Chicago Gold - ACHA Division 1

RMU GOLD HOCKEY BREAKS CAMP; THIRTEEN FIRST YEAR PLAYERS MAKE THE SQUAD 

The one constant in sports is change and just months after completing a season with the program's best won-lost record, the RMU Gold hockey team welcomed thirteen new faces for the 2011-12 season. 

"We lost seven terrific seniors who contributed so much," said head coach Chico Adrahtas.  “But we had an outstanding recruiting class and that was reflected in our try out process." 

Over four days of scrimmages, what became apparent was that the staff added a significant amount of team speed at forward, bolstered their depth on defense, and is very talented in the game's most important position in goal.  The strong class of first year players had a ripple effect on the program, as at least five players who were on the Gold team during the 2010-11 campaign were assigned to the Maroon team's roster significantly bolstering RMU's Division II team's hopes for a run at the National Championships.  Returning from last year's team are senior goalie Marcus Feferman (Wheeling, IL), senior defenseman Michael Sugden (Milwaukee, WI), junior defenseman and co-captain Ryan McGaughy (Gurnee, IL), sophomore defensemen Zack Kuta (McChesney Park, IL), Andrew Montague (Kalamazoo, MI), and Mitch Tews (Tinley Park, IL). 

Returners up front include team leading scorer and CSHL Rookie of the Year Gehrett Sargis ( Midloathian, IL ) and his line mates, productive right wing Chris Cimoch (Crestwood, IL) and center Dave Bauer (St. Louis, MO). Brett Moser (Chicago, IL), the team's premier penalty killer, is back along with fellow PK standout Geno Melone (Towers Lake, IL).  Versatile Adam Keasey (Canton, MI) is coming off an injury-plagued first year, but has also shined in the early going.  Also returning are two players who fought for ice time on a week-in and week-out basis, Nick Leon (Aurora, IL) and Mike Stubits (Winfield, IL).  Leon had a particularly productive camp and was amongst the leading scorers. 

While those players form a solid basis of optimism for the '11-'12 season, it is the banner recruiting crop that has the RMU staff so anxious for the first real drop of the puck. 

"In years past when we have our recruiting camps, we might get two or three high profile players," observed Hockey Director Tom Wendlandt.  "This year we only lost two." 

In goal working to fill the void left by All-American net minder Dan Venet, the Eagles brought in Anthony Petrak (Bolingbrook, IL), a veteran Junior hockey star who transferred in from Davenport University.  Along with Petrak, the team targeted Andy DiCrisitifaro (St. Clair Shores, MI), who is coming off an All-Star level season with his Junior team in Missoula, Montana.

"Both guys bring different assets to the table," said Adrahtas.  “But with them in the fold, it will be a long time before we have to recruit any more goaltending help." 

While the club only lost one defenseman, the loss was a big one. Senior co-captain Jesper Carlsten had put in back to back great years and was a mainstay on special teams.  But the Eagles managed to land lanky Tyler Martarano (Naperville, IL), an impact defenseman who flew under everyone's radar after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury.  Martorano has had an exceptional camp and is projected to more than fill the loss left by Carlsten's graduation.  Adding depth to the defensive corps are freshmen Will Nunez (Naperville, IL) and sophomore transfer Ryan OConnell (Des Plaines, IL).  Nunez is one of two rarities on the RMU squad, a true freshman in a world that rarely sees them make teams that are packed with players who've had two or more years of Junior hockey experience.  OConnell is one of those players and is a steady, stay at home type. 

Up front the Eagles were looking for replacements for an entire line of seniors with a history of scoring.  Graduation saw the exits of Matt Olson, Bart Reeves, and Nick Fina.

"We will never replace Olson's leadership," Adrahtas pointed out.  “But we hope to have made up for losing his production."

The RMU staff brought in three standout scorers from the NA3HL and are looking to plug them in together as a line. Kyle Hamilton (Pekin, IL) and Mason Riley (Pekin, IL) have been teammates and line mates for years and both were amongst the elite players in their league while leading their team in Peoria in scoring.  They'll start the season on the same line with Tony Domico (Naperville, IL), who led the Chicago Hitmen in scoring.  Another forward adding significantly to the excitement is Rock Einersen (Chicago, IL).  Einersen was a standout scorer in the NAHL, one of North America's best Junior leagues, and has been showing a deft scoring touch during camp.  Another skater from the same league, Markus Ellis (Bolingbrook, IL) comes to the Eagles after taking a year off the sport, and has shown little rust.  He will start the year as Einersen's right wing with transfer Josh Kaebel (Pekin, IL) playing on the left. Kaebel started camp slowly but has been one of the best players on the ice recently.  Another NAHL graduate, freshman Thomas McEachern (Rochster Hills, MI) has had a strong camp as well. Perhaps the biggest surprise of camp has been the play of the team's other true freshman, Derek Winkler (Tinley Park, IL).  A late-summer walk-on who had played locally for the AAA Chicago Fury, his relative inexperience has not shown at all and he has put himself in a position to earn early season ice time. 

"There are going to be some bumps along the way because of so many new faces," said Assistant Coach Chad Berman. "But you can feel the strength of character in the locker room and see the improved speed and skill on the ice.  We're very excited about how far this team can go." 

RMU Gold opens its home season with a two game series against North Dakota State at The Edge in Bensenville, Illinois.  Puck drop on September 30th and October 1st will take place at 7:30 PM.