From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Thu Mar 06 2003 - 22:57:09 EST
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 6, 2003
MEN'S CLUB ICE HOCKEY
MUSKEGON -- Calvin opened play in the Division III American Collegiate Hockey
Association Club Championships in grand fashion Thursday afternoon as the
Knights recorded a 5-2 first round upset victory over the University of Wyoming
at the L.C. Walker Arena.
Making its first national tournament appearance since 1993, Calvin handed a
three-goal defeat to a University of Wyoming team that took second at last
year's national championships and also captured the 2001 national title.
Calvin (17-5) grabbed an early 2-0 lead on first period goals from freshman Max
Sieplinga (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and sophomore Jason Kool (Tri-unity
Christian HS). Sieplinga opened the scoring with a clean rush up the left
wing and then assisted on Kool's goal with 7:09 left in the first period with
senior Brett VerKaik (Grand Rapids Christian HS) also drawing an assist on the
play.
Wyoming came back to cut the deficit in half on a goal with just six seconds
left in the first period but the Knights responded with three straight goals in
the second half to build a commanding 5-1 lead. Sophomore Aaron Okkema
(Ancaster, ON) put the Knights up 3-1 early in the second period, deflecting in
a shot from the left point by freshman Nate Heuker (South Christian HS).
VerKaik then scored off an assist from Sieplinga with 8:12 left in the second
period and Kool followed moments later with his second goal of the game on a
double assist from Sieplinga and freshman Dave Veeneman (Grand Rapids Christian
HS).
The Cowboys managed to fire in a power play goal with 2:33 left in the second
period but neither team would score again as the Knights locked up the game
with a stingy defensive performance the rest of the way.
"This was definitely one of our better games of the year. I really thought we
came out flying," said Calvin hockey coach Mike Petrusma. "We were coming off
a three-week layoff so the boys were kind of chomping at the bit and were ready
to go."
Calvin outshot Wyoming 28-24 with senior goaltender Brad Kirker (Seattle, WA)
collecting 22 saves in between the pipes for the Knights including a pivotal
stop on a Wyoming breakaway chance in the opening minute of play. "Kirker is
just a tremendous goaltender," said Petrusma. "In terms of athleticism, he's
one of the best-kept secrets on the Calvin campus."
Calvin returns to action on Friday morning when it faces Georgetown University
at 8:00 a.m. at the Southside Ice Arena.
"We don't know a whole lot about Georgetown," said Petrusma who led Calvin to a
third place national finish at the 1993 national championships in Albany. "One
thing we do know is that they do have a phenomenal goaltender. What it comes
down to is putting your equipment on, grabbing your stick and finding out what
you can do against your opponent. We'll find out tomorrow morning."
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