Icecats return intact for national title run

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore center Marc Harris (18) fights for the puck against a Towson State player last season. The Icecats will kick off the 1999-2000 season October at the Tucson Convention Center.

Right wing Brian Meehan and defenseman Bob Majka are the only two players who won't be returning from last year's team, meaning the core of the Icecats will be back.

Three goalies saw playing time last season for Arizona. Seniors Mark Meister and Mike Tesi and sophomore Jason Morgan will all see time in goal for Arizona next season.

Defensively, junior co-captain Ty Brush will lead the way, while Arizona will also return its No. 1 line of juniors Mike Graves, Paul Dorn and Marc Harris, who combined for 92 goals last season.

To go along with the returning players, head coach Leo Golembiewski said this year's recruiting class will be strong. The Icecats will bring in four solid defensemen and four solid forwards.

"This recruiting class will make our team much deeper," Golembiewski said. "The depth should make our returning players work hard in the offseason."

Golembiewski said the Icecat program recruits itself.

"We are able to really target the type of student-athlete we want to bring to this program," he said.

Arizona recruits players that are not only solid hockey players, but will do well in the classroom as well, Golembiewski said.

The Icecats will find out next week if they will be able to host next year's American Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The Icecats had over 80,000 fans last year and averaged over 4,000 fans per game, which makes them an attractive host for the national club tournament.

But for all of those who have not yet gone to an Icecat game, Golembiewski says give his team one game and he can have anyone hooked. He said the Icecats are fun to watch because it is college hockey.

"The kids want to be in Tucson playing hockey at this level," he said. "Hockey is unfortunately the best kept media secret in Tucson."

Arizona has been to nine final fours and have been in the playoffs for 17 straight years.

The Icecats will kick off the 1999-2000 season October at the Tucson Convention Center.

Chris Reimer can be reached at Chris.Reimer@wildcat.arizona.edu