The No. 7 Arizona Icecats will face the No. 6 University of Delaware Blue Hens this weekend in what could be one of the team's toughest road test of the season.
With the exception of a one game stint against Arizona State on January 8, the Icecats (18-1-1) have not been on the road since the middle of November, when they traveled to Iceland for an international tournament.
While at the "Fire and Ice Saga" tournament in Reykjavik, the Icecats managed to defeat Southern California, 8-0, in the tournament final.
The Icecats have only been on the road three times all season. Facing a tough Delaware squad in a hostile environment will be a stiff test for Arizona.
Although the Blue Hens are only 10-7 so far this season, most of UD's losses have come against ranked opponents.
Delaware has dropped two games to No. 2 Penn State, but has won three games against No. 11 Towson.
The Blue Hens have also defeated No. 10 Michigan-Dearborn this season.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Icecats can compete with highly ranked opponents.
Delaware is led by two-way player Paul Tilch and senior goaltender Bjorn Christiano, who finished in the American Collegiate Hockey Association's top five in save percentage last season.
Defensively, Blue Hens team captain Cliff Demmer and junior Adam Lewis will attempt to shut down the Icecats' potent scoring attack, led by senior co-captain Marc Harris and Paul Dorn.
UA, experiencing one the fastest starts in program history, will attempt to continue its winning ways on the road despite suffering from some scoring inconsistencies in last weekend's series at home against Saint Louis University. The Billikens are responsible for the only two blemishes on the Icecats' record, an early season loss and last Friday's 2-2 tie.
In last Friday's game, the Icecats scored just twice despite attempting 56 shots.
