Icers, Blue Hens match could decide tourney bye

Anthony Annexy made a meaningful return to his former haunts for the Icers, shutting out Villanova, 5-0, Wednesday to record his second shutout in six starts. The sophomore turned aside all 24 shots he faced.

The shutout win not only halted Penn State's two-game losing streak, it also increased the importance of the Icers' weekend series against Delaware that starts tonight at the ice pavilion.

Against Villanova, the freshman line of Jason Dickey, Todd Dakan and Rob Shaner didn't come up with typical freshmen results against the Ice Cats (4-14-0). Dickey continued his phenomenal rookie year, scoring two goals, adding two assists and vaulting himself into the team lead in scoring (17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points), ahead of junior Jeff Adams.

Dakan, who seemed unaffected by his hip-pointer injury, added a goal and an assist for the Icers (16-8). Shaner contributed two assists.

Andrew Barnes continued to have a hot hand offensively, building on his MVP showing at the Nittany Lion Invitational Tournament. Barnes added one goal and one assist on the evening.

"Barnes continues to play at a high level," Battista said.

The Icers continued their recent barrage of shots on opposing netminders, firing 51 shots on Villanova goaltender Mark Meister. Penn State went 0-for-6 on the power play, however. The Ice Cats were stopped on all five of their chances.

"Annexy played outstanding," Icer coach Joe Battista said. "He made three fantastic saves in the first period that kept Villanova off the board.

"We're still a little frustrated with our goal scoring," he added. "We had lots of chances (Wednesday) night."

Penn State traveled east without some key contributors, but the missing troops did not seem to affect the team to a large degree.

"We came here without some guys, but the rest of the guys stepped it up," Battista said.

The Icers will have to step it up again at 9 tonight and at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow in matches with the Blue Hens and their coach Josh Brandwene, who will be facing Battista, his former coach, in two games that could decide who gets a bye and who plays in the first round of the ACHA national tournament. The top six teams receive a bye while the remaining four must play in the preliminary round.

"We're in danger of finding ourselves in the preliminary round," Battista said. "That really makes the Delaware games that much more important. These games are two of the biggest games of the year. The sixth and seventh seeds are on the line."

The Blue Hens (27-2-0, 20-2-0 ACHA) started the season 14-0 before Penn State beat them on their home ice, 6-0. Center Paul Pipke, who transferred from West Virginia when Brandwene took the head coaching position with the Blue Hens, already has set Delaware's single-season scoring record by scoring 92 points (45 goals) in just 28 games.

"He's had a very successful four-year career," Brandwene said.

Note:

• The Icers' Alumni Game will be played at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow following the Delaware game. And yes, despite being a Blue Hen, Brandwene will be playing.