The three and three record that Rhode Island Hockey has started their season with is anything but run of the mill.
The Rams started the season dominant, taking both games on the road against Towson, outscoring them 18-0 over the two game road trip. Rhode Island then had their first homestand of the year facing the Syracuse Orange at the Boss Ice Arena. The Rams would go on to lose in convincing fashion in the first game of the weekend, 6-1, and then lost in the hockey version of a barn burner in the second game, 5-4. Throw in a split in their most recent homestand against New York University, dominating the bobcats 6-1 this past Friday night. In the second game on Saturday it was NYU’s turn for revenge, as they got the better of Rhode Island 5-2.
URI is currently 1-3 at home on the year, however, it’s not the time to panic if you’re Joe Augustine and company. In his 30th season of coaching Rhode Island hockey, Augustine still has plenty of talent at his disposal. The combination attack of juniors, Jonathan Alsfeld and Jake Salisbury has been terrific thus far. Salisbury on the year has 14 points, and has played role of set up man dishing 10 assists through six games. Alsfeld on the other hand has 13 points, beating the goaltender seven times and dishing out six assists on the year. Alsfeld’s goal mark also leads the team, with the next closest being junior Chad Stone, who has six goals on the year, and nine points overall.
Junior JT Ketzenberger and sophomore Daniel DeSilva have split the time between the pipes equally throughout the first six games. Each goalie has started three games, and played 180 minutes. Ketzenberger currently has a record of 2-1, and has allowed seven goals on 82 shots, which makes for a save percentage of 91.46. In DeSilva’s three appearances on the year, Rhode Island has a 1-2 record. He has allowed eight goals on 95 shots, and has a save percentage of 91.58. While the numbers are very similar between goaltenders, it may be time to go with the more experienced goalie, however, as in Ketzenberger’s appearances, Rhode Island not only has a winning record, but the Rams have also scored five more goals on the year.
Special teams for the Rams have been something they can hang their hat on. Rhody currently boasts a penalty kill percentage of just under 86 percent, allowing only four goals on 28 opportunities for their opponents. The Rams power play has also been effective on the power play, with a power play percentage of 33.3 percent, scoring 11 goals on 33 opportunities.
The Rams now have an out of conference matchup with Drexel University this upcoming weekend at Boss Ice Arena. URI is 2-0 in out of conference on the year, and will be looking for a successful weekend against the Dragons to build momentum in the early going of the season.