Tar Heels Seek Second Win In ‘Heels After Dark’ Debut
By Caleb Herrera (@calebherrera)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – After securing their first win against Wake Forest in the season opener, Tar Heel Hockey will face off against South Carolina’s ‘Cock Hockey’ Friday night in the first game of a back-to-back series.
When: Friday, Sept. 6, 2024
Where: Orange County Sportsplex
Puck Drop: 10:30 P.M.
| Ticket Type | Price | Cart |
|---|---|---|
| USC @ UNC Sep 6, 2024 Adult Admission (Under 18 FREE) | $10 | |
| USC @ UNC Sep 6, 2024 Student Admission | $5 |
Players to Watch:
- Will Smith (UNC): The ‘Holman Family Dental Care’ Player of the Week, Smith made an immediate impact by scoring his first career goal in his debut. Fans should keep an eye on the ‘Fresh Prince of Chapel Hill’ as he looks to continue contributing offensively alongside line mates Adam Zukowski and Nic Gingras.
- Tommy Marvin (SC): Marvin led all South Carolina defensemen last season with six goals and 26 points in 27 games. He also participated in the 2024 AAU All-Star Challenge in April alongside fellow defenseman Brendan Flaherty. Look for him to play a key role on Cock Hockey’s blue line.
The Tar Heels come into this match-up riding high after a 3-1 victory against Wake Forest Ice Hockey where first-year Daniel Hu scored the game-winning goal in his UNC debut. Will Smith and Patrick O’Shaughnessy also scored in the last game.
The team’s newest foe, South Carolina’s Cock Hockey is a member of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) College Hockey Federation established in March of 2023, being one of just under 140 programs across four divisions.
Competing at the Division I level, the Gamecocks finished last season’s campaign with a 14-6 record, clinching the 2024 AAU College Hockey D1 National Championship with a 4-1 win over the University of Buffalo. With a national title under their belt, expect the club to bring a high-intensity style of play that will put UNC’s resilience to the test.
UNC will look to continue building on the chemistry displayed in the season opener. Head Coach Steve Rice stressed the importance of clean, physical puck movement and finishing on offensive chances more frequently. With the Gamecocks possessing a potent offense that led them to a title, the Heels should look to stay on the cleaner side of special teams through avoiding taking retaliatory penalties and using their speed and finesse to draw powerplay chances.
Building momentum early on through effective forechecking will be a key factor in securing a win. Given that this game is the first of a back-to-back series, conditioning will play a crucial role for the Tar Heels in making sure they remain sharp and play a full 60 minutes.
Tonight’s game marks the debut of ‘Heels After Dark’ adding extra excitement to the second home game of the season. With support from Red Bull, fans arriving at the rink will receive free energy drinks (while supplies last), contributing to the electric atmosphere at the Orange County Sportsplex. Purchase tickets here.
