On a night when Ramapo’s ice hockey team celebrated both the on-ice and academic accomplishments of their six graduating seniors, the Roadrunners came away with an impressive 6-0 victory over Fordham University.
Prior to the start of the match, seniors Nicholas Waldron, Shane Lovell, Rick Kimble, Peter Paszkiel, Denis McGarry and Trent Shanley were joined by their friends and families on the ice in a pre-game ceremony.
“It was an extremely special night for me,” said Paszkiel. “Playing in the last home game of my hockey career felt surreal and made me feel so fortunate to have had the playing career I did.”
The game itself went as well as it could for Ramapo. Early in the first period, Anthony Fizer scored his second goal of the season off assists from Kimble and Daniel Klutkoski. Midway through the period, Shanley continued his hot streak, scoring his division-leading 25th goal of the season on a power play opportunity. Kimble and captain Eddie Dahdah recorded assists on Shanley’s goal.
In the second period, Shanley scored his second goal of the game, off assists from Kimble and alternate captain Rory Maurer. Two minutes later, Maurer added a goal of his own despite being shorthanded, off an assist from Dahdah.
“It was an extremely special night for me. Playing in the last home game of my hockey career felt surreal and made me feel so fortunate to have had the playing career I did, said Paszkiel.
Entering the third period with a commanding 4-0 lead, the Roadrunners continued to tally on to their score, with Christopher Dressler scoring his fifth goal since returning to the team, off an assist from Waldron. With five minutes remaining in the period, Fizer scored his second goal of the night and third of the season, off Kimble’s fourth assist of the night.
scored his fifth goal of the season against Fordham. Photo by Kira Allyn
McGarry starred in net for the Roadrunners, registering his first shutout of the season. The senior saved all 30 shots that came his way off the sticks of the Rams. For Fordham, Daniel Gerts started in goal and saved 38 of 44 Roadrunner shot attempts, good for a .863 save percentage.
This was the final game of the regular season for the Roadrunners, meaning Ramapo finishes with an underwhelming 7-13 record. Despite finishing six games under .500, the Roadrunners had a plus 11 goal differential on the year, good for third best in the Empire Division. Eight of the team’s 13 losses were by only one goal, including both of the team’s losses to Farmingdale State College — Ramapo’s first-round playoff opponent.
“It felt good to get a win in front of our families… it sets us up with the right mentality for the playoffs,” Shanley said.
The Roadrunners will head to Shelton, Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. to face Farmingdale in the first round of the Empire Division playoffs.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Kira Allyn
