Friday night, Oakland will open the 2013-14 ACHA season at home against GLCHL-conference rivals, Western Michigan. The puck drops at 8:20 p.m. at the ONYX Ice Arena in Rochester.
Oakland will start their season Friday night against Western Michigan (Photo by Damien Dennis, 2012).
Oakland finished the 2012-13 season with a final record of 22-20, going 16-8 in the GLCHL. It was a down year for Oakland, as they finished third in the conference and suffered a first round defeat to Oklahoma in the ACHA National Tournament. They had defeated the Sooners in their only game earlier in that season.
One of the most important changes to Oakland this season is a new coaching staff. The Grizzlies now have Gordie Schaeffler as their new head coach. Schaeffler is entering his ninth year with Oakland, where he has served as the assistant coach.
“It’s a different feel with this being my first time as a head coach,” Schaeffler said. “It took some adjusting at first but I have been with these guys, especially the upper classmen, for a few years so we all know how the system works. I am really excited to lead this team into the future.”
He said that he is more excited than nervous about being the new coach and living up to the legacy of former Oakland coaches.
Schaeffler attended Ferris State University and played for their ACHA Division II team. Because of this, he played in Oakland’s first hockey game in history as the Grizzlies opponent.
But now as leader of the Grizzlies, he hopes to lead Oakland to having a successful season.
“Our goal never changes,” Schaeffler said. “Our goal is to win our last game of the season and win the national championship.”
Injuries plagued the Grizzlies last year, with Schaeffler saying many of their losses came in the third period. This season, they hope to win both the GLCHL regular season and tournament championships.
And of course, they want to leave their mark in the national tournament.
“I’ve been telling the guys since day one that we are going to be the best conditioned team in the league,” Schaeffler said.
In addition to Schaeffler taking over the reigns of the Oakland program, Kris Horn has joined the Grizzlies as their new assistant coach.
“Bringing Kris on was a big help. He has a good hockey mind and has a level head. He is still in that adjustment mode with the guys but he’s got a lot of good ideas and that’s one thing we need. In the long run, he’s really going to help us get to where we want,” Schaeffler said.
Horn comes into the program young but with a lot of accomplishments. As an assistant coach for Michigan State’s ACHA team, he led them to their first tournament appearance and helped UMass win a conference title last year.
“I tried to limit my expectations because I didn’t want to come in judging anything,” Horn said. “I know Oakland has a successful history and has had some successful coaching staffs, and I just didn’t want to let the cloud what I was walking into.”
Horn said that his ultimate goal as a coach is to hopefully make a positive impact on his players, whether that be on the ice or in their personal lives. He wants to make them better fathers, students, workers and athletes.
Both coaches agree that the goals this season for Oakland are the same as they’ve always been: Win the Good Luck Duck, win the GLCHL outright and win a national title.
Oakland faces a tough schedule this season with a lot of heavy competition. For the Grizzlies, their first goal is to defeat rivals Davenport and once again hold the “Good Luck Duck” trophy. The series consists of five games throughout the season in a best of five to determine who wins the “Duck.”
For both teams, the trophy represents a lucky charm of sorts. Since 2007, whichever team won the series made it at least to the ACHA National Championship game. Oakland last won during the 2011-12 season, where they lost to Delaware. Last season, Davenport reclaimed the “Duck” but failed to reach the championship game.
The first game with Davenport is November 15.
GLCHL play begins right away with Friday’s game against Western Michigan. Eastern Michigan, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Kent State and Adrian will be competing for that same GLCHL crown, along with Davenport.
Minot State and Liberty are also two teams Oakland will face throughout the season that pose tough challenges to the Grizzlies.
Rochester College will face Oakland for the first time, creating a cross-city rivalry with the Grizzlies. The two Rochester teams will not meet until the end of the regular season, but will be a natural born rivalry with former Oakland coach Nick Tomzyck leading the Warriors.
With the puck ready to drop Friday night, Oakland prepares for a battle off the get-go with Western Michigan. Schaeffler, Horn and the players will begin their quest for the ACHA Division I National Championship.
To see a complete schedule for the 2013-14 season or roster information, visit www.oaklandhockey.org.
