SEASON PREVIEW: Hockey prepared for new season
(Rochester Hills, MI) - RCU Hockey enters the 25-26 season with more excitement than seen in years past. The off-season marked the hiring of new Head Coach Dr. Rick Fenwick Jr., who brings former playing experience behind the bench as well as a track record of great recruiting. The program moved to a new home for the season. The team is now safely settling into the family environment at Mt. Clemens Ice Area. Both the coaching staff and players are thrilled with the potential and fresh perspective the move has brought to the program. "As a team, we felt welcomed as soon as we moved in, from the locker room to being able to keep the same practice times from the past and prime game times. Mt. Clemens has been a great move for the team." – Junior Kyle Hauer
The busy offseason saw the new coaching staff bring in 9 recruits to add to the returning group from last season. Despite 8 Freshmen on the roster, the Warriors rank as the 17th oldest team in average age amongst the entire nation. The coaching staff feels the age and experience in the lineup will be critical to the team's success this season. "We love the fact that we had so many commit to coming back to the team. The mix of veteran leadership with our excited freshmen is awesome to see every day. We have a lot of guys that have been in the league for a long time now, and they will have a big impact on calming our incoming class greatly in pressure situations and during emotional swings in games." Assistant Coach Kolly
The Warriors will be led by a five-man leadership group this season. Seniors Kade Bacon, Aidan Baker, Cole Zalewski, and Griffin Hernalsteen will all have an A on their uniforms, as well as Junior forward Kyle Hauer. Kade Bacon will miss the first semester on IR. "The guys in this leadership group show up day in and day out to do whatever it takes, which will help get the team the success we deserve." Senior Forward Aidan Baker
Despite their tough conference, Coach Fenwick and the leadership group all remain extremely excited to kick things off Sept. 12 & 13 against NIU. "Our guys are pumped up for it. Everything for them as a whole will be a fresh new experience, being in the new rink. Getting to take on a quality team from a big-name school helps add to the excitement. As a coaching staff, we felt it was important to build momentum all offseason, and the players have carried it into the first couple of weeks. I could not be more thrilled with their attitudes as a group." Head Coach Fenwick
The season hopes to mark an important chapter in RCU hockey history. Coach Fenwick believes this is a winning group, and this is as good a time as any to start putting wins together as a program. "After having a rough time the past few years, I see potential with the new team. The new recruiting class has the potential to help us make this team the way we've wanted it for years. RCU hockey team's future is looking bright. We brought in 6 or 7 new guys that will make a huge difference and have a lot of talent from returning players." Senior Connor Fredricks
RELATED LINKS
COACH FENWICK'S HIRING RELEASE HERE