It's not nationals, but it will have to do
Ice Lions attempt to finish season strong at four-team playoff

By MICHAEL YODER
Collegian Staff Writer

As the final games of the season are played this weekend, the Penn State Div. II Ice Lions still have something to prove against Indiana (Pa.).

They want to finish the season on top.

Penn State will take part in the first-ever University Hockey League Playoffs along with Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Indiana (Pa.). At 3 p.m. tomorrow, the Ice Lions (13-7-2) will take on Pittsburgh with the winner to face the victor of the Indiana-West Virginia Sunday afternoon.

With the season winding down for the Ice Lions, they find themselves in a new position. They will not be making an appearance at the ACHA Div. II National Tournament in Provo, Utah.

Despite a respectable record and tough schedule, the coaches of Div. II teams across the nation decided the Ice Lions were not strong enough to warrant a return trip to nationals, hence making this weekend's tournament their final chance at going out with a positive.

"It's a real disappointment," Penn State coach Mo Stroemel said. "We had a really talented team this year, but on the ice, we didn't perform well."

Even though Penn State is loaded with talented players, a consistent winning streak could not be achieved, especially late in the season. Injuries, sickness and suspensions to key players may have contributed to the Ice Lions' inability to win at key moments in the season, especially the Feb. 6 game against IUP.

"The loss against IUP really hurt our chances of going to nationals," Stroemel said. "We beat them earlier in the season, but since we lost to them later it doesn't help our cause."

Penn State finished the regular season ranked No. 6 in its division with the top four teams going to nationals. Indiana leapfrogged Penn State in the final poll to finish No. 5 in the standings. However, No. 3 Miami (Ohio) declined its bid to go to Provo, allowing Indiana to take its place.

Many Penn State players look to Sunday's possible rematch against IUP with excitement and the possibility of payback for knocking them out of the final spot.

"We're all looking for a little revenge against IUP," assistant captain Brad Webb said. "Everyone wants to make a 100-percent effort to play great hockey."

Even if the Ice Lions are able to get by an up-and-coming Pittsburgh team -- which they defeated twice this year -- to face IUP, Stroemel promised the game would not get out of hand like the last. Playing with a short bench does not worry Stroemel.

"We will play disciplined hockey or we will not play at all," Stroemel said. "I will not play anyone who wants to get into fights."

The possible game against IUP would promise to be a brutal matchup with tempers flaring, but Penn State players have made a commitment to stay out of trouble and play a clean, physical game.

"Our actions on and off the ice against IUP were embarrassing," captain Dan Horowitz said, referring to the fight-ridden match on Feb. 6. "We want to show that we are classy players. I want to play physical hockey, but clean, and end my hockey career on a positive note -- win with class."