This coming Friday, Nov. 22,  the Rowan Men’s Division II hockey team will face their biggest rival at home, Rider University. Rider has been Rowan’s rival for more than ten years. 

Senior captain Carter Jones understands the intensity that comes with playing against Rider. 

“In my time here every game comes down to the wire, and the games are always fast and physical which adds to the rivalry every year,” Jones said.

While the team may be considered a club team, it doesn’t diminish the fact of how well they’ve been playing. Ian Kliewe, the assistant coach of the team wants to remove that negative stigma around club hockey.

“This is their next level of athletics and it’s not hockey hospice,” Kliewe said. “They’re trying to make it to the next level.”

The team is coming off of an Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) Championship from last year. The Profs (No. 6 seed) defeated the University of North Carolina Wilmington (No. 7 seed) in the battle of the underdogs. Rowan defeated the UNCW Seahawks 5-3, scoring four goals in the first two periods. 

Now this season, the team looks to continue their success, hoping to repeat and win the Admiral Cup. However, the team started off slow this year, dropping a series against NC State, who they beat last year on the path to win the Admiral Cup. 

In both games, the Profs were tied by the end of the two periods, until they ultimately let their foot off the gas in the third period. But ever since that slow start, the team has continued to pick it up. In late October, Rowan swept the University of Penn in a two-game series. 

Following that, the Profs faced Maryland University in another two-game series. The team continued their hot streak and destroyed Maryland 8-0 in an away game. The Profs would then take the sweep, defeating Maryland 4-1. But it wasn’t easy, as the final score may suggest. In the final few minutes, the Rowan defense was scrambling, trying to prevent Maryland’s prayers with the extra attacker and goalie pulled. 

But, thanks to a few blocked shots, and a huge help from sophomore goalie Jacob Booth, Rowan was able to maintain the lead and win the game. 

“The season started slow but lately we’ve been finding our game, and it has shown with our recent win streak,” Jones said.

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