Freshman/sophomore rivalry friendly, intense

There are a few things a hockey team can never have enough of: "Slap Shot" DVDs, Band-Aids, electrical tape and good goaltending. This season, the Arizona club hockey team has certainly had helping upon helping of item No. 4.

Sophomore Luke Edwall and freshman Nick Boddy have each been a huge part of the Icecats' return to the top of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The Icecats are currently ranked No. 11 by the ACHA on the shoulder pads of their net-minders as they head into this weekend's rematch against No. 5 Weber State.

The last time these teams met, a fight erupted on the ice as the teams attempted to shake hands after Arizona completed its sweep Dec. 2-3. Although over a month has passed since they met, Arizona expects some of that bad blood to carry over.

The Icecats play Weber State tonight at 8:15 and tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Ogden, Utah, as they begin the first of a six-game stretch on the road that could be crucial to their playoff hopes.

The Icecats' playoff hopes are alive at this point, in large part because of their two young stalwarts in the net, Edwall and Boddy.

Edwall entered his second season with the Icecats as the starting goaltender, but after helping the squad jump out to an 8-3 record, he was sidelined by an abdominal injury. Edwall underwent surgery before the first Weber State series, missing both games.

The injury, which was similar to a sports hernia, aggravated Edwall every time he made a stride or split to make a save.

"It had been bothering me for a while all season," Edwall said. "I didn't really have all my range, and finally it just gave out, and I went and had the surgery."

With arguably the biggest series of the season at that point coming up, Arizona turned to Boddy. After Boddy gave up only one goal during Arizona's sweep of then-No. 6 Weber State, Arizona head coach Leo Golembiewski said he knew he had something special.

"You watch these guys in practice every day, and they both want to be out there, both want to play every game," Golembiewski said. "It's like a professional rivalry. They're both great goaltenders."

While his coach said he wasn't surprised by his play, Boddy's performance in the clutch caught Edwall off-guard.

"I wasn't expecting him to play as well as he did when I went down," Edwall said. "He's definitely earned and deserves his playing time."

Boddy said he knew his performance had to be special to earn more than just a role as the backup.

"I went into the series thinking this was my time, now or never," Boddy said about the Weber State and ASU games, his first two starting series' at Arizona. "With four huge games coming up, I knew I had to step up or it could be the end of me playing."

It certainly hasn't been the end of Boddy's play this season, as Golembiewski plans on splitting their time between the pipes for the rest of the season. Both goalies said they are happy so far with their play, but noted there's always room for improvement.

"It's nice not to have to play both games on a weekend," Edwall said. "(The abdominal strain) still hurts when I make a stride, but I'm getting there. I'm definitely focused on the rest of the season and really putting the stops on."

"I'm pretty happy with my consistency," Boddy said. "That's something I do, and I think I've played pretty consistent. I'd like to have some of those ASU games back, I'll tell you that."

Boddy has appeared in nine games so far this season, racking up 293 saves and a 94.0 save percentage. Edwall's 91.0 save percentage is more impressive than it looks, considering he's already made 459 saves in his 13 games played.

Teamed up with offensive newcomers like freshman forward Robbie Nowinski, who leads the Icecats in goals with 20, and his wingmate and fellow freshman forward Matt Conover, who leads the team in points with 45, the Icecats are poised for a return to Nationals, not just this year, but in the years to come as well.

"I think we've got a really good chance to make it as long as we keep things going through our next games," Boddy said. "We're definitely contenders."

No one knows how many players own "Slap Shot" or how many rolls of tape they've gone though adjusting the blades of their sticks, but you can be sure they're getting plenty of good goaltending, with lots more to come.