FLC Hockey Trying to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
By Mike Ranson
The Fort Lewis College Skyhawks men’s club hockey team plays their final two home games of the season tonight and tomorrow night against a struggling Western State team. FLC is looking to retain a top 10 spot in the very competitive American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III Pacific Division.
FLC is 10-4 overall this season and are ranked ninth in the division currently.
The ACHA DIII Pacific Division is made up of close to thirty teams that cover most of the midwest and western states. This weekend could be the most important of the season; both games could be the difference in the Skyhawks making the playoffs or not.
After starting the season off slow, the Skyhawks have caught their stride led by leading goal-scorer Nathan Watts and freshman goalie Robby Grogan. Watts leads the team with 23 goals and 16 assists, while Grogan has 339 saves.
As of late, the team has been on a tear. They have gone on a 10-game win streak and have defeated some of the best teams in the region such as University of Colorado Springs and division I Utah Valley.
“We’ve just worked well as a team,” Grogan said. “Our practices are at 6 in the morning, so it’s tough, but everyone shows up and puts in the work.”
The team is 9th in the Pacific division standings. This upcoming weekend could be the lift the team needs to push them into to playoff contention.
“We were recently ranked 15th which is probably the best that this program has gotten to,” Grogan said. “If we sweep these two games we have a good chance,” Grogan said.
As for the Skyhawks opponent this coming weekend, the season hasn’t been as uplifting. The Mountaineers are a discouraging 0-16 and have already lost to the Skyhawks twice this season earlier in the year. They rank last in the Pacific division.
The Mountaineers are led by Jakob Faison, who’s recorded 8 goals and 2 assists, while their starting goalie Ryan Taylor has 303 saves on the year.
Both games will be played in Durango, Colorado at Chapman Ice Rink. Tonight they play at 8:15 p.m. and tomorrow they play at 1 p.m.