Hope Results at 2010 ACHA Tournament

Championship Game - Saturday, March 13, 2010
Saginaw Valley 6, Hope 4
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Conference rival Saginaw Valley defeated the Flying Dutchmen 6-4 in the championship game of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Saturday night in Ft. Myers, Fla. Hope scored the game's first goal, but were not able to recover after Saginaw scored two unanswered goals. Brett Kopinski scored a pair of goals while getting one apiece were Justin Johnston and Matt Schrader. The Flying Dutchmen tied a school record for wins in a season with 25. Sophomore Chris Kunnen of DesMoines, Iowa and William Geurin of Lansing, Mich. were voted to the all-tournament team.

Championship Round Semi-Finals - Saturday, March 13, 2010
Hope 3, Florida Gulf Coast 1
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The Hope hockey team is headed to the national championship game of the American Collegiate Hockey Association after posting a 3-1 victory over host school Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday morning.

The Flying Dutchmen (25-5-1) will play in the title game tonight in Ft. Myers, Fla. against Michigan rival Saginaw Valley State who won its sem-final game 4-1. Saginaw Valley, the defending national championship, has been a nemesis to Hope this year handing the Flying Dutchmen three of its five losses.

After scoring 24 goals in three pool-play victories, the Flying Dutchmen were faced with a defensive battle. Hope freshman Court Fall scored just a minute into the game assisted by two other freshmen, Justin Johnston and Jake Green.

Hope nursed that single goal lead into the third period when Green scored assisted by Fall and junior William Guerin. Gulf Coast cut the lead to 2-1 midway through the period, but an empty-net goal by Matt Schrader, assisted by Chris Kunnen and Matt Kopinski, sealed the verdict in the closing seconds. Goalie Sean LaDouce turned away 37 of 38 shots.

The Flying Dutchmen, who are making their ninth consecutive appearance in the national tournament, will be playing in the championship game for the second time and the first since 2003 when they ended second.

Pool Play - Friday, March 12, 2010
Hope 12, University of Colorado 5
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The Flying Dutchmen have advanced to the semi-finals in the championship bracket at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) after defeating the University of Colorado 12-5 on Friday. Hope went through pool play undefeated (3-0) and will now face host Florida Gulf Coast in a Saturday morning semi-final game. The Flying Dutchmen are seeking to advance to the national championship game for the first time since 2002. Trailing 2-1 in the first period, the Flying Dutchmen gained a 4-2 advantage at the break and then pulled away with seven goals in the second period. Chris Kunnen scored for goals and was credited with two assists for Hope while Brett Kopinski had the hat trick (three goals) and Dan Bolt added a pair. Scoring one each were Jake Green, Kyle Plachta, and Matt Schrader.

Hope is competing in the national tournament for a ninth consecutive year and are seeking to improve on a ninth place finish in 2009.

Pool Play - Thursday, March 11, 2010
Hope 5, University of Arkansas 2
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The Flying Dutchmen capitalized on a quick start for the second straight day at the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament in rolling to a 5-2 victory over the University of Arkansas in a second round game of pool play.

The Flying Dutchmen scored two unanswered goals in both the first and second periods. Senior Austin Sonneveldt scored his first of the tournament midway through the first period and sophomore Chris Kunnen slammed in his third at nationals to give Hope a 2-0 lead. Hope scored a pair of power-play goals in the second period, the first by Kunnen and the next by freshman Court Fall. The final goals was scored by senior Matt Schrader who had already assisted on two other goals, raising his national tournament total to seven. Freshman Nick Cornicelli was creditred with three assists while credited with two apiece was junior Brett Kopinski. Goalie Sean LaDouce, a freshman, turned away 18 shots.

The Flying Dutchmen conclude pool play on Friday afternoon against the University of Colorado in a showdown of high-scoring tournament unbeatens. Colorado has out-scored its tournament opponents 18-4 while Hope has held a 12-4 advantage. The winner will advance to the semi-finals of championship play.

The 16-team tournament continues through Saturday. Hope is competing in the national tournament for a ninth consecutive year and are seeking to improve on a ninth place finish in 2009.

Pool Play - Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Hope 7, Fredonia State 2
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The Flying Dutchmen opened play at the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament in Florida on Wednesday by routing Fredonia State, N.Y. 7-2 in a first round game of pool play.

Fredonia scored just 81 seconds into the game, but wouldn't find the net again until the final minute of play. In between, the Flying Dutchmen scored seven unanswered goals, including four in the first period. The first by sophomore Chris Kunnen came only 23 seconds after Fredonia's. Kunnen got a second goal in the first period. Adding goals to Hope's 4-1 first period lead were freshman Jake Green and junior Will Guerin.

Hope scored once in the second period on a goal by freshman Justin Johnston. Season-leading scorer Brett Kopinski, a junior, scored a pair in the third period to bring his total to 22 for the year.

Senior Matt Schrader was credited with five assists while freshman Court Fall had a pair. Freshman goalie Sean LaDouce was credited with 22 saves as Hope held a 32-24 advantage in shots on goal.

The Flying Dutchmen (22-5-1-1) continue pool play Thursday against the University of Arkansas. The 16-team tournament continues through Saturday. Hope is competing in the national tournament for a ninth consecutive year and are seeking to improve on a ninth place finish in 2009.

American Collegiate Hockey Association Website