Close-knit Icers head to tourney as brothers

By MICHAEL PALM
Collegian Sports Writer

Although none of the Icers are chemistry majors, that has not stopped them from developing it. And they'll need it.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association's No. 1 Icers (24-5-1) will face the first challenge of the national tournament when they play No. 8-seed Illinois (19-13-1) at 6 p.m. today at the Tucson Convention Center in Arizona.

Icer Coach Joe Battista sees a striking familiarity in this year's team and the Icers' last championship team in 1990.

"This is one of the best teams in terms of camaraderie that we've ever had," he said. "The last team we had like that was the 1990 team."

That team was led by co-captains Davis Mullholand and John Ioia. At the alumni game on Feb. 4, both revealed the secret of their team's success -- a family-like atmosphere. The Icers entered the National Invitational Tournament as the sixth seed in 1990.

"As we kept winning, we became more and more of a family," Mullholand said at the alumni game. "The team did everything together."

This year's team has done the same thing. With 11 freshmen making the roster, the team's make-up was challenged. But the veterans adapted to the new lineup.

"The team chemistry feels like it's real tight, almost like a brotherhood," junior goaltender Jeff Crispino said. "This year, there's something special."

The team will need to maintain that chemistry through the tournament in Tucson. To win, the Icers will have to win four games in four days.

To prepare for this, the Icers scheduled four rough games in a five-day span in January (Mercyhurst, Erie Community College, Hobart and Scranton). They also played three games in three days, starting Feb. 17 (Scranton, Kent State and Canisius).

Illinois will be a familiar opponent for the Icers. The teams have met five times already this season, with the Icers prevailing in four of the contests.

"They're competitive," Battista said. "They're a team that can jump up and bite you if you don't give them respect."

In three of those games, the Icers held the Fighting Illini to under 20 shots. Battista said he expects defensive struggles.

"Team defense is still the key," he said. "I'd rather win 3-1 or 4-2."

A strong defense is necessary because the first tie breaker is the goals against average -- something that burned the Icers last year. The Icers beat Eastern Michigan and had the same record as EMU after playing through the bracket. But EMU had a lower goals against average, so the Eagles went to the championship game.

"Defense is what wins championships," Crispino said. "If we stick to that, I don't see any team that can beat us."

While the team is shooting for the championship, two Icers will be aiming for personal records. Senior defenseman John Farrall is three points away from breaking the career record for points by an Icer defensemen (142). Junior forward Rob Keegan has 199 points in his career -- only 10 Icers have achieved 200 points.

If the Icers win all four games at nationals, Battista will achieve a milestone of his own -- 200 victories.