The stretch run to the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) playoffs is in full swing for both the Division 2 and Division 3 men’s hockey teams from the University of Delaware, and they will both be in the spotlight on Delaware Hockey Night Radio this weekend.
Friday, Feb. 2 • Delaware (D2) at Rider
The No. 8 Blue Hens Division 2 squad (17-12-0) makes their final road trip of the year Friday, travelling to the Loucks Ice Center in Lawrenceville, N.J. to take on the No. 10 Rider Broncs (13-8-1) for their final Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Conference contest of the season. The Hens defeated Rider on home ice, 8-2, on Nov. 17, with first-line winger Ryan Lowe earning a hat trick and Eric Birnberg saving 45 of 47 shots faced.
Delaware looks to rebound from a 3-2 defeat to No. 7 Rowan on Sunday, while Rider most recently upset the No. 3 Liberty Flames, 4-3, on Saturday night. Christopher Johnson led the Broncs with a hat trick in their toppling of the top seed in the MACH South Division.
Live coverage on DHN Radio will begin at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Saturday, Feb. 3 • Scranton at Delaware (D2)
The Hens return home on Saturday to take on the Scranton Royals (12-7-2) in their second ever meeting. In January of 2016, the Hens outshot Scranton 72-23 en route to a 6-2 victory at the Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, Pa. Birnberg, then a freshman, was victorious in net with 21 saves.
Air time from Fred Rust Arena on the campus of the University of Delaware is 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 3 • Stockton (NJ) at Delaware (D3)
DHN Radio then shifts immediately to Gold Arena, where the No. 9 Division 3 Blue Hens (15-9-2) host the Stockton Ospreys (7-9-2) in Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference action. In their earlier meeting this season, Delaware pulled off a 5-4 overtime win at the Winding River Skating Center in Toms River, N.J. Shane Saladis’s game-winning goal 27 seconds into the extra period gave him four on the night, while Nathan Kanter accounted for the other Delaware goal.
Coverage will begin immediately after the Division 2 game concludes.
Monday, Feb. 5 • Avon Grove at Kennett
The Kennett Blue Demons (5-6-0) look to avenge a 4-0 loss to Avon Grove at the Patriot Ice Center in Newark, Del. In their prior meeting, the Avon Grove Devils (8-4-1) played all three zones well, clogged the neutral zone, and JD D’Ambrosio recorded a 15-save shutout between the pipes.
Air time on DHN Radio is 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 6 • St. Mark’s at Newark/Tatnall
The Spartans (8-2-0 ICSHL) look to bounce back from a 4-2 loss to Salesianum in a crossover match with the Newark/Tatnall Stingers (11-0-1) of the Delaware High School Hockey League. St. Mark’s, a member of the DHSHL last season, went 1-0-1 in the season series with the Stingers, closing their regular season with an 8-2 victory. Patrick Swain led the St. Mark’s side with four goals and two assists in their February 2017 matchup, while Lance Ralsten contributed a pair.
Live coverage from the Patriot Ice Center in Newark, Del. will begin at 3:15 p.m. on DHN Radio.
