February 17th 2008 - With the 2008 All-Star game in the books, the Ice is having one of their best seasons ever as the team stands alone in first place in the USHL’s East Division. With such a great start to the year, the Ice has broken many records as a team, while individuals are shining as well.
The Ice entered the season with a coaching staff that had never coached a full season together. Head Coach Charlie Skjodt and Associate Head Coach Scott McConnell joined forces right before the 2007 Playoffs started, and eventually led the Ice to the Clark Cup Final Four.
“We have a coaching staff that believes in us and lets us play our games,” stated one of the team’s top scorers Greg Squires. “It’s more laid back, which helps us play more confident.”
The Ice returned ten players from last year, including Squires and filled the roster with 13 key newcomers to get to the roster size of 23.
“With last year’s playoff run fresh in our head, everyone coming back was excited to play this year,” returnee Jake Skjodt said.
The 13 newcomers are adjusting well to the league and have been a key part of the team’s first half success and all of the first-year USHL’ers are getting a lot of support from the veterans.
“I try to inspire all of the new guys,” said second-year forward Brent Gwidt. “I know what it was like making the transition last year to this league. The talent level is unbelievable.”
Team camaraderie has been another part of the Ice’s success as the club this season seems to be much closer than teams from the past.
“There’s not three different groups of cliques,” stated veteran forward John Kemp. “We all get along much better and do things as an entire team.”
“They play for each other,” said Associate Head Coach Scott McConnell. “At the beginning of the year, we tried to make sure there were no outcasts. When you have the amount of veterans that we do, it’s easy for first-year guys to feel comfortable. It speaks volumes for our leadership.”
The Ice began the season with 11 straight home victories, shattering their old record. The home winning streak dated back to last April, boosting the winning streak to a franchise-best 15 consecutive wins from their home venue at Pepsi Coliseum.
“When you’re at home, you seem to have a certain routine,” said veteran forward Ron Cramer. “We know ‘Pepsi’ and all its charm and it is tough to beat us there.”
With the Ice sitting atop the East Division standings, teams coming in to battle Indiana seem to play much harder knowing the Ice has such a strong record at home.
“Every team coming here to play us will play their best because they want to knock off a top team,” remarked first-year defenseman John Carlson, who has been atop the scoring charts for defensemen all season. “When you are in first, you are a marked squad.”
With almost half of the season under way, the Ice has 15 home wins and an overall record of 23 wins, six losses, and four overtime/shootout losses. With 50 points already in the standings, the all-time Ice record for points in a season (59) is in sight. With the way the Ice is playing right now, that record is sure to be broken.
As for individual records, one must first start with the team’s resident playmaker, John Kemp.
Kemp is in his usual spot atop the USHL scoring charts and he passed former Ice forward Garrett Roe earlier this season to become the top scorer in Ice franchise history. At the mid-point mark of this year, the Arcadia, CA native has 160 points in an Ice uniform and 42 points so far this season. With a strong second half, he should break the record for most points in a season (63) set last year by him and Roe.
Kemp’s offensive prowess is one of the reasons for the team’s success on the power play as they enter the halfway mark with a USHL-leading 39 power play goals.
“Every guy on our power play units are a threat,” said the Ice’s leading goal scorer Paul Carey. “Each player adds a different element on the power play which is why we have had such strong success this season.”
In addition to the club’s power play, the team has also been one of the better USHL squads when it comes to the penalty kill. Indiana has scored eight shorthanded goals at the midway mark of the season with Gwidt leading the charge with three “shorties.”
“It takes a certain kind of player to play on the ‘kill’,” said Gwidt. “You have to be patient and pick your spots. Our penalty kill units seem to outwork the opposition which has garnered some success and many scoring chances.”
A strong penalty killing unit feeds off a strong goaltender and the Ice’s Scott Darling has proven to be one of the best in the USHL. Darling has already won 16 games which included an Ice franchise-best nine-game winning streak. With more of the same consistent play in net, the 2007 Phoenix Coyotes Draft Pick is on track to pass former goaltender Alex Kangas for most wins in a season (19).
“I have rarely been rattled this year,” said Darling. “I enjoy coming to the rink each night and enjoy playing with this group of guys. As a team, we are having fun which means we are enjoying success.”
Along with goaltending mate Matt Hoyle, netminding has been strong for the club.
“With two fine keepers, there is always competition between us,” added Darling. “It’s nice to have a quality goalie to push me.”
In closing, the team has enjoyed the support of their loyal fans.
“We feed off of our fans,” stated Captain Nick Bailen. “We take pride in playing for our loud crowds who support us night in and night out.”
With the Clark Cup Playoffs on the horizon, the 2007-08 Indiana Ice squad should be a major player in the postseason. By the time the season comes to a close, many more individual and team records should be shattered, but the team has their sights on the big prize.
“We want the Clark Cup,” said Bailen speaking for the team as a whole. |
;)
