UA opens play at nationals

This is Arizona's 17th consecutive tournament appearance, a string which included a national championship in 1985. The Icecats are 25-27-4 in the tournament over that span, including last year's disappointing 0-3 finish.

The Icecats are fresh off a sweep of Arizona State at the Tucson Convention Center Feb. 19-20, a series which saw the Icecats battle back from a 4-1 deficit midway through the third period to win the first game 5-4 in overtime.

"The series was huge for our program," Icecats head coach Leo Golembiewski said. "It gives us a little bit of momentum for nationals."

Winning in the first round will be a tall order for the young Icecats. Michigan-Dearborn took second place in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League's tournament series, only losing 10-4 to the No. 1-ranked Iowa State Cyclones.

Led by a pair of first team All-CSCHL members, defenseman Jayme McKay and forward Trevor Rosen, the Wolves have been known to be giant-killers all year. A split with former No. 1 and defending ACHA champion Penn State Nov. 20-21 in State College, Pa., left a considerable impression on future opponents.

Following the game with UMD today, Arizona will face Penn State, the No. 2 seed, tomorrow, followed by the winner of the game between No. 7 Towson State and No. 10 Western Michigan Friday.

The team with the best record in pool play for Pool B, which the Icecats are in, will face the best team from Pool A in Saturday's championship game. Pool A includes No. 1 Iowa State, No. 4 Ohio, No. 5 Delaware, No. 9 Eastern Michigan and No. 8 Illinois.

The Icecats are led by sophomores Paul Dorn and Marc Harris, whose timely play and ability to bury the puck have carried the Icecats' offensively this year. The big question will be the position of goalie. Golembiewski could start junior Mark Meister (13-2-2, 3.19 goals against average), a transfer from Division I Villanova, freshman Jason Morgan or junior Mike Tesi, last year's starter.

Golembiewski did not say.

"I will keep any decisions I make on the goaltending situation private," he said. "People read things, and I won't give anyone else a scouting advantage."

Finalists for the 1999 John R. Wooden Award Elton Brand PF Duke 17.7 ppg 9.9 rpg 61% FG R. Hamilton SF Connecticut 21.3 ppg 4.8 rpg 42% FG Jason Terry PG Arizona 22.2 ppg 5.6 apg 45% FG W. Szczerbiak PF Miami (Ohio) 24.2 ppg 8.8 rpg 54% FG E. Eschmeyer C Northwestern 19.6 ppg 10.3 rpg 58% FG Andre Miller PG Utah 16.0 ppg 5.8 apg 5.8 rpg Tim James PF Miami, Fla. 18.9 ppg 8.4 rpg 48% FG Ron Artest SF St. John's 14.5 ppg 4.7 apg 6.1 rpg Chris Porter PF Auburn 16.5 ppg 8.8 rpg 47% FG T. Langdon SG Duke 17.4 ppg 3.2 rpg 45% FG Baron Davis PG UCLA 15.8 ppg 5.4 apg 3.7 rpg Ed Cota PG North Carolina 10.5 ppg 7.1 apg 4.5 rpg K. El-Amin PG Connecticut 14.3 ppg 3.4 apg 2.4 rpg M. Cleaves PG Michigan State 12.0 ppg 6.9 apg 1.6 rpg Arthur Lee PG Stanford 12.8 ppg 4.7 apg 40% FG Mark Madsen PF Stanford 12.8 ppg 8.4 rpg 61% FG Scott Padget PF Kentucky 11.9 ppg 5.9 rpg 46% FG