Team News

Liberty University recently announced the schedule for its men's Division I hockey team.

The 34-game schedule features matchups with six teams who qualified for the 2012 national championships, including home meetings with the reigning national champions (Delaware) and last year's runner-up (Oakland).

"We have a lot of quality opponents," said head coach Kirk Handy. "We have a very strong schedule and there won't be an easy night for us. It's going to prepare us to go throughout the year and have every game mean something."

After a pair of exhibition games with the Atlanta Junior Knights, Liberty welcomes the Lakers from Mercyhurst College to the LaHaye Ice Center for a season opening doubleheader Sept. 21-22.

Liberty completes a four-game homestand with a doubleheader against the Robert Morris Eagles from Illinois before heading to the annual American Collegiate Hockey Association Showcase in Springfield, Ill., Oct. 5-7.

The Flames return to the Ice Center after fall break and welcome the Davenport University Panthers to begin their longest homestand of the season at eight games, including a doubleheader with Delaware and their first meeting with perennial powerhouse Ohio.

Liberty then heads to Stony Brook, followed by their first doubleheader with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, who lost to Delaware 5-1 in the 2012 national championship game.

They conclude 2012 with a matchup against the Division II Virginia Tech Hokies.

The Flames kick off 2013 on the road with just their second trip to Arizona as they take on Arizona State followed by a doubleheader against Arizona. Liberty then heads back east for a second doubleheader with Delaware.

Liberty wraps up the season at home with a pair of doubleheaders, first welcoming Oakland back to the Ice Center and concluding with a senior night meeting against the West Virginia Mountaineers, their first meeting in five years.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, and pending a strong finish, the Flames will head to the 2013 National Championships in Chicago, Ill., March 1-6.

Liberty finished the 2011-12 season with a 23-9-3 record and ranked 10th in the American Collegiate Hockey Association final rankings. The Flames made it to the second round of the national tournament.

B.J. Williams, Staff Writer

Liberty University Men's Division 1 Hockey Schedule for 2012-13

September 14   Atlanta Jr A Knights at Liberty University -7:00pm

September 15   Atlanta Jr A Knights at Liberty University -7:00pm

September 21   Mercyhurst College at Liberty University  – 7:00pm

September 22   Mercyhurst College at Liberty University -3:00pm

September 28   Robert Morris University at Liberty University -7:00pm

September 29   Robert Morris University at Liberty University -7:00pm

October 5            ACHA Showcase ——–Springfield, IL

October 6            ACHA Showcase ——– Springfield, IL

October 7            ACHA Showcase ——– Springfield, IL

October 19          Davenport University at Liberty University -7:00pm

October 20          Davenport University at Liberty University -7:00pm

October 26          Ohio University at Liberty University-7:00pm

October 27          Ohio University at Liberty University-7:00pm

November 2       Stony Brook University at Liberty University -7:00pm

November 3       Stony Brook University at Liberty University -7:00pm

November 9       University of Delaware at Liberty University -7:00pm

November 10    University of Delaware at Liberty University -7:00pm

November 16    Liberty University at Stony Brook University

November 17    Liberty University at Stony Brook University

November 29    Liberty University at Davenport University

November 30    Liberty University at Oakland University

December 1       Liberty University at Oakland University

December 8       Virginia Tech at Liberty University -7:00pm

January 10           Liberty University at Arizona State

January 11           Liberty University at University of Arizona

January 12           Liberty University at University of Arizona

January 18           Liberty University at West Virginia

January 19           Liberty University at West Virginia

January 25           University of Arizona at Liberty University -7:00pm

January 26           University of Arizona at Liberty University -7:00pm

February 1          Liberty University at University of Delaware

February 2          Liberty University at University of Delaware

February 8          Oakland University at Liberty University -7:00pm

February 9          Oakland University at Liberty University -7:00pm

February 15        West Virginia at Liberty University -7:00pm

February 16        West Virginia at Liberty University -7:00pm

March 1-6            ACHA National Tournament – Chicago, IL