PREVIEW | Island Bound: Red Leafs head to Long Island to take on Sharks

by Jake Friedrich

EAST MEADOW, NY – The Simon Fraser University Red Leafs are back after two weeks off to face the Long Island University Sharks.

As a result of a scheduling issue with Trinity Western University, the Red Leafs got an extra weekend off to prepare for the team’s next games in New York, kicking off against another one of the newest NCAA D1 programs in the Long Island University Sharks.

The Sharks joined the NCAA and played their first season starting in 2020 as the league’s fifth independent program, alongside the likes of Arizona State, Lindenwood, and both Alaska-Anchorage and Alaska-Fairbanks. Despite playing out of Nassau County in the New York Islanders’ practice facility on Long Island, the program is considered the only NCAA D1 hockey program based in New York City.

“We expect no less than a hard, fast game against LIU,” said Head Coach Mark Coletta, “I think our guys have got a bit of a chip on their shoulder after the last few games where we’ve been real close, so we’ll see what happens.”

Despite being a brand new program without a previous club team to transition into NCAA play, the Sharks currently hold a 26-54-4 record against NCAA competition over their first three years, and have a 5-9-0 record this season so far.

The Sharks are a shining example of a program entering the NCAA ranks and becoming competitive almost immediately; despite a losing record, the team finds way to keep games close and earn hard fought wins.

“You see a team that’s done what we’ve been trying to do, which is make that jump to the division one level,” said Coletta, “they’ve had a bunch of years of full-on recruiting and ensuring they’re bringing the right guys in.”

“They’ve got a lot of BCHL kids…they’re good.”

Puck drop is set for 4:00pm PST and the game can be streamed internationally in Canada for free on SportsNet New York via NEC Front Row, or in the USA on ESPN+.

LIU LAST 5

11.24.23 | 2-5 L vs. American International

11.18.23 | 6-2 W at Lindenwood

11.17.23 | 0-3 L at Lindenwood

11.11.23 | 4-5 OTL at Omaha

11.10.23 | 2-3 T at Omaha

SFU Red Leafs at Long Island University Sharks (NCAA)

WHERE | Northwell Health Ice Center; 200 Merrick Ave., East Meadow, NY

WHEN | 4:00pm PST

WATCH | Canada / International: http://necfrontrow.com/game/11118 | USA: ESPN+

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