MIKE MEISINGER

Freshman goaltender Bryan Aronchick stops a shot during practice at the Gateway Ice Center. Despite his youth, Aronchick has been named the Icecats' starting goaltender.

Wednesday October 17, 2001

Freshman goalie looks to lead UA Icecats

After graduating one of the most accomplished classes in Arizona hockey history, the Icecats knew matching the success of their first 30-win season would not be easy.

With 80 percent of their offensive production gone and only seven seniors on the roster, it became clear that youth would be served for the Icecats during the 2001-2002 season.

Yet they could not have expected where the youth would be coming from.

Anticipating senior leadership from standout goalie Jason Morgan this year, the Icecats' roster took another hit when the two-year starter decided he would not return to the team for his final year.

Enter freshman goaltender Bryan Aronchick.

The Philadelphia native was brought to the desert during the middle of last season but remained inactive to ensure his four years of eligibility. Expected to be the goalie of the future, Aronchick has been thrust into the spotlight this season after Morgan's sudden departure.

Since the end of last season, Icecats head coach Leo Golembiewski rededicated his program to a more disciplined defensive style of play. He has focused on building his team outward from the goalie position, and now that responsibility has been thrust onto the shoulders of the 20-year-old freshman.

"Bryan showed me enough before the season, and the team is very comfortable with him in goal," Golembiewski said. "He is always asking questions, and I have been very pleased with his attitude on and off the ice."

After playing junior hockey for Sioux City in the U.S. Hockey League, Aronchick decided that the best way to further his career - athletically as well as academically - was to travel west to Tucson.

"The main reason that I came to Arizona was that I heard good things about the hockey program, and academically it was a perfect fit as they have my major - golf course design," Aronchick explained.

So far, the freshman has fit perfectly into Golembiewski's defensive design for this year's Icecats.

After an opening season trip to Southern California, Aronchick secured the first two wins of his Icecats career and stopped 47 of 51 shots during the lopsided victories.

What Aronchick lacks in years he makes up for in experience, and his teammates have noticed.

"There is definitely pressure on me coming in as a freshman, but my teammates have shown a lot of confidence in me," Aronchick said. "The main thing is that I get along with everyone. We are really a tight group."

Refreshed by the hard-working and intense atmosphere that his team has built this season, Golembiewski is confident that his squad will surprise those teams that think UA is in a rebuilding year.

The Icecats' balanced attack and unwavering early-season confidence is clearly seen through the attitude of their net-minder.

"Bryan is very intense and enjoyable, and he looks forward to playing which is key," Golembiewski said. "He is very mobile, he has a great glove and he works very hard."

Aronchick said he hopes his team's hard work will pay dividends later in the season as the Icecats look to reach the American Collegiate Hockey Association's national tournament for the 20th consecutive year.

"We want to make the final four and beat Penn State," Aronchick said referring to last year's ACHA national champions.

As for the future, the freshman has his first chance to impress the hometown crowd at the Tucson Convention Center when the Icecats host Arizona State on Oct. 26. Among those 5,000 plus fans will be some of Bryan's biggest supporters from Philadelphia.

"I'm looking forward to opening the home season; it should be exciting," Aronchick said. "Yeah, my family will be there, so hopefully I'll put on a good show."