Putting the biscuit in the basket

The Eastern Washington club hockey team acquired 10 new players for their team this season, but the biggest change in personnel has been at head coach.

With the coming of Gary Braun, former Spokane Chiefs and Braves coach, the Eagles are 12-0 and ranked second divisionally.

"I think it's the number one thing we could've done," said Club President/right wing Nick Kooiker. "He brings a coaching expertise that we've never had before. The fact that we get him to do it without paying him anything is really nice. He loves hockey and wants to be a part of this team and university."

With impressive wins over then division-ranked No. 2 Colorado State and current No.1 Colorado last week, the Eagles are making the push to becoming nationally ranked in the ACHA. Both games went to shootouts. The team has scored 97 goals and allowed a mere 25, led by Mike Truex (14) and Josh Pickens (12).

"We're undefeated," said Braun, who won a Memorial Cup as head coach of the Chiefs in 1990. "We've played most of the top teams in our division and shown we're capable of playing with anybody we face so far. Our goal is to get to and win the Division II ACHA national championship."

Not only does the team think they can win a championship this year, they are working hard to step-up to NCAA status in the future. One boulder in the road is the fact that they do not have an ice rink in Cheney.

The team practices at Eagles Ice Arena in Spokane every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6 a.m. The campus is currently working on implementing a rink in the new recreation center.

"It's really important that we get an ice rink in Cheney," said Kooiker. "We're trying to make hockey a big thing on campus. We think there is a lot of untapped interest in students that just don't know that our hockey team exists. We want to get involved with the school and the surrounding community."

With the rec center in progress, another obstacle for the team to overcome has been set - Will the rink live up to NCAA standards?

"If the facility is built with an ice rink, it has to meet the standards set by the NCAA," said Braun. "There is a minimum seating requirement that we would need to fulfill. That will be the number one thing after getting a rink built."

From there, the coaches and players would have to gain funding from the university. "There's a lot of ground work that needs to be laid before we can get to where we want to be," Braun added.

Although they lack exposure, the Eagles hockey club makes up for it with talent and a growing fan base.

"Every year the hockey program is increasing," said Kooiker. "We get great players from established teams and we have kids calling us wanting to play for us out of high school."

With a new coach, a new rink being built and an undefeated record, the Eagles are soaring past opponents in and out of the western division in hopes of a championship and an upgrade to the NCAA.

"Gary makes you work 10 times harder than everyone else," said Kooiker. "He makes you expect a lot more out of yourself. If you make a mistake he brings it to your attention."

The Eagles play Brigham Young on Saturday at Eagles Ice Arena followed by University of Idaho at Addison Ice Arena on Sunday.