After a massive snowstorm wiped out last week’s ACHA showdown between Penn State’s Lady Icers and the University of Massachusetts, two of the top three teams in the ACHA’s East Region, a massive monkey-wrench was thrown into each team’s schedule.

Both teams wanted to play the series, but they had few off-weekends in between. Except for Jan. 10 and 11 — move-in weekend for both schools.

Instead of a soft resumption of play, beginning with an Alumni Game previously scheduled for Jan. 10, the Lady Icers will find themselves back in town Jan. 7 for three days of practice followed by the six-hour trip to Amherst, Mass.

“The things going on off the ice are probably going to be more of a distraction [than starting practices early],” head coach Chris Whittemore said yesterday.

After practice sessions Wednesday, Thursday and early Friday the Lady Icers will leave for UMass, arriving there later on Friday. Whittemore said he is hoping arrangements can be made for the Lady Icers living on campus to move back into their dorms, at least in part, on Thursday.

Both teams may also benefit from newcomers eligible to play in the spring semester.

Whittemore said the team is still looking into ACHA and school requirements for eligibility because the games are being played before classes resume on Jan. 12.

— By Sean Smyth