PELHAM, Alabama - The Frozen Tide defeated Tennessee, 8-2, in the first of a nine-game home series for the Alabama hockey team. The win included a hat trick from sophomore forward Bryan Puffer.

An estimated crowd of 1100 watched the Tide win at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena.

The night got off to a fast start for the Tide, with its first three goals coming in the first two minutes of the game.

Freshman Jerry Jordan scored just over a minute into the game, and Clay Link scored just 39 seconds later. Fifteen seconds later, player-of-the-game Puffer scored to push the Tide to the 3-0 lead.

Tennessee looked to even up the game, scoring the next two goals--at the 8:58 mark and then on a power play at the 14:30 mark of the second period. The Vols' two goals, though, would be all the team got for the rest of the game.

Puffer scored his second and third goals in the second period, the second on a power play at the 7:28 mark. Andre Morard pushed the lead to 6-2 on a long shot from at least twenty feet out.

The Tide scored two more goals in the final period. Ethan Pollack nabbed a shot a little over three minutes into the period, and two minutes later Link tacked on a final goal. Neither team scored in the last half of the final period.

Morard, Link and Puffer were recognized as players of the game.

Puffer's hat trick was his first in his career at Alabama, and after the game he credited his teammates for his success on the night.

"We came out ready to play," Puffer said. "You can't ever look past an SEC opponent, and we knew that Tennessee would give us a tough game."

Puffer hails from New Canaan, Connecticut, and was excited to find the hockey program at Alabama--a place better known for its warm-weather sports.

"I knew they were building a winning program, so I was excited when I talked to them about playing here," he said.

Puffer and his teammates look forward now to the rest of its season--including next weekend's "Iron Cup" against Auburn--and its goal of making it to the national championships.

"We have big games coming up, and it's easy to get up and prepared for games like Auburn," he said. "We have good teams coming in. It's going to be big."

Bama will be in Pelham again on Saturday, in a crimson-white scrimmage from 7:30 to 9 p.m. that replaces a planned game against Army (Fort Benning) that had to be cancelled yesterday due to logistical issues. Fans attending the scrimmage can skate with Frozen Tide players from 9 to 10 p.m., with the $5 admission fee going to veterans programs.

The Tide will then play host to Auburn in next weekend's Iron Cup, which will include games on Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The entire Frozen Tide schedule can be viewed at the Alabama hockey website.

