For the first time in program history, Army West Point's club hockey team advanced to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II National Championship.
The Black Knights (21-4-2) punched their ticket to next month's 16-team national field by defeating Boston University and the University of Massachusetts, 6-5 and 4-1, respectively, at the ACHA Northeast Regionals on Feb. 24 and 25 at Keene Ice in Keene, New Hampshire. Army will be the No. 4 Northeast seed at the ACHA national tournament from March 11-15 in St. Louis.
"Incredible effort from our guys," Junior Army captain Anthony Chambers said. "We battled from start to finish and stuck together the whole time."
Sophomore forward Charlie Aronov and plebe goalie Liam Monahan led the Black Knights at each end of the ice. Aronov had four goals and five points in the two games -- including a hat trick against BU -- and Monahan was brilliant in net in clutch moments. Army outshot BU, 32-23, and UMass, 49-22, with dominating play through large stretches.
Army's biggest goal of the weekend came against BU with 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Tied 5-5, sophomore defenseman Bobby Staring utilized his skill and patience to make the game's final shot count. He faked a shot inside the blue line, spun his body 180 degrees and fired the winning wrist shot without a defender threatening to block it.
"Pass, shoot, score," Staring joked during the postgame dinner, impersonating a quote from the movie "Miracle."
Staring also assisted on Aronov's goal that gave Army a 1-0 lead over UMass. Sophomore forward James Delia scored in each game, the latter giving the Black Knights a 2-0 lead against the Minutemen, and sophomore defenseman Chris Tamer made a great individual effort to the net for a 3-0 lead with 6:50 left in the third period. Following a UMass power-play goal, plebe forward Michael Fremgen scored on an empty net for his first tally of the season.
"Hats off to BU and UMass on having great seasons. Both were great hockey teams that challenged us and made us better," Chambers said. "That being said, we are not done and will keep our focus on the end goal. It is truly an honor for us to represent West Point at the ACHA National Championship."