College of the Canyons Hockey Team Heading Back to National Championships
For the second time in as many years the College of the Canyons hockey team will take the ice at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Championships.
Winners of 34 regular season games, eight playoff victories and back-to-back Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) Adams Cups over the last two seasons, the Cougars are now on the prowl for the one title missing from their trophy case — an ACHA Division-III National Championship.
Mixing a high-scoring offensive attack with a stout defense and nearly impenetrable goaltender, the Cougars skated to an impressive 21-3 regular season record, including nine straight victories to close out the 2010 campaign.
In doing so, College of the Canyons managed to outscore its opponents by a ratio of nearly 3:1, reaching double-digit goal totals in nine games, while holding opponents to three goals or less in 14 contests.
As the region’s No. 1 ranked team, the Cougars then stormed through the 2010 PCHA playoffs held in South Lake Tahoe, CA, in early February. By knocking off Santa Clara University and rival California State University, Northridge, the Cougars were again able to claim the coveted Adams Cup and advance to the ACHA National Championships being held March 10-13, in Fort Myers, Florida.
In Fort Myers, College of the Canyons will be one of only two community colleges skating in the National Championships’ 16-team field — which also includes traditional four-year university athletic powerhouses University of Arkansas, Colorado University and University of Florida.
However, the post-season experience gained by tasting both victory and defeat during the Cougars’ 14th place finish at the 2009 National Championships should bode well for College of the Canyons this time around.
“The level of hockey talent in Southern California is a lot broader and deeper than most people think,” said head coach John Taferner. “We believe in the kids of Santa Clarita and we believe in their abilities. It’s just a matter of harnessing that ability and making these kids believe they can achieve anything.”
College of the Canyons will drop the puck against University of Florida in the opening round of the ACHA Division-III National Championships Wednesday, March 10, in Fort Myers, Florida.
