The Neumann University Roller Hockey teams took home the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (ECRHA) Regional Championship in both the top-tiered Division-I and Division-3. The postseason tournament was held March 6-8 at the The Sportsplex in Feasterville, PA.

The D1 squad defeated the University of Rhode Island, 7-3, to claim their second regional championship in three years. AJ Ehinger, who was recently named the Division's Player of the Year, was named the Playoff MVP after scoring three goals and six assists for a total of nine points in the tournament. 

The D3 club claimed the crown after defeating Temple University by a score of 5-1 in the championship match. Joe Mula was named the Playoff MVP for registering one goal and one assist. 

Both teams received a bid to the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Championships scheduled April 8-12 in Independence, MO. A complete list of the teams that received a bid to nationals is available on the NCRHA website.  
 

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By: Thomas Pagliei, NU '13, Assistant Coach
 
This past weekend your Neumann University Roller Hockey club played their ECRHA Regional Playoff games at the Sportsplex in Feasterville-Trevose, PA. To say that the Knights went home with smiles on their face would be an understatement. Both Division I and Division III teams raised the prized ECRHA Regional Champion trophy. For Division I it was their first since the 2012-2013 season when they had beaten West Chester University in the regional championship game, and for Division III, it was the first time they had won their region since the team's creation in the fall of 2013. The Neumann faithful support was surely felt during this past weekend's games, drawing one of the bigger fan sections than most of the schools who participated.

First up was the ECRHA Annual Awards Banquet on Friday night. Head Coach Lee Strofe won the Coach of the Year award, while senior defenseman AJ Ehinger took home the Division I Player of the Year Award. Junior goalie Mike Maczynski won the Division I Goalie of the Year award for the third straight year in a row. In the Division III awards section of the night, freshman defenseman Sean Phelan took home the rookie of the year award, and freshman forward Gregory Saklad won the Division III Player of the Year award.

The Division I team went undefeated in pool play beating Rhode Island, who they would eventually see in the regional championship game, Rowan University, and Northeastern University. In the semi-final game the Knights faced the University of Pittsburgh, who were one of the stronger squads in the ECRHA. Neumann didn't let the Panthers of Pittsburgh worry them one bit. The Knights were the top seed so that allowed them to have a bye in the quarterfinals. The Knights ended up beating Pittsburgh by a score of 6-1 to get themselves into the Division I regional championship. In the final game, the Knights took on the Rams of University of Rhode Island. In a heated matchup, the Knights took the game into their own hands by beating them 7-3 to claim the 2015 ECRHA Division I Regional Championship. This win secured their bid to the national tournament.

The Division III squad followed the same path as their division I team throughout the regional playoffs. Likewise, they also went undefeated in pool play, taking down rivals such as Hofstra University, Temple University and Rowan University. Being the first seed in the division III bracket, that also allowed them to have a bye for the quarterfinals. The Knights played Rowan in the semifinals in a high-scoring affair, for the Knights that is. They beat Rowan by the score of 12-3 with hat tricks from both freshmen defenseman Sean Phelan and Joe Mula. In the division III regional championship game, they faced the Owls of Temple University. The Knights came away with the victory, beating the Owls 5-1 to claim the team's first ever regional championship. Like division I, the win locked in their bid to compete in the national tournament in April.

Next month, both of your Neumann Roller Hockey teams will travel to Independence, Missouri to compete in the 2015 National Collegiate Roller Hockey National Championship tournament. Both teams will face off against teams from all over the country including: Lindenwood University from Missouri, Bethel University from Tennessee, and UNLV from Nevada.

On behalf of the Neumann University Roller Hockey Club, we would like to thank all of those who came out and supported us not just this past weekend, but for your continued support throughout the entire season. The Neumann community has a following that is unlike any other team. We are a family and will continue to be. We as a team, feel that your support was a huge key to our success this season! Thanks again and we will see you in Missouri!