From The Arkansas Traveler
By Blayne Balthrop
Brenden Coon and David “Mac” Markovich have been playing together nearly their entire lives, and it shows on the ice. Growing up in the suburbs of Dallas, Coon and Markovich were a formidable duo in their local youth hockey clubs.
As early as seven years old, the two were competing in and winning tournaments, as well as touring division one hockey facilities across the country. Markovich recalled a time when they won a tournament at the University of Minnesota, and they were able to tour the teams’ facilities.
It stood out to Markovich, saying it was his dream school at the time. But, the two would go different paths for five years until attending the University of Arkansas. Shortly after coming to Arkansas, Coon had made a name for himself with the Hogs.
By his sophomore year, Coon was one of the team’s better players, but Markovich was still on the fence about playing.
“I just wanted to be a practice player,” Markovich said, “I just missed skating.”
The two had not spoken to each other about playing prior to Markovich showing up to his first practice. To Markovich’s surprise, division II men’s hockey coach Keller Sims asked him after that practice when he would be ready to play. He joined Coon and the team in his first game, and as a line they scored two goals. It was clear that the chemistry was still there between these two.
“The connection was already there – the chemistry picked up where we left off,” Coon said about the reuniting game.
After that, the duo has been on the same line since, and the results have proven fruitful for the Ice Hogs in the last two seasons. The two have kept each other accountable when things get heated on the ice. They spoke about holding each other up and letting each other know when they could have been better on the line, while keeping it constructive.
“We want the best for each other and demand it honestly,” Coon stated during an interview with the pair.
And with that, the best has come. Starting the season, the duo has been on a tear, and Markovich has become the team captain. Through the first six games of the season, Markovich and Coon combined for an impressive eight points, with Coon notching three goals and an assist, and Markovich had one goal and three assists – both leading the team in each category.
The Hogs opened the season with a two-game stretch against Division 1 opponent Oklahoma and won both games in back-to-back overtimes. The pair shined in both games, with Coon earning two assists and two goals, while Markovich scored a goal and three assists. The two each scored a goal off one of the other’s assists as well.
The chemistry was on full display during the first overtime win when Markovich assisted Coon on a goal halfway through the second period. Markovich, who had been serving a 10-minute misconduct penalty earlier in the game, subbed in during a face-off that Arkansas won.
After a battle for the puck Markovich emerged from a crowd of defenders with a burst of speed and the net in his sights. With a defender closing in, Markovich had to make a play, and who else would be there for the pass but his old buddy Coon streaking up the middle. He took the pass and subsequently scored a goal. In the blink of an eye, the Hogs were up two points on a team that they were not expected to beat.
In the second game, they continued their dominance together, but this time with Markovich getting a goal off Brenden’s assist.
“It gives us the ability to not have to think, because I already know where he’s going to be without looking,” Coon said about their alignment.
You will not just see these two on the ice, though. You can also see them around campus together attending class and promoting the hockey team’s games to students. The two hang out often with their linemates, as well as Markovich’s younger brother Adam, a freshman who joined the team this year. Markovich and Coon both expressed the importance of playing a leadership role for a younger player, citing that they remember how they were as freshmen.
“We have a few more years of experience on him, but Brenden and the team have acted as a big brother as well.” Said Markovich about Adam.
The duo’s line has led the team so far, and they look forward to their future SEC matchups with Florida and Texas.
(Originally published at https://www.uatrav.com/sports/article_59df5400-9be0-11ef-9660-2b4fb26fa547.html)
