Icecats open play against old foe

The No. 7 Delaware Fighting Blue Hens (30-5), one of only two teams to beat Arizona this season, will face Arizona at 2 p.m. Tucson time on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich.

The Blue Hens got to the round-robin portion of the tournament by virtue of their 2-1 win over No. 10 Towson State in yesterday's wild card game.

Icecat coach Leo Golembiewski said the first game of the round-robin is the most important.

"We have to exploit our own strengths," he said. "We have to establish ourselves with the first game and get a win because it doesn't get any easier."

The Blue Hens didn't make things easy for the Icecats during their trip to the Tucson Convention Center in early January. Delaware won the first of two games, 5-4, ending a 12-game Icecat winning streak. UA struck back the next night, however, with a 5-3 win.

Senior co-captain Sam Battaglia said gaining momentum is a big key in the first game.

"It's very important because it's the first game and the momentum can be carried through the rest of the tournament," he said. "We're pretty confident going into this game."

Golembiewski said the team is not concerned with the fact that Delaware knows it can beat them.

"They're a known quantity, which is to our advantage," Golembiewski said. "We're going to have to use our speed. I hope there is a false sense of security for them because they beat us."

A new rink and different ice always takes some getting used to, but the Icecats were able to practice yesterday morning to get a feel for the ice.

"It will take us a couple of minutes to settle down," Battaglia said. "They (Delaware) have already played in the rink. The ice is faster because it's colder and harder. The puck will have crazy bounces."

Senior defenseman Joel Nusbaum said the Icecats cannot be overconfident.

"Being overconfident and coming out a little flat is a concern," Nusbaum said.

"You've got to set the tone in the tournament in our bracket right away," Golembiewski said. "They (Delaware) are the lowest seed of the three we're playing. We certainly have to come out and assert ourselves. The job has to get done."