2007-08 Schedule Released

Pirates Open Season at Charlotte Shootout

8/29/07

GREENVILLE, NC - The ECU Ice Hockey Club has finalized its regular season schedule for 2007-08. This year promises to be a historic and exciting season as the Pirates take on the best teams in the South Region in their first season since their departure from the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference.

Fans will be able to enjoy plenty of hard-hitting action as a total of 10 home games are in store. The club will kick off the season with its annual Purple vs. Gold scrimmage on September 28, which will introduce fans to the new team and allow them to meet players in person. The regular season will be kicked off on the road as the Pirates will compete in the first annual Charlotte Shootout. The tournament will host ECU, Georgia Tech, George Washington University, and Appalachian State. ECU will be looking for revenge as they take on Appalachian State in the first contest since the Mountaineers defeated the Pirates in the BRHC Tournament Semi-Finals.

The Pirates then head home to open a four game homestand as they take on UNCW in a pair of games October 11-12. The first half, and arguably the entire season, is highlighted by a home game the following weekend against in-state rival NC State. The game will be played October 19, which is the night before the ECU/NC State football game, to create a "Rivalry Weekend." Also, the first 200 fans will receive free "thunderstick" noisemakers.

ECU wraps up the homestand with a Friday night game against the UNC-Charlotte 49ers October 26. The Pirates are then back on the road as they travel to Baltimore to take on Johns Hopkins University and Loyola College in back-to-back nights November 2-3. ECU will be looking to avenge two losses to Loyola as they swept the season series last year in two close games, 5-4 and 6-5 in a shootout.

The Pirates will travel to Richmond to take on the 4-time BRHC Tournament Champion University of Richmond Spiders November 16. ECU beat Richmond in the two teams' only meeting last year; a thrilling, come from behind, 4-3 home win. The following night the Pirates will face Virginia Commonwealth University to close out the first semester.

The second semester will start with the Pirates on the road for a tough weekend in Atlanta, January 11-12. ECU will take on last year's number 3-ranked Georgia Tech and perennial South Region power University of Georgia. ECU will then welcome their new "Junior Affiliate" Team Carolina Jr. B to Greenville for a two game set, January 18-19. Graduating Team Carolina players will be able to tour campus and get a better idea of what hockey and school at ECU is all about. After a tough two game home series with Liberty University, January 25-26; ECU welcomes the University of South Carolina to the Eastern Carolina region for two games February 8-9 to close out the regular season.

The club looks to improve upon last season's 16-7 overall record, which included a BRHC Regular Season Championship and an invitation to the ACHA South Regional Tournament, and welcomes the support of all fans. Be sure to show your support by wearing your official ECU Ice Hockey merchandise, which can be purchased at the game as well as at Dowdy Student Stores. New items for 2007-08 will be available starting at the first home game, so don't miss out! Tickets will be available all season at the door on the day of the game, and are $3 for students with ID and $5 for adults. To be added to the ECU Ice Hockey Booster Club E-Newsletter please contact Terry Fleitz. We hope to see you all in the fall and GO PIRATES! (click here for full schedule)