By Eric Czerwonka · Junior Max Findley led the Rowan Men’s Division two ice hockey team in points last season, with 40. The forward had 19 goals, and 21 assists in 30 ga…
Junior Max Findley led the Rowan Men’s Division two ice hockey team in points last season, with 40. The forward had 19 goals, and 21 assists in 30 games, being over a point per game.
The team had a complete bounce back season, winning 22 games and finishing at the top of the ACCHL (American Collegiate Hockey Association) Premier North. And, at the top of its conference, the ACHL (American Collegiate Hockey League), with ten wins in 12 games.
But, the team ultimately fell short.
After being the top seed in the ACHA Premier Championship, and making it to the semi-finals, the Profs fell short to the eight seeded University of Maryland.
“We got there, we were the number one seed, we know we can beat anybody,” said Findley. “We just go in with a chip on our shoulder.”
For a team that spent the entire season proving it belonged at the top, the playoff exit was a bitter reminder that the job was far from finished.
“That loss against Maryland in the playoffs hit us wrong,” said Findley.
Rowan will get a chance to take on Maryland, in a two-game series, on October 2, and 3. One in Maryland, and one back at home in Hollydell.
For Findley, as he’s entering his third season being with the team, he looks to become a 200-foot player.
“He’s starting to really learn that it’s not just putting the puck in the net, but how you really help a team is by leading from the front, doing the little stuff,” said assistant coach Ian Kliewe. “He’s put a lot of work in the gym to keep his body right, so he could not only throw around the muscle, but put the puck in the back of the net as well.”
The team is still young, as Rowan retained a lot of the players they had last year, now made up of mostly sophomores and juniors, and are willing to take on anyone.
Sophomore Jake McCloud had 32 points in 24 games, including 16 goals and assists. Now junior Brian Bowman, who’s Findley’s linemate, and had 28 points in 29 games.
“We just get each other and talk all the time,” said Findley.
The team has proved they can compete against Division I teams, as they already defeated The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) away in the first game of the season, 7-3.
But Rowan now looks ahead to this upcoming Friday, on September 18, for the first home game of the season, against Montclair State University in the Hollydell Ice Arena.