ACHA Hockey reaches new heights in record-breaking 2019-20 season
MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin ACHA Hockey team had a record-breaking season in 2019-20 as they went 25-5-1, finished the season as the No. 14 ranked team in the central region, and were runners-up in the Hap Cup Tournament.
The Falcons season got off to an incredible start as they went undefeated through their first 12 games of the season with an 11-0-1 record.
On January 11th, the Falcons faced the Aurora Spartans, who finished the season ranked No. 7 in the central region. CUW entered the contest winless against Aurora in program history. Concordia Wisconsin trailed 4-3 with 1:34 remaining in regulation when Scott Gregor (Ashland, Wis.) found the net for the second time to tie it up at 4-4. The game went to overtime, and Trenton Sherman (Farmington, Minn.) scored the game-winner with 1:04 remaining to give the Falcons their first win over the Spartans in program history.
Concordia Wisconsin capitalized on the momentum from their victory over the Spartans and proceeded to win their final eight games of the regular season to carry themselves to the Hap Cup Tournament for the first time in program history.
The Cinderella-story season continued into the playoffs as the Falcons opened their first-ever postseason run with a 4-1 win over the DePaul Blue Demons.
Up next was a rematch with Aurora, in which the Falcons rallied to upset the Spartans once more in a 5-4 overtime victory on the strength of Wyatt Wilderman's (Waukesha, Wis.) hat trick. Down 4-2, the junior scored twice in the third period to tie the game before scoring the game-winner 2:42 into overtime to send the Falcons to the Hap Cup Championship.
The No. 3 Marian Sabres hosted the No. 14 Falcons in what would end up being an epic battle for the title. Down 1-0, Wilderman tied it up with a goal in the third minute of the second period. Five minutes later, Matt Gregor (Ashland, Wis.) scored to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. The Sabres answered with back-to-back goals to go up 3-2, but then Gregor found the net once more with 2:26 remaining in regulation to keep the Falcons alive. Playing their second overtime in as many days, the Falcons battled with everything they had to the very end. Eventually, Marian found the net to win it 11 minutes into overtime.
The Falcon's defensive effort in the championship game was incredible, as Mack Willy (Tacoma, Wash.) saved an astounding 63 shots. The freshman goalie's performance was recognized by the conference, as Willy was named the NCHL Playoff MVP even with the Falcons falling in the finals. Willy, Gregor, and Wilderman were each named to the NCHL All-Tournament Team.
Two of the top season awards the NCHL hands out were won by Falcon student-athletes. Team-captain Jonathan Grodzki (Tampa Bay, Fla.) was named the NCHL Player of the Year and Willy earned the NCHL Rookie of the Year.
NCHL All-Conference award winners were Grodzki for First Team with Cody Faber (Wilmot, Wis.), Gabriel D'Asto (Endeavor, Wis.), and Sherman each earning Honorable Mentions.
The Falcons also earned a number of NCHL All-Rookie awards. Willy and Gregor were named First Team, Logan Hascarl (Nakusp, B.C.) was named Second Team, and the trio of Easton Williams (Racine, Wis.), Keijo Day (Esko, Minn.), and Sherman each earned Honorable Mentions.
Seniors Brian Johnson (Plainfield, Ill.) and Grodzki graduated having helped the Falcons rise to new heights of reaching the NCHL Championship game in only the third year of the program.
