The Ice Hogs step up in class this weekend with a pair of games against Division I Oklahoma. The Sooners present a formidable challenge for the Razorbacks. Oklahoma opened their season last week by splitting a pair of games with #5 ranked Iowa State.

Led by their outstanding senior goalie Colin Fernandes, the Sooners play a tight checking defensive style of game. The Sooners are coached by former Oklahoma City Blazer Peter Arvanitis. Arvantis is from Montreal, Canada. He will be entering his 4th full season as Head Coach of the University of Oklahoma Hockey Team. In just 3 full seasons as Head Coach, Peter has a record of 76-31-12 which makes him the winningest coach in Sooner hockey history.

Coming off last year’s very successful 28-5-4 campaign, the Sooners are ranked #4 in the latest ACHA’s Division I rankings.

Blazers Ice Centre 8000 S I-35 Service Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73149

General Admission seating is $5.00 for students and the public. Depending upon availability, reserved seating is $10.00. Kids 6 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

The Ice Hogs will begin defense of their SECHC title in the conference opener against Auburn tomorrow and Saturday at the Jones Center in Springdale. Games times are 7:30pm.

Auburn opened their 2014-2015 campaign this past Saturday against Georgia Tech losing 12-2. There were questions leading up to the weekend if the club would be able to fill a roster due to a lack of a goaltender. The team decided to go ahead and push through the schedule this season with the uncertainty of who would be in net. Without a goalie with previous experience on the roster, the team needed to select a forward or defensemen to fill the roll. Wil Rodell, a forward and the club’s vice-president, volunteered to play in net against the Yellow Jackets.

Although Auburn has struggled at times since joining the SECHC, they would like nothing better than to knock off the Ice Hogs. Tickets are: $8 seating- $5 standing room (glass level) $3 children- 12 and under FREE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWG75b577Wg

Ice Hogs opening week opponent Metropolitan State University of Denver. Metro State Hockey has hired Matt Mason as head coach for the 2014-2015 Season.  Matt served as Assistant Coach on the record setting 2013-2014 season for the Roadrunners under head coach Gabe Gauthier.
http://www.metrostatehockey.org/home.html
The Ice Hogs face a worthy opponent in the Metro State Roadrunners. This club plays a very competitive schedule with D1 & 2 teams.
They are used to winning, play solid defense and have some very skilled players. The Hogs will have to come out fast and hard against this club.

Ice Hogs prepare for Season Opener

The University of Arkansas Ice Hogs opens their season with a pair of games Friday and Saturday September 12^th, and 13^th at 7:30pm against the Metro State Roadrunners at the Jones Center in Springdale.

Coming off a very successful 31-8 campaign, and place showing in the National tournament, the defending SECHC champion Ice Hogs look to take up where they left off and bring plenty of high velocity non-stop action.

The Ice Hogs are going to miss graduating seniors Johnny Stromp, Martin Sundstedt, Justin McDowell, and Tyler Bynum. But, the Ice Hogs have a continuity of leadership skills ready to step up in the form of seniors Forrest Mudgett, Marcel Toure, Easton Oliver, Bryce Derry, Taylor Jones, Connor Crumblish, Michael Kress, Spencer Mulgrew, and Kevin Scheer.

Coach Brian Gallini’s addition of incoming freshmen, Jesse Foskey, Landon Howze, Sky Chambers, Colin south, Weston Scott, Brandon Heller, and Matt Robinson is sure to provide excitement and give the Ice Hogs a bright forecast of the future.

Along with games against conference rivals, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Alabama, the Ice Hogs have scheduled games against Division 1 opponents Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and a home and home series with Midland University. The Ice Hogs also have Division 2 opponents Dallas Baptist, and Kansas on the schedule.

Along with some exciting fan friendly intermission events, the Ice Hogs have sponsorship and advertising opportunities for your business available this season. For inquiries contact Public Relations Officer: Haley Markle – hmarkle@email.uark.edu

The Ice Hogs held their Slim Chickens Season Opener and tryout scrimmage at the Jones Center this Saturday evening, and they did not disappoint the crowd in attendance. The action was nonstop with both teams trading exciting scoring chances and defensive plays throughout the contest.

The White team took the early lead in the first period on a nice play by Razorback new comer Ryan Howze. But, the Blue Team struck back quickly in the second period with a goal by Forrest Mudgett at the 19 second mark. Play picked up and several chances were thwarted by good defensive play and goaltending. Forrest Mudgett broke the tie, and gave the Blue Team a 3-1 lead with two goals in succession to record a natural hat trick.

The physical play picked up in the second period with several hard checks delivered in open ice and the corners. Defenseman Brandon Von Rooyen scored with a Seeing Eye shot through traffic to bring the White Team within 3-2. Veteran James Haddock and Ryan Machos displayed their good chemistry with Haddock netting back to back goals to put the White Team back in front 4-3.

But, Forrest Mudgett connected for his fourth goal of the game in the third period to knot the score at 4. Play continued back and forth with good scoring chances for both teams. Ryan Machos settled the affair with the game winner late in the third period for a 5-4 White Team victory.

Although the veteran players dominated play for the most part, the game featured several new Ice Hogs getting their first taste of competitive collegiate Hockey and they provided some exciting moments.

The Ice Hogs feature an up tempo style of play along with a structured defensive scheme, and solid goaltending. The season begins September 12 and 13 when the Ice Hogs take on Metro State. The puck drops at 7:30pm for both games. Come out and support your Ice Hogs as they defend their SECHC Title.

The Ice Hogs have sponsorship opportunities for businesses that want to support the Team and enhance their profile in NW Arkansas.

For inquiries contact Public Relations Officer: Haley Markle – hmarkle@email.uark.edu

The tryout scrimmage is coming up on Saturday the 23rd of August.

There will also be two open skating sessions framed around the scrimmage.

Come on out and support the Ice Hogs, and bring your skates for some cool exercise!

Chris Green

 What plans do you have for the summer?   This summer I will be in Dallas working and coaching at the local hockey rink as well as doing classes online.

What are you doing to stay in shape during the off season? I am on the ice everyday whether I am coaching or playing men’s league. I also have been in the gym 4 to 5 days a week to stay and shape and gain a little muscle before next season.

What is Coach Gallini’s recommendation regarding the part of your game he wants you to work and focus on for next season? In my post season meeting with Coach Gallini the two things he wanted me to focus on were (1) finding a job away from the puck and avoid being idle, and (2) make the simple play instead of making things too complex.

Do you have any personal goals this season for improving your game? With Easton only playing a half season last year and this year, I have become the oldest defenseman. I want to help push the younger D and be a role model to them. My personal goal is to have the best +/- on the team next season also.

The team has several games against competition which will be a step up in class, how do you personally approach these games?  We approach every game like it is another stepping stone to March. We don’t change anything for certain teams, we are trained a certain way and we approach every game like it is our last regardless of the opponent.

What kind of things do you do to prepare for games?  I tape both sticks when I get to the rink and then I kick the soccer ball around with the boys before off-ice warm ups. After warm ups Vanny, Scheersy and I sit in the stands and listen to music before every game.

What kind of things do you do to unwind after a game?  Go out to eat with the boys and just go back to the apartment and relax.

Traditionally, hockey players like routine and prepare for games in a ritualistic manner, some are superstitious. Do you follow a routine before a game, and are you superstitious, and if so, what are some of your routines and habits?  I always sit in the same spot in the locker room between Mac and Marcel, also I always put my left skate on before my right skate but I tie the right skate first. Before the game I always sit in the stands with Vanny and Scheersy and listen to music.

Which player on the Team do you notice that follows a rigid routine? Everyone has their own weird routines, but Vanny doesn’t put on any gear until exactly 15 minutes before every game and Fonzy unties and reties his skates during every intermission. 

The Razorbacks are the SEC-West defending conference champions for the past four consecutive seasons. What would it mean to the team to defend the championship this year? It would mean a lot, four years is an achievement but 5 years is a milestone.

Most players choose a number to wear that has significance to them. Tell us the significance of the number you choose to wear? I was actually number 21 my entire life growing up, but when I played juniors in Canada my first number was 4 so when I came to college I decided to keep the number 4. Plus number 4 was worn by the greatest D of all time, Bobby Orr.

Slim Chickens to Sponsor Tryout Scrimmage

Monday, July 14, 2014 / Press Release

Haley Markle – Arkansas Razorback Hockey

The Razorback Hockey Club has tweaked the tryout process for this season by adding a scrimmage that is open to the public and will allow fans to get a first look at the 2014-15 team.

Slim Chickens will sponsor the scrimmage that will take place at 6 p.m. August 23 at The Jones Center in Springdale.

“We see the change in format adding a Saturday scrimmage as a great opportunity to showcase the sport of hockey to the NWA community,” said Michael Kirk, director of recreation at The Jones Center.

“The NWA Hockey Association are going to get an indispensable opportunity to show what they have going on with their exhibitions at the intermissions. We hope that a lot of people take advantage of the public skating times before and after the game as well,” Kirk added.  Fans will be able to purchase tickets to the game for $5 in the form of a wristband that will also allow access to both public skating opportunities.

The Jones Center has provided a home for the Razorback Hockey Team its formation in 2008.

“We love hosting UofA hockey events at The Jones Center because it brings families and students to the center that otherwise would not know that we were here,” Kirk said. “It gives the community something family oriented and fun to do while introducing The Jones Center to more people.”

Over the last two seasons, the Razorbacks went 58-17-1 en route to back-to-back South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Championships.  This season, the Razorbacks will look to replace departed seniors Tyler Bynum, Justin McDowell, Johnny Stromp and Martin Sundstedt.  Last season, those four players combined to score more than 25 percent of the goals scored by the Razorbacks, led by 27 from Sundstedt and 15 from Stromp.

The team will look to fill the void with newcomers Landyn Howze, Colin South, and Jesse Foskey, along with returning players Ryan Machos, Forrest Mudgett and Marcel Toure, who scored 22, 17, and 26 goals, respectively, last season.

It is anticipated that up to 60 players will participate in tryouts for this season. Tryouts begin at 4 p.m. August 21 with registration and off-ice testing. On-ice tryouts will take place August 22-24.