The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team rolled over their opponents in a pre-season trip to Europe.
The new roster played together for the first time in the 2015-16 campaign, going undefeated in their three games. Marty Johnston’s team began the trip in Germany before heading to Italy and Austria.
In the first game, the Ravens shut out the host EC Peiting with a 2-0 victory. Returning forwards Mike McNamee and Mitch Zion had the two goals for the Ravens in a contest that saw Peiting starter Florian Hechenrieder keep his squad in the game.
Despite the final score, Carleton outshot Peiting 41-19. Hechenrieder made 39 saves in the game, keeping the score respectable for his squad.
Ravens defenseman Jason Seed said there were high expectations going into the first game of the trip.
“Our coach expected us to put up a good fight and come out with the win, and I think all the guys felt the same way, even though we didn’t know what we were getting into yet,” Seed said.
Game two of the trip featured a tougher test. The Ravens travelled to Renon, Italy to take on Ritten Sport, one of the best club teams in the country’s top hockey division, Italian Serie A.
The Ravens engaged in a close game against Ritten, winning 2-1.
Mike McNamee scored for the second time in two games. His three points led the team in scoring for the tournament.
The game was much tighter than the first match-up in Germany. Seed said his team was thrilled to come out with the victory in this game of the series, against a top-division opponent.
“All of us were especially happy with the result in this one,” Seed said of the game against Ritten. “Playing a first-division team, and one of the better ones at that, I don’t think we really knew what to expect.”
Finally, the Ravens travelled to the Alps for their final game of the trip, as they faced off against Austrian club team EC Kitzbuhel. The Ravens dominated from the opening moments of the game, pulling away with a 6-1 victory.
Ryan Van Stralen led the way offensively with two goals. The former Ottawa 67’s captain tallied his two marks in the first and third period, with his first period goal standing as the game-winning goal. Mike McNamee contributed again, scoring the first of the game and getting things started for the Ravens.
Veteran goaltender Francis Dupuis wasn’t tested very much, facing 15 shots in his only appearance of the tournament. He stopped 14 shots on the way to the win.
Seed said his team was able to familiarize themselves with the European surroundings in the first two games of the trip, which helped them pull away in Austria.
“After we had the two games and three practices on the big ice, we were definitely used to it,” Seed said. “Going in, we had no idea what the level of hockey would be like . . . Especially playing teams from different divisions in each country.”
Ravens six year head coach Marty Johnston said he was thrilled with the results from the cross-Atlantic trip.
“I thought, we’ve never had this kind of chemistry off the ice at this time of the year,” Johnston said. “I was really happy with how everybody handled themselves . . . We made sure first years mixed with older guys, and we built a good sense of team over the course of the 10 days.”
Seed agreed, saying that the team dynamic formed during the trip.
“Guys got to know each other really well and gell as teammates, which will really help for later in the year, on and off the ice,” Seed said.
The Ravens will host the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League at the Carleton Ice House Sept. 28.
