Oakland University Hockey

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Oakland University’s hockey team has established itself as one of the elite teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association over the past four years, winning three national championships in that span. So, the only thing on the Golden Grizzlies’ minds heading into this year’s tournament was taking home the title yet again.

Ranked No. 12 in a field of 16 teams, it was a long shot for the Golden Grizzlies to earn a three-peat — after winning the 2006 ACHA Division II national championship and following it up in 2007 with the ACHA Division I championship — and Oklahoma University stepped in to make sure that wouldn’t happen, downing the Golden Grizzlies, 4-3, Saturday morning.

It was the first time in five years as part of Oakland’s coaching staff and three years as the head coach that Sean Hogan didn’t play in the final game of the tournament.

In 2004, his first season as an assistant, the Golden Grizzlies won the Div. II title and lost the following year to Michigan State in overtime of the final. Until Saturday’s loss, Hogan was undefeated in the tournament since taking over as head coach in 2006.

"This is the first time I’ve had to give a speech at the end of the season where we weren’t the national champions. Talentwise, we’re better than we’ve ever been before, but with 15 new kids, hopefully we’ll get better as time goes on," Hogan said.

The No. 5 Sooners brought in a deadly power play, which the Golden Grizzlies were aware of prior to the game, but let up two goals when it was down a man. Adrian Borchgrevink and Kyle Allen each netted power-play goals for Oklahoma. Justin King and Owen Brewer also had goals for the Sooners.

The Golden Grizzlies countered with two power-play goals of their own from Kevin Kranker and Jarrett Samp. Samp’s marker with 2:21 left in the game, pulled the Golden Grizzlies within a goal and Oakland had a few golden opportunities in the final minute, including another shot from Samp that went just wide of the net.

Senior captain Brent Cooper had Oakland’s even-strength tally in the third and assisted on both Kranker and Samp’s goals. Senior Steve Piccoli finished the game with two assists and senior goaltender Andrew Hansen will get the start in net for his final game for Oakland in today’s consolation game.