Icecats return home after sweep

The third-ranked Arizona Icecats have done just that and improved their overall record to 20-2-1, with two of those wins in Janesville, Wisc. this weekend.

Arizona defeated the 13th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks, 9-4 on Saturday after burying them, 14-6 on Friday.

The Icecats were led by freshman Josh Flett, who completed a hat trick. Flett ignited the scoring in the first period, connecting at 2:52 off of a pass from Tommy Thompson.

Senior Sam Battaglia scored a short-handed goal minutes later off passes from Brian Consolino and Joel Nusbaum.

Flett scored his second goal off of passes from freshman Bob Majka and Brian Meehan.

Consolino gave the Icecats a 4-0 lead off of a pass from Ben Ruston.

The Warhawks, however, wouldn't go down without a fight. They scored two quick goals in the last four minutes of the first period to get themselves back into the game. Although the Icecats outshot the Warhawks, 15-8 in the first period, Icecat coach Leo Golembiewski said he addressed the intensity of play in the final minutes of the first period.

"They played a lazy four minutes," he said. "We were lazy defensively, which made us lazy on offense as well. We talked about it at the intermission."

Whatever was said sparked Flett to complete his hat trick just minutes into the second period.

The Icecats continued to dominate offensively throughout the period, not allowing the Warhawks to get any closer.

Ohio-transfer Chad Dyjak connected from the point off of passes from Dave Weiss and Flett.

Paul Juran and freshman Dave Munsch scored to give Arizona a 8-2 advantage going into the third period. The Icecats outshot the Warhawks, 17-7 in the second period.

The Icecats scored one more in the third, as Battaglia connected off of passes from Thompson and Consolino.

"Anytime you can go on the road and play the way we did," Golembiewski said. "It's just great and we are very proud of these guys."

The Warhawks did score two goals only 20 seconds apart, but by that time the Icecats had cinched the victory.

Golembiewski pulled freshman goaltender Beau LeMire from the net, replacing him with Mike Tesi for the remaining 15 minutes. LeMire had 15 saves, Tesi had six. Tesi played for 31 minutes over the weekend.

"LeMire continued to play solid," Golembiewski said. "I didn't pull him because of the lack of intensity on defense. We're happy with his play. You're not going to win anything without good goaltending."

Seniors Consolino, Battaglia, Scott and Nusbaum have been extremely important to the success of the Icecats.

"The seniors are really pulling together," Golembiewski said. "I haven't seen leadership like this in years."

Eleven sets of parents came to support the Icecats and spend time with their sons.