Champions retain titles amidst strange happenings at Regionals

    The NC State Wolfpack and Emory Eagles decided to keep a grasp on the SECRHL DI and DII trophies this year, but it wasn't easy.  In Division I, the North Carolina State Wolfpack needed overtime to capture the crown against the Panthers of FIU, while the Emory squad squandered a 5 goal lead to the Miami Hurricanes only to score the season ending, championship winning goal in the first OT period of their contest.

 

The event was littered with strange happenings, as mentioned the Hurricanes set Emory up with a 5-0 lead and then batteled back to tie the game with 13.4 second remaining on the clock after pulling their netminder.  Both teams are well coached and deserving of recognition, alumnus Mike Ruble (UCF, Miami) and Brandt Jewel (Emory) returned to the Canes and Eagles benches a year after competing in this same event for their final seasons.

 

With six teams advancing in a very strong Division I bracket most people had written off the Florida State Seminoles after losing a combined 19-3 in the Round Robin play, even the Florida Gators took FSU lightly and the Seminoles pulled off what most likely is the biggest upset in SECRHL history beating the heavily favored Gators 4-3 in the Quarterfinals. 

 

The UCF Knights also were upset as the #1 seed this time around by the FIU Panthers.  The Knights who last year were the sleeper team in DI as a fourth seed took care of business in their round robin games and sat atop the standings after Saturdays preliminary round but a motivated and hungry FIU team gave them more then they could handle on Sunday morning.

 

All in all the SECRHL had a great season, we are looking forward to supporting the teams from the region that will be attending the NCRHA National Championships in April.  Good luck and see you in the 2007-2008 season!