By Brittany Ochtinsky

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Oakland University’s hockey team traveled to Rochester, N.Y., hoping to follow up last season’s ACHA Division I national championship with another, but the Grizzlies couldn’t generate enough offense to topple the No. 5-seed Oklahoma Sooners, falling 4-3 Saturday, March 1. 

Despite playing a hard first period, the Golden Grizzlies (23-11-0-1) struggled in the second period when they couldn’t get their power play going. After falling behind 2-1, an unsuccessful last-minute flurry wasn’t enough for the Grizzlies to advance to Sunday’s quarterfinal game.

Brent Cooper and Jarrett Samp each added goals in the final period to add to Kevin Kranker’s first goal.

Goaltender Collin Chase, who led the Grizzlies to the championship last season, made 36 saves.

Cooper, one of three graduating seniors, finished the game with five points and Steve Piccoli had two assists.

“Our seniors did a great job. They didn’t want to go out losing in the first round, but it’s going to happen. They did all they could,” said head coach Sean Hogan.

Although Sunday’s consolation game against Kent State meant little in the overall scheme of things, the Grizzlies went out with a bang, beating the Golden Flashes 9-5.

Tied 1-1 after the first, the second and third periods featured a flurry of goals from each team. Oakland led 5-3 after two and added four more to Kent State’s two in the final period.

Cooper led the Grizzlies with four points, including a hat trick and Piccoli followed with two goals and an assist. Cody Austin, Brett Haugh, Scott McGillivray and Jesse Worrell also added goals for Oakland.

Senior netminder Andrew Hansen made his post-season debut and picked up the win in his final game.

Sunday’s win also made Hogan the winningest coach in Oakland hockey history, with 75 wins. 

Although Cooper would have liked another championship ring to add to his other two, he isn’t too disappointed about coming up short.

“Two for three is really satisfying for me. It would have been nice to win another one, but it was a good note to go out on. Getting (to the tournament) is the main thing and once you get here, it’s one game at a time,” Cooper said.

Oakland finished the tournament ranked No. 11, one spot ahead of where it began the tournament after switching spots with Kent State.