat, while growing spiritually, players were pushed to their physical and mental limits, through training exercises conducted by Warrior Fellowship, a military branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) led by former Army Ranger Sergeant First Class Mike McKinney.
Handy said the Flames will have increased size and strength throughout the lineup and as much if not more speed on the ice than last season.
"The way we're going to play the game this year, the way we're going to compete on the back check and play in our own zone is going to be a whole lot different this year," Handy said.
He is impressed with the depth of talent he has to work with at all positions, with balanced offensive lines and defensive corps, led by senior captains Chase Harris and Ben Hughes, respectively, and three experienced goalies — senior Matt Pinel, junior Josh Halpenny, and sophomore Blake Scott.
"Night-in and night-out, we're going to see different guys step up," Handy said. "We're not going to have to have one or two guys carry the load for this team. It's going to be spread amongst four lines."
Senior forward Grant Garvin is the Flames' top returning scorer, but he should have more support this season, from players like Zane Schartz, a defenseman who ranked fourth in scoring last season; Harris and sophomore forward Owen Harris, one of three brothers tandems on the team; and Zak Hayes, who transferred in between semesters last season and is one of five Californians on the team this year along with fellow sophomore forward Zechariah Roberts, the Flames' sixth-leading scorer as a freshman.
"A lot of the guys haven't played together before, so we're trying to build that chemistry," Garvin said. "I'm excited for our team. We have a lot of great hockey players, but more importantly great guys who love God and we're all on the same page as a program, which is awesome."
Handy will rotate six talented newcomers into a defensive corps that features excellent leadership from its two returning starters.
Matt Cruickshank, a freshman defenseman from Ontario, said the competition in tryouts and practices has been intense as the players have built one another up and sharpened each other's skills.
"We're all very talented players from all over the United States and Canada and we've come together and worked hard," he said. "It's a battle every skate, but everyone's friends, so it's great. Everyone's pushing each other because everyone wants to get better. Everybody brings their own piece to the puzzle so if everyone fits together, it'll work well."
He believes the Flames have the talent and will develop the teamwork needed to contend for ESCHL and ACHA DI titles this season.
"We're deep and we have all of the tools," he said. "It's all going to come down to who wants it more. We have to bring our hard hats to the rink. You can have the tools, but if you don't bring that hard hat, you can't win. You can't work."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
