Arizona Wildcats Hockey earns a spot in the 2018 ACHA National Tournament
By David Rosen
The Arizona Wildcats hockey team earned a spot in the 2018 ACHA National Tournament and will look to continue their winning ways in March.
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When you think of March, you think of the Arizona Wildcats Basketball team taking part in March Madness, right?! Well, this time around there will be another Arizona Wildcats team competing in March, the hockey team! They will be competing among 20 teams for the ACHA Men’s Division 1 championship Crown.
Postseason appearances are nothing new for the Wildcat’s hockey program. During the “Madhouse on Main Street” days from 1983-2003, when they were known as the Arizona Icecats, they made 21 straight tournament appearances, including eight Final Four appearances and one National Championship in 1985.
In 2011, the hockey team became fully associated with the University of Arizona and became known as the Arizona Wildcats. Since 2011, they have struggled to make it the National Tournament, but this year they look to turn things around. The last tournament appearance for the Wildcats was during the 2013-14 season, where they were seeded No.18 and lost in the first round to Illinois.
The University of Arizona Wildcats secured their berth in the 2018 ACHA National Tournament! #16 Arizona will face #17 Missouri State on Thursday, March 8 in Columbus, Ohio. COMPLETE DETAILS to follow. BEAR DOWN! #Champions #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/4kUcVxTpTM
— UAZ Wildcat Hockey (@UAWildcatHockey) February 21, 2018
They finished the 2017-18 season with an overall record of 18-8-3, earning themselves a No.16 seed in the ACHA National Tournament. Freshman power forward Anthony Cusanelli led the team in scoring with 31 goals and had 20 assists, which included five game-winning goals. He is also the No.3 scoring among all players in NCAA Division 1!
The Wildcats two main goaltenders, Anthony Ciurro and Austin Wilson, combined for 89 goals allowed and 891 saves this season – that’s a combined 90.9 save percentage! That type of efficiency between the posts is one of the main reasons why the Wildcats have had a successful season.
The cherry on top! This season couldn’t have ended any better for this squad as they beat the Arizona “ASWho” Sun Devils at home 6-1. The game even included a fight between the two goalies! Poor Devils can’t catch a break against any Wildcat team or player. Well, there is always next year or maybe not.
So... that just happened pic.twitter.com/f5bGbJRvI4
— UAZ Wildcat Hockey (@UAWildcatHockey) February 19, 2018
Must Read: Arizona Basketball: One last road-trip through the Oregon Trail
At Zona Zealots, we are super excited about the Wildcat’s hockey team making back to the postseason. Their first game will be against Missouri State on March 8th in Columbus. Follow the team’s progress through all their social media outlets. And of course, where ever you may be, cheering your Wildcats to victory, Bear Down!