9 I The Behrend Beacon Pens and Sabres ready for successful seasons Football season is in full force, and it's time for broken noses, hard-hitting fights and highlight reel goals. It's October, and that doesn't only mean football and baseball playoffs. Hockey season is underway and fans are in for a good season. The NHL opened the 2008-09 season with a series of games in Europe. The Pittsburgh Penguins opened their regular season with a two game scries against the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm. Sweden. The NHL came up with the idea for the games in Europe as a way to promote the league overseas. The Penguins split the series with the Senators 1-1; They won the first game 4-3 in overtime and the Senators won the seeond game 3-1. Both organizations were excited to be apart of the NHL series being played in Sweden's capital city. "The Pittsburgh Penguins This week’s matchup #6 Penn State Camp Randall Stadium organization is proud to help rep resent the NHL on the historic trip, and our players and coaches are looking forward to this tremendous experience," said Ray Shero, the Pens executive vice president and general man ager prior to leaving for Sweden. This was the first time that the NHL has played regular season games in Europe. Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson was born and raised in Stockholm, so this was an extremely special experience for the native Swede. -- lt turned out to be everything I expected and more. We won [a] game and I scored a goal," said Alfredsson. "It was a lot of fun and a day I will always remem ber. there's no question." The Penguins have upcoming games on October 11, 14 and 16. They will all be home games against the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers and the Penn State Behrend Junior Andy lams(Harrison City/Penn Trafford) was named the ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR ath lete of the week for October 6, 2008.+ lams was also named as the AMCC cross country runner of the week. lams, who grew up in Harrison City, Pennsylvania, started running in 7th grade. "It's been a passion of mine since then," he says. While he also runs the 5k and 10k in track and field, cross country is his primary sport. When he graduated from Penn Trafford, he was recruited by several schools, including Grove City, Duquesne, and Penn State Behrend. He chose Behrend, he says, because of a "homey" atmosphere, the small class sizes, and their great engineering program. He has been running for cross country and track since his freshmen year, and plans to run cross country until he graduates. At the end ot last season, lams said that his goals were to win the conference championship and send individuals to compete at higher levels. The way the team is playing so far. it appears that the goals can easily be met. lams, who is a mechanical engineering major planning to stay for the rest of his edu cation at Behrend, says that consistency is the area where both he and his team can improve. By Nick Blake sports editor nphso4l@psu.edu Washington Capitals. The Pens struggled with their power play in the Stockholm series going 1-14. They will be focused on getting things back in order. "The power play has to be bet ter. We just need to make sure we execute and that comes from practicing. If we can do it in practice and execute, make plays quick, that's going to transfer over to a game," said captain Sidney Crosby. The Buffalo Sabres, unfortu nately, were not one of the lucky teams to play an NHL series in Europe. However, they are eager to get their season started. The Sabres went 2-4 in the preseason, but usually the preseason means nothing when it comes to the reg ular season. The Sabres have a strong roster and newly named captain Craig Rivet are looking to have a strong season. “I’m new to the team and new to the organization. There are a Oct. 11, 2008 8:00 p.m. Sports Athlete Spotlight: By Connor Sattely managing editor dsso6o@psu.edu Andy lams "It’s all a matter of coming out and running a great race every time." he says. "Running a six minute mile one day and a five-minute mile the next... that’s something to improve This year, lams has been the model ol con sistency for any athlete. He has finished in the top ten amongst male runners in all of his races this year. Hrs race time at the Bobcat Invitational on Oct 4. put the Behrend Lions in first place, over nine other schools. He has taken almost a minute off of his time on the first race of the year, according to the sports department. lams contributes part of both his success and that of his team to the coaching staff, headed up by Dave and Greg Cooper. “They are doing a great job this year." he says of the coaches. "They are doing awe some with the workout plan, and focusing on what we need to do, which is stay together." As a cross country team, he explains, it is vital to stay as a team. The coaches realize this, and help the team try to acheive that through practices. “Sometimes it really does n't matter if one person finishes way ahead, it's better lams and the Behrend cross country run ners will travel to the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble on Oct 18. and travel to Penn State Altoona on Nov 1 for the AMCC champi onships. They have bright outlooks for the rest of the season, and hope to cap off the year with a championship for Behrend. lot of players who have be* brought up together and it’s a n tight family...l’m really happy be apart of it right now,” s; Rivet. Rivet was traded to Sabres this summer from the S; Jose Sharks, so he wasn’t expe< ing the honor. Head Coach Lindy Ruff proud of what Rivet has accoi plished. “I’ve liked, and low actually, what he's done in pn tice and games. But to come and gamer that much respect ai trust from his teammates in sui a short period of time...it say lot," said Ruff. The Sabres have upcomii games on October 10, 15 and 1 Their first game is on the ro; against the Montreal Canadiei They then come home for t' games against the New Yoi Islanders and the New Yot Rangers. Watch out for the Sabres to be a force in the NHL East this season. Penguins and Sabres during the Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Friday, October 10, 2008 Andy lams nears a tough incline run ning at the Behrend Invitational. Stadium in Jan. 2008.
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