WEEKEND PREVIEW: Hokies Clash with Vols and Pack at Home

BLACKSBURG, V.A. - After a two-week hiatus from competition, the Virginia Tech Hokies return to the ice as they welcome the Tennessee Ice Vols and the NC State Icepack to the Lot this weekend.

The Hokies (1-0-1) come off an opening weekend home-and-home series with Liberty, which saw Tech take game one at home in the final fifteen seconds before losing to the Flames in a shootout up in Lynchburg the next afternoon. Virginia Tech's first line of Gavin Peduzzi, Kam Khazai, and Ethan Garlock provided the majority of the scoring, collecting 12 points on five goals and seven assists. Additionally, sophomore defensemen Bryan Rice was clutch in the final minutes of both matchups with a game-winning assist on Friday, along with a tying goal on Saturday, which sent the game to overtime.

Looking ahead, the road does not get any easier for Tech, especially this weekend with two home games against Tennessee and NC State.

The Ice Vols (2-2) come into Friday's matchup with the Hokies with momentum after a dominating sweep over the West Virginia Mountaineers at home last weekend. Tennessee outshot the Mountaineers 88-28, showcasing its defensive strength of holding West Virginia to one goal over the two-game series. One player to watch out for is freshman forward Finn Destefano, who tallied two goals in what was collectively an impressive weekend for Tennessee's offense, which outscored the Mountaineers 9-1. The Ice Vols will look to continue their success on both ends, as they travel to Vinton to take on a Hokies team that took 103 shots in their first two games of the early season.

Moreover, Saturday night's opponent, NC State (3-1-1), poses a familiar challenge at home for Tech. The two teams matched up four times last season, splitting the series 2-2, with the Hokies earning the last laugh in Winston-Salem during the semifinal round of the ACCHL Playoffs with a 4-2 win over the Icepack. That said, however, both of Tech's losses to State came in Vinton as the Hokies were outscored 8-4 by the Icepack. In what has become an intense rivalry developed over the last few seasons, the Icepack and Hokies have produced some of the most physical, mental, and emotional games ever played in Tech's 40-year history.

As expected, the Icepack, led by Head Coach Tim Healy, will look for revenge against the Hokies as the team continues its first season in ACHA M1 after being promoted in the offseason. Captain Zach Herman returns for State, who carved the Hokies on the ice last season, as he is supported by many old and new faces who have contributed greatly to the early success of the club. One of those welcoming faces is junior goalie Ethan Roberts, who has been dominant in his first season with the Icepack, posting a 2.60 GAA in four starts, including holding M1 Liberty scoreless through nearly 65 minutes. A brick wall in the early going, do not be surprised if Healy assigns Roberts to start Saturday's game following their Friday night contest versus Maryland.

Come Saturday, the stage will be set once again for these two teams to clash with the stakes raised at an all-time high. This matchup will be the first, and only this season, between the Hokies and Icepack, so expect there to be 60 minutes of gritty, physical play from both sides. Tech and its veteran-savvy lineup know what it takes to defeat State; the question will be whether they can sustain the mental capacity to keep their emotions in check from the game itself, as years past have demonstrated otherwise.

What will it take for the Hokies to be successful this weekend? This season has already demonstrated that anything can happen, and the game is not over until the final buzzer sounds. Friday's contest against Tennessee will be a statement-type game for Tech. How will the offense break through the Ice Vols' relentless defense? Will the line chemistry be stronger after two weeks of practice? Can the team hold their emotions in check? Will the powerplay units continue to perform at high levels of efficiency? If the Hokies can answer those questions positively, then a statement will be made come Saturday's big matchup with State.

Fans can tune into both games on the Virginia Tech Hockey Network on YouTube, with Friday's game against Tennessee slated for 7:30 pm, followed by Saturday's clash with NC State at 6:30 pm.