New icers to take stage for first time

Last year Chris Riley and Brad Hamel were playing Div. I ice hockey in the Northeast. This weekend, the two will make their club hockey debuts with their new teammates at the ice pavilion as the No. 1 Penn State ice hockey team (15-3, 12-1 ACHA) hosts the West Virginia Mountaineer Hounds (11-6) at 9 p.m. today and 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Riley, a freshman, transferred from Merrimack College while Hamel, a sophomore, attended Vermont and Boston College before coming to Penn State. Both players participated in the Icers' games last weekend in New York.

Hamel played at Vermont during the 1996-97 season but was unhappy with his playing time. So the 6-foot-3, 225-pound defenseman stopped playing competitive hockey last semester and decided to concentrate on school. He transferred to Boston College and got a part-time job. Icer coach Joe Battista said Hamel found out about the Penn State program and inquired about playing here.

"Brad is a big, strong, offensive-minded defenseman," Battista said. "For a guy his size, he handles the puck real well. He makes the little plays and has the poise and confidence to do these things."

Since Hamel hasn't played college hockey in a while, he's trying to work his way back into game shape and play at the same time. Battista said Hamel is practicing with the second power play unit.

Riley attempted to walk on at Merrimack College last semester. The 6-foot-1 forward made it through tryouts and the preseason but was cut on the last day before the final roster was announced.

"I wasn't expecting to make the team," Riley said. "Trying to walk on (at a Div. I school) is very difficult."

Besides Merrimack, Riley has also played for two junior teams in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL), a junior-aged league in New England. Several NHL players have played in the EJHL, including Bill Guerin.

After being cut from Merrimack, Riley was contacted by Icer assistant coach Scott Balboni, who asked Riley if he'd like to come to Penn State. Balboni is a former Div. I player at Providence College and knows New England hockey very well. He said he found out about Riley through his own father, who is a golfing buddy of Riley's dad.

"He's tough and is very, very strong defensively as a forward," Battista said. "He's got good hands as well."

Riley jumped at the chance to attend Penn State because he could play college hockey again and get a quality education. Riley is undecided about his major, so the plethora of choices at Penn State was a big draw to him.

But as far as the quality of Penn State hockey is concerned, Riley knows the Icers won't be easily confused with a Div. I hockey program. But he said there are enough similarities to make the transition easy.

"The only real difference is the size and a little bit of the speed," Riley said. "Off the ice, the training aspects are all the same."

The two new recruits will have a chance to show their skills immediately due to a recent rash of injuries. At least seven players are hampered by injuries, which should impact this weekend's games against West Virginia. Jonathan Dohanich, who was hurt in a game last Friday, has the most serious injury. He will be out for at least three weeks with a slight MCL tear.

"There's room for Chris and Brad in the lineup," Battista said. "It will give up a chance to see them in game situations earlier than we planned."

Battista said Riley and Hamel were accepted by their new teammates right away. Hamel had played with several Icers in the past, such as Jurgen Cautreels in prep school, Anthony Annexy in juniors and Ed Bursich at a summer camp.

The new Icers have even adopted the team's goal of a national championship. Riley, in particular, is excited about the opportunity. In high school, Riley said his team went to the finals and lost. The next season he transferred to another school, which didn't win a game. His old school, however, went back to the finals and won.

"They (his old high school teammates) rubbed it in my face," Riley said. "Now I'm really looking forward to winning a national championship."