Latest / College Hockey Mouth / Episode 7: Andrew Kass | UCF Hockey, Battle of The Champs, War on I-4, and Three Stars of The Week

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Episode 7: Andrew Kass | UCF Hockey, Battle of The Champs, War on I-4, and Three Stars of The Week · College Hockey Mouth

• speaker-0: Welcome back to College Hockey Mouth episode seven. Gavin Sarah joined alongside just Gavin Coker, our producer today. On this edition. Gavin, what's going on with your week? speaker-1: It's been good. speaker-2: You know, just same old, same old, ⁓ school, getting ready for the podcast. Super excited for this episode. Got a great interview. I'll let you introduce the guests, but I'm super excited for today's show. We had a lot of really great games, so a lot to talk about. speaker-0: Yeah, and another week we counted how many times you said set the tone and I got to fifteen in our last episode. Very impressive. I think we're gonna beat that mark because I was only at six, but I'm starting to say it more. Do you think set the tone is gonna be our trademark for the show? speaker-2: I think so, man. I'm a I'm a trend setter, that's what I do. And ⁓ if set the tone's what gets me there, then that's what gets me there, I guess. speaker-0: Love it. And just bust been editing these flying ⁓ off the shelves. And we're into a flow now. We've done a couple of these and we have an awesome guest for goaltender at University of Central Florida and a second year starter. We're pleased to be joined now by C F senior goaltender Andrew Cass. Andrew, welcome to the pod. Of course. speaker-1: You speaker-3: Thank guys. Thanks for having me on. speaker-1: It's all ⁓ on here. You guys program has garnered a lot of slides with your social you. speaker-0: Awesome to finally get the night program on that side. About year coming up, tell us about your origins. speaker-1: in hockey and growing up in Massachusetts. speaker-3: Yeah, so that's where it all kind of really stems from. ⁓ originally from PBD, Massachusetts, which is about, you know, twenty minutes north of like the Boston, you know, greater Boston area. Played my youth hockey there. Growing up, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in twenty eleven. So that really kind of like sparked my ⁓ hockey interest. Obviously, Tim Thomas was like, you know, one of the people I like idolized on the team and was the person that like really wanted to, you know, make me be a goalie. And then I had a cousin gotta get a shout out to ⁓ my cousin ⁓ Peter. He played hockey at ⁓ Phillips Andover in ⁓ in Mass and he was like the first person that helped me like get on get in ice skates. So ⁓ I started playing at like eight or nine and then it was like a couple of years and then I wa I made the switch to goalie and then I've been playing since sixth grade, roughly. So now I'm here at UCF. ⁓ speaker-2: Yeah, and you mentioned coming from Boston Mass, well, Peabody Mass down to Florida. How's hockey different down here compared to what you saw up north? speaker-3: it's definitely a bit of a different feel, but I don't know. I like the energy around hockey in Florida is just so much different from what it was, you know, back up in Massachusetts. You know, I know even in the couple years that I've played down here, the it's just, you know, the ice stand is just completely packed day in and day out from when I first joined to, you know, now and just seeing like the constant growth in the state. Florida, not just in Florida but in the South in general is something that I really admire. speaker-0: What's also explained the admiration for the growth of the game. We've had a lot of guests explain how it's grown their rinks are getting a lot more attention. speaker-1: And and more teams are coming in. speaker-0: But you guys are one of the best looking programs in terms of establishing culture and actual that's what's guys. You as a starting goal at your year, has there been any things that feel different about twenty five twenty six versus where you were at last year in that first year? speaker-1: ⁓ And I think the the greatest part about hearing about your guest thing UCF. This is your second Starting experience. speaker-3: definitely a lot more you know comfortable definitely a lot more comfortable back there from when you know I think I I first started. You know, the first game happens, you you get a little anxious or whatnot. ⁓ and it still happens from time to time, you know, when the when the stakes are high. You know, I'd just been constantly growing, you know, as a as a person and as a hockey player. And you know, we have a really good group in Orlando. I'm excited to be on the ice, you know, every single day, whether it's just practice or in a game like the War on I four. You know, it's It's awesome and love their energy around ⁓ the guys in Florida. speaker-2: Yeah, and you mentioned getting a little bit anxious at times before games. What's your game day routine that helps you really lock in before you even take the eye? speaker-3: So the anxiousness I I kinda this is like counteractive, but I always have to have some sort of energy drink. That's ⁓ one thing, ⁓ it has to be, you know, s it's coffee a Celsius or whatnot. ⁓ always gets me going and get into the game day, you know, mood. You know, usually on game day mornings, especially if we're if we're at home, ⁓ me and some of the fellas like to go play ⁓ pickleball at ⁓ some of the courts at UCF, you know, just to get the blood flow, you know, going. ⁓ But just and just trying to maintain like that that energy level, you know, that game day, like that adrenaline level throughout the day is really key, you know. It was especially with some of these night games. speaker-2: Yeah, I mean we've seen games go at ten fifteen this season. So crazy late start times. I gotta ask, you mentioned Celsius. What's the go to flavor? speaker-3: ⁓ right now, so has to be for me retro ⁓ if I had to have a top three it'd be retro vibe, beach vibe, cosmic vibe. Those are my top three. But they're all like interchangeable. But retro vibe right now is like my favorite. speaker-2: I'm a little upset you left Astro Vibe out of there 'cause that's easily the best one. But that's just that's just an opinion. That might just be my opinion, but and I'm entitled to a wrong speaker-3: That's a good one. speaker-0: But isn't there like a hundred flavors? Like there is so many different ones I'd never seen before. It was like it was like a Arctic vibe or something. speaker-1: I just had one the other day I like it was like c like we are looking speaker-2: No, that's a good one. That's a great one. speaker-0: It's a taste of pretty I grew up on like the Mountain Dew like you guys know Kickstarter like speaker-1: That's great. ⁓ Mountain Dew. ⁓ speaker-2: ⁓ I haven't heard that in a speaker-0: ⁓ G the Yeah, right, right. Like high school. speaker-3: Growing up in Massachusetts, like especially, I never drank a lot of like energy drinks. So it was always just coffee. And it's so funny. Like you'll go out to like one side of the street, there's a Dunkin' Donuts and it's like literally I'm not even kidding you. The next right across the street there's another Dunkin' Donuts. It was just crazy. speaker-0: It's like how they have ⁓ public st you go across the street. Yeah, ⁓ Gavin, you're not gonna you're gonna say speaker-1: Here speaker-2: Exactly what I was gonna say. speaker-0: Like the like Massachusetts, if it's not the Duncan. Talking about hockey, we're huge fans on the road to the your videographer, Luke Bidikoffer, terrific guy, Orlando B ⁓ creative. Amazing. Tell us about just what that experience was like for you with him filming, how he was able to capture all the speaker-1: If it's not gotta be. That's awesome. Again and your team on the pod of the the beach documentary. Based. speaker-3: Big shout out to him. He does just an unbelievable job on real. ⁓ I'm super happy and and proud of all the work that he's, you know, put in not just for us, but all the work that he does outside of hockey. ⁓ you know, he ⁓ I'm I'm proud of him. But some of the moments that he captured, like I know the first save that I made the two big saves that I made against Miami and our home opener that gained a lot of traction and ⁓ it was just such I don't know, it was like my first moment. I kinda like gained hockey traction. I don't know, it was it was such a weird feeling. speaker-2: Yeah, and I have to say my favorite part is the last episode. It's you on the bus, you're doing karaoke. I gotta ask, is that something that happens on the bus every time? Was that kind of a one time thing? speaker-3: It's usually a one time thing. We usually have all like the new kids do do like a song just to like pass the time by. It's just like, you know, mid Mr. Brightside or like Wonderwall or, you know, some other type of song. But then ⁓ me and ⁓ my buddy Wyatt Rogers, we ⁓ we ended the night with ⁓ My Web by Frank Sinatra and that was just we killed it. It was unreal. speaker-2: No, I remember watching it and just laughing, seeing it, and it was a perfect way also to end the documentary. speaker-3: Yeah. Especially how things ended. We we didn't have a good tournament at the Battle of the Beach. And the fact that, you know, those results didn't really hold over how our lives are gonna go. Like it's just hockey. You know, hockey at the end of the day, it's a game. We all have fun playing it. There's a reason we all play it in the first place. It's to have fun. And it's all like the little moments like that on the bus trips, you know, the hotel stays, you know, the locker room moments, you know, those are the moments I'm I'm really thankful for. speaker-1: for. Yeah, I wanna ask you if you've had like game looking back, favorite tournament like you said back in your Massachusetts specific. I will say that UCF, you guys have had speaker-0: Can be college stuff, but also like at least in your rivalries, it seems like some pretty solid bouts back and forth. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-3: Yeah, for sure. In my first game that I started against U Miami my first year. So I wasn't the starter this year, but I was the backup. I won my first game. It was a three one game. I came like so close to getting a shutout. I I think they scored within like the last minute and a half. I was like, ⁓ no. But ⁓ you know, that was my first moment where I was like, Man, like this is why this sport's so fun. Like I love playing hockey every day. I love sk you know, get on the ice. It's I'm just very grateful to play the sp speaker-2: And I had the opportunity to actually go out there last year ⁓ and watch some of your games. I drove an hour from Lakeland to go out there and watch you guys. You guys have fun out there. You can definitely tell when you're out there on the ice. Like obviously it is it is a game you are playing. It's a competition. You're out there trying to best the other team. But also you have fun. You know, you're on the bench just laughing around, obviously. But when you get on the ice, it's all business out there. speaker-3: Yeah, for sure. I mean, obviously I mean, I try to keep a fair balance of, you know, keeping a smile at my face, but at the same time, yes, you are playing a game. It is a competition. You know, you're you're out there to, you know, take the best out of your opponent. And ⁓ I think that's that's what's been key for us, especially this year. We have a resilient group in UCF. We showed a lot of fight, especially this weekend against Lynn. They're they're a pesky bunch. They're a great team. ⁓ yeah, I'm just proud of the fellas. speaker-0: How excited are you? W w we're gonna talk about your rival in a second, but I've speaker-1: Noticed you guys play in the speaker-0: Clearwater jamboree. Tell us a little bit about speaker-1: That three game weekend. speaker-3: Yeah, I'm not really ex short sure what to expect out of that weekend. I mean it's it's a three game weekend with in within itself is a little tough. You know, it's a it's a very quick, you know, twenty four hour turnaround between each game. ⁓ you know, I'm I'm excited to play US F obviously. I'm excited to play Tampa. You know, it's our only chance really to get a look at what Tampa has this year. And then I have no I I have no knowledge on what ⁓ Niagara is like, so It's gonna be interesting. I think those three teams are ⁓ right where we are. ⁓ and I'm just excited to ⁓ get to that weekend. speaker-0: What team are you looking forward to playing against the most speaker-1: Playing the season. speaker-3: ⁓ well it has to be this one coming up. I mean, this is the one that everyone talks about, ⁓ especially around here. You bring up USF, especially in our ro locker room, a lot of people give that a thousand yard stare. ⁓ it is, I will say, this is gonna be weird for me to say, ⁓ it is hatred, but at the same time a little bit of respect, you know. You you respect the rivalry, you respect the people that play, and at the end of the day, it's a handshake. You know, you you go out there, you y you win, you you shake the team's hand. You lose, you go out there. It it's not fun, but it's sportsmanship. speaker-2: Yeah, and it's a big weekend like you just mentioned. I mean, it's probably the biggest rivalry game for you guys. How did it feel getting a shutout against Lin, knowing you're going into this big series for you guys? speaker-3: Yeah, it this was it was definitely ⁓ a morale booster for us. We know we have a lot of w work to do, especially at at practice, you know, coming up. ⁓ you know, we know they fought hard against Emory Riddle, you know, they they won one and lost one. And there's just a lot of parody in the college hockey south in general. You know, anyone can beat anybody and it's gonna be an e exciting weekend for sure. I'm looking forward to it. speaker-1: Gotta T. Yeah. speaker-3: So this is for our ⁓ breast cancer awareness night. It's really the only set of games that we have in October. So this is like the only chance that we'd really have to do it. ⁓ you know, essentially I I don't put like too much pink on like my equipment, but I I'll definitely, you know, put pink on, you know, my stick or my helmet and just kinda anything to ⁓ support breast cancer awareness as, you know, everyone else on the team will. speaker-1: Love it. You're f playing hockey at UCF. speaker-0: What has been your favorite part of speaker-3: My favorite part of playing hockey at UCF has to be that's a great question. It has to be the the USF games. It has to be. I mean, I know we don't get we haven't gotten the outcomes that we wanted against them, but man, it's just the feeling that you get on a game day against a rival is just something that's unmatched and unequivalent to anything else that, you know, you play in the rest of the season, whether it's, you know I know the stakes can be higher against Teams that you know, in the playoffs or nationals, but there's something about a rivalry game that just one ups it. And I just I love it. It's awesome. speaker-1: Andrew time to you. ⁓ you ⁓ a a a glue guy on that team that UCF right you guys and your quality y you know, you're coming off I've said speaker-0: Drew, awesome I'm talking to you. ⁓ roster and have a lot of fun on socials and result the big win against Lynn. Good luck against USF. We're gonna have a pulse on this all week. Look forward to talking. Hopefully we see you guys down the line as well. speaker-1: And we'll see you and speaker-3: Yes. Th thank you guys for having me on. This is awesome. speaker-0: Thanks again to Andrew Cass for coming on college. Andrew a little bit speaker-1: Hockey Mouth, you know, has bit of that swagger of I think he's gonna do against US speaker-0: He said there's a lot of hatred. I think confident in what they're gonna do, which if you're listening to this by the time comes rolling off today from Orlando, super, super excited to win. speaker-1: This girl Burgs watch that series, Kevin. speaker-2: Yeah, I was just looking at ⁓ some score sheets and UCF can definitely light it up. And then we saw that they can shut it down against Lin this weekend. It'll be it'll be interesting to see which UCF shows up for that series. speaker-0: Definitely, definitely. Some news came out last week. And before we get to our game recaps, Battle at the Beach twenty twenty five. This is the third installment of the conference tournament. This is the second one on our tournament season. We're set to go from the Panthers Ice Den in Cross Springs, Florida, October twenty fifth and twenty sixth. And for the first time, the tournament's expanding teams across two divisions. So you double up the field. speaker-1: This path. The Two eighteen. You get speaker-0: Get to add some new teams in here with their two divisions, starting with the battle division, Embury Riddle, ⁓ three, making their day. Lynn University, their rivals just down the road, an ⁓ three team, and Tampa's ⁓ three team. So a little bit different of a look here. We get that ⁓ three group, which is a good start to their season. On the beach division, a completely new slate. speaker-1: Yeah. From Just had a reason as speaker-0: All new teams in this one's ⁓ three team, Florida State's eight Florida Tech and the University of Florida. speaker-1: A C D C T X A C D C and A C D C there you get the ⁓ three owls against all these A C D Cs. How to state we know is really talented. They've got speaker-0: However, Florida got a lot of seniors on that group, and Florida's a start. For the scheduling and Saturday, October twenty third, the battle division will one and three at four forty five PM is Lynn versus Tamba. That's an ⁓ three matchup and game three at seven thirty PM Embury Riddle ⁓ three taking on Florida Land. Also in the beach division. speaker-1: A C D C is off to a good matchups October fifth take place games. A ⁓ ⁓ two. speaker-0: So all those new teams we just mentioned kick things off at five PM Florida U ⁓ three and then at seven forty five Florida State AC and Florida. speaker-1: A C D C Florida A C D C and Sunday matchups here, Gavin. speaker-0: Before we get to the sun. Pretty quick tournament, although this is an important one for some of those AC teams, consider all of those teams are now for when this tournament goes the supremacy and deciding those first semester results. speaker-1: D C team considering that jockeying. speaker-2: Yeah, ⁓ AC D C's been a strong conference. You know, there's been a lot of teams that even that aren't at Battle of the Beach that have been putting on strong performances that maybe some people weren't expecting. So it'll be exciting to see which AC D C team is able to win those matchups and pull away thanks to the Battle at the Beach tournament. speaker-1: I would speaker-0: Love to see Jacksonville in this one day. And I wish they were in this one. They're off to a wicked good start over there in Northern Florida. Sunday, October 26th, Battle Division's third place game starts at PM. Loser of game one, Landon Tampa versus the loser of game three. The championship for the Battle Division takes place virtually at the same time, one fifteen PM. So whoever comes out as the winner between those two, the winner. speaker-1: They are in Six. speaker-0: And these do count for their standings. The Beach Division early one, 10 and 10 30 a.m. Loser third place game, I should say. The third place game is at ten a.m. and Florida Tech Fayou or Florida State versus Florida and the championship on the same time. We're gonna have both ranks with a broadcast going, Gavin. Should be very exciting over there in Coral Springs. Fans can purchase tickets at the door. speaker-1: Very excited. speaker-0: For twenty five dollars is a weekend pass, single day adult is twenty, and for the children and seniors, fifty. Make sure to reserve those and go online at collegehockeysout.com to get your tickets now. And as we just mentioned, they will all be streamed live on the College Hockey South. Woof, a lot of information to time. We'll also get down the line in a month's time or so. Getting to our game recaps, Wild Week had some upsets here and there. We had a really strong game of the week with a middle Tennessee sweep over ⁓ three. The Blue Raiders got their season back on track. Eight seven win on Saturday, four to one win on Friday. speaker-1: Debrief there. Gavin, you said it a while we had speaker-0: No, I said those backwards, but the reason I did is because these two were neck both and it really could have gone either way. speaker-1: connect in both of these in way. speaker-2: Yeah, and it was a physical series from what I've watched online, especially that first game, which is the game of the week. That four to one win was an absolutely physical game. And really it was Matt Siciliano and Tommy Chunchnikov combining for fourteen points that put MTSU back on track in that series and allowed them to get a big win. speaker-0: Absolutely. You know, we we've gotta we've gotta give our our love speaker-1: And here to middle Tennessee states. speaker-0: Lyndon Palmer, he had this insane toe drag goal that was the go ahead and the winner over Alabama. So we love see that. Awesome stuff from speaker-1: Seeing that stuff a group that w we know had their their well. speaker-0: Opening weekend not go so well. Against some higher competition, and now they're they're getting back on the track we know two champions. I should say now ⁓ three, but the point they won the ⁓ two tournament last year for college traveled to Embury Riddle. Ice Eagles get a much needed program win for that ⁓ three group. The three two overtime victory. South Florida won for the first game eleven to six. speaker-1: and middle Tennessee group that we has the rainy You get last chalk yourself. You must And the You get the speaker-0: More of the same. Grant Dietz. Make Dohaim with a great series. speaker-2: Yeah, Grant four goals, two assists, lighting up the score sheet, potentially looking at a player of the month bid. I mean, we'll have we'll have to sit down and look at the score sheets. But it's looking likely after ⁓ two weeks of play for him. And then Jake Duhaim, hat trick, three assists, you know. I mean, hat trick and assists, hat tricks and goals, like who cares? I mean, dude's doing it all. USF has looked really good. Obviously, that ERAU team, physical team, got back into it in game two and Want an overtime thriller and I'm a big fan of free hockey. So anytime a game goes to overtime, I love free hockey and that's all I gotta say about overtimes. Yeah, I speaker-0: I just love to see it for because they they've really had a rough the past couple of years have been their way against teams that have risen to the top in the conference. I mean s when you start five really, really not easy to overcome those things and to beat a really good U is fun for them. They're gonna take on Coastal Carolina ⁓ D three team coming up this weekend at home. speaker-1: The I C goes rough goal of it. They they not I these like that i it's it's not to to US F team. Yeah. ⁓ speaker-0: Resurgent success. speaker-1: Can continue that. over the with the ⁓ speaker-0: The Chanta Clares. Also of note, the AF team swept Saint Leo ten to six, eight to one. Miami ⁓ three U ⁓ two. Now this one was a lot closer to ⁓ two than Game One, Florida Atlantic. speaker-1: A C D C USA. And one this weekend at F A E In game than I think anybody expected Trounced them fourteen to nothing. Had a scoring and game. speaker-0: Emilio Stabile, hat trick. Everybody was scaring in this. And then two, Miami wins the first period and they win the second half of the third period. That's very, very crazy. I I just think it's nuts that we can go from a double digit blowout. FAU have to come back speaker-1: out like that too, just having to c and win the second game. speaker-2: I think that's what we're seeing a little bit more in hockey. I mean, we talked about it last week. 18 to three win for Tampa one night, three two next night for Florida Southern. So you just it's any given night on club hockey and anything can happen. Maybe one team gets cold feet one night, can't really skate well. You know, sometimes hockey's just puck luck. And I'm not gonna say that's what Tino game is because that that's not putt luck. But sometimes it's just getting the puck to go your way and putting the puck on the net and that's n what Miami was able to do in game two and that's why it was a little bit closer. speaker-0: Sure, and it was a big week for ⁓ two FAU team considering they N Cou A Division One talent in Jackson Newendike, who's the son of Joe Newendike, a three time Stanley Cup champion and former captain with Jackson Newendike hat trick his second game as an owl. Cool to see. We got a big series we'll talk about a little bit later in the show. Jacksonville Ace continues to surprise. speaker-1: That's Calgary Tate and C D C can rise people. speaker-0: So awesome s such an awesome story. Their captain gets two goals one with Michael Gugliata. He also scores in game two as they goals. Very rare instance so far this. What just what stands out to you Divirk Lodermeyer's team and how speaker-1: In game one tie the owls a very and so this year Gavin with how they play as a unit. speaker-2: I know they're giving us ⁓ flashes of University of South Carolina last year. Maybe they don't lose a game this season. And I'm not gonna I don't wanna spoil it. So next week if they lose, no one from Jacksonville message me. But I think they look really good. They're well coached. Obviously, we talked about it. Derek Lodermeier behind the bench is doing a great job. And I mean, you were telling me off the air, they looked really, really complete as a team, moving the puck really well, playing both ends of the ice. So it's it's gonna be exciting to watch Jacksonville. For the rest of the season and even for years to come. speaker-1: Yeah, the the Polinium they both speedy forward coming up against A C D they can continue that. speaker-0: Brothers are something else. One ⁓ one's award, the other is a calm, cool, collector carrier. I really think Florida see in Florida Tech. And they have a really solid net mining with Connor Rose. It's a complete team for being a first year program. They look awesome. Terrific job. One boys. Now our Battle of the Knights was closely contested. Lynn University first game ended in another tie, four four, and then you speaker-1: UCF traveled to And UCF got the win in game two. speaker-0: Yeah, we just talked to you, Andrew Cass had a shutout in that. Very, very fitting. speaker-1: That he can possibly carry that into a ⁓ speaker-0: Strong USF team that's been the talk of the town here among people. Tampa, M3, traveled to Florida Southern, Gavin. ⁓ shaking your head, shaking your head. The moccasins, a lot of talent there with Will Marshall and Michael Wool. Not enough though. What went wrong for Florida Southern in this? Or vice versa. What did Tampa this so one-sided? speaker-1: Kalachaki South people. Mike speaker-2: Tampa's a very physical team and Florida Southern is too, but it really came down to penalties in game one. I'm pretty sure Will Marshall spent most of the third period in the box. And one of your top scores being in the box for five to ten minutes in a period is just one, that's not a winning recipe. I mean, that's gonna do it right there, but seventy-nine combined penalty minutes in the first game is insane. And then Florida Southern did travel to Clearwater for that second game and looked a little better, showed that he is a great player, can skate. I mean, we've talked about it. You know, he's one on one with the goalie. He's gonna put the puck in the back of the net, gets a hattie to start that game off in the first period, and then Tampa just kind of found their game and ran away with it in the remaining two periods. speaker-0: For sure. What you wanna see? speaker-1: And talking Will, it's not out of a group that has a great atmosphere, right? They they have a a a they have a sport, they play speaker-0: A fan base, great student support. You have the locker room. It's tough when you play a competition like Tampa that's bent at the cream of the crop and the top a result like this happens. We hope they turn this season around early. It's still very early. I think Florida Southern's better than what this shows some of that penalty trouble and and help themselves. Two five for Liberty. And this was one of our big points last week, Gavin. speaker-1: And Like you said, they gotta get out of some had ⁓ a five nothing win over a big talk. speaker-0: What would Tampa look like in a big game with an opponent that typically goes to nationals? Liberty's made it the last five years to the sixteen. Now the Flames are off to a one and six start. Tampa looks really solid in this game, just all around, hats off. speaker-1: To those people. speaker-2: Yeah, and Tampa doesn't look like they've gained any rust over the offseason. I mean, they went and won the national championship last year and they looked just as good this season. And we talked about the difference in the ice rinks. And I actually was able to catch one of those Liberty ESPN plus broadcasts that we were talking about last week. And it it was amazing. But it didn't matter on the ice for Tampa. They don't care about flashy ranks or anything like that. They care about putting goals on the board and winning games. And Tampa did that in this one. Great job. speaker-0: We've pumped their tires enough. We're gonna do it some more speaker-1: Things for coming up here, which is setting up a big Atlantic. speaker-0: Weekend against Florida. Keeping the trend with the Spartans, the women's team outscores Florida State nineteen to one over two games, nine nothing, and ten to one dubs. Gavin, you you talk about undefeated teams. Is Tampa gonna lose again? speaker-2: You know, I think if they keep this pace up, CHS is a division for Tampa to win. It's there for the taking. It just depends on how Tampa decides to play. I mean, they've dominated every opponent they've played so far inside of the CHS. So it obviously they started off against a strong Liberty squad and that was our first game of the year. So don't know if we can use that as a benchmark for where the team was really at. But we saw my Columbus Classic, we saw this game. They look really good. They were look really complete. And their offense is rolling. I mean, nineteen goals in two games is the perfect way to start af coming out of Columbus. speaker-0: South Carolina ⁓ two took on Florida. Split series, good result for Florida. The Game Cox win four to Florida wins Game Two, six to two. I really still believe speaker-1: Two and Two on game one. That Fred Squally's team is now emerging speaker-0: It's still so early. What we see of a week really sets a standard for Florida. Who's going to come out of this three-team conference? It's still wide open. Who's going to come down to the wire? And we're going to learn a lot about that. Starting our upcoming matchups for the weekend, our game of the week, Friday, October 3rd at 6 30 PM Eastern Time, Tampa at Florida Atlantic. We get a three-game weekend between the Spartans. speaker-1: And what we're gonna talk about in the game speaker-0: And the Owls, we finally get this teams in the same division. Last year Tampa was ⁓ one in AAU, Florida Atlantic ⁓ two. Of course, the All up to Division One. Didn't move up because the NCH problems and they moved on. So in the ACHA now, you get two of the most recent national champions, Gavin. This one, unbiasedly, has to be the most anticipated game of the week so far, no? speaker-1: ⁓ T. speaker-2: Yeah, I'd I'd have to say so. I mean, Tampa's offense has been amazing so far. And they're probably gonna meet no, I'll say it, Rocco Bruno is the best goaltender in CHS right now, and it's gonna come down to Rocco Bruno versus Tampa's offense. I mean, FAU's defense does a good job in front of Rocco, but it's ultimately Rocco versus Tampa stars. And that's just why it is. And we've talked like I said, we talked to Rocco earlier this year, and he's not Circling matches on his calendar. He's ready to go for all of them. So we're gonna see just who's more ready for this one come Friday. speaker-0: Some guys I'm really first time on Tampa side. Personally, this Tampa grip I have a chance to watch the moment considering when they were at conference last year, wasn't around for that. You seen a lot of, but they've got some dogs. Cole Velise over there. Will Fortesque, whose younger brother played ⁓ Will has been a dynamite defender a while now. They're a really well coached team. They've also got some great goal. This is speaker-1: Excited to see for the I have not had a to watch just in the Yeah. ⁓ Plays for Florida. ⁓ speaker-0: The toughest challenge that Florida Atlantic has faced in the last two years. It feels like they really rolled through last year and this was a split series. Again, one one last year. It was right in the start of the year though. So you're talking about two groups that's been a while. At the end of the day, a three game set, someone's gotta win this series, right? Unless it ties. Whoever comes out of this three game weekend with Tampa and Florida Atlantic probably sits at the top of the power rankings among those three teams. speaker-1: That it's Look. speaker-2: Yeah, and a hundred percent. I think honestly, however this game goes is a big is a big preview for maybe how the playoffs go. I don't see a team who wins the series losing any momentum and maybe not losing another game. This is a big series. Now, if it goes into a series split, you know, you could kind of say it goes either way. But if one team sweeps the series and then, you know, they have another another weekend in February. So we're gonna get another preview before the playoffs of these two teams. It'll be interesting to see if the teams change anything up and what we see come February. Well speaker-0: It's a good almost curious when we look back this game in a couple months from now, where those teams where they're they're at come close to February, which when they play again will be February sixth through February, and this time Tampa will host it. This is a case that are off to a good start, some forward progress and bragging rights, but they're gonna have to consistently play their standard, or vice versa. speaker-1: I'm if ⁓ eight. speaker-0: Learn from what they get. This is the rare opportunity you get to play an M2 team. They gotta maximize it. Both these teams wanna be in that regional, come late February, early March. We're static to bring Shameless plug. Yours truly will be on the call for it. I will be there all weekend, Friday through Sunday. So gotta rest the pipes. Hope not to lose my voice. That so also going on, this could have very easily. speaker-1: And Extend the game of the week. And And I'll leave it at that. Also been a game of the week. speaker-0: USF taking on UCF and Ta Watt Friday in Orlando. It's a pink out for breast cancer awareness night. The players will have pink strapped all across their gear on their sticks. Not sure what they're doing on the item or giveaway. The perfect segue into what we talked about in the podcast. The hatred he brings out is sounds real. This has been USF series though, as of late. What do the Knights have? speaker-1: And game sh is the Friday. Or if they're having a With education. with the X factor potentially being cast. speaker-2: Yeah. I mean, they've got an experienced group, you know, Thomas Solar, Robert Renner. Those guys, if they can get going early, and I'm gonna say it, set the tone. If they can do that, they'll come out on top at home. And that's and one, the crowd's a big factor at UCF. I mean, I mentioned it in an interview. I went to a game there last year. They've they've got a great fan base out there, beautiful rink. I mean, it it's honestly an environment where club hockey thrives. And so It's gonna come down to Thomas Lar, Robert Renner getting going and the fans being into it the whole time, no matter how the game's going. 'Cause UCF is a team that if they can get going and they can get motivated, even if they're down, they can always come back and win games. speaker-0: They've gotta find a way to slow down two of the hottest players in that group. Grant Dame coming off some terrific series against Emory Riddle. The Battle of the Owls, Kennesaw State travels to Florida Atlantic ⁓ three. I'll also these matchups. Battle of the schools that hoot. Kennesaw States only win. One that's against South Carolina, losing their first game as an ⁓ three program so far. speaker-1: Beats, obviously, and Jake Dohan. speaker-0: Florida Atlantic has been on the rocks. We don't know what to make of this group. Got some talent. Kennesaw State is prime for the taking right here. Make sure to follow shameless plug to the boys. Lynn University travels to the Spartans in Tampa. Two game series out there clear water ice. Tampa is 4-0. They're one of only two unbeaten teams left, and three, which is Florida Gulf Coast. This is a tough test because a good Lynn team has had some good. speaker-1: Here. Well that game on Owl TV. In speaker-0: Had some not so good. speaker-1: But at the end of the day, they have now gotten close. speaker-0: Game experience. speaker-2: Yeah, and Lynn looked good against UCF this past week. Obviously tied the first game and UCF's a good team and we and we've seen that. So Lin's got a good program, lot of opportunity for them. It's gonna be exciting to see. speaker-0: Hopefully we don't get any more sprinkler failures. Clearwater's officially on watch. We're gonna for if we see another sprinkler and they flood the do some rain dances. speaker-1: We're not gonna forget this system, go down there and rink. They've gotta just to keep the bad juju out there. speaker-0: Their teams are winning though. That's all that matters to their program. Clemson travels to Alabama M3 also. Alabama, of course, coming up getting swept by Middle Tennessee. They're gonna need a bounce back performance here. On the woman's side of things, South Carolina travels to Auburn, South Florida, USF travels, and both these teams get a chance their seasons off. A little bit of a weird schedule. Well a lot of some women's teams open their year against each other at this classic. Shout out our friend Lizzie there, traveling over here to South Florida. Clemson travels to Georgia, and the Tigers are off to a 3-0 start. speaker-1: And then speaker-2: Yeah. And and these women teams, you know, we talked about USF, South Carolina, Auburn, Miami. All of them got started at Columbus. Miami will benefit from being back at home. They'll see some additions to the roster that weren't able to travel up to Columbus. So that game could be a lot more resemblant of the Miami that we are used to seeing and not the Miami we saw at the Columbus Classics. So having those bo that boost back from some of their star players being able to play in that game will be huge. USF potentially getting a Anastasia Herrera's back. So that'll kind of be a a turning point. It'll be will Miami's players be back? Will USF have their goalie of the year from last season back between the pipes? speaker-1: Gavin, we mentioned They win big. speaker-0: 21 to nothing and 14 to 2. We saw something similar to this with Clemson and Tennis. I don't know. I we joked about in the group chat, do we thirty? And I wanted more. Although I think twenty-one is more than a speaker-1: I don't know. Enough to be satisfied here. speaker-2: Well, and you can't go and talk about that series without talking about Cassidy Cross, which we'll get into with our three stars. But she played an amazing game. We saw her at the Columbus Classic when we talked about her in that game versus USF playing up six points in that game. So we'll get into three stars. We'll talk about her more. But that series was I mean, like you said, you wanted more, you know, at a point it's maybe you stop, maybe you don't run up the score because I don't know. I don't know. It's hard to tell because you're not there. You don't know what's set on the ice. You know, I've heard stories where maybe a team's about to let off and someone says something on the ice and they go up and put ten more goals up because they can. So you don't know what's going on on the rink. You don't know what's set on the ice and what causes a team to go and put twenty one goals up. speaker-1: Yeah, and not say the Tigers had teen in the state either, just having a speaker-0: To mention Tiger first period alone. Nothing against Kennesaw unfun here. We want to see all these teams succeed. Auburn with a good bounce back performance, which they mix that in Columbus. Three stars for week four in the conference. First star Catholic with that insane performance. Again, ten goals, ten assists, twenty points over two. Preposterous. That's some lacrosse numbers right there. speaker-1: They had results like you said. Cassidy Cross performance against the Owls. Points two games. That is There. speaker-0: Second star Braden Curry on Florida Tech with nine goals, one assist, ten points. Great to see Florida Tech here in the news after their sweep of Embury Riddle. Our third star Siciliano, three goals, six points. All around, big numbers on this week list. Anything that translates, are we always gonna pick the big numbers? Because some of these games had some. speaker-1: Tech A C D C Yeah. And Matt. assist for nine points. Three stars left Devin. speaker-0: Pretty lopsidedness. I'd pretty sad The Cassidy Cross is a no brainer. Maybe we should look at the grading rubric. What what's your opinion on this? speaker-1: A mezziciliano's salad here. speaker-2: I don't know. I'm just saying I can't get out and t if you gave me two games and put me out on the ice right now, I'm not scoring ten goals and I'm not getting ten assists. So it doesn't matter. ⁓ in my opinion, it's impressive regardless, you know, to put that up in a game. And then Florida Tech, I mean, those were close games. They weren't necessarily blowouts. There was a lot of offense and that's okay. You know? Obviously it's hard to judge based on there are there are skill gaps and that's How CHS is a little bit. And we are starting to see that disappear as we see new teams come in. And some teams are still trying to find their footing. So maybe in two years we won't be having this conversation where teams are a little bit closer. speaker-1: I agree with that statement. speaker-0: I agree. Feels like the middle Tennessee one with Sarano, in my words, deserving. Don't deserve it. There's a lot of great performances. Everybody with it being so limited. We understand that. But this is a solid group. I like this. Big scores, big win. All of these team performances. It's past weekend. So Gavin, as we look to week five, what excites speaker-1: And not everybody can get the three star. ⁓ Fans and games. Five you the most and two as we speaker-0: What are you gonna be up to we transition? speaker-2: Yeah, I think ⁓ I think I'm most excited for the war on I four. I kinda live in between USF and UCF, so maybe I'll maybe I'll slide down for a game. Maybe I'll go to Orlando, check out the the pink out. I mean, like I said, I I love their rink, their uniforms. UCF is one of my favorite branded teams when it comes to club hockey. So maybe maybe maybe you find me at the Orlando Iced in for a game. speaker-0: I really hope speaker-1: Hope Bitcoffer shoots a video for this. See them across the internet. speaker-0: series. The photos are great. We're gonna there's just something about getting the cinematography. Really good over there. For our previews, pretty good. We are right into the thick of it and some big time games with some implications now this weekend. I'm really excited to see two teams a storied history, considering they have garnered most if not all speaker-1: He does stuff over there. of the document the last couple of years. I think gonna be speaker-0: national attention for Kalachan South. Unbiasedly, all three games are good goaltender duels. I don't see foresee Rocco Bruce each game being too high scoring. speaker-1: Bruno starting in every game, I don't f see at the end of the day. speaker-0: I really hope they've speaker-1: And I show that with the physicality. speaker-0: Let's pack the barn this weekend, wherever we are as well. Not just that, Tampa, Florida, pack it in Orlando. Let's pack it in South Florida and let's make it a heck of a weekend. Final thoughts, Gavin, as we wrap up. speaker-1: Just that Atlantic game was passed. Collar chalk yourself. speaker-2: We're we're in the thick of the season. I mean, you know, NHL's coming up next week, ⁓ fantasy draft for CHS. So you'll hear you'll you'll start hearing us maybe chirping each other a little bit as the ⁓ season goes on for the NHL. But I'm excited club hockey's underway. We're starting to get into those big matchups and it's gonna be fun. There's still plenty of time to February, so a lot can happen with a lot of these teams and turn it around for CHS playoff runs. speaker-0: That is episode seven of College Hockey Mountain. Sit down with casts. Have a great weekend. Enjoy your games. We'll see you next. speaker-1: Everybody, next time.