The William Paterson Pioneer ice hockey team, a club sport, won its final regular season home game 7-1 over the University of Pennsylvania on February 9 and skated into history by capturing first place in the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association standings for the first time.

This was the team’s first regular season championship, winning a record 33 games. The team now enters the MACHA playoffs in first place and will have the advantage of being the home team, since the playoffs will be held in the Ice Vault in Wayne, its home base.

Ray Katinsky, the team’s captain, scored the game-winning goal, along with two assists, which put him over the 30-point mark for the first time in his college career. Co-captain Jason Fortino also scored a goal and two assists; Albert Campbell and Craig Junda each scored a goal and an assist, and Anthony Houlis and John Gomez also scored a goal each.

The team defeated New York University on February 15 in their last regular season game.  They will play in the ACHA Southeast Regionals in Washington, D.C. on February 22 and 23.  Two victories at the Regionals will secure a bid to the ACHA National Championships, March 12 to 15 in Fort Myers, Florida.