The Icehounds gold team will compete against the Leo Lions high school team from Fort Wayne at the Lutheran Health Sports Center in Fort Wayne on March 8 at 5:30 p.m. for the 4A Indiana State High School Hockey Association (ISHSHA) State Championship. The game comes after winning all three games in the State tournament. The Icehounds played Leo March 1 as the first game of the State tournament. The Icehounds won 2-1 in a shootout.

Regarding the State tournament games, Logan Gentile, right wing and defenseman for the Icehounds gold team and junior, said, “We gave up one goal in three games so our defense was solid.”

Michael Bozoian, head coach of the Carmel Icehounds gold team, said via email, “The Icehounds gold team played well this past weekend. For the most part, we competed for loose pucks and made our opponents earn their opportunities. That is the kind of effort we are going to need next weekend (March 8).”

Gentile said that Leo has good size and that they are quick. He said they have a balanced team.

Bozoian said, “I expect every player to be ready to play and give their best effort, whether they play five shifts or 35 shifts. Every second of every shift is important, and it’s vital that every player understands that. This game is not about who has the most shifts, or scores the most points. It is about every player doing the little things that will afford us an opportunity to win.”

The Icehounds blue team plays Summitt City high school team from Fort Wayne in the same location at 10 a.m. on March 8 for 1A ISHSHA State Championship.

For his game, Gentile said he is not nervous.

He said, “We expect to win. We should be able to win….if we beat them once we can beat them again.”