Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Mac Ratzlaff skates the puck out of the defensive zone against Ohio in front of fellow Flames freshman forward Tucker Shields sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch on Nov. 15 at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Joel Coleman)
DI men’s hockey rises to No. 3 in this week’s ACHA DI rankings
11/27/2024 6:18:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
After going 3-0 at last weekend's Maryville University Showcase, including a 5-2 win over No. 1 Minot State, Liberty now ranks behind only new No. 1 Ohio and No. 2 Adrian College, the defending national champion.
One week after moving up three spots to No. 7 in the national poll, Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team jumped four more to No. 3 in this week's computer rankings following its three-game sweep at last weekend's Maryville University Showcase.
"We are starting to see a lot more movement (in the rankings) as teams get more and more games under their belts and there is more (crossover) with different teams playing others from different regions of the country," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said.
The Flames (12-5-2) snapped a four-game skid by rallying from a 1-0 deficit at the start of the third period for a 2-1 triumph over the host Saints last Thursday. They then proceeded to erase a 2-0 deficit to upset No. 1 Minot State, 5-2 on Friday, before storming past No. 16 Arizona, 8-3 on Saturday.
"I am proud of our guys," Handy said, noting that the move up the rankings reflects Liberty's strength of schedule, including the quality of the three opponents at the showcase. "We are learning what we need to be about as a team and continuing to refine the team into what we want to be at the end of the year."
The Flames are now only ranked behind No. 1 Ohio — which swept them over the previous weekend at the LaHaye Ice Center and moved up to the top of the rankings for the first time in more than eight seasons — and defending ACHA DI national champion Adrian (Mich.) College, which Liberty split a series with for the fifth consecutive time over Fall Break. After dropping the opener against the Bulldogs, 1-0, Flames graduate forward Jackson Vercellono delivered the game winner in sudden-death overtime in the Oct. 11 rematch.
Handy wants to make sure his players don't become overconfident based on the rankings, which can be fleeting.
"For us, the important thing to think of is, 'Have we continued to improve as a team throughout the semester? Yes,'" Handy said. "The second question is 'Are we at the level we need to be at (for the ACHA DI National Championships) in March?' No. We have to keep improving and developing to the level that we need to to be successful (in St. Louis)."
Liberty's remaining schedule should prepare it well for nationals. It will conclude fall semester play with a series against Drexel, which moved into the top 25 this week, on Dec. 6-7 at the LIC, starting with the second of three Midnight Mayhem matchups.
"That will be another opportunity to finish the semester strong," Handy said. "Then, in the second half of the year, we have four games against Ohio, the No. 1 team; we play Adrian, the No. 2 team, twice, (No. 7) Niagara twice, (No. 11) Calvin twice, and (No. 26) Pittsburgh twice. God's given us the opportunity to play a lot of great opponents. How do we continue to build and continue to improve on where we're at and put ourselves in a good spot at the end of the year?"
He wants his players, many of whom traveled across the United States and Canada at the end of the Maryville Showcase, to enjoy their Thanksgiving Break.
"We have had a busy semester with a lot going on," he said. "On our end, you definitely want a break for healing up injuries, but you don't want a break from the momentum we sustained at the showcase. It's important when we get back to re-establish the momentum that we had … and finish the semester strong. How can we go into the Christmas Break with the same momentum that we have now? It's about getting our guys healed up and being able to play at the level they are capable of."
He has been impressed with how quickly the team's newcomers, including 10 freshmen, have transitioned to life at Liberty and playing in the ACHA.
"When you bring in that many new players and put them all together, with a lot of guys who have not been in school to focus on academics and the adjustments of college life, you really hope that by the end of November your team has grown more into what it's going to be like (in March)."
He realizes the Flames will be shorthanded when they start the spring semester with a home series against Calvin, as six of their top players will be competing for Team USA at the Winter World University Games in Italy.
"The encouraging thing for us is we've had players step up when we've been battling injuries, and it's going to be the same thing again," Handy said. "Our guys will step up and play well again and be able to play at the level that we need them to play at to win games, regardless of who's in the lineup and who's not."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
"We are starting to see a lot more movement (in the rankings) as teams get more and more games under their belts and there is more (crossover) with different teams playing others from different regions of the country," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said.
The Flames (12-5-2) snapped a four-game skid by rallying from a 1-0 deficit at the start of the third period for a 2-1 triumph over the host Saints last Thursday. They then proceeded to erase a 2-0 deficit to upset No. 1 Minot State, 5-2 on Friday, before storming past No. 16 Arizona, 8-3 on Saturday.
"I am proud of our guys," Handy said, noting that the move up the rankings reflects Liberty's strength of schedule, including the quality of the three opponents at the showcase. "We are learning what we need to be about as a team and continuing to refine the team into what we want to be at the end of the year."
The Flames are now only ranked behind No. 1 Ohio — which swept them over the previous weekend at the LaHaye Ice Center and moved up to the top of the rankings for the first time in more than eight seasons — and defending ACHA DI national champion Adrian (Mich.) College, which Liberty split a series with for the fifth consecutive time over Fall Break. After dropping the opener against the Bulldogs, 1-0, Flames graduate forward Jackson Vercellono delivered the game winner in sudden-death overtime in the Oct. 11 rematch.
Handy wants to make sure his players don't become overconfident based on the rankings, which can be fleeting.
"For us, the important thing to think of is, 'Have we continued to improve as a team throughout the semester? Yes,'" Handy said. "The second question is 'Are we at the level we need to be at (for the ACHA DI National Championships) in March?' No. We have to keep improving and developing to the level that we need to to be successful (in St. Louis)."
Liberty's remaining schedule should prepare it well for nationals. It will conclude fall semester play with a series against Drexel, which moved into the top 25 this week, on Dec. 6-7 at the LIC, starting with the second of three Midnight Mayhem matchups.
"That will be another opportunity to finish the semester strong," Handy said. "Then, in the second half of the year, we have four games against Ohio, the No. 1 team; we play Adrian, the No. 2 team, twice, (No. 7) Niagara twice, (No. 11) Calvin twice, and (No. 26) Pittsburgh twice. God's given us the opportunity to play a lot of great opponents. How do we continue to build and continue to improve on where we're at and put ourselves in a good spot at the end of the year?"
He wants his players, many of whom traveled across the United States and Canada at the end of the Maryville Showcase, to enjoy their Thanksgiving Break.
"We have had a busy semester with a lot going on," he said. "On our end, you definitely want a break for healing up injuries, but you don't want a break from the momentum we sustained at the showcase. It's important when we get back to re-establish the momentum that we had … and finish the semester strong. How can we go into the Christmas Break with the same momentum that we have now? It's about getting our guys healed up and being able to play at the level they are capable of."
He has been impressed with how quickly the team's newcomers, including 10 freshmen, have transitioned to life at Liberty and playing in the ACHA.
"When you bring in that many new players and put them all together, with a lot of guys who have not been in school to focus on academics and the adjustments of college life, you really hope that by the end of November your team has grown more into what it's going to be like (in March)."
He realizes the Flames will be shorthanded when they start the spring semester with a home series against Calvin, as six of their top players will be competing for Team USA at the Winter World University Games in Italy.
"The encouraging thing for us is we've had players step up when we've been battling injuries, and it's going to be the same thing again," Handy said. "Our guys will step up and play well again and be able to play at the level that we need them to play at to win games, regardless of who's in the lineup and who's not."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Players Mentioned
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