Grand Valley Roller Hockey

News

2009/2010 Final Roster Announced
January 24, 2010

The Grand Valley Roller Hockey Club will begin the 2009-2010 season with many new faces. Returning from last years National Championship team: Senior - Ryan Gendron, Juniors - Kyle Chambers, Kyle Gelow, Kyle Siemer, and Sophomores - Chris Schaefer, Mitch Sledz, Keith Chapman. Returning from the B Regional Championship team: Seniors - James Trahan, Kyle Rosteck, Juniors - Jay Arnold, Brice Mora, and Sophomores - Bryan Flinker, Alex Cooney, Nick Dow, Greg Kortman.

The newcomers to the club include: Senior - Mustafa Husaini (member in 2007-2008), Junior - Brad Taylor, Sophomores - Robby Swain, Eric Schwab, and Freshmen - Greg O'hearn, Jordan Emerson, Matt Figlewicz, Eric Moblo, Brad Cross.

The coaching staff will also be adding a new addition this year. 2009 graduate Victor Sultana will be joining the staff as one of the clubs assistant coaches, after leading the B Team to a MCRHL Regional Championship in 2009. Victor looks to help the 2009/2010 teams build on their successes. Returning from last years staff: Bob Fisher (DII Head Coach), Steve Harford (B Head Coach), Tim Mastbergen (Assistant Coach).

Club Seeking Sponsors/Supporters for 2009/2010
January 24, 2010

10/3/09

The 2009/2010 season is upon us and the Grand Valley Roller Hockey Club is looking for sponsors and supporters to help alleviate some of the costs for the long season ahead. Information about becoming a sponsor/supporter can be found by downloading our official sponsorship packet for the 2009/2010 season (click below). Any donation will help regardless of amount and will be 100% tax deductible for you or your company. If you feel that you can help support our team with a non-monetary donation, please contact us as we are open to these opportunities also.

A note from the club president:
We would like to extend our thanks to our sponsors and supporters from the 2008/2009 season. Your generous support helped our teams throughout our season in countless ways. Your donations provided funding assistance for many of our season expenses such as adding additional exhibition games for extra experience and traveling to the Collegiate Roller Hockey National Championships where the DII Lakers team emerged as national champions. We would like to acknowledge the following companies for their support last year: KB Solutions Technologies, Wolverine Construction, West Michigan Auto Auction, Hotrod Harley Davidson, and Lipari foods. The Lakers also had the support of Rivertown Sports and Cedar Rock Sports Plex throughout the year as they provided the team with discounted rink rental and flexible scheduling.

Without your support, much of what we do would not be possible! We look forward to your support in the future.

Sincerely,
Ryan Gendron
President - Grand Valley Roller Hockey Club

2009 Interest Skates and Tryout Dates/Times
January 24, 2010

9/01//09

The Defending NCRHA Division II National Champions and the Defending MCRHL B Division Regional Champions are proud to announce their 2009 tryout dates and times. Tryouts for the Grand Valley State University Roller Hockey Club will be held at Rivertown Sports in Grandville, Michigan (see address at end of article). Tryouts will take place on the 18th, 19th and 20th of September. The first tryout skate is scheduled from 7:00-9:00 pm on the 18th. On Saturday, there will be two skates, the first from 9:00-11:00 am and the other from 3:00-5:00 pm. The skate on Sunday will be an invitation only skate from 1:00-3:00 pm at a different location... more information regarding this skate will be released at tryouts. All players should arrive no later than 6:15 on Friday the 18th to fill out paperwork. The cost to tryout is $25 and must be paid prior to the beginning of the first tryout skate.

This year the club is looking to field three-four teams, two that participate as members of the MCRHL/NCRHA (DII team/B Team), and one-two independent affiliate teams that will participate in local recreational leagues as a development program for the club.

The Lakers will also be hosting two optional interest skates in the week prior to tryouts. On Thursday September 10th, the club will be hosting a skate at Rivertown Sports from 6:00-8:00 pm. On Saturday, September 12th, the club will be holding the second interest skate from 2:30-4:30 pm. This skate will also take place at Rivertown Sports. The cost for each skate will be $10. Remember these skates are only optional... however it may be a good idea to get some skating in prior to tryouts on the same rink that you will be trying out on.

Full roller hockey equipment is required in order to participate in all of these skates, with the exception of roller hockey pants. REQUIRED equipment includes: Helmet with full shield, gloves, elbow pads, shin guards, roller blades. Ice hockey pants or sweats may be substituted for roller hockey pants for tryouts.

Any questions may be directed to Ryan Gendron - president of the club (gvroller@mail.gvsu.edu), Bob Fisher - DII Head Coach (rjfisher83@yahoo.com), or Steve Harford - B Head Coach (harfords@mail.gvsu.edu).

The address to Rivertown Sports: 2605 Sanford Ave, Grandville, MI. More information about Rivertown Sports, including updated schedules with drop-in-skating times can be found at www.rivertownsports.com.

Lakers D-men Lead MCRHL All-stars to Championship
January 24, 2010

7/30//09

Participating in the Collegiate All-star Division of the North American Roller Hockey Championships on behalf of the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League, senior captain Nick Boyle and junior asst. captain Ryan Gendron helped lead their team to an unblemished 5-0 record en-route to a NARCh gold medal.

In game one, against the all-stars from the West Coast Roller Hockey League, both Laker D-men earned themselves a point on the score sheet. Gendron reached the score sheet on the first goal of the game with an assist and Boyle netted the teams last goal as the MCRHL All-stars came out on top 5-2.

In game two of the tournament, both Boyle and Gendron added three more points to their weekend totals as the MCRHL team was again victorious, this time over a severely under-manned and overmatched Southern Collegiate Hockey League team. Boyle tallied two goals and an assist while Gendron added a goal and two assists in the game.

Game three against the all-stars from the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association would start out with a goal from Gendron, only 40 seconds into the game. The MCRHL All-stars would again come out on top by a score of 4-1.

Earning the #1 seed after pool play, the MCRHL team was once again matched up against the SCHL All-star team in the first round of playoffs. This time it was Boyle who started the scoring 1:28 into the game with the assist on the goal going to Gendron. The first period would end with the MCRHL on top 2-0 and it seemed like the SCHL was determined to prove that the first meeting (a 9-1 MCRHL win) was not indicative of their abilities. However this would not be the case as the MCRHL team started the second half with two quick goals from Gendron, bringing his game four point total to 3. The game would end with the MCRHL on top by a score of 6-0, moving the team on to the championship game.

The championship game, featuring a match-up between the MCRHL and ECRHA all-star teams turned out to be one of the best games of the weekend. The ECRHA team was determined to avenge the 4-1 loss from the day before. This would not be the case as the MCRHL All-stars would strike first and would not relinquish the lead. At the end of the first half, the scoreboard read: MCRHL 2 - ECRHA 0. The MCRHL game plan changed during the second half of the game as they veered away from their high scoring mentality and focused more on tight defense with the championship in their sights. After an ECRHA goal only 1:36 into the half, the play was dominated by the MCRHL team and the score remained 2-1 until the final buzzer.

Gendron finished the weekend third in team points with a total of eight (8), with 4 goals and 4 assists. Boyle would finish the weekend with five (5) points, with 4 goals and 1 assist.

Lakers Chosen For All-NCT Team and MCRHL All-star
January 24, 2010

5/18//09

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Three Lakers earned spots on the the National Championship All-Star 1st and 2nd Teams for Division II. Senior captain Nick Boyle (#10) earned a spot on the All-Tournament 1st Team along with freshman Chris Schaefer (#7). Their performances in the championship game no doubt had a heavy impact on their 1st team selection. In the final game, both players contributed three goals, while Boyle added 2 assists to his total, leading the Lakers to a 9-7 victory. Boyle had 4 goals and 11 assists (15 points) and Schaefer had 12 goals and 1 assist (13 points) over the course of the weekend. Sophomore Kyle Chambers (#10) was selected for the All-Tournament 2nd Team with a total of 11 goals and 8 assists over the course of the seven game weekend.

Nick Boyle was also given the playmaker award for the tournament.

Not Chosen for either team but in the running for the all-tournament team selections were freshman goaltender Kieth Chapman (#35) and junior Ryan Gendron (#16). In what could be considered the biggest mistake of the all-tournament selctions, Chapman who backstopped the Lakers to a 6-1 record and a national championship was not selected for either team. Two goaltenders with records of 2-2 and 4-1 were selected for the all-tournament teams while the most valuable goalie went to the goaltender with a 2-2 record. Gendron finshed the weekend with 11 goals and 7 assists, one point behind Chambers for the team point lead over the weekend but was not selected for either team.

MCRHL ALL-STARS
Two Lakers were chosen to represent the MCRHL as members of an all-star team that will participate in a tournament against other NCRHA regional all-star teams. Nick Boyle and Ryan Gendron will be playing July 15th-17th in Mississauga, Ontario at the NARCh finals along with other MCRHL all-star team selections.

Congratulations to the four Lakers chosen for these great honors!