In what is hoped to become a spirited tradition for Riddle Hockey, the Eagles donned Cameo Jerseys on Friday in celebration of Veterans Day Weekend. Each jersey the players wore had the name of a local veteran from the ERAU or Daytona Community. Players escorted their respective veterans onto the ice during the pregame festivities, and at the end of the game the veterans were brought back out onto the ice and given said jerseys. Anthony Smith, former Riddle Hockey Player, Marine, and recipient of a jersey, called the gesture “one of the best to happen in his life” and “that it felt so nice to have this love and appreciation.” The night was also a special fundraiser for The Semper Fi Fund; a fund set  that provides immediate assistance and lifetime support to veterans and their families (to learn more or to donate please visit seperfifund.org). 

            In terms of the hockey played that night, the Eagles did not disappoint their veteran crowd, tallying a score of 9-1 against the visiting Lynn University Knights. Ryan Marks and Kyle Usiak scored 2 goals apiece, followed by single contributions from Matt Sillcocks, Adam Letarte, Mario Filardi, Jack Bokun and Adrian Deborah.  Andrew Caputo and Jeffery Gilbert split time tending the Riddle net, turning aside all but one of the Knights shots. The Eagles want to extend a big thank you to the Lynn Hockey Club for participating in the ceremony with us, as well as contributing custom game pucks to commemorate the event. We would also like to thank the ERAU Student Veterans Organization and the Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 1048) for their participation and support! 

In terms of ACHA Standing, the first ranking has the Eagles in at 8th, the highest ranking in team history. However, Riddle will have ample opportunity to improve this ranking in their final 4 games of the semester playing a pair of games against University of Tampa and Florida Atlantic University each, ranked 2nd and 4th respectively.

Be sure to come out this Friday to see Riddle take on the UTampa Spartans at the Daytona Ice Arena at 6:30. Pack the Barn Eagles!