The last time the Arizona club hockey team faced off against Arizona State, the Icecats came out victorious in an 8-6 thriller at the Tucson Convention Center on Dec. 12.

But after the game, as both teams were walking to the locker room, Icecats’ defenseman Austin Capobianco – who didn’t play in the game due to a separated shoulder the night before – was involved in an altercation with ASU players and all those involved had to be restrained by TCC security.

Now, Arizona will take the hour drive to Scottsdale and take on the Sun Devils tonight at the Alltel Ice Den at 7:35 p.m.

“”It’s going to be a battle up there,””

Capobianco said, “”No matter who’s better on paper the games are generally close.””

The Sun Devils (10-11) will have revenge on their minds after losing at theirlast meeting and unable to complete that weekend sweep. Though ASU has a record below .500, it’s still a team in contention for the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship Tournament because of their strength schedule. The Sun Devils have played seven games against ranked teams in the ACHA.

The Icecats are coming off a late-game victory against Adrian College on Sunday and hoping to ride that momentum to finish their last eight games on a high note.

“”If there were doubts that we couldn’t win a hockey game without some of our key players … I think that was kind of answered,”” said head coach Leo Golembiewski.

This weekend will be the first two games of a six-game road trip that Arizona will play in the upcoming weeks. Arizona’s record against their remaining opponents is a combined 4-4-1.

With key injuries to forwards Matt Conover and Jordan Schupan, Capobianco said he expects to play forward again this weekend after scoring two goals during Sunday’s 5-3 win against Adrian College.

“”They have a much smaller arena up there (in Scottsdale), maybe 200 or 300 people but they’re on top of you,””

Capobianco said. “”They’re going to have their fans and we’re going to have our fans … so we hopefully can get the sweep and go up 3-1 in the season series.””