The newly formed SMU ice hockey team will play defendingchampions University of North Texas on Friday in a doubleheader.

“Even though they beat us last year, the team and I arepumped to compete against the defending champions,” presidentof the recreational ice hockey team Brent Ozenbaugh said.

The SMU hockey team was formed in 1996 as a roller hockey leagueand then transformed to an ice hockey league in 2000. The teamconsists of 22 players from a variety of backgrounds.

“The team consists of players that have been playing sincethey were young and some have only been playing since the creationof the recreational hockey team,” Ozenbaugh said.

Having lost the championships to North Texas last year gives theteam an incentive to practice and prepare for the upcomingtournament, Ozenbaugh said.

“This game will be the determining factor of whether ornot the team has improved,” he said.

The North Texas ice hockey league practices twice a week inorder to defend their title.

“The games on Friday and Saturday won’t be an easywin, since they are our biggest rival,” president of the icehockey league Bryn Roos said.

The double header will be played at the Blue Line Ice Area inNorth Richland Hills. Face off is at 8 p.m.

For more information about the SMU recreational ice hockeyleague, please contact Brent Ozenbaugh at (214)-402-6996.