After a successful season-opening stretch, the Icecats return from Thanksgiving break ready to face their biggest challenge so far.
Eleventh-ranked St. Louis comes to the Tucson Convention Center for contests tonight and tomorrow night in what should be a weekend that will reveal a lot about a young Icecat squad.
The matchup marks the first time No. 14 UA (7-1) will face a higher-ranked opponent this season, and it is a weekend that the entire Icecats squad has anticipated for weeks.
"This should be a real tough matchup. We look to have our hands full," head coach Leo Golembiewski said. "I think the next six games are going to really define what we have with this young Icecat team."
A relatively untested UA squad has impressed during the first few weeks of play. The Icecats avenged their lone 3-2 loss to Arizona State with a convincing 8-1 trouncing of the Sun Devils the following night.
Earlier this season it was the Billikens that had their hands full with a scrappy Arizona State squad. St. Louis squeezed out a 5-4 victory before skating to a 4-4 tie in their prior meetings against the Sun Devils.
This weekend, the Icecats' first line of seniors Kyle Neary and Kevin Meehan, and junior Dave Loftus will lead the assault against SLU's defense. The trio combined for 10 goals and seven assists in their domination of Weber State and Utah two weeks ago.
Neary leads the team in scoring with 17 goals.
That weekend also unveiled a new second line, made up of freshman Mickey Meehan, sophomore Braden Koprivica and junior Matt Naylor. Golembiewski said he has been impressed with their progress.
"They played well, and they have had some really solid practices," Golembiewski said. "Our first two offensive units are playing very well."
Add to the mix a defensive group that has earned the praise of Arizona coaches throughout the early season, and the youthful Icecats are confident that they will impress any doubters this weekend.
Players and coaches say the matchup could not have come soon enough.
"It's a situation where there's a lot at stake the next few games," Golembiewski said. "We feel the guys are ready. This weekend should be a really good test."
The puck drops tonight at the TCC at 7:30.
