Category: Recap

Vandy Sweeps Emory, Endures Homecoming & Snoop Dogg

NASHVILLE, TN (ESPN8) — Following a home sweep of Emory University this past weekend, the VU hockey faithful in attendance (“Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Bernstein – party of 2?”) were left to toil over conflicting emotions and, more specifically, clichés.

A win is a win.

Not all wins are created equal.

I wonder how the Snoop Dogg concert was?

It was Vanderbilt’s homecoming weekend, the all-encompassing 72-hour parade of feasting and sport that on an annual basis commands the attention of most students on campus, including the members of the VU hockey club.  Despite a full schedule of parties, events, and celebrity performances slated for the weekend, the team demonstrated commitment to its cause by rallying to fill its rosters for both games.  Of course, that is where the similarities between the two games ended, as evidenced by the tale of the tape:

Friday night, thirteen goal margin of victory (14-1).  Saturday?  One goal (6-5).

Friday night, zero penalties (a first in VU hockey history per the Hall of Commodore Athletic Statistics).  Saturday?  Seven for seventeen minutes including the team’s first 5-minute major.

Friday night, Stephen (the Beast) Mozur and Scott McLaughlin in attendance.  Saturday night?  No Beast, No Scooter.

Friday night, no Erin Loeb.  Saturday night?  Erin Loeb, present and accounted for.

Above all of these Vanderbilt-specific stats, the biggest difference between the games lied on the Emory side of the ice.  Due to exams on Friday, Emory’s players made the Friday drive with a short bench and no goalie.  Kudos to one of their guys for stepping between the pipes versus opting for the forfeit.  While his hamstrings probably did not appreciate the gesture, the VU hockey club certainly did.

Conversely, on Saturday the pendulum swung back in the Eagles’ favor in all facets of the game.  Several players joined the squad in Nashville, including their full-time goalie, which made the contest a tight one right down to the final two minutes.  There was a penalty shot, 5-on-3 advantages for both teams, and even a tutorial from the ref on how to take a face-off.  “Never seen that before in my life,” said graduate student and defenseman Ben Loss in reference to a ref taking one of the Emory player’s sticks and demonstrating said technique.  “What a crazy game.”

In the end, the Commodores were happy to secure the win and a 4-1 start to the season.  Looking ahead, the club will be back on its home ice to play the LSU Tigers this coming weekend – 10:15pm on Friday (10/29) and 7pm on Saturday (10/30).  For more information, please reach out via the contact form on this website.

Looking forward to seeing you at Centennial!

* Special thanks to scoreboard operator Lila Totino for helping out with both games against Emory.  Lila is new to Nashville, a May 2010 graduate from Bates College who is currently working as a research assistant at Vanderbilt.  She is excited to be back around the game following her own ACHA club hockey experience back in New England.  Lila, we appreciate the help and look forward to seeing you at the rink throughout the season!

Frozen ‘Dores “Eat Good In The Neighborhood,” Lose 9-3

The Vanderbilt Ice Hockey Club’s opening road trip of the season yielded its first loss at the hands of the University of Alabama 9-3.

Despite getting off to a quick start with a power play goal from senior Kyle Brennan just 20 seconds into the first period, the fastest goal to open a game in the program’s history, Alabama’s conditioning and sound positional hockey proved too much for Vanderbilt to handle over 60 minutes.  In particular, it was the gap in conditioning between the two teams that presented itself early as the deciding factor in the contest.

“I think that going to Applebee’s before the game was a bad idea,” said freshman Jordan Zauderer, who along with several others looked pretty green around the gills by the first period intermission.  Indeed, fourteen Commodores in total made the regrettable decision to load up on potato skins, jalapeno poppers, and fried chicken mere hours before a showdown with one of the league’s premier programs.

Senior P.J. Tatum explained, “I just couldn’t think properly with a box of chicken strips swimming around in my stomach.”

Amidst what amounted to a fairly thorough drubbing by the Frozen Tide, the story was not all bad for Vanderbilt.  Whereas the team struggled to keep itself out of the penalty box in its first two games, Friday’s effort was a much more encouraging story as only three Commodores received minor penalties.  “It was something we planned to work on coming into the game so I’m happy that the boys responded,” said Coach Thomas Bernstein.

Heading into the remainder of its schedule, Bernstein was clear about the things that the Vanderbilt Club needs to work on.

“To me, it all comes down to putting together lines that really fit, then giving them the opportunity to gel during both practices and games,” Bernstein said.  “It’ll be a team effort to make that happen.  The guys will have to make sure they carve out time for practice each Wednesday, and I’ll have to do a better job of managing our roster both before and during games.”

“Oh, and we’ll also be screening ‘Super Size Me’ this week following practice.  I’m thinking a ‘Clockwork Orange’-esque approach may be needed in order to scare the guys into employing more nutritious pregame eating habits.”

Vanderbilt’s next game will be on Friday, October 22nd against Emory University in Nashville.  For more information, please contact the team’s administrator via the contact form on this website.

Vandy Completes Dominant Weekend Set With 12-4 Win

Another game, another impressive 12-4 win by the Vanderbilt Hockey Club over Auburn.  Also, another onslaught of penalties.

“I’ve never had four penalties in a game in my life,” explained sophomore Chris Sperandio following a third period interference minor.  “Never happened before.  Ever.”

“I think Chris’s mind was focused elsewhere, possibly on a test coming up next week.  Or more than likely on the luau party that was apparently following the game,” speculated Coach Thomas Bernstein.  “Seriously though, I’ll chalk up the penalties to opening weekend rustiness.  Moving forward, I’m trusting that the boys will clean things up.”

Following another pattern of the weekend, the club spread its 12 goals across each of its 4 lines, a testament to the depth of this year’s squad.  Junior goalie Brenden Oliver explained that, “This is the best we’ve ever looked, at least since I’ve been at Vandy.  If we can make sure guys show up for games, I think we’ll make some noise this year.”

His lips to God’s ears.  For now?  So far, so good for the ole ‘dores.

*  The next game will be away versus Alabama on October 1st at 8pm.
**  Updated stats from the weekend are posted on the “Player Stats” page.

VU Nets Baker’s Dozen, First Win Versus Auburn

Vanderbilt Hockey’s season and home opener, a 13-0 win over Auburn, was a complete game on both sides of the ice for the Commodores.  Highlighted by three goals from sophomore Chris Sperandio and two from both senior P.J. Tatum and sophomore Kyle McCann, 8 different players scored across each of the team’s four offensive lines.  Junior goalie Brenden Oliver locked down the net for his sixth career shutout behind a stout defensive stand anchored by senior Kyle Brennan and junior Nathan Tardiff.

While it would seem hard to find fault in such a convincing win, the Commodores can certainly look to improve in one area: penalties.  The stats were ugly:

  • 11 penalties doled out to 7 different players
  • 24 minutes spent in the box
  • Nearly 4 full minutes spent on the two-men-down penalty kill

Vanderbilt will drop the puck once again tonight (9/18) versus Auburn, this time with a full roster following yesterday’s religious holiday.  The ‘dores will look to reign in the elbows and crosschecks en route to a 2-0 season start.