Confident team enters into 1st home game against Wildcats

The hockey team faces off against the University of Kentucky in a split series this weekend. The Hoosiers welcome the Wildcats to the Frank Southern Center, 1965 S. Henderson St., for the team's first home game of the season at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Kentucky hosts IU at the Lexington Ice Center Saturday.\nThe Hoosiers enter the game with a 2-1 season record, a 2-0 conference mark and a lot of confidence.\n"Every time we play them it's a good game," senior goalie Justin Wojtowicz said. "A home-and-home series is competitive. It's a lot of fun to go down there and beat them in front of their home crowd."\nDespite being mauled 8-0 in its Oct. 19 season opener at Eastern Michigan University, the Hoosiers bounced back and have not allowed a goal since the end of the Eastern Michigan match, a streak of 112:23. The team is also 33-4 in its last three seasons at home. The Hoosiers hope to maintain the shutout streak and home-ice advantage against the undefeated Wildcats.\n"They always play hard, and they're pretty physical," coach Rich Holdeman said. "We like to try to get on them and play well against them up here, set the tone for the game that goes back to Lexington."\nThe Wildcats enter the weekend 5-0-1, tying Division II Penn State on the road. Kentucky has outscored its opponents 24-13 this season, including 16-1 in its two-game home series last weekend with DePaul University.\n"It's really a crazy environment.," Holdeman said. "They're hard to play in Lexington, not only because they have great fan support but because the game is at a bizarre hour."\nAll Kentucky home games begin at midnight, and Saturday's battle is no exception.\n"It's after the bars close in Kentucky," assistant coach and general manager Alex Kyrias said. "Back when I played, I was backing up once down there and got a can of chew thrown at me. Every year it's something different.\n"They talk up a good game, but year after year we manage (to win)"