On Florida’s ice hockey club Web site, the home page states the Gators ice hockey team intends to avenge its football team’s loss. It did so in convincing fashion. The LSU ice hockey club fell to the Florida Gators, 10-2 Friday and 12-2 Saturday. The Gators benefited from an offensive outpour in the second period of game one, scoring 10 goals. “The shorthanded play helped us get started,” said Florida coach Drew Hill. “Most of the goals came off that big penalty they had.” The Tigers took a 1-0 lead into the second period when a costly penalty led to a Florida score. LSU responded with a breakaway goal to put themselves up 2-1. Florida’s forecheck proved to be too much for the shorthanded Tigers as they allowed the offensive explosion in the period. “Our forecheck is something we definitely work on in practice,” Hill said. “If you can keep it in their zone, you are going to get more shots than them. That is how you win the game.” LSU responded in the third period by not allowing any goals in the third behind new goaltender, senior Devin Drouant. “You don’t see them tripping and complaining about calls, and they pick their heads up when they make a mistake,” said LSU coach Leonard Alsfeld. “In time, we will iron out the little issues.” LSU senior forward Steve Ashy expressed optimism after the strong defensive showing in the third period. “We wanted to show them that we hadn’t given up,” Ashy said. “That we’re going to be back tomorrow to play them again.” In game two of the weekend’s series, the Tigers suffered a worse defeat. Ashy scored both of the Tigers’ goals unassisted. “We still have to be optimistic,” said LSU junior forward Richard Fischer. “We’re still .500, and Florida might be the best team we play all year. We’re going to practice hard this week and get ready for Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee in Nashville next weekend.” The Tigers are 2-2 in their first season, and Alsfeld expressed optimism for the remaining season. “This is the first year for this program,” Alsfeld said. “Most of these guys have played the sport on an in-line program so they have had to adjust the way they play. Over the course of the year, this is going to be a continually improving team.”
—Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]