The No. 15 Arizona Icecats are prepared to start the second half of their season, as they have some new pieces to help them in their two-game series against the St. Louis Billikens this Friday and Saturday.
Icecats coach Leo Golembiewski activated freshman forward Keith Patterson over winter break, who was out for the first half of the season with a knee surgery for Arizona (10-7).
New recruit freshman forward Jake Allison, a native of Seattle, will also be added to the roster, making his debut at the Tucson Convention Center against the Billikens (1-15).
“”They seem like good players, but its hard to tell from just practice,”” sophomore forward Robbie Nowinski said. “”So, this weekend will tell a lot about them.””
The two will bring added depth and more firepower to the team’s offensive unit, Golembiewski said.
“”Allison is a smooth skater with a powerful shot,”” said assistant head coach Dave Dougall.
The Icecats return from winter break with some key players coming back from injury as well.
Junior right wing Scott Marshall has fully healed from a shoulder injury, along with junior center Craig Irwin, who separated his shoulder before winter break but is now back to 100 percent.
A healthy and improved three-line offensive unit will look to take advantage of a fledgling St. Louis team.
The Billikens have struggled all season long, managing just one win this season against the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
This is the second meeting between the Icecats and the Billikens this season. Arizona swept the first series Oct. 27-28 by a combined score of 16-5.
“”Even if their unranked, it’s still college hockey and we have to be ready,”” Golembiewski said.
The defense will be without sophomore defensemen Kevin West, who re-aggravated his separated shoulder against ASU before the break.
Freshman defensemen Zach Cherney is also out for a minimum of two weeks with a shoulder injury.
The Icecats will return to game action for the first time after more than a month away.
“”We’re ready to play and extremely excited, we’re gonna kick the crap out of them,”” Marshall said.
