Caleb Burggraaf

Sports Reporter

 

The Mesa State club hockey team is ready for their fifth season in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). Despite facing the questions of where to skate, how to practice, and not even having a home rink after the closure of the Glacier Ice Arena this summer, coach Kameron Dudek is determined to make his team competitive with everyone in their division. Dudek isn’t the only one who is excited for the 2010-11 season. 

Team Capt. James Terry said his team has come a long way. 

“It definitely starts off with how far we have moved as far as recruiting in the offseason, working in the offseason to stay in shape, and making sure that all the progress we made last year carries over,” Terry said. 

The offseason recruiting is key to preparing for this season. There were many difficulties in selling the team to new recruits. One was the fact that there is no home arena for the Mavericks and all of their games will be played on the road. But new recruit Charlie Barnum isn’t one to shrink from hardships.

“I think it will be good,” Barnum said. “The all-road schedule is definitely going to be a challenge, but it’s just gonna make us push harder.” 

Dudek also feels the road atmosphere will help his players in the end. 

“Maybe not so much on the ice or in the locker room, but whenever you come up against adversity you start to look at where you need to build yourself,” Dudek said.

The road atmosphere is also going to help the team bond together in ways that other teams don’t normally get. 

“We get to spend that much more time together as a team traveling,” Terry said. 

The one worry is the issue of practice. But despite not having a home arena the team will find ways to get ice time, even if it has to come before and after games on the road. The players aren’t losing their heads over it though. 

“Whenever you don’t have practice it’s going to make things more difficult,” Dudek said. “I think that we’re kind of behind the eight ball, but looking at some of the other teams that we play, like Mines, Metro State, and Western, they don’t get a whole lot of ice time, either.” 

The team is ready to start against the rest of the ACHA.

“As long as we’re ready for battle, I think we’ll hang with anybody in the league,” Dudek said. “I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t make Regionals.” 

The Mavericks will open up their new season against the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 

cburggra@mesastate.edu