Anderson brothers finally fulfill hockey aspirations

By KEVIN BRICKER
Collegian Staff Writer

When they were kids, Darren and Darcy Anderson would skate in their backyard on an ice rink they helped their father, Don, construct. Tired from skating into the twilight of North Bay, Ontario, the brothers would skate up an icy sidewalk that Don hosed down with water.

The paths of Darren and Darcy's hockey careers have been much longer. But when the pair of Iowa State senior forwards finally won their first Div. I American Collegiate Hockey Association Championship at Delaware's Fred Rust Ice Arena on March 6, the years of frustration had suddenly become distant memories.

"This to me is the greatest accomplishment of my life," Darren said. "It's unbelievable to have my brother here. To be able to play with my brother for four years at Iowa State is something that people don't get to do."

Darren, 26, and Darcy, 24, have come close before. In the 1997 championship game against Ohio, the Cyclones headed to the third period tied 1-1 before falling in the final period, 2-1. And last year, as hosts of the ACHA Tournament, the Cyclones were confident it was their turn to hoist the Murdoch Cup -- the league's trophy named in honor of Iowa State coach Al Murdoch. It didn't happen.

With the No. 1 Cyclones' 6-4 win over No. 2 Penn State this year, they finally hauled the championship hardware back to Ames, Iowa.

"We brought home the national championship our senior year," Darcy said. "It's a great way to go out with a bang."

Bang is an accurate way to describe the Andersons' scoring power. Including postseason play, they have combined for 91 goals and 90 assists for 181 points, but were held scoreless in the championship game.

However, Darren -- with two goals and three assists -- was named the tournament MVP.

"They're irreplaceable," Murdoch said. "I'll have to get five more freshmen to come in and take their place."

Their parents made sacrifices so their sons could pursue their hockey careers in the U.S. Because of the exchange rate, for every U.S. dollar the Andersons have to pay 1.5 in Canadian dollars.

"It cost me a lot of fricking money," Don said. "But they're very appreciative."

Iowa State slew the defending champion Icers, but Penn State coach Joe Battista understood the elation Darren and Darcy were feeling and, for a moment, shared their joy.

"The Anderson brothers I've know for a long time," Battista said. "If it couldn't be us, I'm glad it was them."