The Arizona Icecats swept the Texas Tech Red Raiders this past weekend – though it wasn't the way the team would have liked.
"We missed out on a 26-hour bus trip, but we would have liked to play the games," said Icecat head coach Leo Golembiewski of the two forfeit wins.
Arizona (13-10-1) was originally scheduled to play the Red Raiders, who were once 21-6, in a two-game series Friday and Saturday night.
But a violation of American Collegiate Hockey Association roster regulations ended the series before the puck ever dropped.
Tech forfeited all its previous 27 games and the remainder of its schedule per ACHA rules for playing ineligible skaters.
The Red Raiders are a Division III member in the ACHA this year, but next year will move to Division I, making the university eligible for postseason play.
The Icecats remained in Tucson and notched three tallies for the win column, receiving credit for the weekend series and the 2-1 loss they suffered Nov. 20 in Tucson against Tech.
Arizona split the earlier series with the Red Raiders in a pair of closely contested games - the first was an overtime win for the Icecats and the other resulted in a Tech victory.
Golembiewski said the team looked forward to avenging the November loss, but now turns its attention to a crucial regular season finale Friday against ASU.
The upcoming matchup with ASU is a big one for the Icecats, who are again in the hunt for an ACHA national tournament berth.
Golembiewski said Arizona would have benefited from the ice time leading up to the series, which is the last at the Tucson Convention Center Arena for the 2004-2005 season.
The layoff between games is 13 days now as a result of the canceled trip.
Arizona will take to the rink at Polar Ice Center for a week of practice, Golembiewski said.
Arizona will return to action Friday at the Madhouse on Main Street at 7:30 p.m.