Low-profile team keeps the energy high
By Kimberly Lajcik
Oct. 19, 2009 9:45 p.m.
The violent crash of helmets against their opponents’ was the percussion to the chorus of cheering fans this weekend.
This action couldn’t be found at the Rose Bowl but at Valley Ice Center in Panorama City during the UCLA hockey team’s home opening series against California Friday and Saturday night.
Perhaps one of UCLA’s best-kept athletic secrets, the ice hockey club team attracted a sizeable crowd of student support during the matches against the Bears.
The Bruins suffered a disappointing 5-2 loss during their first showing against Cal, but they rebounded on Saturday night, adapting to the Bears’ style of play and forcing a tie after regulation and overtime. UCLA senior forward Brad Kay scored the winning goal in the subsequent shootout as the Bruins came away with a 7-6 victory.
“Saturday, we definitely came out and controlled the flow of the game,” senior defenseman and club president Mike Madatovian said. “They had to play to our level. We skated hard, and they had to keep up with us.”
Senior forward David Carlton scored a pair of goals in Saturday’s game, while junior forward Daniel Vaynter, senior defenseman Jay Boffa, and freshman forwards Michael Carder and Nick Panzica each added one. Vaynter and Kay each scored a goal in Friday’s loss. Freshman goalkeeper Al Ricciardelli struggled until the third period, when he deflected four Cal shots on goal.
Even beyond the games’ results, the squad looked to use the weekend as a chance to rally support for their club.
Established over 80 years ago, the UCLA hockey club has maintained a paradoxical presence representing southern California and UCLA on the rink against schools more notably associated with hockey.
“We think we have the strongest team we’ve had in the last couple years,” assistant coach Matt Lester said. “We have a lot of young talent, adding a lot to the team a lot of returning players. Everyone on the team has played their entire lives. If you don’t know what you are doing, you’ll have your head taken off.”
Lester played center for the Bruins before graduating in the spring and speaks to the new challenges in making the transition to coaching. The club, led by head coach Travis Reeves and assistants Lester and Scott Rodriguez, perpetually faces a number of logistical issues in order to keep things running smoothly, including having to practice 30 minutes from campus and having little funding to go on road trips.
In hockey, the Pac-8 conference is composed of all the Pac-10 teams except Arizona and Oregon State. The conference tournament takes place at the end of February.
The Bruins face USC at home Oct. 29, the first of five encounters. The Crosstown Cup is awarded to the team winning the best of five games, and the Bruins are hoping to break the Trojans’ four-year streak.
“USC is the biggest crowd, and people show off hits,” Lester said. “Having a bigger crowd amps the guys up. Some games get a lot more physical.”
Another important element of the club is its open nature. Freshman forward Jay Singh dabbled in ice hockey in high school and over the summer, but he was primarily a roller hockey player before arriving at UCLA. Singh said one of the most commendable aspects of the team is that while the team maintains a high level of play, it also gives ice time to novice players.
“UCLA hockey has been great,” Singh said. “All of the guys are a lot of fun. I think we have a great squad with a good veteran core, and we should definitely be one of the competitive teams in the Pac-8.”
Despite the 10:45 p.m. faceoff on both nights, the games featured an impressive turnout of UCLA students. A majority of the fans were novice hockey followers who went as far as to rent a bus in order to get to the game.
Third-year Asian American studies and Japanese exchange student Yoko Yamada was one of the many first-time hockey fans who ventured to the Bruins’ home ice Friday night.
“All I know about hockey is they fight,” Yamada said with a laugh. “Of course I’m excited! It’s a really American experience.”
The club hopes the intense physical nature of the game keeps the fans coming back; at the least it keeps the players on a rigorous schedule, physically and mentally.
“Hockey is retaliation, eye for an eye,” Lester said. “People think it’s thuggish. … Hockey becomes self-regulating. A fight can get energy back up. There’s a balance for physical aggression, passion and playing smart hockey.”
“This team gives us a great opportunity to play with quality ice hockey players,” Singh added. “I mean, it’s ice hockey, so it has to be amazing.”
With reports from Ryan Eshoff, Bruin Sports senior staff.
