UCLA, USC face off in NHL FANtasy

  BRIDGET O’BRIEN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Center
James Costello and the rest of the UCLA hockey
team will take on USC as part of the NHL All-Star FANtasy
interactive festival.

By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

It’s not often that the chance to face off against USC is
only a sidenote for UCLA ice hockey, and vice versa. The main
attraction for Thursday’s contest between the two crosstown
rivals is the chance to participate in the NHL All-Star festivities
held this week in Los Angeles.

“Any time that USC and UCLA can be linked with a major
sport, whether it be NHL, NFL, whatever, it can’t be bad on
any level,” USC head coach Mark Wilbur said. “The NHL
has treated us with absolute respect. We have been so well taken
care of in this process.”

The exhibition, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center as one
of the 2002 NHL All-Star FANtasy Special Events, is unlikely to
remind anyone of the four games these two teams have already
played.

The ice is about half the size of a normal rink. To account for
the tight quarters, each team will use one fewer skater, making for
four-on-four action throughout. This in turn should create a very
fast, frenzied game.

The size of the rink will also affect the environment. With fans
close to the action, behind high windows for their protection from
errant pucks, the game will almost feel like something straight out
of wrestling.

“It looks like hockey’s version of a cage
match,” Wilbur said. “I was just laughing. I was like,
“˜This is going to be a ball.’ I was just jealous I
couldn’t play.”

There won’t be a lot of time for both teams to rest. The
back-and-forth action will take place during three 15-minute
running time periods, meaning there won’t be any stoppage in
play outside of the two intermissions.

So although the game will be over before anyone knows it, the
high energy expected has the possibility of making this a
high-scoring affair.

“Unfortunately, I’m going to be in goal,” UCLA
netminder Matt Hsu said.

Both coaches have encouraged their teams to arrive as early as
possible to take full advantage of the NHL All-Star FANtasy
attractions. The public can, among other things, test their
slapshot, step into goal and face “rapid fire” and meet
NHL legends of past and present. Also, for a donation to
Hockey’s All-Star Kids Foundation, one can have a photo taken
with the Stanley Cup.

After the game the band Unwritten Law will play, adding to the
festive atmosphere.

“That’s what this whole thing is about. It’s
about about having fun and that’s what we plan on
doing,” UCLA assistant coach Mike Siegel said.

And despite guarantees from both coaches that there won’t
be a brawl, no matter how tempting, fans are unlikely to leave
disappointed.

“From a college student perspective, this is going to be a
really fun night,” Wilbur said. “And if you just happen
to be from USC or UCLA, it’s going to be a hell of a fun
night.”

Students with valid ID will get $2 off the $15 price of
admission on Thursday. For more information on the NHL All-Star
FANtasy, go to http://www.nhl.com/allstar2002/fantasy/index.html.