As we welcome the Mason alums to the ice, this game also provide us the opportunity to introduce some of the local high school hockey players who have been accepted to GMU for studies this fall, and will be try-out candidates for the 2012-13 George Mason Ice Hockey roster.

So we look forward to seeing you SATURDAY, APRIL 14th to get one last dose of Mason Ice Hockey before the summer and take advantage of the game perks which include Glory Days Grill gift coupons, Mason Hockey t-shirts for 30 of our lucky fans, and the team’s DJ/PA Matt Krause who will provide music for our fans during breaks in play.

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The continuing progress and success which Mason Hockey has, and will continue to secure, comes as result of the investment into our program by our graduating seniors, the alums who took time to join us on this important evening, as well as all of those who support our current & future players.

The George Mason Ice Hockey team concluded a successful 18-6-1 season (7-5-1 in BRHC) by advancing to the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference playoffs for the first time in years.  The Patriots defeated the University of Maryland in a first round playoff game last Thursday by a score of 5-4 with pairs of goals from senior Spencer Wolf and team president Dom Liberatore.  Graduate student Matt McVay also scored in critical goal in the second period.

Mason moved onto the BRHC quarterfinals where they faced the returning champion William & Mary Tribe.  William & Mary triumphed 6-3 (including an empty net goal with 6 seconds) in the game which was played at Liberty University, thus ending the Patriots’ 2011-12 season.

The team’s success resulted in a number of Mason Hockey players being recognized for the skills on the ice and in the classroom.  Seniors Andrew Rudzinski (Team Captain) and Spencer Wolf were nominated for the Blue Ridge All-Star Challenge team, as was freshman Dylan Talbot.  Academic-All Americans on the team included Nelson DaSilva, Dom Liberatore, Dean Mercer, Ryan Pageau and Spencer Wolf.

The team has already begun to receive interest from potential recruits for next season as far away as Wisconsin, and New England, as we make a push to continue to improve as a program.   As the season comes to an end, we thank all of you for your interest and support.

The Patriots travel to the University of Maryland on Thursday night for a first round game vs. UMD at 8:30PM in the Herbert Wells Ice rink on the College Park campus. The Terps had a perfect 2-0-1 record against GMU during the regular season, but the last two UMD three victories were one-goal games, so this Thursday’s game proves to be an exciting test for both teams.

With a win on Thursday, Mason’s ice hockey team would then go to Liberty University for final round games there on Friday night and Saturday. Playoff updates will be posted on this site as George Mason competes in the BRHC playoffs for the Conference championship.

Mason, a win away from securing a BRHC playoff berth, will honor its four graduating seniors (Team Captain Andrew Rudzinski, Alternate Captain Ryan Pageau, Jacob van der Veen, and Spencer Wolf) during a pre-game ceremony which will also feature a number of GMU Ice Hockey Alumni.

Club Sports Director Bob Spousta and other GMU executives are also anticipated to be  on hand, along with what we hope will be our largest Mason crowd of the season, buoyed by the boisterous and rocking Mason Wolf Pack.

In addition to the team’s plans to recognize our alumni and graduating seniors, the team has the opportunity to secure a BRHC playoff berth with a win against NVCC with whom Mason shares PW Ice Center as our respective home rinks.  As usual, we’ll have music, free t-shirts and team sponsor Glory Days Grill on hand to make Friday a night to remember.

Come out and let everyone know that you support GMU Ice Hockey …… and that Mason Ice Hockey is going places.  Thanks to your support all season long!

On Saturday, Mason hits the road to play a very skilled Christopher Newport University team for an 11PM BRHC exhibition game down in Yorktown.  CNU, ranked #8 in the Southeast by ACHA, will provide the Patriots with a sound test of their skills and commitment – just the type of game which GMU Ice Hockey needs in preparation for the upcoming playoffs at Liberty University during the weekend of February 25-27.

This weekend’s games with NVCC and CNU follow GMU wins last weekend over Johnson & Wales (GMU 12 – J&W 5) and Roanoke (Roanoke forfeits the game 1-0).

On Friday, January 27th at 9:40PM, Mason takes on Johnson & Wales Wildcats, in town from Charlotte to take on the Patriots for a cross-divisional BRHC exhibition game.   The Patriots looking to start their march to the playoffs strong with a good showing against a fellow BRHC opponent look forward to an expanded roster with the addition of Brandon Cobb who joined the team in December, and the return of Brian Bock (injury) and Spencer Wolf (overseas semester).

On Saturday the 28th the University of Maryland Terrapins visit PW Ice Center again for a tilt with Mason at 8:30PM for another BRHC exhibition game.  The Patriots, who had been schedule to play Roanoke University, will now take on the Terps in is BRHC match-up with Roanoke’s decision to cancel the balance of its games this season, giving the Patriots another win in the League standings (now 5-4-1) and another chance to  take on UMD after Maryland’s 4-3 overtime win again Mason prior to the Winter Break.

Looking ahead, Mason plays BRHC league games with Northern Virginia Community College on February 3 and February 17 (Mason Ice Hockey Seniors’ Night) at home, as well as an important BRHC game with James Madison in Charlottesville on February 11.  Other spring exhibition games see Mason travel to CNU on February 4 and have the Patriots entertaining Pennsylvania’s East Stroudsburg University  on 10 February.

Great hockey, free Mason hockey t-shirts for some of lucky fans, gift coupons from Glory Days Grills and music from our team’s DJ – come enjoy Mason hockey this spring.  See you there!

A freshman in computer engineering, Dylan looks forward to competing with George Mason in the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference for the next four years.

With their record of 4-4-1 in the BRHC and 9-6-1 Overall, Mason’s team is bearing down to do the work needed to make the playoffs for the first time since in many years.  Conscious of their skilled opponents and the need to provide a strong push to make the playoffs, the team has decided to return to the ice a week ahead of the resumption of classes at Mason for the Spring semester.   The team welcomes back Spencer Wolf who played for Mason in 2010-11, but was studying at the University of Oxford in England for the fall semester.

Join us for some great hockey, gift certificates from team sponsor Glory Days Grill, and Mason Ice Hockey t-shirts for games January 27th (vs. Johnson & Wales @9:40PM) and January 28th (vs. Roanoke 8:30PM) to get things started for an exciting semester of George Mason Ice Hockey.

In Friday’s game, Maryland jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Mason closed the game with a goal early in the 2^nd period before the Terps extended their lead to 5-1 by the end of the 2^nd period.  The Patriots fought back in the 3^rd closing the gap to a 5-3 score before Maryland added two more goals, including a power play goal right after Mason’s third goal.  Penalty problems by Mason gave Maryland 4 power play goals on the night and sent Mason home frustrated.

Saturday’s game saw a back and forth battle between Old Dominion and George Mason with the team’s trading goals in the 1^st and 2^nd period, resulting in a 3-3 tie after two periods.  Staying out of the penalty box, and placing 22 shots on net in the 3^rd period, enabled George Mason to take the lead, 5-3 with two minutes left in the game before closing out the game with an empty net goal after the Monarchs had pulled their goalie.

George Mason prepares for a Friday night rematch with the University of Maryland this Friday (9 DEC, 9:40PM @ PW Ice Center) as they fight to secure an Atlantic Division playoff spot for the BRHC tournament in February 2012.