As the Arizona Icecats prepare to begin its 25th season tonight at the Tucson Convention Center Arena against rival Arizona State, they are already forced to dig themselves out of an early season hole: their current No. 10 national ranking.

The Icecats ÷ ranked No. 6 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association's preseason coaches' poll ÷ have dropped four spots this season without playing a game.

The Icecats were voted lower in the poll not for anything they did at the rink, but primarily because they're yet to step onto the ice, said UA head coach Leo Golembiewski.

"Most other teams have already played four or five games, and we haven't played any," Golembiewski said. "We're ready to get going."

No. 18 ASU comes to Tucson for a two-game set tonight and tomorrow at the "Madhouse on Main Street." The puck drops for both games at 7:30 p.m.

The visiting Sun Devils have played seven games already, posting a 5-2 record. After starting the season with five straight wins, ASU took a step backward in its last two games, falling to four-time defending champion Penn State, 6-1, and 2003 ACHA tournament participant Michigan-Dearborn, 5-4.

The Icecats traditionally play weekend games, but will open the 2003-2004 season tonight at the request of TCC officials.

Golembiewski said TCC officials asked the Icecats to leave open the dates of Wednesday through yesterday open so "Disney on Ice" could perform at the arena.

Golembiewski still expects a large crowd for the two-game set despite it being early in the week, citing the team's large fan base and rivalry with ASU as reasons to expect a good turnout.

"We thought that it would work because it is ASU," Golembiewski said. "We can't bring teams all the way across the country on school nights to play."

The team is also running advertisements in today's and tomorrow's Arizona Daily Star sports section giving away free tickets, in order to boost attendance.

With the departure of last year's senior captains Dave Loftus and Bill Pardue, and leading scorer Matt Naylor, Golembiewski expects to see others step up quickly.

Icecats players voted to name junior forward Shaun Brooks, junior forward Mickey Meehan and senior defenseman Keith Mitchell captains for the upcoming season.

Mitchell, a 6-foot, 225-pound defensive force from Anchorage, Alaska, and one of the team's fiercest competitors, according to Golembiewski, won't suit up for either game against ASU due to a back injury.

"We're hoping he'll be on the ice next week, but we're still not sure," Golembiewski said, adding that Mitchell's status will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.

Sharpshooters Brooks and Meehan will be called on to pace the Icecats on the offensive end. With the length of Mitchell's absence from the ice unknown, players voted sophomore forward Cole Dunlop to also wear the captain's "C" on his jersey.

Even though Dunlop is just a sophomore, his head coach thinks his leadership ability speaks for itself.

"He's showed leadership already, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten the votes of his teammates," Golembiewski said.

Junior goaltender Brian Aronchick, who Golembiewski has referred to as one of the best netminders in the nation, returns as well for the Icecats.

"He's sound all around. I think the one thing he has to do more than anything is get tougher mentally," Golembiewski said.

The team will see one major change to its defense with senior Andrew Fredricks moving back to the defensive unit from his previous forward position.

"After losing Mitchell, I didn't care that coach asked me to move back," Fredricks said. "I just wanted to be in the position to help the team."

Fredricks said that while it's possible he could still help the team on offense, his main goal is to help stabilize Arizona's defense.

"I'm hoping to get some points and I'll rush the puck when I can, but I'll be more concerned with just playing good defense," he said. "I'm not going to push the offensive aspect of my game. But if I have an opportunity to bury one, I'm going to."