A year ago, the Arizona Wildcats hockey team found itself in a position almost identical to the one it faces Sunday.
The Wildcats entered their final game against Arizona State on the bubble, their American Collegiate Hockey Association playoff hopes at stake.
Arizona beat ASU in dramatic comeback fashion in the season finale, but it wasn’t enough to earn the team a bid to the postseason.
This year’s Wildcats could likely punch their ticket with a win over ASU. The UA is 18-8-3 and ranked No. 16 in the country heading into their final home game of the regular season; the ACHA bracket features 20 teams.
“Right now, the coaches and everyone in the staff is preparing like it’s a must-win game for us,” forward Tyler Griffith said. “Everyone’s feeling ready.”
Arizona tied 3-3 against ASU Friday night, a result that neither helps nor hurts the team’s playoff hopes. The Wildcats are 4-0-2 against the Sun Devils this year.
“We came in the first semester of the season and I really liked what we put together,” Nick Zellmer said. “The second half we came in and it seemed like we got a little complacent, but it looks like we’re putting things back together.”
Arizona is closer to full strength now with top scorer Anthony Cusanelli back in the lineup. Cusanelli’s 31 goals are more than the team’s next two top scorers combined.
The Wildcats have also relied extensively on the play of the team’s senior class, which includes Sean Ozment, Roy Grandov, Oirion Olsen, Austin Wilson, Griffith, and Zelmer.
Sunday’s game will serve as senior day. It figures to be extra emotional for Ozment, who transferred to Arizona from Bethel University in 2015.
The defenseman has seen the program’s ups and downs over the last three seasons, from a playoff berth to missing the postseason to the team’s current situation.
The Wildcats will learn their postseason fate by Wednesday.
“Last year we had a lot of injuries at the wrong time and ended up coming up short, but this year we have a big chance to get there again,” Ozment said. “I think this is probably the best team we’ve had overall since I’ve been at the U of A.”
