C.W. Post Ice Hockey Ranked 10th in the ACHA Northeast

For the first time in its ACHA history, the C.W. Post Ice Hockey Club is ranked in the league’s top ten.  The highest the Pioneers have ever previously been ranked was 15th at the end of last season.

The Pioneers have come up with big wins against Endicott (#14) and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (#7).  C.W. Post has also had close losses to highly-ranked University of New Hampshire (#3), William Patterson (#5) and Montclair State University (#6).

One of the biggest reasons for Post’s early success is the team defense, despite the fact that the Pioneers only dress five blue-liners for most games.  Sophomore goalie Will Neifeld has started every game, while the defensive unit is led by senior Jim Rettig.  Sophomore Bill Menkens and freshmen Oscar Berglund, T.J. Kilbride and Jimmy Bare have also helped contribute to a defensive unit that has kept the Pioneers in every game.  Assistant Coach Hal Joseph, a solid x’s and o’s man, has also come to Post this season after seven years as Nassau CC’s Head Coach and has worked closely with the defense.

Offensively, senior forward Shawn Hroch is once again the early team leader in goals and assists.  Hroch has 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points in twelve games.  He is followed by sophomore forward Mike Cupolo (14 points) and freshman forward Oscar Berglund (10 points).

If the Pioneers maintain their top 10 standing in the Northeast at the end of the season, they will qualify for their first ever ACHA Regional Playoff appearance.