By Shoshana Burrus
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 15, 1997

Icecats climb to 3rd in polls

The Icecats (15-1) started the month of January on a high note off from school, the Arizona Icecats were busy at work on the ice.

The Icecats (15-1) started the month of January on a high note - moving up in the national rankings from No. 8 to No. 3.

Iowa State is at the top, followed by Ohio University.

However, the new year also brought the Icecats their first loss of the season.

The fifth-ranked University of Delaware Blue Hens came into the Tucson Convention Center and defeated Arizona, 5-4 on Jan. 3. The following night, the Icecats ended the sweep attempt with a 5-3 victory. Senior co-captain Peter Scott pointed out that the t hree weeks off hurt the team.

"It definitely affected our conditioning,'' Scott said. "We came back early and tried to get in shape, but we've got to come out with more intensity."

The win on Saturday night helped the Icecats get back into the swing of things.

"Hockey games are won with defense," Icecat coach Leo Golembiewski said. "I was proud of how our kids fought back and refused to quit."

Senior Brian Consolino said Golembiewski has made some line changes to spark some of the younger players.

"Making changes the way he did lights fires under people," Consolino said. "We shouldn't have been as lackluster as we were."

Consolino said the mental aspect of the game wasn't there for the Icecats at the start of the two contests.

"Many of the younger players have to realize that the two semesters are like two different seasons. Wins are not handed to you."

Last weekend the Icecats played host to the 17th-ranked Kent University Golden Flashes. The Icecats came out cold against the Flashes (5-15-3) on Friday night and quickly fell behind 3-0.

It wasn't until the latter part of the second period that the Icecats connected with the net off goals from freshman Tommy Thompson and Consolino. The Golden Flashes wouldn't quit, however, scoring another goal on freshman goaltender Beau LeMire. Arizona went into the locker room with a 4-2 deficit at end of the second period.

The third period comeback was set-off by freshman Joe McCaffery's long range score. Freshman Brian Meehan scored 40 seconds later, followed by a goal from Ben Ruston. Consolino scored the winning goal for the Icecats with 12:30 gone by, off a pass from de fenseman Joel Nusbaum.

During the game Icecat forward Andy Knick was slammed into the opposition's goal and had to taken off the ice. He suffered a severe concussion and also received stitches on the left side of his jaw. Knick missed Saturday's game after the incident in the f irst period of Friday's game.

"He's fine," Consolino said of his teammate. "He'll be ready to go this weekend against Navy."

Saturday night was a different story. The Icecats started their scoring groove early and blew out the Flashes, 11-2. Freshman Josh Flett completed a hat trick.

"This win belongs totally to the players," Golembiewski said. "We worked very hard."

Scott said the team has been working hard since they came back on December 30.

"The break made us soft," Scott said. "Saturday night was indicative of what the rest of the season will be like."

Along with a new year, a few changes have the team. Freshman Eliot Komar was not able to return to the line-up due to personal circumstances.

New addition Chad Dyjak has been a defensive spark for the Icecats. At six-foot-three, the junior who grew up in Denver adds size to the Icecat squad. Dyjak transfered from Ohio University, where he has two National Championship rings from the past two se asons. His first game as an Icecat was against Delaware.

"He's a smart player with good skills and talent," Consolino said. "The coach got him to add experience and knowledge for the defensive core in the future."

As the season continues, the road calls. The Icecats go on a two-week road trip which includes playing second-ranked Ohio.

The Icecats host 20th-ranked Navy this weekend, which comes to Tucson with a record of 5-5.

moving up in the national rankings from No. 8 to No. 3.

Iowa State is at the top, followed by Ohio University.

However, the new year also brought the Icecats their first loss of the season.

The fifth-ranked University of Delaware Blue Hens came into the Tucson Convention Center and defeated Arizona, 5-4 on Jan. 3. The following night, the Icecats ended the sweep attempt with a 5-3 victory. Senior co-captain Peter Scott pointed out that the t hree weeks off hurt the team.

"It definitely affected our conditioning,'' Scott said. "We came back early and tried to get in shape, but we've got to come out with more intensity."

The win on Saturday night helped the Icecats get back into the swing of things.

"Hockey games are won with defense," Icecat coach Leo Golembiewski said. "I was proud of how our kids fought back and refused to quit."

Senior Brian Consolino said Golembiewski has made some line changes to spark some of the younger players.

"Making changes the way he did lights fires under people," Consolino said. "We shouldn't have been as lackluster as we were."

Consolino said the mental aspect of the game wasn't there for the Icecats at the start of the two contests.

"Many of the younger players have to realize that the two semesters are like two different seasons. Wins are not handed to you."

Last weekend the Icecats played host to the 17th-ranked Kent University Golden Flashes. The Icecats came out cold against the Flashes (5-15-3) on Friday night and quickly fell behind 3-0.

It wasn't until the latter part of the second period that the Icecats connected with the net off goals from freshman Tommy Thompson and Consolino. The Golden Flashes wouldn't quit, however, scoring another goal on freshman goaltender Beau LeMire. Arizona went into the locker room with a 4-2 deficit at end of the second period.

The third period comeback was set-off by freshman Joe McCaffery's long range score. Freshman Brian Meehan scored 40 seconds later, followed by a goal from Ben Ruston. Consolino scored the winning goal for the Icecats with 12:30 gone by, off a pass from de fenseman Joel Nusbaum.

During the game Icecat forward Andy Knick was slammed into the opposition's goal and had to taken off the ice. He suffered a severe concussion and also received stitches on the left side of his jaw. Knick missed Saturday's game after the incident in the f irst period of Friday's game.

"He's fine," Consolino said of his teammate. "He'll be ready to go this weekend against Navy."

Saturday night was a different story. The Icecats started their scoring groove early and blew out the Flashes, 11-2. Freshman Josh Flett completed a hat trick.

"This win belongs totally to the players," Golembiewski said. "We worked very hard."

Scott said the team has been working hard since they came back on December 30.

"The break made us soft," Scott said. "Saturday night was indicative of what the rest of the season will be like."

Along with a new year, a few changes have the team. Freshman Eliot Komar was not able to return to the line-up due to personal circumstances.

New addition Chad Dyjak has been a defensive spark for the Icecats. At six-foot-three, the junior who grew up in Denver adds size to the Icecat squad. Dyjak transfered from Ohio University, where he has two National Championship rings from the past two se asons. His first game as an Icecat was against Delaware.

"He's a smart player with good skills and talent," Consolino said. "The coach got him to add experience and knowledge for the defensive core in the future."

As the season continues, the road calls. The Icecats go on a two-week road trip which includes playing second-ranked Ohio.

The Icecats host 20th-ranked Navy this weekend, which comes to Tucson with a record of 5-5.