Category | Sports

Ice hockey kicks off season with home-opener vs. UGA

Published on September 9, 2008 by The Sentinel

   On Sept. 17, the KSU Ice Hockey club will begin their season on the
road by facing the Atlanta Knights JR at the Marietta Ice Center. Two
days later, the Owls will return home to take inner-state rival UGA in
an important and much anticipated matchup.

 
    While many of the players are returning, the team gained two valuable members to the program: head coach Ken Honeyman and asst. coach Christopher Powers.

    “Our job is to win games and to do what we can to make sure that we have the best competitive team on the ice throughout the game,” said Powers.

    Both coaches bring almost 50 years of total experience to the program, each having coached in the Atlanta area and other various regions in the U.S.

    With the additions to their coaching staff and assistance from Bill Morrison, the director of hockey operations, KSU looks toward the future to continuously develop the program in hopes of  becoming more nationally recognized.

    The team grew accustomed to success in 2007 when they won the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III National Championship, but they had more to prove. Their championship catapulted the team to a newer and more difficult division. To prepare the team for Div. II, last season they decided to double their practice time each week.

    The beginning of last season was rough for the Owls after dropping their first six games. However, the team was able to rebound with some big wins against Duke University, Liberty University and the University of Tennessee. Those wins, along with several others, were enough to qualify the Owls for the South East District Tournament held in Washington, D.C.

    Indiana University was an early test for the Owls. After a 3-3 tie, the game was forced into overtime where KSU fell after giving up a goal thus losing 4-3.

    The Owls returned home disappointed but still with their heads high, knowing that they have the ability and motivation to become even better. “This team is really built to win right now,” said Honeyman. “They have tasted the championship as pretty much freshmen.”

    With less than two weeks to go before their opening game, the team is anxious but remains confident. They each know what they have to do, for they all share a common goal in bringing home another championship. The upcoming season will be no cakewalk, though.

    The Owls will have the luxury of playing several big-name teams like  UGA, Kentucky, Tennessee and East Carolina at home. They will also be lacing up their skates as far north as Michigan and New York.

    The first home game against UGA is one of the most important for KSU. More than 1,000 fans are expected, which produces an environment that can only be compared to the pros.

    “The whole building is full of the energy,” explained Powers regarding a typical home game. “It’s not like one of these sterile environments where people are away somewhere.”

    Even as young as this program is, this particular squad is expected to be as good, if not better, than last year’s team. After barely missing out on a potential shot at another national championship, they are looking toward 2008-09 to be their year to relive the glory from 2007.

    The roster remains relatively unchanged from last season. The Owls will be lead by top scorers Jerry Holden and forward Ricky Lirette along with the current Club President, Dylan Morrison and VP of KSU Club Sports Jimmy Barry. Their guardian between the pipes for the upcoming season will be Ben Powers.

    “I think we got a good team this year,” stated Lirette. “We should have a good run probably for a national championship.”

    The Owls will have the opportunity to showcase what they have learned in the off-season on Sept. 19 at the Town Center IceForum at 10:00 p.m. against UGA.