Oakland University Hockey

As unexpected as last year’s run toward further national prominence was, a repeat performance within the next week would be doubly so for the Oakland University men’s club hockey team.

After winning American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II national titles in 2004 and 2006, the Golden Grizzlies weren’t expected to bring home any hardware after moving up to Division I last year.

However, the Golden Grizzlies not only held their own at last year’s national tournament, where they were competing against club programs with full or partial funding (OU has neither), but proved to be better than them all, surprisingly winning the 2007 Division I national title by sweeping through the tournament as a No. 10 seed.

The run was capped by a 5-1 win in the national championship game over No. 1-ranked and perennial club power Penn State, a fully-funded program that has a sponsorship deal with Nike.

Thanks to that improbable title, the Golden Grizzlies have the distinction of being the defending national champion when they participate in this year’s ACHA Division I national tournament, which will run from Saturday through Wednesday in Rochester, N.Y.

OU has 15 new players on the roster this year, but it still managed to qualify for the tournament as a No. 12 seed and will face No. 5 Oklahoma in the first round Saturday in the singleelimination tournament.

"A lot of people think it’s a disadvantage," OU head coach Sean Hogan said of taking so many newcomers into this year’s tournament. "I look at it as an advantage because those guys are ready to work hard. Those guys have never been there before, but they’re excited and so am I. We’re looking forward to it and I like our chances."

In addition to all the new faces, a repeat would be a special accomplishment given OU doesn’t have Will McMahon this time around.

A senior last year, McMahon single-handedly carried the Golden Grizzlies to the title, netting 12 points in the four tournament games and scoring four goals in the championship game against Penn State.

"That’s the one down side to this year compared to last year," Hogan said. "We were always in any game last year because of our offense. Having Will, we could score any time. Hopefully, we can have someone step up and catch fire in the tournament."

The most likely candidates are senior captain Brett Cooper, who has 49 points (25 goals, 24 assists) and freshman Kevin Kranker, an all-state player last year at Lake Orion High School who has 28 points (17 goals, 11 assists).

Hogan said the team to beat is probably Illinois, which is 31-0 on the year. OU beat Illinois, 3-2, in the semifinals of the tournament last year.

By KEITH DUNLAP Of The Oakland Press