Thursday, October 23, 1997
Bruins off to fierce start as play-off hopes abound
ICE HOCKEY: With strong offense, veteran players and new coach,
Bruins look to take league title
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The alarm has just gone off for a team of hibernating
Bruins.
This year the Bruins have awakened in the fall, a time when
bears usually prepare to sleep, to capture three straight victories
and explode into league play.
The UCLA ice hockey team (3-0) has found the right ingredients
and has roared past USC for its first league win.
The Trojans won the series last year 3-2, as the Bruins faltered
in the stretch and came up short of a play-off berth.
But that was another season; the Bruins were still sleeping.
With a powerfully offensive and veteran team, UCLA skated by USC
3-1, making a statement about this year: The Bruins are looking to
run away with the league title.
"We are looking to win everything," team captain Mike Siegel
said. "There is no possible way for us to lose."
Strong words and predictions usually cause teams to falter, but
this team has shown its offensive power, outscoring its opponents
19-7.
Led by Ben Theule, Dumas Maugile, Eric Eisner and Reinhardt
Kramreither, who netted three goals against Southern Cal, the
Bruins are poised to become a premiere powerhouse in a conference
typically run by California.
"We are trying to become as professional as possible," Siegel
said. "We have brought in a new coach, Daryl Evans, who used to
play for the L.A. Kings."
With a new coach and new spirit, the Bruins have wiped away the
bad memories of last year. The team lost several times in overtime
last season, leaving them with a disappointing 3-5-2 record. They
were three points out of the play-offs.
A new professional attitude should get rid of the inability to
win pivotal games. Last season was a learning experience for most
players and this year every player in the rink is looking for an
"A."
UCLA will take its undefeated record to the University of Oregon
on Saturday at the Burbank Ice Arena at 10:15 p.m.
The Bruins are hoping the Ducks will make a nice appetizer on
their quest for the national championship. The Bruins are hungry.
After all, they did just wake up from hibernation.