IU still looking for 1st league win after rough weekend on road

The IU ice hockey team started the season with five convincing wins, averaging seven goals per game while allowing less than two goals against per game. \nDespite the strong start against non-conference foes, the team has fallen into last place in the highly competitive Greater Midwest Hockey League with a 0-2-2 league record (8-3-2 overall).\n“We need to get that first league win,” freshman forward and leading scorer KC Madock said. “Once you get one, they start rolling.”\nThis weekend, the team will have that chance when it travels to Grand Valley State University for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader. The Lakers (13-3-0), who joined the GMHL last season, are currently the top-ranked team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II Central Region. \nIU associate head coach Tom Orr is confident the team can be competitive against Grand Valley State and is not too worried about his team’s position. In a league that routinely places five or six teams in the 16-team national tournament, records can be deceptive.\n“(0-2-2) is just a small sample size,” Orr said. “By the end of the season, we should have a lot of league wins. Our record is something we are concerned about as a team, but it is something we can make right this weekend. We’re kind of excited to get a chance to get that first win against a quality opponent.”\nIU will try to rebound from a disheartening series against host Ferris State two weekends ago, when the team could only muster a loss and a tie. Ferris State (1-15-1) snapped a Miami Dolphins-like streak, winning its first game of the season after 15 consecutive losses.\nIU scored the first two goals of the Friday night game before Ferris State went on a scoring run, putting four shots past freshman goalie Justin Lincoln. \nIn the second period, Lincoln was knocked out cold by a misdirected shot, suffering a temporary spinal concussion. Backup goalie sophomore Sal Calace played the second half of the game and allowed only one goal. The final score was 5-3. Junior forward Daniel Keeney paced IU with two goals.\n“It’s very disappointing,” Madock said. “Anytime you are up two goals, especially that quick, you think you can beat that team.” \nThe following day, IU appeared to take control of the game when freshman defenseman Ryan Gidley scored with just five minutes remaining. However, Ferris State’s leading scorer, John Juliano, put a tricky backhand shot past freshman goalie Jason Burriss to tie the game 4-4. Both teams played conservatively in overtime, not wanting to allow a point, and the game ended in the tie. \n“It would’ve been nice to get the win,” Burriss said. “As a backup goalie, you wait for the opportunity to get some game time. I’d like to have that one shot back, but bounces don’t always go your way.”\nBesides Gidley, senior forwards Dan Karlander and Sam Adler and freshman forward Alex Cook added goals.