Hockey

File photo by Bailey Vassalli/THE STANDARD Brady Griffin blocks a shot attempt during a February 2019 game. Ice Bears have and they know how I like to do things. They’ll be good mentors to the younger guys.” The Ice Bears will have a balanced roster in terms high hopes for of age thanks to the new faces. There are at least six players in each class, which is a departure from last season’s roster that had 13 seniors on it. 20th season The age balance is going to have a big effect in the defensive third of the ice. “We have a lot more defensive depth this year,” Law said. “We were short-handed all of last year, and STEPHEN TERRILL that’s no knock on the guys. We were just short on Sports Editor numbers. This year we have 10 committed defense@Stevethe2nd men that all have experience at a high level. My gut tells me that we’re going to be good on the back end.”

The Missouri State club hockey team is looking The Ice Bears will need defensive depth as the to return to the postseason after missing the national Western Collegiate Hockey League, which the Ice tournament last season. Bears are a part of, is expanding to 10 teams this year

The Ice Bears play in Division I of the American — up from seven. Collegiate Hockey Association. The ACHA has over The Ice Bears will be in the east division which 400 teams across three men’s divisions and two womincludes Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, Colorado en’s divisions. and Colorado State. Both Oklahoma teams have been

Last season the team placed 30th out of 70 Divitop-ranked teams in recent years. sion I teams. The two seasons prior the Ice Bears The west division will have Arizona, Arizona made it to the national tournament, which takes only State, and new teams Nevada Las Vegas, Utah and the top 18 teams. Grand Canyon. Both Arizona teams and UNLV were

Head coach Jeremy Law said the team is looking ranked in the top 20 DI teams last season. to make a return to top 10 form. Law said he thinks the combination of roster depth

A resurgence will have to be done through a comand quality opponents to play will allow the team to bination of new and familiar faces, including last compete at a high level. season’s top forward line of senior center Josh Bell, “I expect us to definitely be more successful than junior winger Hunter Cooley and senior winger Alex we were last year,” Law said. “Not to be arrogant or Rubin. The three combined for 100 points last season. cocky but I fully expect us to be at nationals in Bos

Senior defensemen Brian Schumacher and Sam ton come March. Our goal is to always be a top-10 Hiserodt are back for a fifth year and will likely be team in the country, and we have the potential to do the top defensive pairing. that.”

Senior goaltender Brady Griffin is also returning The Ice Bears plan to open the season at home for a fifth year. In net he is joined by senior goaltenagainst Illinois State on Sept. 25, but that could change der Bailey Stephens. The pair have split goalie duties with the state of COVID-19. the past two seasons. The Ice Bears play their home games at Jordan

“I’m excited with our fifth-year commitments,” Valley Ice Park at 635 E Trafficway St in downtown Law said. “These guys have been here a long time, Springfield, which is a 15-minute walk from campus.