The 2014-2015 season left the Stag’s Club Hockey team looking nothing short of impressive.  After traveling to Pelham, Alabama for the ACHA D3 Nationals, the team was ranked #12 nationally.  From here, the boys said goodbye to six graduating seniors, but welcomed back leading goaltender Ralph DiSpigna, and now team captains Billy Kamenides and Brendan O’Malley.

    The team unfortunately also said goodbye to a few key juniors as they went abroad for the semester, however the consistency of those returning and the addition of fresh legs has helped tremendously.  Currently, sophomore Scott Kohlepp leads the Stags in number of goals, followed closely behind in a 3-way tie between senior assistant captain Glenn LaFountain, senior Jeff Gaita, and freshman Kyle Marano.  Marano’s presence in particular has left fans and the team confident as they’ve watched him score a hatrick, a short-hander, and a shootout-winning beauty vs. Southern Connecticut. 

    Mid-way through the season, the Stags find themselves at 9-2-1 with the only losses to the University of Central Florida and Bryn Athyn College occurring at the “Battle in the Bubble” tournament.  They will search for redemption vs. Bryn Athyn at another tournament later in November.  Their game vs. Southern Connecticut State only gave them 1-point despite the fact it ended in OT, and ultimately a shootout won by the Stags.

    What’s up next for the team?  This weekend in particular, the boys will get their first official ranking by the league on Friday to be followed by two big games vs. Penn State Brandywine and Farmingdale on Saturday and Sunday afternoon respectively.  As for the rest of the semester, the Stags will compete in one more tournament, and finish the semester at NY Maritime in early December.  From here, more rankings will be determined, and the second semester will kick off at home in January.