The Observer, October 14, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 7
Case hockey team already shows improvements since last season
The Case hockey team is off to a strong start already this season. They are 3-1 including two preseason games against the University of Cincinnati.
The team started practice just over a month ago on Sept. 13 hoping to improve on last year's performance. Last year the team finished with a 4-12-1 record and far from the playoffs with the defense struggling through much of the season. This year the team has much higher expectations. The team is captained by Steve Kreuzer, and the alternate captains are Dan Pawlowski and Pat Sullivan.
The team lost its first game at Edinboro, likely the best team in the league, but has not lost since. After beating Carnegie Mellon, they are 1-1 in the league.
Pat Sullivan, a junior defenseman, said that the goal for the team is to make the playoffs. He wants the team to improve significantly over last year's team, a goal he considers realistic, as do other members on the team.
"I think we should definitely make the playoffs," senior goalie John Lux said.
Senior forward Dave Pawlowski said that the team needs to go 9-5 in the league to essentially assure a spot in the playoffs. According to Dave, the reason for the expected improvement is depth.
"We have a handful of freshman defensemen and our freshman forwards add to our depth," Dave said. "Last year we really only had one line that scored."
This year the second line is expected to provide more scoring, and Dave thinks it will happen. The third line's job will be to keep the puck out the net, playing as a more defensive unit. The first line just needs to continue to be productive.
The defense will need to really improve, but with the improved depth and quality of the players. it should. Jeff Barbaritis, a strong defenseman, is back on the team after not playing last year.
Lux thinks that defense will be a strength this year. He said that this defense has big guys who hit hard and that they can control the puck, bring it up the ice, and shoot as well.
Dave said that the goalkeeping should be solid as well. Lux is experienced, a veteran of three years of Case hockey. Dave and Sullivan agreed that Lux is a technically sound goalie.
"He's in the right place," Dave said.
Lux said that he considers the team's freshman goalie Rob Walls to be better than him though. The two will rotate during the season.
Lux's goal for himself this season is to get a shutout because he has not had one while at Case. He would also like to score a goal because he has not done that either.
Both Pawlowski and Barbaritis said that they would like to average 1.5 points per game. Dave would like to average half a goal a game as well. Barbaritis added that he will also be working to keep the puck out of the net.
He also guaranteed "five bone-crushing hits a game," though Dan was skeptical.
For his own personal goals, Dan said that he wants to lead the team in goals again and reduce his penalty minutes and ejections.
Sullivan had a simple goal: to limit the number of goals scored.
With the team looking up, the players hope that fans keep coming to the games.
"We really appreciate all the support we get from our fans," Dave said.
The team is in some trouble as a result of some fans though. For the University of Cincinnati preseason games, some fans got the phone numbers and addresses of the players on the Cincinnati team and made harassing phone calls. The University of Cincinnati sent a letter to Case complaining about the incident. The players are happy to see the fans rooting them on, but do not want them to take it too far.
The games are played at the Cleveland Heights Ice Rink on Mayfield Road. The team's next home game will be Nov. 5 against the University of Pittsburgh.
