The Observer, October 6, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 6
Hockey team returns to action tonight against St. Vincent
click to enlarge
The Case hockey team looks to return to the postseason this year after an impressive, but ultimately disappointing, run last season. Last year the Spartans went 11-8-1. They were second in their division and sixth in the conference, and beat the division champions, Penn State Behrend, in the first round of the playoffs. The Spartans then drew the number one-seeded Indiana University of Pennsylvania and lost a heartbreaker in overtime.
"We missed a lot of opportunities in that game," said senior Jeff Barbarits, a BME student from Buffalo. Indiana went on to win the championship.
The Spartans have played two exhibition games thus far. In the first, they defeated the University of Cincinnati, 7-3, but lost the second game, again against Cincinnati, 3-2. The main problem for the Spartans this year isn't a lack of talent; it's been a lack of manpower.
"We need more people," said senior Dan Pawlowski.
Although the team did lose a couple players from last year, the core group remains intact. This core includes Barbarits, a defenseman, Jim Lowe, a junior, Mike Stork, a sophomore, and Pawlowski at center. A noted subtraction is Matt Grabowski, an All-Star last year with 21 points, who is sitting out the first semester. Unfortunately, the Spartans have only been able to add one new skater, Matt Briançon. Briançon, who plays any of the offensive positions, has accumulated only six penalty minutes in his 11 years playing hockey.
"I tend to start out well, but I begin to fall off scoring-wise later in the season," he said. "I guess my goal this year is to be consistent through the whole season."
In the game on Oct. 1, the Spartans only brought 12 skaters and two goalies down to Cincinnati. There are sixteen to eighteen players on a full team.
"It's a big disadvantage," said Pat Sullivan, a senior defenseman and the president of the hockey club. "Our core group is really going to have to perform."
One of the greatest strengths of the Spartans is at the goalie position. Rob Walls, an All-Star last season, is "one of the best goalies in the league," according to Pawlowski. "Our greatest weakness will be our bench. We just don't have enough people."
The Case squad should be in playoff contention this season.
"It's tough to judge though," said Barbarits. The league has a lot of turnover, but the Spartans should be around the .500 mark. Big non-conference games this year are against the University of Akron and Ohio Wesleyan.
Case begins its season against St. Vincent College. St. Vincent is a small, fast, and talented team. They are regarded as one of the better teams in the conference.
"We don't match up well against them. They can beat us individually," said Pawlowski. The key to the game may be the Spartans defense. If it can remain strong, the Spartans potent offensive unit should be able to score enough goals to win.
Nevertheless, the Spartans haven't lost a home game over a year and a half. "The fan support definitely helps," said Barbarits.
Indeed, the home hockey games are among the best-attended sporting events at Case. Fan appreciation night last year had over 250 fans in attendance, with regular home games averaging 100-150. The pep band often comes to games, playing the fight song when the Spartans take the ice and score goals.
"There's a lot of hitting, and always that possibility of a fight," said Barbarits. "We're also one of the few teams in the league with free admission."
Directions to the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center are available on the hockey team's website, http://filer.case.edu/org/hockey/.
