Very special thanks to Steve Rosen for all his reporting of USF Ice Bulls!! Great Job
VS
Seniors Go Out in Style
This weekend the Bulls played their final two home games of the season. On Friday night the Bulls, in a repeat performance from last week, took on the Florida State Seminoles at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. This was a special night for the Bulls, as it was their last home game of the season and final one for the careers of the Ice Bull seniors. The Bulls came out to play as they always do and out worked the Seminoles alnight. The Bulls as they did last weekend to defeat the Noles used a combination of physical play and high scoring to send FSU back to Tallahassee winless once again. With goals from players like Adam Berzak (2 goals), (C) Ryan Colbert (2 goals), Jay Jodoin and solid defense and goalkeeping the Bulls won by a final of 6-4.
Saturday night the Bulls were slated to face the Florida Gators in a match at the Ice Palace following the Lightning/Capitals game. Both teams knew this was a big game, not just because both teams are talented, but because this would set a tone for both teams heading into the CHS playoffs. Right from the firt drop of the puck you could tell this was a special night. Both teams came out flying and hitting and set the tone as to how the rest of the game was going to be. The Bulls had a few good chances at the UF net early but were unable to beat the UF goaltender until midway through the first when Steve Rosen finally banged home his first of the year on a centering pass from Jimmy Brerenton. UF was not going down easily though and a little while later scored to tie the game. The Bulls knowing they couldn't be denied on this night in front of all their fans for the last time this season kept up the pressure and were soon after ahead on the scored board as Jon Clark buried the rebound on a Brian Cornado shot. After that the game went back and forth. Each team made rushes at the other team's net and there was no scoring again till late in the second period when Matt Devivo converted on a short-handed breakaway to give the Bulls a 3-1 leading heading into the second intermission. Inside the Bulls locker room confedence was high and you could see that it was hitting the seniors that they were about to play the last home period of their college careers. The Bulls took to the ice for the third period and picked up right where they left off when a few minutes into the period Brian Cornado cut to the net from the outside and beat the UF goalie low on the ice to give the Bulls a 4-1 lead. Right after the goal was scored a huge right erupted that saw all five players from each team on the ice thrown out of the game including the UF goalie (none of the players from either side will be suspended though for the playoffs). With extremely shortened benches now both sides pressed on and a few minutes later UF scored on a breakaway to cut the lead in half to 4-2. This though was the Bull's night as USF kept the pressure on UF and in the closing minutes of the game the USF seniors went out together and scored one last time as Nate Cindric beat the UF goalie to give the Bulls a 5-2 lead which held up to be the final score due to great goaltending all night for the Bulls by Derek "Chowder" Armand.
This was a special night and a special weekend. We wish the seniors all the best of luck and thank them for everything they have done. The Bulls now focus on the CHS playoffs where they are looking to take the league title for the forth year in a row. The weekend after that the Bulls will head to Georgia for the ACHA Division 3 National Championships. We wish the Bulls the best of luck and thank all our fans for their support all season. Keeping checking back here to see how the Bull finish the year. Thanks Again!!
Steve Rosen # 9
VS
USF Topples Florida State and Central Florida
This weekend the Icebulls were in Orlando ready to take on the Florida State Seminoles and UCF Knights. The Bulls were pumped after throughly defeating the Embry-Riddle Eagles twice last week. The Bulls took on FSU Friday night and out worked the Seminoles in every period. The Bulls had rush after rush at the Florida State net but a few missed chances and some decent saves by the FSU goalkeeper the score stayed reasonably close. Both teams were fired up and the game was chippy. Both teams played it rough and there were a good share of fights which left a couple players suspended for their respective team's next game. The Bulls gave the Seminoles a beating on the ice and on the score board and skated away with a 3-1 victory.
On Saturday night the Bulls took on the UCF Knights. The Knights cameout with their full squad while the Bulls only had half it's team available for the game due to injuries and suspensions. The lack of players though was not a set back to the Bulls though as the depleted USF team out worked and out shot the Knights all night. The Bulls knowing that they had to comeout and set the tone early quickly taking a 1-0 lead on a (C) Ryan Colbert goal. The Bulls then took a 2-0 lead on a John Gatten goal from Jimmy Brerenton and Steve Rosen. In the second the Knights put one in to make the score 2-1. In the closing moments of the second Sean Strama (who played defense in this game due to a lack of defenseman) skated through the UCF defense and buried one in the back of the net the give the Bulls a 3-1 lead goin into the intermission. In the third the Bulls came out strong as they had all game and a few minutes in took a 4-1 lead after Jay Jodoin tapped it past the goalie. UCF though was not prepared to go down without a fight and took advantage of some USF penalties and scored a few key goals to cut the USF lead to 4-3. USF was determined not to let this game go and this the closing moments of the game scored a key goal when Jay Jodoin redirected a great pass from (C) Ryan Colbert to give the Bulls a 5-3 lead. UCF still wouldn't let up and in the closing seconds of the game scored again to make the score 5-4. The Bulls stayed strong and because of some key defensive plays and strong goaltending from Derek "Chowder" Armand were able to hang on for a 5-4 win.
It was a good weekend for the Bulls and they now set their sights for their final home games of the season as they take on Florida State on Friday Febuary 8th at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum and on Saturday Febuary 9th against the Florida Gators at the Ice Palace. So come out and support your Ice Bulls as they march toward another CHS Title and a National Title.
Steve Rosen # 9
VS
Bulls Roll Over FSU and Embry Riddle
Another weekend has come and gone but the Bulls keep on rolling. The Bulls came into this weekend ready for two big raod games against two very determined teams. To change things up the Bulls finally unvailed their road black uniforms against Florida State friday night in Orlando. The Bulls came to play and that was more than obvious this weekend. In the game friday night the Bulls out played FSU in every aspect of the game. The Bulls out skated, out hit, and out scored the Seminoles to roll over them with a 7-0 victory. James Dauenheimer and Tommy Piccolo shared time in the net to pitch the shutout. The USF forwards reaped havoc on the FSU defense and had many chances on the FSU net, while the USF defense did a great job to keep the FSU forwards away from too many scoring chances. High tempo offensive rushes and solid defense gave USF the well earned win.
The Bulls came into their game Saturday night against Embry Riddle still pumped up from their dominating performance against FSU the night before. Embry Riddle has been playing well this season and the Bulls knew that they had to keep their focus and play their game to get the victory. This game was hyped to be a very physical one and that it was. Both teams cameout flying and hitting but in the end the Bulls proved that not only can they hit with the best of them but they can score better than them as USF trounced ERAU 9-1. With these two big wins the Bulls the bulls improve their record to 8-0 in College Hockey South and 10-1 overall. With their great play this season and confidence high the Bulls go into the winter break ready for the rest so that they come out in January even stronger than they are now.
Steve #9
VS
Ice Bulls Defeat Rival Georgia Tech
The Ice Bulls defeated their big time rival Georgia Tech Saturday night at the Ice Palace avenging their loss to GT earlier in the season. This was a huge game for both sides and a battle was expected. Both teams came out with their game faces on and seemed eager to play judging from their high tempo warm-ups. The two teams were matched up evenly and the winner would decided by who wanted it more.
The Bulls came out flying right from the get go. After a few strong rushes to the GT net the Bulls opened the scoring on a (A) Sean Strama goal. GT came back strong though and soon after they scored to tie the game. The Bulls rebounded well though and were determined not to be defeated. They quickly got it together and put themselves in the lead for good when (C) Ryan Colbert scored to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead. After that you could see that the Bulls were not going to back down as they kept up the high pressure and were rewarded when Jimmy Brerenton tapped in an easy one to make the score 3-1, and again moments later when (C) Ryan Colbert fired home his second of the game on a great one-time pass from Vinny Lukasik. Going into the second period the Bulls thought they had GT down and out but that was not the case. GT kept pressuring and scored to make it 4-2. Both teams battled but this was USF's night as once again they struck for a goal when Jarett Yavitz tipped a pass by the GT goalie to make it 5-2. GT would later in the third score as well to make it 5-3 and USF tacked on one more late for a 6-3 final score, but most importantly a huge victorty for USF. The win was a big team effort, all 4 forward lines for USF went out and did their job when their turns came up. USF's victory is also due to the solid defense by (player/coach) Andrej Horbaczuk, Nate Cindric, Matt Devivo, JeremVelazquez, Bobby Brewster and the amazing goal tending from James Dauenheimer and Derek Armand. The Bulls who with this victory have an overall record of 8W -1L have now made it very clear that they are motivated and determined and will not stop till they are once again CHS Champions and most importantly ACHA division 3 National Champions as well.
Steve Rosen # 9
VS
