The SMU Hockey team kicks off its season today in Lafayetteagainst the Tulane Green Wave. With a fresh batch of talent and asolid goaltender, SMU stands to be a top contender in the CollegeHockey South West, the premiere college ice hockey league in thesouth central region of the United States. This is SMU’sfirst year in the CHSW, which consists of teams throughout Texasand Oklahoma.
This season also marks the team’s second year under coachSteve La Mere. In addition to coaching SMU, La Mere coaches thejunior varsity hockey team at Highland Park High School, as well asvarious clinics and camps. He sees a great deal of potential inthis team, and he makes a strong case for coming out to see themplay this year.
“It’s very physical,” La Mere said. “Andthere’s a lot a tension, a lot of emotion out there. You canreally tell that the guys are giving 100 percent everytime.”
SMU senior Brent Ozenbaugh returns as the team’s captain.He believes SMU has put together a winning squad.
“We picked up a few talented freshmen who add some depthto the team, so we’re going to be pretty good.”Ozenbaugh said. “We were fortunate enough to pick up [goalie]Andy Hendricks, and I think he’s really going to make it easyfor us to win games.”
He encourages students to come out to the games to cheer theteam on to victory.
“Bring some friends out, be pepped and ready to go, andbang on the glass because it makes us play harder and hitharder,” he said.
Coach La Mere believes the talent of the forward lines will makefor some exciting hockey. “We’re a very offensive team.We have a couple of forwards that will just fly pastdefensemen,” he said. “We’re going to use thatspeed this year for sure, and we have defensemen that will step upand make those passes that we need to spring people.” Lookfor high scoring games with a lot of intensity. “The flow ofthe game is really exciting,” La Mere said. “It’sfun to watch.”
SMU’s first home game is Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. against OklahomaState University. All home games are at the Dr. Pepper StarsCenterin Valley Ranch. SMU will have home games against OSU, theUniversity of Texas at Austin and Baylor. For more information,contact Brent Ozenbaugh at [email protected], or visit theSMU Hockey web site at people.smu.edu/hockey.