Meet the Barons: Ben Reinke

Meet the Barons

Ben Reinke

Defender

Bowling Green, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

Everything.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Winning the championship, it has to be.  It was on NHL ice.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Zero goals allowed

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

I would say they are pivotal to our success.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

Good luck on getting second place.

Meet the Barons: Corey Olson

Meet the Barons

Corey Olson

Goaltender

Philadelphia, PA

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

It means to be part of a hockey family that’s together til the end and usually will result in winning a shirt.  We’re batting 1.000 right now.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

When I realized last quarter when I was actually was going to get to play for the Barons and help reverse the Cozzi Curse.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

To score, to not let in a single goal, and to win.  Winning is a two part goal, gotta go undefeated and then win another shirt.

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

It’s a cornerstone of the team.  I don’t think that without the support of the Nation we would play as hard and would be as close.  They are part of the team in my mind.  I have to give a personal shoutout to my fans in different states, especially in NJ.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

Good luck.

Meet the Barons Michael Cozzi

Meet the Barons

Michael Cozzi

Forward/Defender

Bristolville, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

It means you give 100% on every single play. You never give up when things don't go your way and you keep trying. It is all heart.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

The 2011 IHL Semifinal game against the Nordiques. It was an intense game.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

To win the whole damn thing again.

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Barons Nation represents many things. It breathes life back into us when we are down. It is like a family to us.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

We're back, we're better, and we're going to kick your ass.

Meet the Barons: Ryan Studley

Meet the Barons

Ryan Studley

Forward/Defender

Grand Ledge, MI

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

It means that you're on the best beginner league team ever assembled and you better play up to that standard.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Both of the times I was thrown out of games.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Not get thrown out of any games. Win another championship

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Without them we're like a cake without frosting.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

Is it true that you all wear Barons pajamas to sleep at night?

Meet the Barons: Zach Wilson

Meet the Barons

Zach Wilson

Rookie, Forward

Yorktown, VA

1) Why did you want to join the Barons?

I wanted to be a winner, and play hockey with a bunch of friends.

2) What sort of impact do you want to have on the team this season?

I would like to provide solid minutes contributing on both ends of the ice.

3) What are your team goals for the season?

WIN THE FUCKING SHIRT!!!!

4) If there were one thing Barons Nation should know about you, it would be?

I was born in Heerlen, the Netherlands.

Meet the Barons: Chris Wilkin

Meet the Barons

Chris Wilkin

Forward

Delphos, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

Champion

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Pulling out the victory in the Winter 2011 Semifinals against the Nordiques. That was the most competitive intramural hockey game this university has seen.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Personally, I just want to do anything I can to help this team. As a team goal, nothing can top our first championship... except our second championship. We are out to win that shirt again!

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

I couldn't ask more from a group of fans. They make the games so much more exciting and memorable for us players.  I <3 Barons Nation.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

The Barons are back and ready to compete for another championship! Beat dat beat up! 

Meet the Barons: Scott Donahue

Here is one of the two rookies joining the Barons this season!

Meet the Barons

Scott Donahue

Rookie, Forward

Reynoldsburg, OH

1) Why did you want to join the Barons?

I've played roller hockey all my life. I've never been a part of a league or any team and I wanted to experience a full game of real hockey for once. After meeting Matt Ripley in Fall 2010, he furthered my interest in trying out Ice Hockey. Unfortunately, I signed up too late last quarter, but I’m happy knowing I can come in here and win a championship.

2) What sort of impact do you want to have on the team this season?

I come to compete. I'm an athlete that wants to win and that’s what I'm going to do. I'm a team player and I have fun too. Nobody has any kind of expectations of me, but if I can play the puck like I do a ball in roller hockey, then a Datsyuk-like season isn't out of the question.

3) What are your team goals for the season?

8-0, and having fun with some new friends.

4) If there were one thing Barons Nation should know about you, it would be?

I'm supporting cultural diversity every time I step on the ice.

Meet the Barons: Andrew Bickell

Meet the Barons

Andrew Bickell

Forward

Sandusky, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

To play hockey with the best group of people in the league.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Playing ice hockey for the first time, when everyone was even worse than now.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Repeat

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Having a rowdy group of fans and followers in the stands makes the games even more exciting.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

If you want the shirt you can pry it from my cold dead body, cause were winning it again!

Meet the Barons: Josh Samuels

Meet the Barons

Josh Samuels

Forward

Cincinnati, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

Being a Baron means being a part of tradition, it means being better than everyone else you associate with.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

The celebration on and off the ice after winning our first shirt as a team.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

I have two goals for the upcoming season. One, repeat as champion and two, score a goal.

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Barons Nation is everything to me. I received numerous contract offers during the offseason, but no team could give me what Barons nation could. Take that whatever way you'd like.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

Deal with it.

Meet the Barons: Ryan Schwepfinger

Meet the Barons

Ryan Schwepfinger

Captain, Forward

Allentown, PA

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

It means unity, teamwork, success, and passion. It means pushing yourself each game and eating at Burritos afterward.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Easily winning the shirt and taking the picture with our championship shirts on.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Individual goal: Increase my overall fitness level so I can score more goals later in games (basically...get in shape)

Team goal: repeat!

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Without our fans, we would be complete assholes for having a blog and a twitter. With them, we're only partial assholes, so having fans literally makes us better people.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

I'm gonna modify the question a little bit: I would like to say to my teammates that I never thought in a million years I would come to college and meet a group of friends who I could play hockey with. It's been a hell of a time so far. And to the rest of the league: this group is only going to get better.

Meet the Barons: Joey Balla

Meet the Barons

Joey Balla

Forward

Canton, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

Rick James said it best so I will not try to put it any more eloquently, 'unityyyy'.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Belly sliding on the ice after winning the championship.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Become a future 1st round draft pick in fantasy leagues nationwide by scoring more goals.

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Simple.  There would be no team without the nation. 

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

You will never properly know how to beat that beat up, sorry I'm not sorry.

Meet the Barons: Andrew Schwepfinger

Meet the Barons

Andrew Schwepfinger

Defenseman

Allentown, PA

1)  What does it mean to be a Baron?

Being a baron used to be about competitive fire and [#]winning, but now more emphasis is on the good time and playing with good friends this year.  The experience the Barons provide is unlike any other team in the IHL.

2)  What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

Personally, I don’t think I've ever been more jacked up [then] when I scored that empty netter to send us to Nationwied [Arena], and I’ve had some ok sports moments in my life. Even then, I think winning that game and the championship, then celebrating with Cozzi; it was a feel good moment.

3)  What are your goals for this upcoming season?

I would love to not fall down once the entire year, but I'm not guaranteeing anything. I would also want to be the one that assists on Josh Samuels' first IHL goal. Primary assist too, we're not fucking around.

4)  How important is Barons Nation?

Barons Nation could be the reason why this is so fun. To share our terrible hockey skills with good friends...nothing beats it. Playing in an empty rink is no fun, but playing in front of 20-30 people, it raises the stakes a bit.

5)  What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

Stack your teams because Corey [Olson] gets bored back there sometimes and I'm looking out for him.

Meet the Barons: Colby MacMillan

Meet the Barons

Colby MacMillan

Forward

Barnesville, OH

1)   What does it mean to be a Baron?

It means you are having a lot of fun with friends, while acting completely ridiculous for a beginner league hockey team. And, of course, it means you are a champion.

2)   What is your favorite moment as a Baron?

The "Beat dat Beat" chant as we celebrated our title win in Nationwide.

3)   What are your goals for this upcoming season?

Win the whole thing again, improve as a player, and come up with a ridiculous goal celebration.

4)   How important is Barons Nation?

Barons Nation is the real heart of the organization. Without them, this whole experience would not be nearly as fun nor would our antics be nearly as acceptable.

5)   What is one thing you’d like to say to the rest of the IHL?

I would like to thank them for their entry fees that will be headed to my second championship t-shirt.