Hockey team has high hopes

Ask the hockey team's captains and first line who the team's rival is, and they'll give a more energetic, unified response than the Three Tenors could ever hope to achieve.\n"Miami."\nJunior captain Dan Hauck and junior assistant captain Brandon Phillips' eyes light up with rage at the mere thought of Miami (Ohio). Assistant captain Bryan Grant, a junior, the most outspoken of the trio, explains:\n"It's has to be Miami," Grant said. "We went 0-4 against Miami last year, and the fourth loss was in the national championship game. If that doesn't make for a rival, I'm not sure what does."\nThe hockey club has made it to the national championship four of the past six seasons. All four times, it walked away empty-handed. \n"That's not good enough," Hauck said.\nBut the team is confident things are going to change this year.\n"We've proven we have the talent to make it to the national tournament and get far," Phillips said. "I think everyone from the team last year is just going to be that much more hungry for it." \nPhillips joined the team's first line just before the national tournament last year, replacing graduating senior Rob Schacht, who was temporarily suspended. The coaching staff felt the line was strong during the tournament and has not considered altering it since.\nSo when the team voted for captain at the beginning of this season, the choice was obvious.\n"The voting was clearly for the guys that have been around," said coach Rich Holdeman. "What the team is doing when it elects captains is just confirming those who are already acting as captains ... the guys that take on leadership just by their presence and what they do."\nAt present, the first line has combined for almost 40 percent of the hockey club's points for the season. Grant has 15 points in five games, and both Phillips and Hauck have 10.\n"A top line of any team's goal is to score," Grant said. "I don't think we'd be playing this game if we didn't enjoy the amount of pressure put on us."\nThe line has proven itself in scoring, but the team feels its captains have more assets than just their offense.\n"They're passionate for the game," said sophomore forward Matt Cohen. "The main thing is, they get everyone pumped up. They make sure everyone is ready beforehand."\nThe captains feel believe their goals are clearly defined -- and that they are capable of obtaining them.\n"We have to go out there and set the example for everybody," Hauck said. "If the guys go out there and see us do what we're supposed to be doing, it's a trickle-down effect, to the guys that don't play and the guys that are dressing. We have to lead by example"