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Club ice hockey turns up heat |
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Tuesday, 29 January 2008 |
by ASHLEY DAVIS
Sports Reporter
The temperature has dipped well below freezing, yet the Appalachian State University club ice hockey team does not seem stiff or cold as they hit the rink. In fact, it’s just how they like it.
For the second time, the team is able to practice on a rink that isn’t over two hours away from Boone.
 Appalachian State takes the offensive and slaps a shot at the Radford goalie during a game last spring. Photo by Derek DeSha |
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What serves as tennis courts during warmer months was transformed into
a small ice skating rink at Sugar Mountain Resort in December. While
the rink does not allow for full game play, there is enough room for
three-on-three drills and enough ice for the team to run practice.
“The team is hoping to start getting out here to practice weekly,”
junior, management major Roger C. Omlie said. Omlie has acted as a
liaison for the team in acquiring permission to practice on the rink.
Often times the team would practice during the week in Charlotte. After
practicing in their 10 p.m. time slot at the rink, they would then
return to Boone in what had turned into early morning hours.
“It really wasn’t that bad because we were getting to play hockey,”
sophomore Gerald A. Thomas said. “We had a good time in the car on the
way down and back. The hardest part though was getting back late and
then getting up early for classes.”
The team had a difficult schedule last semester, playing 11 out of 12
games away. The team played as far away as the University of South
Florida. Having a large majority of their games on the road proved
disadvantageous for the team, which lost their first nine games. The
tide has seemed to be turning, however.
Appalachian finished the semester winning its last three games, and have opened the new semester with three more victories.
Four of the team’s victories were found at what is considered a home match, although played in Charlotte.
The men’s team recently beat North Carolina State University Jan. 25 with a final score of 4-2.
Austin F. Pantaleo, a senior finance and banking major, scored one of
the team’s goals against N.C. State, increasing his season goal total
to seven.
Pantaleo shared the team lead with sophomore Michael D. Tedrow, who also had a goal in the game.
“It’s a new semester and a new beginning,” junior secretary Ryan P.
Hauser said. “We’ve started practicing more and we’re having a lot more
fun. Once a week, practicing this close, is better than anything this
team has ever had.”
Junior treasurer Thomas R. Fitts, a marketing major, noted that playing
in Charlotte offered more of a fan base, which always helped the team’s
performance.
“We always have friends and family come out from around Charlotte,” Fitts said.
The next three home matches the team will face include those against
the Virginia Military Institute Friday, Virginia Commonwealth
University Feb. 9, and the University of South Carolina Feb. 10.
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