During the bus ride to Columbus, Ga., Ryan Barletta held the Iron Cup trophy close. Barletta and the other members of the University of Alabama’s hockey club team won the trophy by beating Auburn last year, and the Frozen Tide hoped to bring it back to Tuscaloosa this weekend. At the end of the weekend, bring it back they did—the Frozen Tide swept the Auburn Tigers, bringing their record to 11-9 this season. The team would end its 3-0 weekend by singing the University of Alabama fight song when they arrived back in Tuscaloosa limits. The Frozen Tide returned to Southeastern Conference play against the Auburn Tigers (3-11) after going 2-0 against Mississippi State in October. “We’re pretty happy with winning all three games against Auburn,” head coach Mike Quenneville said. “We had some injuries and sickness, but I’m proud that we got all three wins.” Game two sealed the Iron Cup’s fate when the Frozen Tide won 9-5. Last year’s MVP, Zach Dailey, scored a hat trick in the game and earned five goals and an assist throughout the weekend. “It felt great to get the hat trick against Auburn,” Dailey said. “This game was difficult but our offense was able to regain the momentum after the first [period].” This year’s MVP in the series was senior Sean Keeler. Keeler had four goals and an assist against Auburn. “It means a lot to get named the MVP,” Keeler said. “This was my last chance to play against these guys and it’s always great to beat Auburn.” The Frozen Tide opened play on Friday by doubling the shots the Tigers had in the first period. The team would end the game outshooting the Tigers and win 7-1. With the Iron Cup clinched, the play on Sunday was chippy on the ice, but that didn’t stop the Tide from outshooting the Tigers again. Sophomore defenseman Jordan Ricks scored first for the Frozen Tide on an unassisted breakaway. Ricks totaled one goal and two assists in Sunday’s game and the Frozen Tide would win the game 5-1. Alabama will return to the ice against Ole Miss on Dec. 9 and 10 at the Pelham Civic Complex.