Imagine playing ice hockey, having a player accidentally run into your leg and then, snap. Dave Patterson, Sport Clubs Graduate Assistant and defense man of the Sac State Ice Hockey team, experienced this painful episode of breaking his fibula.

“He is expected to return about six weeks after the Fresno State game and play in our first game against Davis on December 2nd,” said Josh Roberts, President of the Ice Hockey Club.

Sac State started off strongly last year but finished the season in a disappointing fashion. Starting off 5-2, Sac State dropped eight of its next nine games losing most of them in the later periods and by one or two goals.

“It was difficult to put in that much effort and lose by so little,” Roberts said.

“Since we realize that conditioning was a big part of why we lost last year, we are beginning each practice with a 20 minute conditioning workout,” Roberts said. “We should be able to finish much stronger in each of our games this year and hopefully win enough games to make the playoffs.”

The team is without last year’s goaltender, two offensive men and a defender due to graduation,” Roberts said. “However, I don?t think we lost too much talent. In fact I would say that the overall talent has improved.”

According to Roberts, the key to success this season is to figure out which lines work best and the pre-season games are the perfect opportunities to try them out.

“We can risk mistakes now, but not later in the regular season,” Roberts said. Patterson agrees with Roberts. “Over half of our players are new. We made a lot of mistakes against Fresno and lost by one. Fewer mistakes will mean more victories,”

Patterson?s experience in hockey should add more success to Sac State.

“I have played hockey my whole life, growing up in Canada. I also coached and refereed there.”

This is Patterson?s first year playing for Sac State and his presence of an on ice coach will contribute greatly.

“I hope to serve as a good leader, stabilize the defense so that the offense can do what they have to do, and not worry about us,” Patterson said. “The team has a lot of talent, character, heart, and wants to seriously win. All that and our great coach, Dave Mellow, are the proper tools for success.”

All ice hockey home games are played at Skate Town Ice Arena in Roseville. Visit www.csus.edu/org/icehockey for more details and information along with directions.