SLIPPERY ROCK — The goaltender is healthy. And Slippery Rock University’s men’s hockey team is going national.

The Slippery Rock Pride, 17-11-1 overall this season, has qualified for the American College Hockey Association (ACHA) Division I national tournament March 5-9 at the University of Delaware’s Fred Rust Arena.

SRU qualified for this event last year as well, but declined to participate.

“Our starting goalie suffered a broken wrist in an (non-hockey related) accident and we’re not the same team without him,” Rock coach Bill Waldschmidt said. “Rather than spend the money to go get embarrassed, we decided to stay home.”

Lansdale resident Shawn Ketterer returned as SRU’s netminder this year and compiled a 16-9 record with a 3.48 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

“He’s a difference maker,” team manager Bob Birckbichler said. “He’s the biggest reason we’re as good as we are.”

Waldschmidt said Ketterer “felt a bit down” over his injury of a year ago, but has bounced back with another strong year.

“Shawn keeps making the really big save, game after game,” the coach said.

Waldschmidt’s son, Wes, leads SRU in scoring with 21 goals and 35 assists. He is a North Allegheny graduate, as are 17-goal scorer Matt Lancaster and 20-goal scorer Josh Hebert.

All three were teammates on the Tigers’ 2005 PIHL championship team.

The Rock has a Butler County flavor to the roster as well. Seneca Valley graduate Tyler Mesisca is a freshman forward with 12 goals and 17 assists this season. Mars graduate Mike Kenitz is a senior penalty-killing specialist with two goals and five assists.

Kenitz is one of four seniors on the team.

“He’s a good player and a good leader,” Waldschmidt said.

Butler product Mavrik Goepfert is a defensenan with four goals and 11 assists. Slippery Rock resident Shawyn Yeamans is a defenseman and Butler’s Trevor Maser is the backup goalie.

Maser stopped 30 of 34 shots in a 4-3 loss to Youngstown State Saturday that snapped SRU’s five-game winning streak.

Slippery Rock is the No. 16 seed in the 16-team national tournament. SRU will face top-seed and two-time defending national champion Lindenwood (40-2) in the first round.

“It will be a good experience for us, facing the top team,” Waldschmidt said. “We won’t be intimidated. We’ll give them our best shot.”

SRU is competing as the No. 1 seed in the six-team CHMA Tournament this weekend in Wheeling. The Rock will play the lowest remaining seed at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Seeded No.’s 2-6 in the tourney are West Virginia, Indiana (Pa.), Duquesne, Pitt and Youngstown State.