ECU Leaves BRHC After Two Seasons

Pirates Go Independent After 23-5 Overall Record

3/30/07

GREENVILLE, NC - The ECU Ice Hockey Club has announced that it will not seek re-admittance into the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference for the 2007-2008 season. Instead, club administration has decided after careful consideration and deliberation to seek independent status. ECU would like to thank all BRHC members for their support and great competition over the past two years. Many friends have been made and the BRHC will continue to offer excellent competition and guidance for all member teams.

The move comes after ECU compiled one of the best records in the league's history going 14-1 in the regular season. After just two seasons in the BRHC the Pirates have a winning percentage of .821 and an overall record of 23-5.

"Going independent will allow us to schedule more competitive teams and put together a schedule that gives us a greater chance to qualify for Nationals," said team president Brent Falcon. With a 15 game regular season it has proven difficult for team officials to put together a competitive non-conference schedule. The change will effectively make the entire season non-conference, opening the door to some of the best teams in the South Region.

Fans can look forward to more home games, continued rivalries, more high profile opponents and overall better quality hockey in Greenville. Falcon described the change by saying "...the 2007-2008 season will see some of the toughest opponents ECU has ever faced come to Greenville and will provide much more exciting and entertaining games for our fans, while at the same time helping us move toward our ultimate goal of reaching Nationals."

The Pirates are eager to kick off their third full season and will release the official 2007-2008 schedule in the coming weeks. Fans that may have any questions about the team's move to independent status are urged to contact team officials at ecuichockey@yahoo.com.