Division II Icers claw way to top

The 1996-97 hockey season for the Division II Icers was a successful one. They posted a 26-3-1 record, went to a national and regional tournament and did it all in anonymity.

"There is no glory in our play. Most people do not even know we exist," said senior alternate captain Todd Shraiberg. "We do not get a lot of fan support. The biggest crowds we have are when the opposing team brings their fans."

The Division II Icers have only existed the past five years. The team is an option for hockey players who did not make the Division I team or needed more time to develop. It is totally separate from the Division I Icers.

"It serves as a program for players who did not make the Icers or needed more time to improve their skills," coach Vince Scalamogna said.

The team is captained by senior defenseman Art Malacarne, with Shraiberg and Doug Qualey serving as alternates.

"The captains pull the leadership responsibility," Scalamogna said. "They maintain commitment to the team's goal and keep the work ethic of the team up."

Division II regional play is within the Western Pennsylvania College Hockey Association. The WPCHA championships, which the Icers won, were held the weekend of Feb. 28.

From there, they participated in the ACHA Division II nationals in St. Louis. Penn State entered the tournament ranked No. 2.

"We were a contender for No. 1 going in," Scalamogna said. "By virtue of talent, we had a strong chance."

The Icers advanced from the first-round pool by defeating the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 6-2, Rutgers, 3-2, and Stanford, 8-1. In the semifinals they defeated third-place Ohio State, 4-3, in overtime before losing to Life College in the finals.

Life, a graduate team from Georgia, was favored to win the tournament.

"You have to look at the fact that we were up against a team where the youngest players were 25 or 26 years old," Shraiberg said.

Before the tournament, major changes were made to the Icer lineup. There had been a scoring imbalance, and players felt that needed to be addressed.

"It was a decision made by the players. We wanted the lines changed for the better of the team in order to win at nationals," Shraiberg said. "The coaches trusted the players enough to listen to the changes we felt we needed, which says a lot for the kind of relationship we have.

"The coaches are approachable, and we maintain a really loose atmosphere. The team is all about having fun. But when we are on the ice, we are serious, which our record shows," he added.

The Division II Icers are a completely self-sponsored team. Players, who are mainly ex-recruits from the Division I Icers, pay for expenses such as ice time, travel, on-ice officials and medical support at home games. There is no University funding, meaning each player is responsible to pay approximately $1,000. The money comes out of the players' pockets, from fund-raisers or sponsorship.

"We have nickled and dimed our way," Shraiberg said. "We need to take care of financing, or we wouldn't exist. Division II has no help."

Instead, the Division II Icers help the Division I Icers. A few players from Division II each year can make the transition to Division I.

Those who have stayed, though, have made the Division II team what it is today. In its third season, the team entered the American College Hockey Association and qualified for nationals later that year.

"The team has become more organized, and the level of competition has increased," Malacarne said. "The club has improved every year, especially once we got into the ACHA."