EMU Eagles taking flight
It has been so far, so good in the early going of the 2018 portion of the season for the Eastern Michigan University Eagles of the Division 1, American Collegiate Hockey Association.
Not only has EMU welcomed six fresh faces to the lineup, the Eagles are also flying high with a record of 4-0-0 and 21 goals scored via series sweeps of Oakland University and Rochester College thus far in 2018.
Eagles senior captain Lucas Linville, a forward who played in the Central Canada Hockey League with the Brockville Braves and in the North American Hockey League with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons before heading to Eastern Michigan, summed up the sweep of Oakland U.
“There was a definitely a focused mood on the bus to Oakland. It was business like … we knew what we had to do,” said the product of Whitmore Lake, MI.
In particular, five Eagles have stood out in the four wins to date in 2018, including forwards Mark McGee, Tyler Zalecki, Austin Turner and Josh Davenport and goalie Dan Collins.
McGee, formerly of the Michigan Warriors of the NAHL and the Toledo Cherokee of the North American 3 Hockey League, had a two-goal game against Rochester. Zalecki and Turner, who also played in the NA3HL for Toledo, have 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points apiece in their last four games while Davenport, formerly of the Fort Vancouver Rangers of the Western States Hockey League, chipped in with 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points.
And between the pipes, Collins who played in the United States Premier Hockey League for the Motor City Hawks, posted a 34-save shutout against Rochester.
Up next, EMU heads south this weekend for a pair of games with Florida Gulf Coast University, a Division 2, ACHA school.
Eagles head coach Joe Allen is excited at the prospect of a pair of games against a tough opponent — and some warmer weather.
“First and foremost, it’s a business trip. And the men are all aware of that. They (FGCU) are a well-coached, good team,” said Allen. “If we go down there to work hard, stay disciplined, and play as a team, then good things will happen. I’m looking forward to the men playing some complete hockey and enjoying some team building on the beach as well.”