Jun 7, 2010 -- The 2010-2011 season sees the Fordham University ice hockey program now entering it's 41st campaign, one of the longest of any the clubs at school. The team was actually created in the 1967-68 season playing and winning one game versus cross-town rival Manhattan College. The "Maroon Six" as they were known then, began playing a full slate of games during the 1970-71 season. The team joined the MIHL (Metropolitan Intercollegiate Hockey League), in the fall of 1970 and began playing such teams as Columbia, Fairfield and St. Johns. The team was originally created and funded by Fordham University athletics to become a varsity program. However the team was relegated to its current club status in 1975 when the school chose to elevate it's club football team back to varsity instead. After a league name change to the BSMIHL (Bi-State Metropolitan Intercollegiate Hockey League) for the 1975-76 season, the team held the longest tenure as a member of the MCHC (Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference) after the league changed its name at the start the of the 1976-77 season.
The team is coached by the tandem of Tim Collins and Rich Guberti, both in their third year with the team. Both Tim and Rich have a wealth of coaching experience which includes running the Westchester Mariner youth hockey program based out of Rye Playland, as well as coaching stints with both Fordham Prep, Christ the King and the NYC Empire State teams. Behind the scenes is team general manager Andrew Mola CBA '86 (27th year) who handles the day-to-day team operations.
The 2009-2010 season for the Fordham University Hockey program marked one of the most successful campaigns in the team's history. Competing as a member of the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference for the 40th year, this year squad posted a 14-1-0-1 record. The team dominated their league competition through out the year. Starting the season with an 11-1 blow out of SUNY New Paltz on October 9, the team never relinquished their hold of first place, as they qualified for the post-season for the 10th consecutive season. Offensively the team led the MCHC in scoring with 3 of the top 6 leading scorers being Fordham players. Defensively the team posted the league's lowest goals against average along with an average margin of victory of 5 goals per game.
In the postseason the Rams soundly defeated Suffolk Community College by a 7-0 score in the league semi-final game and came back from a 3 goal deficit late in the third period to capture their only their second league championship in the last 5 years with a 6-5 victory over Columbia. Overall, the squad posted a winning record of 18-4-0-1, marking the team's 7th consecutive winning season, the longest in team history. The team also is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) which ranks club teams on a national basis. The team finished the season ranked 16th overall in the Atlantic Region. Also, for the third consecutive year, the team's overall GPA was a combined 3.2, with a 3.3 average in the fall semester. Six players were rewarded be being named to the American Collegiate Hockey Association's All - Academic team.
The team begins its practices early September skating twice a week until the 16 game league schedule kicks off mid-October. Once the league games start, the practices are scaled back to once a week. No games are played during Thanksgiving break, finals week in December or Christmas break. The season culminates with first round of playoffs in the third weekend of February and the semi finals and finals the last weekend in February. The season is concluded with the annual alumni game, which was reinstated six years ago after a 5-year absence.
For more information on the team please contact general manager Andrew Mola at 212-538-8074 (work).
