IU club hockey roster set

The IU club hockey team took to the ice last Friday night for an intrasquad exhibition game at Frank Southern Ice Arena in Bloomington for one final shakedown. The coaches divided the squad into two separate teams to help determine starters and finalize the roster.

The game gave coaches an opportunity to look at their players in action before the regular season starts next week against Kentucky. It also allowed players to make their case for more playing time.

The Red team beat the White team 6-4, scoring two goals late in the final period. Despite the high final score, the game was dominated by the goalies in the first period and part of the second.

The game got physical, too. Although the players were squaring off against their teammates, there were several body checks, and a fight broke out after the final buzzer.

“If that’s how we play against ourselves, imagine how we’ll do against somebody else,” coach Tom Orr said.

One of the seniors on the team this year, right wing Adam Fishbein, said he felt good about Friday’s game.

“I’m more than impressed with the speed of the game,” Fishbein said. “Best Red-White game I’ve ever been a part of.”

Fishbein is one of several players returning from last year, when the team made it all the way to the Division II National Championship before losing to Davenport.

“We’re just as confident as we were going into last year,” he said. “We lost a player of the year, but we probably have at least five guys to fill the shoes.”

The team will play at Davenport in late October, and Fishbein is excited about the rematch.

“I think Davenport is still the team to beat, and we’re going for them,” he said.

One of four goalies on the team this year is junior Sal Calace, who saw plenty of playing time in the game as there were two goalies on each team dividing up playing time.

“It’s been pretty fun,” he said. “Almost like a tryout again.”

Late in the second period, Calace made a series of good saves for the White team. During one Red team attack, he even lost his stick, but surrendered no goals.

Calace said Friday’s game will help his team prepare for the season-opener.

“I think we’ll be ready,” he said. “Everything out there today is probably going to roll over to the next game against Kentucky.”

The final roster was completed after Friday’s game. On Saturday the team traveled to Columbus, Ind., for an intrasquad match-up, also won by the boys in red.

Orr was thrilled with the way his team played and likes its chances for this season.

“I’m super excited,” Orr said. “By the end of the year, we’re going to be right back in the hunt for the championship.”