April 6, 2009

WEST CHESTER. Penn. - After another successful National championship season, four players from Davenport's squad were selected to participate in the ACHA's first all star weekend extravaganza hosted in West Chester, PA. The five game tournament featured teams from 10 different leagues which were comprised of many of the best players in the country.

The Great Midwest Hockey League team featured players from Davenport, Indiana, Michigan State, Grand Valley, Miami, and Ferris State. With a successful 5-0 weekend, the GMHL all-stars were flawless with the help of Panthers Bobby Collar, Chris Joswiak, Jeremy Barber, and Kevin Brojek.

Starting the weekend off on a winning track, Kevin Brojek netted the first goal of the tournament and Bobby Collar would follow with a natural hat trick to secure the win against GNCHC 7-2.

The second game was highly anticipated as it would bring the opportunity for revenge for the East all-stars who carried nine members from Florida Gulf Coast, who finished as the National Runner-up last month to Davenport. With a flurry of ` and odd man opportunities, goalie Chris Joswiak would shut down the East and lead the way to victory in an exciting 7-2 decision despite being down 2-0 halfway through. Physical play from Davenport players determined the outcome as well as Bobby Collar's goal and three assists. Barber and Brojek also posted a point each.

The third and fourth games would be against the offensive minded MACHA league whom had two teams participating. They would suffer two consecutive losses to the GMHL 8-4 and 3-0 respectively with Collar continuing his hot streak and Joswiak turning away 45 shots in the latter game while garnering a shutout. Kevin Brojek also sparked the team as he gave a bone-crushing hit on a MACHA player who would leave the ice with a separated shoulder.

The finals pitted the GMHL against a top seeded Western all-star team who dominated Pool B. The GMHL came out firing on all cylinders and notched three goals to gain the early lead in the first period. After a first thirty minutes of the game, Joswiak would be relieved as he finished his tenor in net without being scored on for the second game in a row. The game which was delayed by aggressive play and after the whistle business, it ended with a 7-3 final crowning the GMHL as the #1 Division II league in the nation.

Bobby Collar led the tournaments offense with seven goals and four assists while Kevin Brojek led the defensive scoring with eight points, and Jeremy Barber would end with five points as well.