DePaul Hockey Advances to Nationals

Last weekend the DePaul hockey team participated in the ACHA Central region, regional tournament. There are around 50 teams in the central region and out of those teams the top 10 teams make the regional playoffs. Since the number one and two seeds get an automatic bid to nationals, teams 3-10 play to see which other two teams will join the 12 other teams from the other three regions. In the first night of the tournament DePaul faced off against local rivals, Robert Morris College. This was the two teams 3rd meeting this year, with both teams having a win against the other. So not only was this game a must win to advance to the next round, but also was a chance for bragging rights. After a long tough game DePaul came out ahead with a 4-2 win over Robert Morris, giving them a birth into the second round against Minnesota school, Saint Thomas University.

Just like the game against Robert Morris, the second round game versus Saint Thomas promised to be a good one. Through the first two periods the game remained close, but DePaul remained ahead by one goal and took the lead to two by the end of the second. The score remained the same until late in the period when rookie forward, Vince Conenna scored a pair of goals to further seal the deal. DePaul went on to win it 6-2 and now advance to the National tournament, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on March 17th through the 21st. Being the first time for many to make it to a National tournament and the first time for the DePaul organization, one can bet that the group of guys that make of the DePaul hockey team will not accept anything short of a National championship. It will take the skill and effort of the whole team to bring home a win, but most of all it will take heart.

Even though your DePaul hockey team will be on the road for their quest to win Nationals, you can still support them by watching the live webcast of the games. Each National tournament game is broadcast live over the web. Just visit www.livesportsvideo.com and click on "ACHA Mens Division II Hockey Championships 2009" and it will take you to a list of all the DePaul games.