Team faces grudge match at home

The hockey team last played Miami of Ohio University March 4. In a close contest, the Clubhawks edged out the Hoosiers 3-2. Not only did Miami hold a 3-0-1 record against the Hoosiers last season, but the March 4 game was the national championship.\nThe Hoosiers (13-4-1, 9-0-1 Midwest Collegiate Hockey League) are looking for revenge. They will have their chance when they play host to Miami (7-3, 6-2 MCHL) at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at the Frank Southern Center, 1965 S. Henderson Ave.\n"We can win both of these games, but they won the national championship," junior forward and assistant captain Bryan Grant said. "Winning both of these games isn't going to make me feel better about losing last year."\nThe Hoosiers claim they don't need any help getting psyched up for this series.\n"I think we're ready," coach Rich Holdeman said. "I think it was a good week of practice. I feel like the guys are ready to go, and the motivation is definitely there."\nIU now leads the MCHL with 19 league points. Miami is in third, with 12 points. This will be Miami's first battle since its 7-1 thrashing of Ohio State Dec. 2.\nThe Clubhawks feature a balanced scoring attack this season, led by freshmen forwards Jeff Lorenz and Nick Maitland. Both have 12 points this season for Miami.\n"They're very disciplined, they play their systems extremely well and are well coached," Holdeman said. "I think we had more talent than they did last year, but they're so well disciplined, they're hard to score on."\nThe Hoosiers have had no problem scoring so far this season. Grant leads the way with 45 points, while forward and captain Dan Hauck, forward and assistant captain Brandon Phillips and defenseman Tim McMahon, all juniors, all have more than 20 points on the season.\nThis weekend marks the Hoosiers' first two battles in a nonstop series of competitive games, leading up to the conference championships Feb. 16 and 17. Following Miami, IU must travel to Michigan State for two games, face conference powerhouse Michigan at home, then play host to Minnesota before heading to Champaign, Ill., to battle Illinois' D-I team.\nFor IU's five seniors, the next few weeks will be the final opportunity to secure the one thing that has eluded the talented Hoosier hockey program since they've been here -- a national championship.\n"I want to see our team compete at a higher level," Holdeman said. "We've got to elevate our game, not for this series, but for the rest of the season"