Lightning struck for the second time on Saturday for ACHA Div. I Icers forward Paul Sealock.
After tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee last season, an injury that permitted him to compete in only nine games, Sealock tore his left ACL in the beginning of the second period on Saturday in Penn State's 5-2 loss at Ohio.
The North Carolina native's injury occurred as he cut across the Bobcats' blue line and an Ohio defenseman checked him near his head. When Sealock attempted to regain his balance from the hit, the forward heard a pop in his left knee, as he had torn his ACL.
Coach Joe Battista said Icers' team orthopedist, Dr. Thompson McGuire, examined Sealock Monday and determined the forward's season was over. Sealock underwent an MRI Tuesday to determine whether he had damaged the meniscus in his left knee.
"It (Sealock's injury) was worse than we thought," Battista said. "He's going to have to have surgery the week before nationals."
Battista added that before McGuire examined Sealock, there was talk the forward might be able to return to action at some point wearing a knee brace.
Icers Barely Retain No. 1 ranking
After Ohio (19-9-4), which was ranked No. 6 in the last polls that came out Feb. 1, defeated Penn State 6-3 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday, the Icers' (22-4-1) No. 1 ranking was in jeopardy heading into Monday's rankings.
The suspense ended for the Icers yesterday when league officials announced that Penn State would barely retain its No. 1 ranking with 116 points and eight first-place votes. The poll determined the seeding for the ACHA national championship tournament that will take place Feb. 27-Mar. 3 in Laurel, Md.
"We stated it as an objective at the beginning of the season, being first or second," Battista said.
No. 2 Delaware (20-4-1 as of Feb. 8) also maintained their second place spot, but they moved much closer to the Icers in points with 111 and received four first place votes. In the Feb. 1 poll, Delaware received no first place votes.
No. 3 Minot State (16-4-0 as of Jan. 27) earned two first place votes and earned 98 points in Monday's poll.
Because the Icers are No. 1, they will be the home team in every match they play, allowing Battista to have the last line change. Having the last line change is important because the Penn State coaches can match the lines they want against their opponents' lines.
Another advantage of having the No. 1 seed, Battista said, is that every day that the Icers play, they will hit the ice at 4 p.m., except in the final or the consolation game.
"You get a steady schedule," Battista said.
He added that the constant schedule would set a nice routine for the Icers, where they could sleep, eat meals and hold team meetings at the same time everyday.
Other injuries
Battista said forward Joe McArdle's broken bursa sac in his hip is healing.
"He (McArdle) will begin to skate again this week," Battista said.
McArdle may suit up for the Icers' games at home this weekend against Niagara (an ACHA Div. I team) and Western New England (a Div. III team).
Battista said the surgery co-captain Kyle Jordan had on his broken knuckle was successful and that he should be cleared to play by Feb. 19.
Battista said he is expecting the forward to be back in the lineup for nationals.
Forward Jack Weber, out with a concussion, is questionable for nationals.
"It's a 50-50 proposition whether we get him back again for nationals," Battista said.
When asked how the injuries will affect his lines, Battista said his players would have to be flexible because one minute they could be out of the lineup and the next they could be back in.
