Making their fifth straight trip to the national tournament, the Dutchmen have now finished second (2003), fourth (2005) and fifth three times (2002, 2004 and 2006).

Dutchmen Rebound With Victory at Nationals (3/3/06)
The Flying Dutchmen scored five goals in the second period enroute to a 7-5 victory over Albany State, N.Y. at the American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. on Friday.

Hope will play host Florida Gulf Coast in the fifth place game on Saturday. The national tournament field had 16 teams.

The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period. The Flying Dutchmen exploded for five goals in the second period to seize a 6-3 advantage.

Junior Peter Vollbrecht (Dexter, Mich.) had a hat trick while scoring a goal apiece were junior Steve Reid (Vail, Colo.), junior Jeff Guy (Kalkaska, Mich.), junior Chris Strauss (Barrington, Ill.), and freshman Andrus deJong (Zeeland, Mich.). Ten players were credited with assists led by sophomore Brian Gatliff (Grosse Pointe, Mich.), senior George Dickinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and junior Peter Guy (Kalkaska, Mih.) with two apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Stephen Pels (Flossmoor, Ill.) had 16 saves.

The loss puts Hope at 1-1 at the 16-team tournament. The Flying Dutch (22-8-2) play Albany State, N.Y. on Friday.

The teams traded goals in the first and second periods. Wright State gained a 2-1 advantage early in the third period, but the Flying Dutchmen responded with a pair of goals to go ahead 3-2. A late Wright State goal forced the overtime period. The winners scored the game-winner with two minutes left in OT. The teams were playing each other for the third time this season.

Scoring goals for Hope were freshman Anders deJong (Zeeland, Mich.), sophomore Ryan Sweet (Salida, Calif.) and junior Peter Volbrecht (Dexter, Mich.). Credited with assists were freshman Patrick Newhall (Springfield, Va.), junior Steve Reid (Vail, Colo.), sophomore Kevin Nelson (Winfield, Ill.), sophomore Jonathon Shaver (Wayne, Ill.), junior Jeff Guy (Kalkaska, Mich.) and senior Ken Cooke (Williamsburg, Mich.). Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Cynar (Dexter, Mich.) was credited with 37 saves.

Hope needed a come-from-behind effort and accomplished it by scoring five power play goals. Indiana led 1-0 after the first period and the teams were tied 1-1 after the second. The Flying Dutchmen scored four goals in the third period. Scoring two goals each for Hope were junior Jeff Guy (Kalkaska, Mich.) and junior Peter Vollbrecht (Dexter, Mich.). Also scoring was senior Ken Cooke (Willamsburg, Mich.). Guy and freshman George Dickinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) each had three assists while Cooke, Vollbrecht and sophomore Brian Gatliff (Grosse Point, Mich.). Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Cynar (Dexter, Mich.) was credited with 40 saves.

The Flying Dutchmen are familiar with Wright State having won and tied them during the regular season. A year ago at nationals Hope defeated Wright State in a shootout.

October
1st – Hope 5, Lansing CC 2
8th – Hope 5, Oakland 2
14th – Calvin 8, Hope 6
15th – Hope 11, Northern Michigan 3
20th – Hope 9, IU-Purdue 2
21st – Florida Gulf Coast 6, Hope 1
22nd – Calvin 5, Hope 2
28th – Hope 13, Albion 3
29th – Hope 13, Kalamazoo 0

November
4th – Hope 9, Muskegon CC 4
5th – Calvin 13, Hope 4
11th – Hope 5, Wright State 4
12th – Hope 2, Dayton 2 (tie)
18th – Hope 5, Oakland 2
19th – Hope 9, Florida Atlantic 2

December
2nd – Hope 5, Lansing CC 3
3rd – Northwood 6, Hope 2
9th – Hope 7, Ferris State 5
10th – Northwood 4, Hope 3 (3ot)

January
14th – Hope 7, Lawrence Tech 3
20th – Away – Hope 12, Kalamazoo 2
21st – Home – Calvin 10, Hope 4
28th – Home – Hope 7, Muskegon CC 0

February
3rd – Away - Hope 12, Lawrence Tech 4
4th – Away – Northwood 5, Hope 4
11th – Home – Hope 10, Alpena CC 0
16th – Away – MCHC Tournament - Hope 8, Oakland 0
17th – Away - MCHC Tournament - Northwood 4, Hope 3
March
ACHA National Tournament in Ft. Myers Florida
1st - Hope 5, Indiana Pennsylvania 1
2nd - Wright State, Ohio 4, Hope 3 (ot)
3rd - Hope 7, Albany State, N.Y. 5

Staff
Chris Van Timmeren, head coach
Jeremy Pearson, assistant coach
William Schubert, assistant coach
Mic Lussier, assistant coach
Dr. John Van Timmeren, team physician