The Army West Point Club Hockey team split a two-game nonconference series against Rowan University over the weekend. The Black Knights prevailed 10-4 on Sept. 22 before losing 4-3 in a shootout on Sept. 23 at the Ice Time Sports Complex in Newburgh, New York.
Senior forward David Caddigan led the way offensively with three goals and five points in the series. Junior forward Caleb Kaiser had five assists, including four in the game one romp in which senior forward and assistant captain Mark Lehman scored twice.
Plebe goalies Jackson Siddall and Liam Monahan each received starts, with Siddall earning his first career victory on Friday. The Black Knights (2-1), two-time defending Super East Collegiate Hockey League playoff champions, rallied to force overtime in the finale but fell short in the ensuing shootout.
Army played the entire series without reigning team MVP and SECHL rookie of the year Chris Tamer, who is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. And the Black Knights lost fellow sophomore defenseman Bobby Staring to a shoulder injury late in Friday’s opener.
Staring, who was illegally checked into the boards, was treated at a local hospital. He attended Saturday’s game but will miss approximately one month of action.
“Two hard-fought games by our guys but, obviously, it’s tough losing Bobby Staring, one of our best players,” said junior defenseman Anthony Chambers, the team captain. “All the guys, the reaction to that, threw us for a loop a little bit and it might have distracted us. Friday night we took care of business but Saturday we didn’t play as well and came up short against a team that played better and was relentless.”
The Black Knights will next play at Clarkson on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 for a two-game SECHL series at Cheel Campus Center in Potsdam, New York.