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Icecats ready to make run at 2nd national title

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Center and co-captain of the Icecats, junior Marc Harris looks to battle for the puck with the opposition in a game last season. The Icecats open their season Friday at 7 p.m. against the Colorado Buffalos at the Tucson Convention Center.

With the season starting this week, the University of Arizona Icecats begin with a legitimate shot at a national title.

It's been 14 years since UA head coach Leo Golembiewski embarked on his first national championship, winning it with a 5-3 victory over Penn State in 1985.

Last year, the 20th anniversary season, the Icecats finished fifth at the ACHA National Tournament at the University of Delaware.

Despite the teams finish last season, it begins with higher hopes for 1999-2000.

"Last year sort of left the team with a hollow feeling," Golembiewski said.

The entire first line from last year, center Marc Harris and wingers Paul Dorn and Mike Graves, is returning. All three are juniors, coming in with one full season of experience as the team's top line.

The trio combined for 92 goals and 109 assists last season, over half of the Icecats' entire offense. Dorn led the entire team with 37 goals and 38 assists.

Icecat fans are also looking forward to the return of core of defenders from last year's team, with seniors Joe McCaffrey and Tom Thompson, junior Tyler Brush and sophomore Pavel Jandura on the blue line again this season. Jandura led all Icecats defensemen last season with 28 points.

"We have a bunch of the kids from last year returning, so everyone should step up a bit," Graves said.

The goaltending tandem returns, with senior Mark Meister and his 12-4-2 record, sharing time with sophomore Jason Morgan, who compiled a 2.77 goals against average last season.

The main reason for the high hopes of this year's team is the loss of only two players from last year's squad. Lost is a relatively bad term to use, considering both of those players, defenseman Bob Majka and forward Brian Meehan, have been retained this season as graduate assistants.

Included on the schedule are east coast foes such as Delaware, Rutgers and Penn State.

"Some teams we're looking for this season are Delaware and Penn State." Harris said. "And beating Penn State this year would be great."

The season starts with a two-game homestand this weekend against Colorado. The Icecats take on the Buffaloes Friday and Saturday, with both games starting at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center.