Seniors say goodbye with a win

The Frank Southern Center isn't known as one of the more luxurious facilities in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Because of its smaller ice surface, low ceiling and, until recent renovations, inadequate lighting, "The Frank" was often jokingly referred to as "the cave" by opponents.\nBut to the veterans of the Hoosier hockey team, "The Frank" is known as home. This was all the more apparent Saturday night, as the Robert Morris College Gold Eagles came to town for the Hoosiers' designated "Senior Night." It could have been anyone on the receiving end of the 6-1 domination the Hoosiers delivered.\nSaturday was all about saying goodbye.\n"It's a little sad, being the last game," senior center Brandon Phillips said. "As dumpy as this place is, I'll miss it."\nThe evening began with a 15-minute ceremony honoring the nine seniors. Each player was joined on the ice by his parents while general manager Alex Kyrias honored their individual achievements with IU.\n"When we were doing the senior night presentations, giving flowers to our parents, I felt it," goaltender Chad Whitlock said. "Once the game started, you don't think about that; you just think about the next shot. While you're playing you're not thinking about it, but when it's over and you start reflecting, it's been awesome.\n"It was an awesome way to finish out."\nWhitlock was given the start Saturday, just his third victory of the year after dropping to third on the Hoosier depth chart. But the 6-1 victory, which followed an 8-3 win over the same opponent Friday, extended his team-record win total to 38, and he stopped 27 of 28 shots, flashing the kind of ability he showed when he led the Hoosiers to the 2000 ACHA National Championship game.\nMore Hoosier nostalgia included the reunion of one of the most proficient offensive lines in IU history. Seniors Bryan Grant, Dan Hauck and Brandon Phillips, who have spent the better part of two years together, hadn't played on the same line the past few weeks. \n"I think coach just did it for nostalgic purposes, having the three seniors together," Hauck said. "It was an emotional night. I've grown up a lot with these guys a lot the last four years. It felt good."\nPhillips and Hauck have combined to score 285 points over the last four years (ranked fourth and 10th all-time, respectively), and their willingness to get involved physically have made them fan favorites as well. But the most difficult goodbye might have been that of left wing Grant, who recently moved into second on the Hoosiers all-time list with 206 career points. What makes that number even more impressive is that he did it in just three seasons here.\n"It's always nice to have personal accolades, but when you're on a team sport, there's only one important thing and that's to win," Grant said. "The points are just playing on good teams with good players."\nGrant's feelings seemed to be echoed by his fellow graduating seniors, all of whom have been to several national championships and come within one win of the title. \n"I've been playing hockey for 18 years," Phillips said. "To know there's only one week left, it's kind of rough. But it will be a lot sweeter if we can take the national championship.\n"That'd be a good way to go out."\nAlso playing in his final home game was senior co-captain Tim McMahon, the Hoosiers' best two-way defenseman known for his bone-crunching open ice checks. Gordy Haggard has been an integral part of the Hoosier offense for four years, culminating last weekend with two huge goals to catapult IU into the Great Midwest Hockey League championship game. His performance was capped off by defenseman Adam Federman, who pulled off the greatest highlight of his career with the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship game. Wingers Matt Voll and Ed Karasek scored 10 points this year after setting career highs offensively last year. But their main value to the Hoosiers was in penalty killing, leadership and non-stop work ethic.\n"It was very emotional out there," said Karasek, who picked up a goal Saturday. "I think it's not going to kick in until next September, when training camp usually starts.\n"I think then, I'll realize it's finally over"