Fantastic new additions to the team were made which included 5 Freshman (Mulkern, Slocum, McCain, Seefeldt & Emmons) & 3 non-Freshmen 1st year players (Nelson, Lussier & Garcia). The partial return of Fairclough & Mansur was helpful while fan-favorite Nick Isoldi, now a Graduate Student, payed huge dividends both on the ice and also in the locker room.

Despite feeling the ill effects of the impending graduation of Captain Mike Cupolo, next year looks brighter yet. 4 top Freshmen players have already comitted with several others expected to announce their decisions in the coming weeks.

Next year’s schedule is complete and the team’s 20 games include all the top squads in the region as well as a visit from the Big 10′s Northwestern University. Last year brought Michigan to the Owls’ home rink, Saveology.com Iceplex in nearby Coral Springs.

With many new additions to the program, roster & schedule, FAU also announced they will host the ACHA National Championship Tournament next year at Saveology.com Iceplex.

Onward & upward for the Ice Owls!!!!

By: Marc Springston
www.sunshinestatehockey.net

The Florida Atlantic Owls had a very busy and exciting start to their 2012-2013 season. From taking a huge step in player safety by participating in concussion testing to a Daytona Beach road trip, the FAU hockey team gained a lot of experience, and we are only in week two of the regular season. Let’s take a more detailed look back at a busy start of the year for your Owls.

Safety Owls

Player safety is an important topic in every level of every impact sport. League’s like the NFL and NHL do their best to promote the safety of their players, especially when the topic is concussions. Head injuries are always one of the most talked about topics in professional sports, especially after the multiple deaths of players off the field and ice over the last two years. The FAU coaching staff realized just how important player safety is, and that is why before the start of the season all of Florida Atlantic University’s hockey players had to participate in mandatory concussion testing before they were cleared to play.

Scott Grosky, FAU’s General Manager and Assistant Coach, sent us the following press release regarding the Owls concussion testing.

“The Ice Hockey Club at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has teamed with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to initiate the most comprehensive concussion detection, evaluation, and treatment program in Florida.

During the pre-season, all FAU student hockey players are required to have extensive baseline testing at Impact Sports Performance in Boca Raton, Florida. This facility also serves as the off ice training facility of FAU Ice Hockey. Testing includes measuring reasoning and other cognitive abilities done on a computer terminal as well as intense physical activities.

Players and Coaches are educated in identifying symptoms by Dr. Gillian Hotz of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine staff including . ( http://impacttest.com/doctors/id/196)In the event of an incident the club has a detailed protocol for its athletes to follow before they are cleared to compete again.”

During a time when concussions are claiming the careers, and lives in extreme cases, of more professional athletes than ever before it is truly great to see Florida Atlantic University’s hockey team take charge and protect their players.

Daytona Glory Days

Opening a season on the road is always an interesting challenge for a team, especially one full of new faces. The Owls embraced and conquered that challenge by winning their first two games against Embry-Riddle, becoming road warriors after just their first two regular season games of the 2012-2013 campaign. FAU picked up a total of 10 goals in the two contests against ERAU during their road trip to Daytona Beach, Florida, including three from forward Nick Isoldi (two goals in game one, one goal in game two). Florida Atlantic will head out on the road again this week when they visit the Space Coast Iceplex in Rockledge, Florida to play the University of Tennessee on Thursday.

Spoiled Homecoming

After securing two wins on the road against Embry-Riddle it was time for the Owls to head home and play host to the University of South Florida Ice Bulls. FAU wanted to give their fans a win in the first home game of the season, but the Ice Bulls had other ideas. Led by defenseman Joel Messina and his four point night, USF defeated Florida Atlantic 7-3 at the Saveology.com Iceplex in Coral Springs, Florida.

The Owls were without the services of forward Billy Seefeldt and freshman defenseman Daltrey Meitz. Seefeldt missed the game against USF because of the flu while Meitz sat out because of the birth of his son. There is no doubt that the loss of these two players contributed to Florida Atlantic’s defeat at the hands of the IceBulls.

Hurricane Havoc

After losing to USF at home it was time for the Owls to hit the road once again. Hoping to recreate the same success they had while visiting Embry-Riddle during their time in Daytona Beach, FAU headed south to battle the University of Miami in game one of a home-and-home series between the two teams. The Owls would jump out to a 2-0 lead early in the 1st period with goals from forwards David Varga and Jonathan Sawtelle, but that would prove not be enough. UM would go on to score 12 unanswered goals, including a pair from the Hurricanes leading scorer Paul Nardone, in front of their home crowd at the Kendall Ice Arena in Miami, Florida.

The following night it was time for Florida Atlantic to play host to the Hurricanes. UM made the trip north to FAU’s home building, the Saveology.com Iceplex, looking to repeat their performance from 24 hours before. What they found when they took to the ice was a very physical, angry Owls hockey team. FAU played a high tempo, hard hitting game from first puck drop to the final horn. The Owls had numerous chances throughout all three periods, including multiple 5-3 power-plays, but they just could not solve the University of Miami goaltender, Joey Cimaglia. FAU would only score one goal against the Hurricanes in the 3rd period, losing for the second time in as many nights to UM by a final score of 6-1.

As we stated earlier in our recap of FAU hockey’s first two weeks of the 2012-2013 season they will be on the road once more this week when they meet the University of Tennessee at the Space Coast Iceplex in Rockledge, Florida on Thursday. Florida Atlantic will pick right back up on Friday, 8:15 PM EST, at the Saveology.com Iceplex when they play host to Florida Golf Coast University in game one of another home-and-home series. Game two will take place on Saturday in Fort Myers, Florida at the Germain Arena, home of the ECHL’s Florida Everblades hockey club.

Be sure to come out and support your FAU Owls during one of the three games this week.

Source: Sunshine State Hockey

All Home Games Played at:

Saveology Iceplex

3299 Sportsplex Drive

Coral Springs, FL 33065

(954) 341-9956

www.SaveologyIceplex.com

Tryouts begin Saturday September 3rd from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM at Saveology Iceplex and & continue on Sunday the 4th from 3:45 pm – 4:45 PM. Open to the public.

Any interested players & volunteers please contact Coach Grosky at:

Scott@FAUHockey.com

WE NEED PLAYERS of all positions & Volunteer Staff members!

Try-outs will be 2 days; September 3rd & 4th. For times and more information contact Coach Scott Grosky: 954-275-3275 or Scott@FAUHockey.com

We are also in need of volunteers to assist with many on & off-ice duties. Please ask Coach Grosky for more details.

FAU made the trip to Holland, Michigan – a 22 hour bus trip each way. The exhausted and shorthanded team fought valiantly, skating all the way with the host and favorites, Hope College (eventual runner-up), in a 5-1 loss. The Owls battled hard in a 6-3 loss to Colorado, and saw a close game widen late against Robert Morris. Before coming home, four skaters and a goaltender represented FAU in the tournament’s All-Star game.

Friends, families, and fans alike are extremely proud of the job that the Owls did this season, and expect even bigger and better things next year.”

Andrew Imber

BREAKING NEWS!

The owls won two straight games at the ACHA Regional tournament, propelling them into the ACHA National Tournament slated to take place March 9th to the 12th in Holland Michigan. This is the first time FAU has attended this tournament since their 2004-2005 season.

FAU took it to USF in an early game on Friday, ousting their familiar foe 10-4 in what was considered pay back for the two losses to the Bulls earlier in the season. On Saturday, the Owls faced off against southern powerhouse U of Arkansas, a team who attended Nationals in 2009-10. The game was end to end and very exciting. The owls were able to tie the game and eventually take the lead in the second period. Midway through the third period, Arkansas was able to stuff the puck home making the score 3-3
In the last 2:30 of the third period, the Razorbacks went a man short after commiting a penalty. The Owls in brilliant fashion took full advantage of this PowerPlay and put the puck in the net to secure a 4-3 win!

As more information comes in, we will keep the fans posted!