Friday, Feb. 13, 1998
Icers look for victory in Bobcats' small den
By JIM IOVINOCollegian Sports Writer
The Ohio Bobcats have been crowned the American Collegiate Hockey
Association champions each of the past three seasons. But hopes
of a fourth straight title seemed to disappear early on this season
when the usually steady Bobcats dropped three straight games to
two of the best in the ACHA -- Eastern Michigan and Iowa State.
Ohio's woes continued a few weeks later when the team traveled
to Penn State on Halloween night and were handed a 6-4 loss by
the Icers.
But like any good team, the Bobcats found a way to turn things around. Since that loss to the Icers, Ohio has collected an 18-game win streak and has climbed up to the fourth spot in the current ACHA rankings.
Icer forward Jeff Adams attempts to get into scoring position against Delaware defender Dave Morgan last Friday at the ice pavilion. The Icers, who won Friday and again on Saturday against the Blue Hens, look to carry that winning momentum into tonight's game against Ohio. (Collegian Photo/Thomas D. Hood - click for full size image)
The Bobcats (23-4) will try to extend their winning streak tonight
on home ice against No. 3 Penn State (22-5, 18-3 ACHA). The Icers,
on the other hand, will be trying to add to a new winning streak
of their own. After winning 14 of their last 15 games, Penn State
lost its momentum with back-to-back losses on the road against
Michigan-Dearborn and Eastern Michigan. Last weekend, the Icers
started a new streak with two wins against Delaware and hope to
continue it on the road tonight against Ohio and tomorrow against
West Virginia (12-12).
All eyes in the ACHA will be on tonight's game in Ohio to see
who will come out on top.
"It's going to be the toughest game we'll play all season,"
Icer coach Joe Battista said.
Road games at Ohio constantly have been a thorn in the side of
the Icers. When the team traveled to Bird Arena last season, it
lost 3-2. But the Bobcats' home-ice advantage is a little bit
greater than most teams due to the odd size of their rink. The
neutral zone at Bird Arena is uncharacteristically small. Icer
defenseman Don Coyne said it is about 20 feet shorter than the
neutral zone at the ice pavilion.
Coyne said the Icers have worked on some strategies in practice
this week in preparation for tonight's game. The team obviously
can't shrink the neutral zone at the ice pavilion, but there were
still some things the team could do to get ready for the Bobcats
on their home ice.
"We know some of their tendencies," Coyne said. "We know what they've done in the past and what they did early in the season (when Ohio came to Penn State)."
