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Icecats get few breaks at nationals

Sometimes the breaks just don't fall your way. That seemed to be the American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament in a nutshell for the Arizona Icecats.

Up 1-0 in the second period against Michigan-Dearborn, the Icecats were changing defensemen, when the puck slid up against an Arizona defender, forcing an automatic too many men on the ice penalty.

The Wolves scored the first of three consecutive goals during the power play, putting UA in a hole it would not climb out of.

Down 3-2 at the start of the third period, Arizona (23-3-2) began with a flurry of shots and attacks on goal, but Michigan-Dearborn goaltender Jason Hubenschmidt was up to the task, stopping all 17 shots he faced in the final period.

"We threw the kitchen sink at them," UA head coach Leo Golembiewski said. "But we just didn't get any breaks. We totally outplayed them but didn't execute on our opportunities."

The Icecats, though, bounced back for the fifth place consolation game against Minot State.

After the devastating loss, Arizona opened the game against the Gophers with four consecutive goals.

"The team left the loss (to Michigan-Dearborn) out on the ice," Golembiewski said. "We came out storming in the first period like we did all tournament." Although the Icecats offense seemed to be in gear during the first period, it was the defense that started out strong in each game, allowing only 16 shots and no goals.

Three Icecats were recognized to the All-tournament honorable mention team - freshman Dave Loftus, junior Marc Harris and sophomore Pavel Jandura.

Loftus and Jandura each notched one goal in each of the three games, while Harris notched a hat trick in the opening game and one more against Minot State.

Junior right wing Ed Carfora also had a hat trick in the final game, scoring four overall.

The Icecats have high hopes for next season, with the core of this season's squad returning. The Icecats lose seniors Tommy Thompson, Joe McCaffrey, Hunter Cherenack and starting goalie Mark Meister to graduation.

What could also bode well for the Icecats is next season's national tournament is being held at the Tucson Convention Center, where Arizona has only lost two games in the last two years.

"I am really proud of the team, they gave it their all in every game," Golembiewski said. "But we have got to get some work done in the off season. We have some good recruits coming in. We just need to have a serious summer of hockey."