The men’s club ice hockey team will put its ability to the test this weekend against its Intercollegiate Hockey League rival the University of North Texas. The league championship match pits first seeded UNT (11-3) against third seeded SMU (10-4).
The two teams met twice this year, splitting the games one victory a piece. The Ponies are the only squad to defeat UNT on the ice this season. North Texas’ two other losses came as a result of a forfeit.
The ‘Stangs are rolling after thumping second seeded Texas A&M last weekend by a score of 9-3 in the semi-final match. The week prior, the Ponies beat up on Texas Tech with the score ending 11-7.
The Ponies hope to make it two in a row against UNT after defeating them 6-5 back on Nov. 24. Team captain Brent Ozenbaugh likes the Ponies’ chances on Sunday.
“UNT made a good showing last year at the Division III national tournament,” Ozenbaugh said. “They are going to be tough, but we are the only team that has been able to beat them in the last three seasons.”
The players have shown a lot of dedication to the team all season long. The men didn’t really know what to expect back on Oct. 19 when they played their first match against Texas Tech. Five months and 16 games later, the Ponies are heading into the championship match.
The Mustangs have performed well above expectations in just their first season as a member of the ICHL. The league is made up of eight schools and the teams play each other twice. The Ponies have faced Texas Tech, Texas A&M, University of Texas, Baylor and UNT. Oklahoma State University and University of Houston forfeited both meetings against SMU.
Under new head coach Steve La Mere the Mustangs put together two four-game winning streaks throughout the season. Three of the Ponies’ four losses have come by just one goal. Garet Chisum is a veteran of the club and believes that La Mere has a lot to do with the improvement.
“We are really excited about coach La Mere taking over the program and where it is headed,” Chisum said. “He has been around the game of hockey all his life, and he really knows what he is doing.”
For Chisum, Ozenbaugh and the rest of the Mustang roster things are finally starting to fall into place. The team’s new contract with The Rink in Addison has finally put ‘Stang fans in the seats for games.
The more difficult competition in the ICHL allows the Ponies to face the best of the best in the region. The offense is lighting up the siren on a regular basis. This season the Mustangs have outscored their opponents by a count of 72-56. As a whole, the team is molding together as a single unit.
“It is amazing to see how much this team has improved,” Ozenbaugh said. “I have been a part of this club for three years and we are finally playing well in big-time games.”
If the Mustangs come out of Sunday’s match victorious they could have a chance to represent the Southwest Region at the national tournament in Atlanta.
Regardless of the outcome, the program has taken huge steps forward this season.
Next year the Ponies will look to add schools from Florida, Georgia and Louisiana to their schedule.
The championship game will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday at Blue Line Ice Arena in North Richard Hills.
