Jordan Kuhns
VilleHockey.com Webmaster
Team Broadcaster
The Marauders started their season with hopes of this being the year. Going into the second semester of play and the final stretch of games, the team is the third seed in the Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Western Division with a 7-3-1 record, good for 15 points.
The Marauders have played 11 games, but their closest competition, Scranton University, has 12 points through 10 games. It will be crucial to win a good majority of the games ahead to have a good standing in the playoffs. Muhlenberg is undefeated with ten wins, and Kutztown is in second place with 15 points. It will be tight, but if you look at the competition ahead, the playoffs should be attainable for the Marauders.
This would be their second trip to the postseason dance in as many years behind this experienced core of players looking to make a statement.
Last year, Millersville upset Muhlenberg in the first round to fall to Scranton in the second round in a close 2-1 tilt. This year, the playoff spectrum looks a lot different, but the Marauders are in the mix once again.
A look at some standouts on the team:
Captain Evan Miller, the senior, is being Evan Miller. And by that, I mean that Miller is scoring goals with reckless abandon. This year he has 18 goals and 11 assists for 29 points. His career high of 25 goals is in reach. His philosophy as captain has energized this team into a consistent force. He stresses “never be satisfied”, no matter what the score. And this team has taken that energy and moved forward, winning most of their games in the GNCHC.
Mike Carpenter is having a tremendous junior season with 14 goals and 16 assists in GNCHC play. Carp, as they call him, has six powerplay goals and a few hat tricks to go along with that play. He’s a consistent force on the ice, and his consistent play (and frequent fist pumping) will be a big key to the Marauders’ success coming up. Carpenter has recently eclipsed the century mark in points with 103.
Transfer student Kyle Hench has been a source of consistent goal scoring for the Marauders. His two goals were the deciding factor in the rough-and-tumble win against the Bucknell Bison. Hench seems to be always in the right spot for a rebound, and will continue to get the goals.
On the defensive side of the puck, look no further than sophomore Chris Collins, who has had a resurgent sophomore season for the Black and Gold. Collins, an alternate captain for the Marauders this season, has 4 goals and 13 assists for 17 points. Collins is not just a good offensive defenseman, but he has played extremely solid defense, and has made great passes on the powerplay. The big dude has been a good find for Marauder recruiting.
Defenseman Sean Nielsen is poised to be a star on this Marauder team in the future. In his first season, the roving defenseman (who sometimes seems like a forward) has oozed confidence with 6 goals and 9 assists, good for 15 points. He’s always involved in the play, eager to take slapshots and beat defenders with dekes that several GNCHC players wish they could pull off. Look for Nielsen’s slapper to be an important part of the Marauder push to the playoffs.
Game recaps will be available postgame (I promise) after every game, including quotes from the players. Highlights will be available for some of the games coming up as well. Stay tuned to VilleHockey.com for the latest information on your Millersville Marauders. Also, be sure to follow @MUIceHockey on Twitter, and go to www.youtube.com/millersvillehockey or www.youtube.com/rhnielsen68 for highlights of earlier games.