By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 22, 1997

Youth takes to the rink again as Icecats begin their 19th season

Charles C. Labenz Arizona Daily Wildcat Center Ben Ruston (19) drives for a goal against other Icecats during a scrimmage last month. The Icecats have finished in the top five at season's end for the last 13 consecutive years.

Youth will be served.

Again.

As the Arizona Icecats hockey team prepares for its 19th season, it features 14 first-year players, including 12 freshmen.

Of course, last year's team had 17 first-year players, and they came in fourth at the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament while posting 25 wins, five losses and one tie on the season.

"Inexperience is the only problem that I believe we face right now," head coach Leo Golembiewski said.

The Icecats have finished in the top five at season's end for 13 consecutive years, a streak unmatched by any other club hockey team.

"Our biggest strength is our work ethic," Golembiewski said. "We have depth too, despite our youth. With both work ethic and depth we should do well."

Returning to the team are senior center Ben Ruston, senior defenseman Chad Dyjak, junior defenseman Bob Majka, junior center Brian Meehan, sophomore center Brian Thompson, sophomore defenseman Kevin Baskel, junior forward Scott Streule, junior defenseman Ace Pascual, sophomore defenseman Joe McCaffrey, sophomore forward Jason Cathers and sophomore goaltender Mike Tesi.

Ruston, who scored 53 goals while adding 68 assists for 121 total points last year, will anchor the first line. He will be joined by two highly-touted freshmen forwards, Ed Carfora and Marc Harris.

"Their being freshmen doesn't really make a difference," Ruston said. "They're definitely the guys that deserve to be out there."

Ruston said the team has above average speed and should score a lot of goals.

Backing up Ruston and the two freshmen on the first line will be defensemen Dyjak and McCaffrey.

Dyjak said that the Icecat defensemen will "definitely" be checking opponents hard against the boards.

"Being a defenseman, I love to hit," he said.

The Icecats' second line will feature three freshmen on offense, with Kory Wagstaff at center and Mike Graves and Paul Dorn as the wings. Defensively, Majka and freshman Tyler Brush round out the line.

"We try to provide an example on and off the ice," Majka said of his role in regard to his freshman teammates. "I try to point out to them when I see something that they're doing wrong or that they could be doing better."

Ruston said that one area of concern could mean the difference between another runner-up finish or the team's first national title since 1985.

"If our goaltending improves we definitely have a shot," Ruston said.

Golembiewski said that Tesi and freshmen newcomers Jordan Bolton and Mike Peplinski are all competing for the starting job.

"Goaltending is just like pitching," Golembiewski said. "We may not have the Atlanta Braves' pitching staff, but we'll hold our own."

Bolton is out for at least two weeks after injuring his knee during the team's Blue-White Scrimmage on Sept. 21.

"I might not even decide (who starts) until Friday," Golembiewski said.

The Icecats will put their young players through a baptism by fire this season, as seven of the 10 opponents that are coming to Tucson are ranked in the ACHA top 10.

"We're going to have one whale of a season," Golembiewski said.

Among the more prominent foes for the Icecats are Colorado, Michigan-Dearborn, Eastern Michigan, two-time defending national champion Ohio University and the much-loathed Arizona State Ice Devils.

"We try to take it out on them no matter what," Majka said of his team's attitude toward their in-state rivals.

"We're going to kick the shit out of them," Ruston said.

The Icecats open their season against St. Louis University this Friday night. The game starts at 7:30 at the Tucson Convention Center, and the second game of the series will be Saturday at the same time.

Arizona Icecat 1997-98 Home Schedule

Friday and Saturday St. Louis University

Nov. 1-2* Colorado

Nov. 7-8 Ohio University

Nov. 14-15 Southern Cal

Nov. 21-22 Minot State

Dec. 5-6 Arizona State

Jan. 3-4* Michigan-Dearborn

Jan. 9-10 Eastern Michigan

Jan. 16-17 Delaware

Feb. 20-21 Arizona State

All games are played at the Tucson Convention Center and begin at 7:30 p.m.

* Sunday games, start at 2 p.m.