Author: Vanderbilt Hockey

Opening Weekend Kicks Off With 7-1 Win Over Memphis

Vanderbilt kicked off its hockey season Friday night with a resounding 7-1 victory over the University of Memphis Tigers before a packed house at the Centennial Sportsplex arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Fans were treated to a little bit of everything, including spectacular goals from sophomore Alan Leeser and senior captain Matt Kaminsky, a hat trick from junior Scott McLaughlin, and a heaping helping of physical play that proved to be the difference in the match-up.

“Our fourth, fifth, even sixth lines are just as good as our first and second,” said Kaminsky, who with one goal and two assists notched the second star of the game behind McLaughlin. “We’re fired up for tonight, next weekend versus South Carolina, the rest of the season … I just can’t wait.”

Senior goalie Brenden Oliver stopped 18 of 19, including a few testers late in the third period. Sophomore backup Mike Gangemi will be between the pipes this evening making his Vanderbilt hockey debut.

Game time tonight (Saturday, 9/17) will be 5:30pm and, like last night, all ticket sales at the gate will be donated to Tuscaloosa Forward, the city of Tuscaloosa’s strategic initiative to help rebuild the city following last April’s devastating tornadoes. Also, note that a full recap of the weekend’s games will be following tonight’s result so please stay tuned to www.vanderbilthockey.com for your latest news, notes, and insights into the Chilled Commodores.

We hope to see you at the rink!

Game Information
Date & Time: Friday, September 16th, 2011 at 7pm CT
Location: Centennial Sportsplex – Nashville, TN
Attendance: 175

1 2 3 F &#9733
Scott McLaughlin (LW): 3 Goals
VU 2 1 4 7 &#9733&#9733
Matt Kaminsky (C): 1 Goal, 2 Assists
UM 1 0 0 1 &#9733&#9733&#9733
Ben Ross (RW): 1 Goal, 2 Assists
First Period Scoring Summary
Time: Team:
Scoring Detail:
 VU: UM:
13:08 VU
McLaughlin (1) – Ross, Kaminsky
 1 0
16:18 VU
Leeser (1) – Bulter, Stachowiak
 2 0
17:03 UM
Piomtesposi – Gray
 2 1
Second Period Scoring Summary
Time: Team:
Scoring Detail:
 VU: UM:
13:42 VU
Ross (1) – Kaminsky
 3 1
Third Period Scoring Summary
Time: Team:
Scoring Detail:
 VU: UM:
0:17 VU
McLaughlin (2) – McCallum
 4 1
6:39 VU
Kaminsky (1) – Ross
 5 1
10:57 VU
Smallwood (1) – Stachowiak, Leeser
 6 1
12:00 UM
McLaughlin (3) – D. Crowe
 7 1

Vanderbilt Penalties

  • Too many to count (something we’ll be working on) …

Game On.

Article By Eric Single, InsideVandy.com

The Vanderbilt club hockey team opens up its 2011-2012 season with a two-game series against Memphis on Friday and Saturday night at the Dr. Thomas F. Frist Centennial Sportsplex.

Click to read at InsideVandy.com >>


Interested in keeping up with the games but can’t make it live? That’s OK, we’ll be live-tweeting about the event at @VandyIceHockey. Click the link below to follow us!

“Reflections” with VU Hockey Mom Linda Oliver

In a new column we are aptly and affectionately calling “Reflections” (which, FYI, will appear regularly throughout the season), parents of our Vanderbilt hockey players will be asked to share bits of wisdom, wit, and nostalgia about their sons, the season, and life in general. The goal of the column will be two-fold: (1) to sufficiently embarrass as many players as possible with a modern/online/viral version of your mother giving you a hug and kiss at the elementary school bus stop, and (2) to throw an emotional life-line to those parents who are beside themselves with boredom now that their kids are not playing hockey six days a week. For you carpool-driving-less hockey addict parents who love to make your kids squirm, “Reflections” is your nirvana.

First up on our volunteer interviewee list? Who else but Ãœber-hockey parent Linda Oliver, mother of senior goalie and club president Brenden Oliver.




What is the best thing about being Vanderbilt Hockey’s #1 hockey mom?

Flying to Nashville to attend the games of the most intelligent, talented and best looking hockey team in the SECHC! Also, having the privilege to sit by other parents, fans and the always delightful (even after midnight) Betsy (coach’s wife).




What is the worst thing about being Vanderbilt Hockey’s #1 hockey mom?

Definitely the ice time for games- midnight, really? Also, watching any hockey player get injured.




Describe Brenden in a haiku.

Brenden tends the goal
win, lose or penalty shot 
Mom is always proud 



Where do you see Brenden in 10 years?

10 years? Married to a woman as beautiful and wonderful as Betsy Bernstein! Earning enough to support his Mother and “Aunt” Stacey’s beach habit! Loving life!



Any messages for the rest of the teams in the SECHC?

“Watch out!” 




* Note to parents: Interested in partaking in a future segment of “Reflections”? Don’t be a stranger, give us a holler at vuhockey@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Opening Weekend to Benefit “Tuscaloosa Forward”

As you know, the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, suffered a devastating natural disaster on April 27th, 2011. A series of tornadoes directed a path of destruction through the heart of the city that left countless families’ lives altered forever. In an effort to contribute in some small way to the rebuilding effort, the Vanderbilt Commodores ice hockey team is excited to announce that it will be donating 100% of proceeds from its opening weekend ticket sales to Tuscaloosa Forward, the city of Tuscaloosa’s official rebuilding campaign.

Can’t make the game? That is OK, you can still support the effort. Just go to http://tuscaloosaforward.com/ to donate. (That said, we hope to see you at one or both of the games!)




About Tuscaloosa Forward

(From their website) The Tuscaloosa Forward Strategic Rebuilding Plan will establish the community’s vision for the future of Tuscaloosa. It will ensure that city government, the private sector, and the public are all working together to achieve a common vision. The strategic rebuilding plan will consider all of the systems that make up our city (e.g. infrastructure, energy, transportation, natural resources, land use, and quality of life) and will identify policies, projects, and other investments that will move Tuscaloosa forward.