Ice Dogs Plan to Set Pace

The Long Beach Ice Dogs will have one thing in mind as they skate onto the Long Beach Arena ice for their season opener tonight at 7 against the Orlando Solar Bears: Don’t wear yourselves out in the regular season.

Last season, the Ice Dogs had a 48-28-6 record, good for 102 points and second place in the International Hockey League’s Southwest Division. But one of their most successful seasons ended on a down note when they lost in the Western Conference quarterfinals to the eventual league champion Houston Aeros.

Coach John Van Boxmeer says that won’t happen again.

“This year we have the size to get through the grind of the 82-game regular season and still have something left for the playoffs. We have guys that can wear down other teams, and we have the size without sacrificing any skill.”

Those “guys” include seven players sent to the Ice Dogs from the Kings--goaltenders Marcel Cousineau and Mike O’Neill, forwards Len Barrie, Pavel Rosa and Scott Thomas and defensemen Dion Darling and Jan Nemecek.