IU hockey sweeps rival Kentucky

The IU hockey team might have needed swimming trunks in case the ice melted during the home opener Saturday. \nDespite temperatures outside reaching 90 degrees, the Frank Southern Ice Arena was ready to host IU’s game against rival Kentucky. On a soft ice surface, IU (3-0) dominated the Kentucky Cool Cats, winning 6-2 and completing a weekend sweep against Kentucky.\nSophomore forward Adam Logue paced the team with two goals and one assist as IU’s offense took control. Junior forward Joe Fornari’s third period goal, the team’s final goal, typified the offensive precision during the game. \nFornari called for the puck, cut into the slot, received a nice pass from a teammate and put a one-timer into the back of the net before the Kentucky goalie could react.\nSophomore forward Mike Vaughn opened the game with a first period goal, and Kentucky responded quickly with a goal to knot the score at one apiece at the end of the period. IU scored the next four goals to put the match out of reach. \nSenior defenseman Brad Kirchner and junior forward Daniel Keeney each scored a goal in that stretch to add to Logue’s total.\nOn the defensive side, freshman goalie Justin Lincoln continued to impress coaches with his play. Lincoln has allowed just four goals in his first three games. \nAfter winning the starting spot in preseason, Lincoln is taking his successes in stride and credits his teammates for the wins.\n“It’s nice to be 3-0,” he said. “I don’t really know what else to say. The team played pretty well as a whole. I’m impressed the team’s really meshed for not having too many practices under our belt so far.”\nAssistant coach Tom Orr was also impressed with his team’s performance.\n“It was nice to get back to our home arena, where we always have a great deal of success,” Orr said. “We have an enthusiastic student base, and the players had a lot excitement for the first home game. Our offense really opened up and we had a lot of nice passes.”\nThe Saturday game was one of the first times the team played at its home rink. With the warm temperatures, the arena had been closed, and the team had been practicing in Indianapolis. IU opened its regular season with two road games.\nFriday night, IU traveled to Kentucky for a midnight game. Amidst a crazy crowd that included several rowdy fans, IU defeated the Cool Cats 4-2. \nFreshman K.C. Madock netted his first two collegiate goals to open the scoring. Vaughn and senior captain and forward Dan Karlander, the team’s leading scorer last season, added a goal apiece in the third period. \nKarlander’s goal was his first point of the season after he missed the opener against Dayton.\n“It was awesome to score that first goal,” Madock said. “The atmosphere was great – the midnight game, the fans were were yelling and screaming the whole time. It was one of the coolest places I’ve ever played.”\nFriday, IU opens a weekend homestand against Illinois, who lost twice to Kentucky already this season. Illinois will be IU’s final tune-up before Greater Midwest Hockey League play gets underway the following week.