Saint Louis University hockey coach John Bosch doesn’t look at his team’s 14-18-2 record as a negative. It could’ve been better, but he’ll take it, considering the circumstances.
“In my estimation, for being a first-year Division I club team, it was pretty much a success for us,” said Bosch. “It mirrors the first year we had the club four years ago.”
That year, the Billikens were three games below .500. The next year SLU advanced to the American College Hockey Association Division II National finals. Bosch hopes that history repeats itself.
“We’ve got to take what we learned, move forward and make the tournament (next year),” Bosch said.
The Bills finished the season ranked 16th out of 35 teams in the ACHA Division I poll. Only the top 12 squads make the national finals. However, Bosch was satisfied with the rank, as SLU placed ahead many of the established teams at the Division I level.
While the team may have been disappointed with the division finish, it still had four regular season games left on the schedule. Two weeks ago, Lake Superior State rolled into town for a two-game set with the Bills. Lake Superior caught SLU off-guard in the first game, as that was the day the squad found out it wasn’t going to the tournament. Lake Superior won the first game 5-3. But SLU rebounded the second night to defeat Lake Superior 6-3.
Last week the Bills journeyed to Ames, Iowa, to face No. 5 Iowa State. The Cyclones proved they deserved to be ranked No. 5, as they pummeled the Billikens 8-2 and 8-1.
“They’re a fast team,” Bosch said. “They have speed up front and in the back.”
Up next for SLU is the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The Bills enter the tourney as the No. 4 seed and will face off against No. 1 seed Wisconsin-Whitewater on Friday night. The Bills lost twice to Whitewater earlier this year, 6-3 and 7-6.
If SLU conquers Whitewater, it will face either Illinois or Minnesota in the final. Both Illinois and Whitewater will go to the national tournament.
“All four of us have the capability of being the champions of the league,” Bosch said.
Following the tournament, the recruiting season kicks in. The team only loses three seniors, but the team could use help in all areas. Most of the players from St. Louis will compete in a men’s league at Brentwood Ice Rink while participating in a conditioning program.
