With an obtainable dream to make it to nationals again this
year, Saint Louis University’s unknown is off to a great start.
This unknown is SLU’s roller hockey team.
Founded in 1998, SLU’s roller hockey team had struggled to make
a name for itself; until last year which marked the pinnacle season
for the team.
The Billikens ended their regular season with a 16-2 record. Led
by then freshman Dave Fisher, the team scored 115 goals and
Billiken goaltender Mike Riley was named the best goalie of the
entire division.
It did not end there though. At the regional championship, the
Bills battled through several close games.
The team went on to win the championship in a victory against
the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2-1, in overtime.
They eventually received an invitation to play in the National
Collegiate Roller Hockey League Championship in Philadelphia. The
Bills received the fifth seed out of 30 teams who were invited into
the playoff bracket.
While the Bills did not win the national championship, they did
fare well, losing only to the top ranked teams by a margin of one
goal. The team finished seventh in the nation.
This season is looking just as promising. Captain Mike Walsh, a
junior, said “We have a strong core of returning players from last
year and a good group of freshmen and upperclassmen replacing the
players we lost.
Our talent level continues to increase, and the team plays
really well together.”
This confidence, along with three solid lines of defense,
returning lead scorers, returning goalie, Mike Riley and the
weekend’s victories puts the team on its way to excelling
again.
The team has a positive attitude and a simple plan to live by
this season, as explained by junior defenseman Steve Kaufmann.
“Within our division we have a lot of strong competition. All
the teams, including ours have improved. So we are looking to take
the season one step at a time. First, we want to come off with the
best overall record of the season. Second, win the regional
tournament. Finally and most importantly, to win the national
championship, which we believe is in our reach,” Kaufmann said.
Riley agreed with Kaufmann’s assessment.
“Our ultimate goal this season is to make it to nationals and
win. I think we have a good chance of accomplishing this goal as
long as we implement the system imposed by our coach Dan Hurt and
play our game. Our key players step up in big games, but everyone
on the roster is an essential part to winning the national
championship,” Riley said.
Led by captains Walsh, senior Eric Roselman and medical student
Dan Boyle, the Bills won two of their three opening games. They
defeated Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 10-0 and
Washington University 6-3.
They tied their division rival UMSL 3-3.
“We came out a little slow to start off but started to gel as a
team towards the end of the weekend,” said sophomore forward Bobby
Wondollowski.
The Bills games are played on weekends at Matteson Square
Gardens Triplex in O’Fallon, Mo. For directions, game times and
other information, visit the leagues website at www.
greatplainshockey.com.
“This season is going to get better and better,” Boyle said.
“This weekend was a learning process for our entire team. I didn’t
expect us to be as strong as we were but I was very impressed at
the way we came together as the weekend progressed. We are all
pumped to get the season going.”
SLU Roller Hockey History
Founded: 1998
Last Season: 16-2
Finished seventh in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey
Championship
