By Larry Mullenix
Arizona Daily Wildcat
For the Tuscon hockey fans who have been struggling to survive without the NHL season, salvation is about to arrive.
The Icecats begin their 20-game home schedule with a two-game series against Cal which begins tonight and and ends tomorrow night. Both games will be played at the Tucson Convention Center.
This series will be the first between the two teams since February 1992, when the Icecats handily beat the Bears by a 20-2 score. Under Coach Leo Golembiewski, the Icecats have an overall record of 6-0 against the Bears, who were added to this year's schedule to give the Icecats more regional opponents.
"We have three Pac-10 teams on our schedule and that gives us greater regional appeal for our fans," Golembiewski said of the addition.
The Icecats hope to have a much more disciplined and balanced attack this weekend as compared to the physical style they used last Saturday against Arizona State.
"We want to stay with our strengths," Golembiewski said. "We want to use our quickness and passing to help us get around our opponents rather than a physical game where there is a lot of checking.
"Last weekend was a grudge match, so you do what you have to do. This weekend we want to enforce our style of play onto the other team. We want to drag them up and down the length of the ice."
The Icecats will be without the services of sophomore left wing Peter Scott tonight, but he will be replaced in the lineup by freshman Jeremy Walters. Scott will return for Saturday's game and will resume his position.
Golembiewski does not believe the absence of Scott will cause any problems for his team.
"I think our depth will make up for the loss," Golembiewski said. "Any time that you can't utilize one of your lines the way you want to, it is a problem, but I believe in Jeremy and I think we can still be successful."
The beginning of the home schedule gives UA fans their first opportunity to see this year's squad and also a chance for them to see the freshmen in their first home game.
"We're excited for the freshmen because this is their first chance to play in a game situation in front of the home crowd," Golembiewski said. "No doubt about it,we are ready to play in front of the fans at the TCC. We want to show the fans there that we can win, and the best way to do that is to control the style of game that is being played.
"We have had a good week of practice and are looking at this game as something that will make us better as a team."