The Arizona club hockey team is fresh off one of their best games of the year in a 4-0 shutout win against ASU. Now the team must forget about what happened last weekend and prepare to face off against Weber State tonight in Ogden, Utah.
Arizona has not fared well following a victory all season as it has a 2-4 record following wins.
The last time the teams played, Arizona’s inconsistency showed as they shutout Weber State 6-0 on Dec. 5 but on the following night the Icecats failed to bring the same intensity, which resulted in 3-1 loss.
“”We don’t know what were going get from Weber State,”” said head coach Leo Golembiewski. “”If we come out and play aggressively like we did against ASU we have a good chance.””
Arizona will have to do better than they did at the Tucson Convention Center in the team’s earlier meetings, considering Weber State (17-7) is far better at home where it boasts an 11-2 record for the season.
“”We have to set up our offense deep in their offensive zone because they have a good goaltender,”” said Golembiewski. “”We have to make sure we get some quality shots on them.””
Weber State goaltender Kyle Gover has played well against the Icecats in the last few years, aside from allowing six goals against the Icecats. Golembiewski said after the 3-1 loss to Weber State that Gover is one of the best goaltenders he has ever coached against.
With six games remaining, the Icecats must win at least five games in order to finish the season with a winning record.
“”I think we can beat all the teams that are remaining on our schedule,”” said forward Brady Lefferts. “”I think were (a) better team than Weber State and the Colorado teams, we just have to play our game.””
The Icecats’ combined record against the remaining teams on their schedule is 4-6 as they’ve played each opponent earlier in the season. Arizona will have to play much better this time around in order to finish on a winning note.
“”No one wants to go out on a losing note,”” said senior Brandon Robinson. “”For the four or five of us who’ve been here since freshman year, we have never had a losing season … we know we have no shot at getting into the national championship but were going to play these last games like they are playoffs.””