File Photo Captain Matt Naylor will look to start the season on the right skate as they take on rival Arizona State in tonight's season opener.

The Madhouse on Main Street will open up its doors once again tonight, as the Arizona Icecats are set to start its 24th season of competition with a two-game set today and tomorrow against intrastate rival Arizona State.

The puck drops both nights at 7:30 at the Tucson Convention Center.

"They've already played six games, so I expect (ASU) to be tough this weekend," head coach Leo Golembiewski said. "Obviously, each time we play them it's a grudge match that extends to more than just hockey, for both schools."

Finishing last season ranked fifth overall by the American Collegiate Hockey Association, the Icecats are only interested in one ranking öö No. 1 at the end of the season.

With a host of new faces both on the ice and behind the bench, the team's chances of competing for that elusive second national title seem to be getting better with each practice, although UA is the only team ranked in the top 20 to not play a game yet.

Icecat alumnus Brian Meehan is back for his fifth season as an assistant coach, with brother Kevin Meehan and last year's leading scorer, Kyle Neary, taking coaching posts as graduate assistants.

The team will be defensively sound, as sophomore goaltender Bryan Aronchick returns in net, with senior blue liner Bill Pardue in front of him. Aronchick posted a 2.49 goals against average in his rookie campaign while playing in 29 of the team's 30 games.

"Having Aronchick back in net is a major key to this team, definitely," Golembiewski said. "We also have enough depth for three to four solid, yet unproven lines. If everybody executes ÷ that famous Îe-word' in sports ÷ the inexperience of the young guys won't be as important."

The return of senior forward Dave Loftus, as well as junior forwards Matt Naylor and Andrew Fredericks, gives the team the ability to mix up their experienced veterans with some talented newcomers, like freshman forward Cole Dunlop.

Despite the lofty expectations for the team year-in and year-out, head coach Leo Golembiewski is making sure that the team keeps its goals in perspective and does not look past the opening series this weekend.

ASU is currently ranked No. 8 overall with a 5-1 record.

The players feel that despite not being battle-tested, they will be ready to play come the opening face-off.

"We have a solid team at every position," Dunlop said. "It's just a matter of us putting it together when we go out there like we know we can. For us younger players, the veterans on the team have been very helpful and supportive towards getting us all ready to play."

The Icecats will be handing out team posters to the first 500 fans in attendance to both games, in celebration of the start of the season and naming of this year's honorary captain, comedian Don Rickles.

Past honorary captains for the Icecats have included sports radio personality Papa Joe Chevalier, legendary NHL coach Scotty Bowman, and professional wrestling's Sargeant Slaughter.