Travis Schuster
Staff Writer
In their first eight games, the Millersville division II hockey team came out hot, starting 6-2 to begin the season. The Marauders defeated the UNCW Seahawks twice and defeated PSU Harrisburg with a third period comeback. The Marauders also defeated St. Joseph’s University 5-2, the Delaware Blue Hens 8-2, and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4-0. Goaltender Dylan Schroeder picked up his first collegiate shutout against Rutgers. Their only two losses came against the Seton Hall Pirates.
The goal for them this season is to make an impact as a hockey team. “We wanna make a statement as a program. We feel we have a very strong, unique team this year. We may not be the best skill wise or IQ wise, whatever it may be,” forward Aiden Carey said. “The idea is that we’re all playing together for each other for a single goal and that end goal is to win. Everybody’s playing a certain role, everybody’s putting in the work.”
In order to make an impact, the Marauders are going to focus on utilizing their biggest strength, their chemistry. The bonds and connections teammates have with each other is what drives them to play hard for one another.
Millersville hockey broadcaster TJ Fasnacht sees evidence of this chemistry first-hand when broadcasting games. “(Cole) McCulley knows where (Andrew) Dzurko is gonna be, or McCulley knows where (Joe) Pedicone’s gonna be or (Adam) Hennessy knows where (Jack) Paolini’s gonna be or (Tyler) Poulin and Paolini find each other right in the slot on a little trick play,” Fasnacht said.
This trust in knowing where everybody’s going to be on the ice stems from the relationships and bonds that teammates form with each other off the ice. “We’ve all been hanging out together and we’ve all meshed really well. Like, you won’t find us around campus without another teammate,” Carey said. This bond is what builds friendships with each other and relationships that go deeper than just playing together.
“They’re your boys, man. You know, you’ll go the extra mile for them if you know you have that good relationship with them. You’ll always go the extra mile, whether it’s helping some do their schoolwork, taking a hit to make a play on the ice,” forward Jacob Burke said.
According to Fasnacht, chemistry is one of the most important necessities that a team needs to be successful. If teams don’t have chemistry, they are not going to win games that they should win because they don’t have that drive to play for one another. “If you don’t have chemistry and you don’t have a brotherhood and you’re not willing to go to war for your boys, you’re not gonna relish the victories more, which means you’re not gonna want them as bad and you’re not gonna hate losing because you let your brothers down,” Fasnacht said.
According to Burke, if a team does not have chemistry, it makes it really hard for the players to play well together. “If you’re not close off the ice, it’s gonna be hard to perform on the ice, because a lot of it is trust, you trust where you guys are,” Burke said.
From early on in the season, every player seemed to “click” with another because of the relationships that are formed among everyone. “I really think it started in the beginning of the season with the chemistry we had and the early bond that we formed and everybody kind of came to the rink ready to work. So we were at, almost like a December skill level in our compete level and speed. The first two weeks of the season everybody really clicked,” Carey said.
Fasnacht believes this team is capable of going far this season not only because of their chemistry but because of their roster and skill level. “Their chemistry, their defense, their goaltending, their veteran presence. They have a lot of veterans but they’re also young at the same time and they are phenomenal,” Fasnacht said. “Millersville is quick hitting and sharp and very fast. That’s what you need. You need that chemistry if you’re gonna play a high-speed game like the Marauders.”
