Failing to secure a first-round bye after last weekend’s loss to University of Maryland, the sixth-seeded Delaware men’s hockey team will start off the first round of the DVCHC National league playoffs with a winner takes all game against 3rd seeded Rowan University this weekend at IceLine in West Chester.

No. 1 Bryn Athyn and No. 2 Nuemann ranked first and second in the league, respectively, both received a first-round bye.

“We’re not too disappointed,” Ryan Sarracco ’17 said in regard to not getting a first round bye. “It would have been nice, but we’re just trying to focus on what we are given. We have Stockton now, and we just want to beat them and start playing good hockey.”

The winner takes all game against Rowan will take place at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night.

“On any night, any team in our conference wins, no matter who is playing,” Sarracco went on to say. “A lot of teams can show up and beat you if you don’t show up to play, I just want to get the win”

Some of the Hen’s players, however, have been dealing with injuries lately.

“It’s getting late in the season, so a lot of guys have bumps and bruises,” Sarracco said. “It’s something that you have to work through. I’m pretty sure that [Tony Jorgenson ’19 and Alex Rubin ’16] will be in the lineup, which will help us a lot.”

Rowan will enter into this game coming off of four game win streak that included Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Neumann University, and Alvernia.

“You’re only as good as your last game,” Hens goaltender Forrest Hines ’17 said. “I’m sure they are going to have no problem getting motivated to play us, and we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’-game. We can’t take them for granted.”