It is one thing to sweep a season series against a team, but what the ACHA Div. I Icers have done to Kent State can be classified as downright domination.
Coming into tonight's game at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion, the No. 1 Icers have won their last 11 meetings against No. 8 Kent State. You'd have to go back to February of 1987 for the last Golden Flashes win.
The most recent Icers win came on Oct. 27, when they shut out the Golden Flashes 7-0 in their own building, thanks in large part to forward Robert Pate's four goals. However, this does not mean the Icers will take this game lightly.
"We absolutely (expect a different Kent State team)," head coach Joe Battista said. "They were missing a couple of guys (in the first game) because of suspension. We also caught them after a road game, and they were tired."
One of the players who missed the first game against the Icers was senior Mario Durant.
"He has been itching for this game," Kent head coach Chris Wilk said. "He's the kind of guy who can give us what we need."
After a 7-0 loss, it would appear the Golden Flashes need a lot in order to knock off the Icers, but Wilk has a simple philosophy.
"We have to play more physically, because Penn State is quick and skilled and we have to run with them," Wilk said.
This strategy may play right into the hands of the Icers though. They play a physical game and team speed is an important part of their game plan. They have used it thus far this season and it has worked like a charm.
"We have the talent to dump and hit," goalie Scott Graham said after last weekend's shutouts against No. 2 Eastern Michigan.
"If we do that, we can beat any team."
The Golden Flashes are not just any other team however. They come into tonight with a 5-1 record in their last six contests, all coming against top 20 teams. This makes the Icers final game before a three-week break all the more important.
"Maintaining our No. 1 seed, is what we need to do," Battista said. "We still have a lot of guys out. The big thing is to remain focused."
Missing the game will be forward Justin DePretis, defenseman Josh Mandel and forward Jack Weber. Making matters worse left-wing Joe McArdle is questionable and did not practice until yesterday. All four are expected to be ready to go in the Icers next contests, Jan. 4 and 5 in Tucson against Arizona.
"Breaks are always good and bad," Battista said. "It will give us time to rest, but the fact is we only have two days to practice before Arizona."
The Icecats have become another formidable opponent for the Icers in recent years.
"We beat them in the 1984 National Championship and there has been a bitter rivalry ever since." Battista said.
Playing in front of 6,000 people at the sight of last year's national championship is an incentive for all of the Icers to stay in shape over the break.
"It is the player's responsibility to stay in shape," Battista said. "It's a matter of how much they want it."
Judging by the way the Icers have played thus far this season, they want another national championship very badly.
Their upcoming semester schedule features several nationally ranked teams including No. 15 Arizona, No. 10 Michigan Dearborn, No. 2 Eastern Michigan, No. 3 Delaware, and No. 7 Ohio prior to the National Tournament. It is not going to be an easy path, but the Icers are prepared to defend their title and bring the Murdock Cup back to Happy Valley.
