SPORTS
AUG 23, 2010
30
UCO Hockey Preview
CAN THEY REPEAT?
PHOTO BY CHRIS WESCOTT
Jonathan Cannizzo
Senior Forward
#18 2010/2011 Season Home Games Fri September 17- Oklahoma Sooners 7:30 PM Fri October 1- Lindenwood 7:30 PM Sat October 2- Lindenwood 7:30 PM Fri October 29- Davenport 7:30 PM Sat October 30- Davenport 7:30 PM Fri November 5- Missouri State 7:30 PM Sat November 6- Missouri State 7:30 PM Fri November 19- Liberty University 7:30 PM Sat November 20- Iowa State 7:30 PM Fri December 3- Oklahoma Sooners 7:30 PM Thur January 13- Arizona State 7:30 PM Fri January 14- Arizona State 7:30 PM Sat January 15- US Naval Academy 7:30 PM Sun January 16-US Naval Academy 2:30PM Fri January 28-Colorado 7:30 PM Sat January 29-Colorado 7:30 PM Thur February 3- Oakland 7:30 PM Fri February 4- Eastern Washington 7:30 PM Sat February 5- Eastern Washington 7:30 PM Sat February 19- Oklahoma Sooners 7:30 PM All UCO home games are played at Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond, OK
Key Players to Watch Whoever starts in net
Goaltender is the most important position in hockey. If you can’t keep the puck out of the net, you are going to lose. Whoever is the starting goalie come September is going to have a trial by fire. Their first game in net is against the high flying Sooner attack. With as many games against highly ranked opponents as the Bronchos have, it is safe to say the season will hinge on this player. Whoever they may be.
Jonathan Cannizzo
The Vista made a list of their Broncho breakout players and senior forward Brent Block is one of them. He needs to have an outstanding season this year, and is poised to do so. However, Jonathan Cannizzo is also a key player. The senior forward from Illinois lead the Bronchos in scoring last season with 43 points. He’ll need a repeat performance or an even better one to help the Bronchos’ offense weather the turnover storm (losing 9+ players in the offseason).
Casey Smith
Smith is poised to have a nice senior season. In his last two years in the Broncho uniform, Smith has scored 19 points. The senior forward out of Carrolton, TX is a bruiser. Listed as 6’1’’ 230 pounds, Smith has the potential to be a powerful piece to the UCO puzzle this year. Casey “Smitty” Smith could be a key player on the ice come September.
Honorable Mention: Patrick Higgins, Nick Novak, Brent Block, Adam Hull
By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor The University of Central Oklahoma hockey team is coming off their most successful season in school history. The ACHA Division I program not only made the playoffs for the second straight year, but made it all the way to the semifinals. The Bronchos earned the tenth seed in the national tournament with a 24-14 record. UCO beat their rivals, the University of Oklahoma Sooners, 5-4 in a thrilling double overtime, first round contest. They then went on to beat No. 2 Penn State 2-1 in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Bronchos ended their season with a 4-0 loss to the eventual national champion Lindenwood Lions in the semi-finals. It was a Cinderella story without the perfect ending. This season, a completely new team will take the ice against the Sooners on opening weekend (Sep. 16-17). The Bronchos lose nine seniors from last year’s miracle squad to graduation, plus a few other players due to personal reasons. They are expecting an influx of rookie talent to offset the turnover. UCO will
play 38 games this year. Twenty will be played on their home ice at Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond. Their schedule consists of six Bedlam games, against their in-state rivals, the Sooners. The Bronchos will play eight ranked opponents including Oklahoma, Iowa State, Lindenwood, Penn State and Arizona State. In fact, they begin their season with six straight games against perennial top 10 teams. Their brutal start to the schedule and high turnover rate this offseason make it imperative for some of their younger players to develop early. Sophomore defenseman Tony Bruno and sophomore forward Kevin Bergquist enter their second years as Bronchos. Both should see more play time and responsibilities. Goaltender is in a state of flux for UCO. They lose senior stand-out Justin Sgro, whose phenomenal play in the national tournament paved the way for Broncho history. Several names come to mind in the race for the starter between the posts. Two of the players to watch will be incumbent back-up to Sgro, sophomore Eric Murbach and soon-to-be rookie,
Nick Holmes. Murbach played admirably in his limited playtime last season in relief of Sgro and will be a factor in the competition. But knowing that Sgro would be difficult to replace, the team brought in four goaltenders to compete. In speaking with head coach Craig McAlister and others, Nick Holmes will be a player to watch as well. Senior forward Jonathan Cannizzo is the returning leading scorer for the Bronchos. He is sure to be an offensive leader this season as well. Brent Block is another senior forward who will be looking to light up the scoreboard come September. Casey Smith and Greg Masters will be tough guys to compete with on the ice. Both players are in excess of 6’1’’, 230 pounds. The team voted junior defenseman and Green Bay, Wis., native Nick Novak, captain this season. Junior forward Patrick Higgins and senior defenseman Hayden Scolaro will man the alternate captain spots. The Bronchos take the ice on September 16 against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Blazers’ Ice Center in Oklahoma City.
Q&A With Jonathan Cannizzo
Q. A. Q. A.
What are the expectations for the team this year? “I think we have a solid group of guys coming back and incoming freshmen. I think we have a solid chance of making the national championship game and hopefully winning it all this year.”
What are your thoughts on bedlam hockey this season? “It’s a pretty big rivalry when we play OU. We don’t like eachother. Obviously. It’s a close rival, an in-state rival. There’s a lot of history with us. The games are good, pretty competitive. We always play them tough. We beat them last year at nationals. So that adds a little more fuel to the fire. We are hoping for good things against them this year.”
Sports Editor Chris Wescott Season Prediction:
26-12
Sports Writer Michael Collins Season Prediction:
22-16