USC upends #6 San Diego State

The USC Ice Hockey team gave their fans reason to celebrate the holidays early. In one of the most anticipated matchups of the semester, USC upset 6th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs 6-3 (box score) on Friday night at The Rinks in Anaheim, California.

The last time these two teams met on September 30, USC had yet to find their chemistry. Fresh off summer vacation, the Trojans failed to form a cohesive unit and ultimately fell to the Aztecs 7-2 in San Diego in just their second game of the season.

Friday night proved that they are not only a solid team, but a force to be reckoned with. The fans were privy to a completely different team than the one seen in September. After a difficult last couple of weeks with finals and a loss to Long Beach State, the Trojans made the most of every second they were on the ice.

Just a few minutes into the first period senior Hank Griesbach delivered a gritty check that got the crowd riled. At that moment, the fans knew that USC was there to play. The Trojans victimized the Aztecs on special teams, scoring on three of six power plays while killing off three of four USC penalties.

Five different Trojans scored, led by sophomore Thomas Waschenfelder with two goals, netting one on a power play and capitalizing on the empty net at the end of the game. Freshman Cory Newman and Senior Dante Caravaggio also scored on the power play, while Sophomore James Huebner and Senior Adam Zacuto contributed with an even-handed goal each. In addition, goalie Eric Chiccone made was a barricade in net against the Aztecs, stopping 43 shots on the way to earning the win.

This game marked the beginning of winter break for USC. The Trojans return in the Spring with a major homestand, having eight of 10 games at Anaheim ICE and the two road games being local. They will face Loyola Marymount, Utah, UCLA, Oregon, and Cal State Fullerton. Their first game will be against LMU on Thursday, January 12 at Skating Edge Ice Arena, starting at 8:15pm, immediately followed by a back-to-back series against PAC 8 newcomer Utah on Friday & Saturday in Anaheim.

The remaining games are against UCLA, Oregon, and Cal State Fullerton.

Player Profile: Adam Zacuto

This week’s featured player profile is the Trojans’ resident sniper Adam Zacuto!

Hailing from San Clemente, California, Adam is a 21-year-old senior at USC’s Marshall School, just months away from graduating with a major in Finance.

Adam and his neighbor watched the Mighty Ducks movies and were instantly inspired to skate. “[We] watched the [movies] and thought it looked pretty fun. We started out playing in our street and things took off from there.”

At the age of five, Adam enrolled in his first roller hockey lesson. After a couple years he made the transition to ice hockey and has not turned back since. “I love the speed and physicality of the game – I honestly don’t think there is any other sport that compares to the adrenaline rush you feel on the ice.” It did not take long for him to realize that his love of scoring goals outweighed his desire to stop goals from happening, “[Playing] forward was an easy choice.”

Among the numerous hockey memories that he has accumulated throughout his hockey-playing career, Adam cites two particular moments as the most memorable. In 2007, Adam was given the distinct honor of making the Under-17 USA Hockey National Development Camp at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Later that same year, his team, the LA Selects, made it all the way to the semifinals at their national tournament. To say the least, it was a fantastic year of hockey for Adam.

Behind every success story there is a source of inspiration and Adam has been fortunate enough to grow up with a family full of it. “Both of my grandfathers were successful entrepreneurs with unbelievable work ethics. Their accomplishments are an inspiration to me everyday. My maternal grandparents were also Holocaust survivors. Their resilience inspires me to overcome whatever problems I may face in life. My dad also runs a non-profit and dedicates his life to helping foster children – he is an inspiration to me, as well!”

This season Adam has been a goal-scoring machine and a major asset, with more than 20 goals and 10 assists thus far. Along with his goal-scoring, Adam adds speed and agility to the Trojans’ arsenal.

After he graduates in May, Adam will move to San Francisco where he will work in investment banking. His presence on Trojan ice will be greatly missed!

Get to know Adam:

1. What would I find in your refrigerator right now? This weekend I was scolded by a few girls who were at my apartment for only having hot sauce in our fridge – so there you go.

2. If you could trade places with any NHL player, living or dead, who would it be and why? It would be pretty cool to be Alex Ovechkin – he’s one of the best players in the league right now and it seems like no one in the NHL has more fun than he does!

3. If Hollywood were to make a movie about your life, who would play you? Ed Norton, Leo DiCaprio, and Adam Sandler are my favorite actors – one of them would be awesome.

4. If you could time travel to any time before our own, which would it be and why? I’m pretty happy in the 21st century – can’t live without my iPhone! It would be nice to travel back a few decades to get to know some of my relatives who passed away, that I did not get the chance to meet.

5. Cats or Dogs? Dogs

6. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

7. Favorite pasta shape? Penne

8. What is your favorite language other than your native language? I took 5 years of Spanish in high school and I also know a little Hebrew (would like to learn more!)

9. Your favorite color M&M? I am allergic to chocolate (but my favorite Skittles colors are yellow, orange and green)

10. The Zombie Apocalypse is here! Who on your team survives, is the first killed, the one who has a plan to survive such an event, and the one who has secretly been a zombie all along.

Survives – Hank Griesbach

First Killed – Dave Morris

Has a plan to survive – James Andersen

Was a zombie all along – Justin Bieber

11. Favorite holiday? Why? Hannukah – eight crazy nights!

12. If you owned your own hockey team, what would you name it? Trojans (Team Zacuto is the name of my fantasy team too)

13. Coke or Pepsi? Coke

14. Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Not a big fan of the cold

15. Do you have a nickname? Most people just call me by my last name (my roommates also call me Zook or Zooki)

16. Last song you heard? Paradise (Lil Wayne and Young Chris)

17. Most recorded show on your DVR? Either South Park, SportsCenter or Entourage. The annual Victoria Secret Fashion show [...] too!

18. If you were an animal which would you be? Cheetah

19. What is the last book you read? Monkey Business or Liar’s Poker

20. What super power would you have? It would be pretty cool to fly – reading minds would also be awesome!

21. Favorite pick up line? Not G rated

22. Your favorite meal? Chicken Club from Board n’ Brew (sandwich shop in my hometown) or Pedro’s Tacos (small taco stand also in my hometown)

Player Profile: Alex Caravaggio

The Featured Player Profile finally kicks off, and this week’s player is goalie Alex Caravaggio.

Alex is in his second year at USC and majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Petroleum Emphasis. Alex, 19, was born in Valencia, California and has lived all over the world. He considers Calgary, Alberta to be his home since he spent his junior high and high school years there.

Growing up, Alex played every intramural sport possible at his high school except for football. He spent most of his time swimming until he was eleven at which point his family made the big move from Texas to Canada.

At first, skating was not an innate skill for Alex. He first tried skating while in Texas, where his brother Dante played hockey. Alex recollects that his first attempts at skating involved more of his holding on to the wall than actually skating. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and soon Alex became a skilled skater. He began taking actual classes when he was eleven and joined his first team when he was twelve. Alex was forced to quit competitive swimming when he was fourteen as he was not able to competitively swim and compete at the highest level of hockey for his age group simultaneously.

Alex credits his older brother (a senior at USC who also plays on the hockey team) for getting him started in hockey. “My older brother Dante got me playing. He has been my inspiration and role model my whole life.” He then quips “Plus…who doesn’t play hockey in Canada?”

The two brothers would practice their skills in their driveway and it was here that Alex realized his love for goaltending, “I fell in love with the idea that I was the last line of defense. Plus, the old Cat-Eye cages and gear that goalies wore was so awesome. It felt like I was a knight or something putting it on for the first time.”

In the final half of high school, Alex played Major Midget AAA where he got to participate in an International Tournament called the Macs Tournament. It is here that many NCAA and Major Junior scouts attend in hopes of finding their prospective team members. “I had several offers to go play for lower tier Junior teams and chase the NCAA dream, but I owe it to my brother to play with him like I’ve always wanted to do since I started playing hockey. We never played together because of our age difference of two years.”

Alex’s fondest hockey memory is with this Major Midget team he played on in High School. Right before the 2010 Team Canada Women’s Ice Hockey team participated in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics they held an exhibition game against his team. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that granted him the opportunity to tend the net against these professional female hockey players. The tournament was televised and had 4,000 enthusiastic fans in attendance. The game ended in a nine-round-shootout when Alex made a splits save and won the game for his team.

In his first season at USC, Alex helped lead the Trojans into the 2010-2011 PAC 8 Conference Tournament, where they secured a third place finish, losing to the eventual champion Washington in a shootout and defeating Cal in the consolation game. At the PAC 8 Awards Banquet, the conference teams’ coaches recognized Alex’s tremendous efforts throughout the season and voted him onto the All-PAC 8 First Team as the league’s best goaltender. The freshman phenom beat out the veteran goaltenders from the two higher-ranked teams, senior Jack Barry from 2nd-place Oregon and sophomore Danny Dougan from Washington.

Get to Know Alex:

1. What would I find in your refrigerator right now? Subway!
2. If you could trade places with any NHL player, living or dead, who would it be and why? Patrick Roy, he revolutionized goaltending
3. If you could time travel to any time before our own, which would it be and why? Back to the time of the dinosaurs, so I could tame a Tyrannosaurus Rex to do my bidding
4. Cats or Dogs: Dogs
5. Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla
6. Favorite pasta shape? Fettuccine
7. What is your favorite language other than your native language? French
8. Your favorite color M&M? Red
9. The Zombie Apocalypse is here! Who on your team survives, is the first killed, the one who has a plan to survive such an event, and the one who has secretly been a zombie all along? My brother and I survive with our foolproof plan that will only be shared with our closest acquaintances, and DP would absolutely be the first killed while probably trying to get other people killed, too.
10. Favorite holiday? Why? Christmas, normally has the longest break and I prefer the cold
11. If you owned your own hockey team, what would you name it? “The Subs”
12. Coke or Pepsi? Water :)
13. Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Cold
14. Do you have a nickname? Not that I know of
15. What is your signature dish? Footlong Chicken Breast on Wheat
16. Most recorded show on your DVR? Velociraptor
17. What super power would you have? Control time
18. Your favorite meal? Subwaaay!
19. Favorite NHL team? Calgary Flames!!!
20. Motto or saying you model your life after: It is a part of a prayer called the Prayer of Serenity, truly words to live by:
"Grant me the serenity,
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference."
21. Who is your inspiration? Without a doubt, my older brother Dante. I might not be playing hockey, I might not be studying engineering, I might not even be getting the incredible experience I am getting here at USC without him supporting and encouraging me every step of the way.

Trojans Win The Century Cup

USC made winning the Century Cup look easy this past weekend as the Trojans swept Loyola Marymount with back-to-back wins Thursday and Friday nights.

The Century Cup is the trophy annually awarded to the winner of the best-of-three series between USC and LMU. The Lions will present the Cup to the Trojans at their next game on January 12 since it is in their possession after winning the 2010-2011 series.

Both games saw an abundance of scoring action with final scores of 5-2 and 6-5 respectively.Both USC goalies from this weekend, rookie junior Eric Chiccone on Friday and sophomore Alex Caravaggio on Saturday, did a phenomenal job at keeping LMU at bay.

Senior Adam Zacuto was named the HockeyGiant First Star of both match-ups. Zacuto had yet another stellar weekend as he posted a total of six goals and two assists. Thursday night’s Second and Third Stars were Chiccone and rookie junior Chris Roman; Friday’s Second and Third Stars were sophomore James Huebner and senior captain Noah Comisar.

In addition to Zacuto’s six goals, four other Trojans scored and eight others contributed assists.

“It was definitely a team win,” Zacuto stated after Saturday’s game.

Both games oozed emotion. Thursday saw USC’s Alex Hite and LMU’s Stephen Vollkommer receive game misconducts in addition to their minor roughing penalties with just 34 seconds left in the third period. The teams knew that they were to face one another again the next night causing tempers to flare with the scoreboard in USC’s favor. The following evening, with just 43 seconds left in the third period, Zacuto scored the Trojan’s sixth goal of the evening. With the Century Cup lost, LMU players retaliated and Zacuto ended up in the penalty box along with LMU’s Robert Yannotta and Michael Indigaro, each with a minor roughing penalty. LMU’s Bobby Arnold joined his teammates in the box with a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Trojans fought for the puck and finished their checks – two huge improvements from the beginning of the season. The team also has found their chemistry with one another, which make the games not only successful, but that much more entertaining to watch.

The Trojans travel to Northern California this weekend to take on Cal. Their next two games will be played at Oakland Ice Center in Oakland, California. Fight On!

A Weekend With Washington State

After four consecutive losses, the USC Trojans finally found their stride and reaped the benefits of having back-to-back ten goal games. The Trojans defeated Washington State 10-2 Friday night and 10-1 Saturday night.

Sergei "Serge" Liberovsky was the Trojan in net that could not be beat Saturday night as Washington made a valiant effort to make a comeback from the previous evening.

What caused this team to score 20 goals over the course of two games after losing four?

Regarding the turn of events this past weekend, alternate captain Noah Comisar feels that “[…] only having five or six practices under our belt, we have a lot to develop. This weekend we switched up the lines a bit because the lines for the first four games weren’t creating the chemistry we needed to produce out there.”

After a not so stellar start to the season this shake up clearly had a positive impact on the players. The chemistry that these new lines created was positively reflected on the scoreboard this past weekend.

“I attribute this weekend’s two wins towards a rash of self-confidence we hadn’t had prior and unselfish play all around,” said alternate captain Dante Caravaggio. “People came to the games hungry to win.”

This hunger was refreshing to finally see as the Trojans battled for the puck in an unprecedented way thus far in the season. They played a physical game where they finished their checks and truly made an effort to score and play as a team.

Adam Zacuto personally had an unbelievable weekend as he scored a hat trick (three goals in one game) in both games against Washington State. When asked about what led to his personal success, Zacuto was quick to share his success with his linemates, “I think I benefited personally from the new line combinations we went with this weekend. Both James Huebner and Cory Neuman gave me some great passes and they definitely contributed to my personal success and the points our line put up.”

Zacuto gave it his all on Saturday and even received a 10-minute game misconduct along with two extra minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct when he was involved in a scuffle on the ice. Although he was out of commission for twelve minutes, the passion he played with on Saturday was greatly appreciated by all in the arena.

Looking to the future, Comisar said, “We still have yet to prove ourselves as a team that can compete with the best in our league. I’m hoping that the monkey is off our back.”

Whether it was as easy as switching up the lines, receiving a bit of luck, or just plain old timing the USC Trojans have now proved that they have what it takes to get the puck to the net. There is no going back for this team who faces their cross-town rivals UCLA this Saturday at The Rinks in Anaheim, California at 7:30. Fight on!

Trojans vs. 49ers October 6, 2011

It was another loss for the USC Trojans as they fell for a second time to the Long Beach State 49ers last night 5-0.

The first period looked extremely promising, as the Trojans came out looking like they were playing to win. There was a fighting energy that permeated throughout the entire arena that gave everyone hope that this game would end in USC’s favor. SC’s starting goalie, Alex Caravaggio, was solid in net. He looked calm and confident as Long Beach kept getting pucks to the net. There were some fantastic checks as SC battled for the puck. Unfortunately, after a scoreless first period, Long Beach scored with two minutes and nine seconds left to the period. It was at this moment the energy on SC’s bench changed and never recovered.

Three minutes into the second period, Long Beach scored again making the score 2-0. The energy continued to drop and the team was just not able to recover the game. Forward Anthony Dragatto said, “We were outplayed. We were out-hustled, and we got out-shot. We were not confident with the puck especially at the blue line.” This was extremely apparent throughout the rest of the game, as the team continued to allow three more goals to be scored.

Defenseman Dante Caravaggio feels that the lines have yet to find their scoring rhythm, “I’d say our lines have been slow to develop chemistry against these tough opponents (SDSU, CSUF and CSULB all nationally ranked last year), but our intensity is constantly improving. If we keep things simple, we’ll start scoring. Alex is one of the best goaltenders on the west coast, but we have to score to win games.”

The score is a perfect reflection of what went wrong. The team was shut out because they failed to get the puck to the net. The fight for the puck that they showed in the first fifteen minutes of the first period completely disappeared after Long Beach scored one goal. The goalie is only able to do so much, and the rest of the work falls on the team to keep the puck in the opponent’s zone and eventually in their net. If A. Caravaggio, who last year was voted to the All PAC 8 First Team as the league’s best goalie, had not played the way he did, the score could have been a lot worse.

The Trojans will hopefully find more of a scoring rhythm tonight as they take on Washington State University at The Rinks in Anaheim, California tonight at 8:30pm, and tomorrow night at 7:30pm.

USC Roster for Oct 1 CSUF game

USC roster for the CSUF game on Saturday, October 1:

Forwards

5 Peters, Derek

6 Griesbach, Hank

7 Knight, David

9 Huebner, James

12 Morris, Dave

13 Waschenfelder, Thomas

16 Kucinski, Ryan

17 Bieber, Justin

18 Zacuto, Adam

21 Newman, Corey

22 Roman, Chris

23 Draggoto, Anthony

26 Comisar, Noah

Defense

2 Caravaggio, Dante

4 Hite, Alex

14 Manning, Ryan

15 Mowrey, Mike

20 Walker, Luke

22 Roman, Chris

28 Duffy, Tom

Goalies

1 Caravaggio, Alex

33 Xu, Harrison

USC Trojans vs SDSU Aztecs Live Blog Third Period - 9/30/11

As the third period gets underway here at the Kroc Arena in San Diego, USC must continue to build on the strong second period and get more shots. USC starts off with 1:58 on the powerplay, and are immediately forced to regroup in their own zone. They get it down before the strong SDSU penalty kill sends it back down. USC gets a breakout but a bad turnover allows SDSU to put it back down. SC finally gets it down but SDSU manages to knock it out again. Finally, with under a minute left in the power play, they set it up down low. Shot from the point is tipped up into the net by USC, so the faceoff will come all the way down to the Trojan end. SC wins the faceoff and Manning sends it up the ice for SC to start the power play. SDSU continues to dominate the penalty kill, ending the penalty with the puck in the Trojan zone. USC having trouble breaking out, finally sends it down into the SDSU zone for a change. Aggressive play by SC keeps it int he Aztec zone but SDSU rushed down for a good shot on Caravaggio. He saves it wide and both teams battle in the corner to get it out. Battle continues in the SC zone before Knight flips it into the netting for a faceoff with 16:37 remaining in the 3rd.

Faceoff in the SC zone won by SDSU, and the resulting shot and rebound allows SC to clear the zone. Battle in the neutral zone finally allows Caravaggio a breath, but SDSU gets it right back in. Great defensive play by SC gives them a clean breakout, and they set up their own offense down the the SDSU zone. No shots as SDSU pokes it out, and SC must regroup in the neutral zone. Bad turnover at the blue line allows SDSU to send it down into the SC zone, where the Trojans regroup and break it out before the attacking Aztecs can slow them down. Battle in the neutral zone finally won by SC, and they dump it down into the SDSU zone, where a long Dante Caravaggio shot is easily covered by the Aztec keeper. Faceoff in the SDSU zone won by the Aztecs and they are able to clear the zone. SDSU gets a good rush into the Trojan end, and a puck thrown in front redirected over the sprawling Caravaggio and into the back of the net. SDSU scores with 14:22 remaining in the game to make it 5-2, and giving them a huge momentum boost.

Faceoff in the neutral zone won by SDSU, but pressure from SC keeps it down in the Aztec zone for a moment. SDSU breaks it outand set up their offense again in the SC zone. Snipe shot from the top of the circle over the left shoulder of Caravaggio makes it 6-2 with 13:42 left in the game, and it looks like SDSU has seized control of this game with authority.

Faceoff in the neutral zone won by SC and they send it in and set up their offense. Shot saved by the SDSU goalie and we will have a faceoff down in the Aztec zone. Faceoff won by SC and they keep it down in the Aztec zone, before a turnover allows SDSU to clear the zone. USC trying to regroup but bad turnovers don't allow them the chance to send it down. Puck finally broken out but it is iced down and SC will have another faceoff in their own zone. Faceoff won by SDSU and they battle for it in the corner. Long shot wide of Caravaggio, but another bad turnover allows SDSU to control it again in the Trojan end. Duffy gets called for the slash at 11:55 and this is not what the Trojans needed right now. SC will go on the penalty kill still down 6-2.

Faceoff in the Trojan end won by SC and Waschenfelder throws it out of the zone and down into the Aztec zone. Great pressure by Morris keeps it down for a second, but SDSU breaks it out. Great defensive play in the neutral zone gives SC the puck back, but a bad turnover gives SDSU a odd man rush. Great defensive play by Waschenfelder to break up the 2-1, and the puck is sent up into the netting for a whistle. Faceoff won by the Aztecs and they send it deep. Backhand wide of the net by SDSU, but they regain control and set up the powerplay. Another big save from Alex Caravaggio gives SC the puck back. They take it down the ice and get a shot off with 18 seconds remaining in the Duffy penalty. Faceoff in the SDSU zone. Penalty to SDSU after the play gives us a 4-4.

SC trying to set up the power play now in the SDSU zone after the Duffy penalty ends. Shot saved by the SDSU net minder and we have another faceoff. Faceoff won by SC, and they keep putting the pressure on the Aztecs. Best power play tonight. SC still trying to sneak the puck into the net, but the Aztec keeper covers for another faceoff with 1:15 left in the PP. Faceoff won by SC and they keep the pressure up. SDSU finally sends it down the ice and controls it in the SC zone. SC breaks out and gets a good rush down the ice led by Morris. USC trying to set it up in the Aztec zone yet again but they are unable to capitalize on the Aztec penalty, and still cannot crack the SDSU penalty kill.

PUck is won down in the SC zone by Duffy, and he breaks it out with Walker and the Trojans enter desperation mode with under 8 minutes remaining. Comisar regroups in his own zone and brings it down for another shot. SDSU picks up the rebound and brings it down the ice, but the Trojans regain control in the own zone. Bad turnover by the SC defensemen allows SDSU to keep it in the zone, but the Trojans finally get a breakout and send it down into the SDSU zone as we are under 6 minutes now. Back and forth we go with SC trying to come back in this game and the SDSU defense playing very conservatively. SC is doing a great job on defense not allowing any Aztec forward a clean entry into the Trojan zone. Puck finally travels down into the SC zone, and Caravaggio jumps on it for the whistle with 5:10 remaining in this very chippy game.

Faceoff won by SC but it is iced down for another faceoff in the SC zone with 5:07 now. Faceoff won by SDSU and they get a quick shot off. Covered by Caravaggio. Faceoff won by SC and they break it out and send it down into the Aztec zone. Bad turnover allows SDSU to bring it back down, and they get a great chance in front of the net. Puck sent out of the zone but SDSU regains control and brings it back in. SDSU sets up their offense, trying to add to their already large lead. Caravaggio covers up a loose puck and we have a scrum in front of the net, led by Duffy. Faceoff in the Trojan zone with 3:45 left. Faceoff won to the point by SDSU. Shot blocked and travels down into the SDSU zone. Aztecs regroup and bring it back into the Trojan end. SC tries to break it out but another bad turnover costs SC. Aztecs get a quick shot from the slot through a screened Caravaggio, scoring their 7th goal of the game. Goal at 2:48 puts SDSU up 7-2.

Faceoff won by the Aztecs and they send it down. SC regroups in their own zone and brings it down the ice. Turnover allows the Aztecs to bring it back with under 2 minutes remaining here in the game. Back and forth through the neutral zone we go until SC finally sets up in the Aztec zone. Good pressure from the Trojans to finish off this game on a high note. SDSU breaks it out and brings it down the ice. Bieber takes it and tries to take it down the ice before getting owned on a bad hit by SDSU. Penalty for SDSU puts USC on the power play with 1:05 left in the game. USC hopes to capitalize on this to finish off this game on a positive note. SC running a good powerplay down in the Aztec end, getting off a few great shots. Good pressure from SC as we get under 30 seconds in the game, keeping the puck in the SDSU zone. Aztecs get it out of the zone and that will do it here in San Diego as the clock strikes zero. USC loses their second straight to start the season, falling to the San Diego State Aztecs at Kroc Arena here in San Diego. USC will be back on the ice tomorrow night at 7:30 at Anaheim Ice, but not for their home opener. They will be the visiting team against the Cal State Fullerton Titans. We will be broadcasting that game for you, so we look forward to that tomorrow night. Until then, this is James Anderson, signing off.

USC Trojans vs SDSU Aztecs Live Blog Second Period - 9/30/11

As the second period gets underway, USC has been outshot 19-7 so far tonight. I talked to Coach Langille during the intermission and all he had to say was that the Trojans were being outskated and that they needed to get their heads in the game. An icing call with 19:20 remaining here in the second brings the faceoff back down to the Trojan end, a good clean breakout gets SC a shot on the SDSU goalie and we will have a faceoff in the Aztec zone. SDSU wins the faceoff and easily carries it back into the SC zone. A quick turnover gets USC another shot on the Aztec goal, and USC is finally starting to show some life on the offensive side. Faceoff win by USC allows them a chance to set up the offense, and Morris almost gets it by the Aztec netminder and the ensuing scrum ends the play. SDSU gets the faceoff and brings it down into the SC zone before SC gets another clearn breakout. The line of Morris, Dragatto, and Waschenfelder have really stepped up here to start this 2nd period. SDSU sets up in the SC zone just for a moment before SC sends it back down into the Aztec zone. SC with a tip just wide of the net keeps them with the momentum to start this period as the clock runs down to under 17. Back and forth in the neutral zone before SDSU gets it in and a shot and Caravaggio covers up for the whistle with 16:49 left in the 2nd.

USC gets the win in their zone and Zacuto breaks it out. He is held up at the Aztec blue and SDSU gets it back. Shot from the Aztecs results in a whistle and a change for the Trojans, and they break it out. Offsides results in a faceoff in the neutral zone. SDSU wins the faceoff and regroups in their own zone before going down and getting a good shot on Caravaggio. Resulting faceoff is won by the Trojans and they get it down into the Aztec zone. SDSU gets the loose puck and sends it down, setting up their offense in the SC zone. USC gets it back and dumps it off the glass, but SDSU gets a quick regroup and its back into the Trojan zone. USC is forced to ice it with 15:08 remaining in the 2nd.

Faceoff in the Trojan zone won by SDSU, and again they setup their offense. USC manages to get it back and dumps it down into the Aztec zone for the change. Pressure from Kucinski and Comisar fails to keep it in the SDSU zone, and the Aztecs get the breakout. A good steal by the Trojans gets them out and back into the SDSU zone. Shot on net is covered by the Aztec netminder, and the resulting scrum gives the Aztecs a roughing penalty. Trojans going on the powerplay with 13:58 remaining.

USC trying to set up in the Aztec zone, but only just manage to keep it in. Loose puck taken by Kucinski and USC sets it up. Shot by Walker from the point allows a long rebound, but no Trojan is there to capitalize, and the Aztecs dump it down with under a minute left in the power play. USC having trouble dumping it and keeping it in before Dragatto brings it in himself. His shot is turned aside and SDSU gets a shorthanded breakaway. Huge save by Alex Caravaggio gives the Trojans the puck back, and they take it down and score to make it 3-2!!!!! Goal by Dave Morris at 12:07 assisted by Waschenfelder brings the Trojans to within 1!!

Faceoff won by the Aztecs and they are clearly not happy about the last goal. They begin to step up their play in the offensive zone, forcing Hite to take his second penalty of the night, a tripping call at 10:50 remaining in the 2nd. Aztecs setting up their powerplay in the Trojan end, but the SC penalty kill gets it and sends it all the way down as we go to under a minute remaining in the power play. USC trying to keep the Aztecs out of the net and kill this penalty off, but the Aztecs are giving them all they've got. USC finally dumps it down getting a change after the offsides call. Faceoff in the neutral zone won by SDSU but it goes all the way down to their zone and they'll have to regroup. The penalty winds down before a big save by Caravaggio causes another scrum in front of the net after the whistle. Faceoff in the Trojan end won by SDSU resulting in a quick start. SC trying to break it out and finally does. Dragatto shot saved and the rebound is picked up by SDSU. Dante Caravaggio gets beaten out of the zone, causing an odd man rush. SDSU scores off the shot, making it 4-2 for the Aztecs with 8:21 remaining here in the 2nd period.

Faceoff won by SDSU and they regroup and set up their offense in the SC zone. Shot from the point is saved by Caravaggio and we will have another faceoff in the Trojan end. SDSU cycles around the SC zone before Zacuto takes it out himself and into the Aztec zone. Shot from Zacuto saved and faceoff in the Aztec zone. SDSU breaks it out and sets up their offense again the Trojan end. USC keeping it physical and a big hit allows them the break it out and send it down into the Aztec zone. Shot by Peters tipped wide and the SC offense forces the Aztecs to ice it with 6:18 remaining. Huge faceoff coming in the SDSU zone for the Trojans. Stommel wins the faceoff back to Walker, whose shot gets through on the SDSU goalie. Rebound hit by Bieber but covered. Another faceoff is won by SDSU, but the Trojans keep it in with great play by Dawson, Bieber, and Stommel. SC continuing to play phsyical in the Aztec zone, keeping the puck down low. Finally, SDSU breaks it out and brings it down for a shot on Caravaggio. Puck is tipped up into the netting and we will have a faceoff down in the SDSU zone with 5:06 remaining.

Faceoff won by Waschenfelder by a bad shot by Dragatto allows SDSU to clear the zone. The Trojans, however, get it right back into the SDSU zone, and continue to keep up the pressure. Aztecs get it down and get a shot on Caravaggio, but Alex makes the easy save for a faceoff in the Trojan zone. Faceoff won by the Trojans, who hold it down in the corner before making a bad turnover on the side. SDSU gets a shot off, but SC manages to clear the zone. SDSU comes right back setting up the offense again and SC again is having trouble with the breakout. Puck is covered by Alex Caravaggio and we will have another faceoff with 3:35 remaining. Scrum in the corner off the faceoff gives SDSU the puck, and they keep the pressure up with another strong shot from the point on Caravaggio, who has to cover for another faceoff. Faceoff won by SDSU as they try to add to their lead, but SC gets it out and into the Aztec zone. Aztecs break it out and get a good rush down the ice, but the shot is wide and SC will continue to try to work on their breakout. They manage to get it out before it stalls in the neutral zone. Knight knocks it in and the Trojans will try to keep up the pressure. SDSU breaks it out before being called offside with 2 minutes left in the period.

Faceoff in the neutral zone won by SC and Dragatto will rush it down the ice. Shot by SC wide, and SDSU is forced to ice it for a critical faceoff in the Aztec zone. Faceoff won by SC but Mowrey's shot is blocked and SDSU gets it down into the Trojan end. Shot from the point wide, and SDSU keeps the pressure up in the SC zone as we now are under a minute in the second period. USC still unable to break it out as the Aztecs cycle around, looking for their shot. Shot wide with 30 seconds left and USC finally gets it out of the zone. Dragatto loses it in the SDSU zone,b ut SC keeps the pressure up. Zacuto shot with 8 seconds left draws a tripping penalty, so with 2.1 remaining in the period, USC will go on the power play. No shot off the faceoff before the period ends, so USC comes back with all they have, but still cannot cut into the Aztec lead. SDSU  leads 4-2 after 2 periods here in San Diego. Coach Langille, on his way to the locker room, had just 2 words for me, "Much better".

USC Trojans vs SDSU Aztecs Live Blog First Period - 9/30/11

Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to the live blog for tonight's game where your USC Trojans will take on the SDSU Aztecs here at the Kroc Arena in San Diego, California. USC is coming off a tough season opening loss against Long Beach State 4-3, in which Sophomore Goalie Alex Caravaggio took 55 shots against, while holding the 49ers to just 4 goals. Look for Caravaggio to continue to hold his own against the team that he opened up his USC career against. I will be live blogging this game, so continue to refresh the page to get streaming updates from me, James Anderson, throughout the evening.

As we wind down here in the warm-up, USC lines tonight headlined by the fact that Sophomore James Huebner will not be playing due to an illness. So therefore, the lines will look like this:

Morris-Waschenfelder-Dragatto
Comisar-Kucinski-Zacuto
Griesbach-Newman-Knight
Stommel-Bieber-Peters-Dawson

Walker-Caravaggio
Hite-Manning
Mowrey Duffy

The game begins with the Aztecs dominating in the Trojan end. After a minute and a half, Aztecs break through Caravaggio after a nifty move in the defensive zone by an Aztec forward. SDSU leads it by a score of 1-0. Aztecs are continuing to dominate in the Trojan end, and USC has barely been able to get it out of the zone. The physical play has stepped up in the SC zone, however, and the Trojans are really attempting to establish a physical preference early in this game. Whistle blows at 14:57 with USC still down 1-0. Faceoff in the USC zone won by SDSU, and the domination continues by the Aztecs. Manning is able to clear it out if only for a second just to give the Trojans a breath, and allowing the forwards to get a change. Except for the one mishap, Caravaggio is stonewalling the SDSU forwards so far. Faceoff after an icing gives the Aztecs the puck back in the zone, and with no rest Hite is forced to take a bad penalty, 2 minutes for hooking. USC penalty at 13:41 remaining not a helpful start for the Trojans.

USC penalty kill is led right now by Zacuto and Comisar, they kill it off for a minute before allowing Griesbach and Newman to come on. An unfortunate deflection in front of the net gives the Aztecs another goal, a power play goal at 12:17 by Dustin Holt, and SDSU continues to dominate in the Trojan end. SDSU takes a penalty now so the Trojans move onto the power play at 11:40. USC trying to control the puck in the Aztec zone, and are trying to get a good shot. SDSU gets it out with 1:20 left in the penalty, and USC will have to regroup. Another whistle for icing against the Trojans brings the puck back into the SC end. SC having a lot of trouble against this Aztec penalty kill, wasting a lot of time trying to break it out. Trojans finally establish a power play, but the puck travels down to the SC zone again, and bad defensive plays force Caravaggio to cover it up. SC is unable to do much on the power play as SDSU continues to dominate at both ends of the ice. Halfway through the period USC still down 2-0.

SDSU roughing penalty puts SC back on the power play. Trojans begin the power play again having trouble breaking it out of their own zone, but Zacuto takes into his own hands, going end to end before getting a good shot off. USC back in the SDSU zone trying to establish something on the power play, but still can't. The Aztecs penalty killers really have the Trojans number and USC is trying to battle back on the physical side. Good physical play has been the lone bright spot on an otherwise dismal power play as they are now 0-2 on the power play with only 3 shots. Full strength again.

USC now trying to pull even, with much of the play staying in the neutral zone. USC, however, loses whatever momentum they gained with another big SDSU rush. Faceoff again in the Trojan end with just over 5 remaining. SDSU scores off a bad breakout attempt by the Trojan's fourth line, going up 3-0 with 5:02 remaining here in the first period. USC really needs stronger play by all four lines if they want to stay in this game and give Caravaggio a chance to catch his breath. USC again trying to use physical play to keep the puck down in the Aztec zone, but a bad offsides call brings the puck down into the Trojan end. First solid breakout I've seen by the Trojans leads to a bad turnover in the neutral zone, and USC is back on the defensive. SDSU continues to cycle down in the Trojan zone before a save stops the play at 3:30 remaining. Scrum in front of the net shows the frustration on the USC side. Faceoff won by USC and they bring it all the way down into the Aztec end. Off sides call at 3:07 brings the faceoff back into the neutral zone.

Down to the final 3 minutes, SDSU wins the faceoff and brings it all the way down into the Trojan end. A weak breakout gives the Trojans a chance to breath, until finally they get it all the way down into the Aztec zone, if only for a moment. Quick turnover and breakout puts the Trojans back into their own zone as we are now under 2 minutes left. Great breakout by the Trojans leads to a USC goal!!!!!!!! Big goal by Junior Thomas Waschenfelder assisted by Dragatto at 1:47 remaining puts USC back into this game. Unfortunately, bad charging penalty by Comisar takes away a lot of that momentum, and USC is forced back onto the penalty kill. USC dumps it down not once but twice, as we are now under 1 minute. USC just trying to keep SDSU off the scoreboard and keep this a 2 goal game. Defense playing very conservatively. SDSU sets up the cycle again and Caravaggio comes up with a big save with 7.6 seconds left. Faceoff won by the Aztecs and a last second shot goes wide, ending the period. USC heads into the locker room down 3-1 after a momentum saving goal by Waschenfelder keeps the Trojans right in this game. We'll be right back with the second period here in San Diego.

Rivalry Night

After months of waiting, Rivalry Night at the Honda Center has come and gone. The mighty USC Trojans made a valiant effort as they faced their cross-town rivals, but were ultimately defeated by the UCLA Bruins 5-4 at the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks.

This was just the first meeting between these two teams, as they compete for the Crosstown Cup this season. The Trojans are currently in possession of the cup, as they swept UCLA last season.

The atmosphere in the arena was electricfying, as the audience of about 1000 were running off the high from the thrilling San Jose Sharks 6-1 win just prior to the USC game. During the first intermission of the Ducks vs. Sharks game, USC and UCLA held a shootout. With Alex Caravaggio in net, the Trojans went out there ready to take the Bruins out. However, UCLA skated away victorious after an exciting few rounds of shootout attempts.

During both the NHL and Rivalry Night portions of the evening, the cardinal and gold of the USC fans in the stands stood out among the sea of Sharks and Ducks jerseys. There was equal representation of both schools in the stands, as both schools made their presence known by chanting their alma mater’s cheers. The Spirit of Troy, USC’s infamous marching band, was in attendance playing all the SC favorites.

The game went by quickly, as the teams played three periods back to back with essentially no intermissions. The battle was well fought as the Trojans showed everyone that they have not only improved since last season, but that they only have their sights set on winning. Although the result of the game was not in favor of USC, the team showed great promise for an amazing season to come.

The HockeyGiant player of the game was USC’s very own Anthony Dragotto. For his outstanding play, he was awarded a Bauer TotalOne LE stick, furnished by HockeyGiant.

Although it was not a win, a huge congratulations is in order to the team who had a successful season opener in every other sense. USC hockey is now in full swing and the fans are ready for the awesome ride through the season. The USC Trojans look to defeat San Diego State this Friday at Kroc Ice Arena at 9:00.

Fight On!

Volunteers Wanted!

VOLUNTEER for the hockey team! We want to hear from Trojans & Friends of USC who love hockey and would like to help us put on a spectacular game every game!

Putting on the perfect hockey game takes a lot of manpower and teamwork, so we treat our volunteer workers like gold. YOU MAKE OUR GAMES GO 'ROUND! We are looking for individuals who can help us with general game functions such as:

• Scoreboard operation;
• In-game announcing;
• Score and statistics keeping;
• Camera operators (nothing fancy, just record the the action!);
• Photography;
• Sales & merchandising'
• and more!

The benefits of volunteering for USC Ice Hockey:

• Receive USC Ice Hockey swag;
• Discounts off merchandise purchases;
• Use of team discounts, such as to Hockey Giant;
• Opportunities to take advantage of offers from our partners, such as the Anaheim Ducks;
• Networking opportunities - we work closely with the local USC Alumni clubs, and you never know who you'll run into!
• The satisfaction of turning the energy of your school spirit into something tangible!

Those who are interested should contact info@uscicehockey.com with the following information:

• Your Name and contact info;
• Year in school or USC affiliation;
• Your level of knowledge of the game of hockey (Not required! We'll teach you!)
• Any relevance experience, training, or other information.

Thank you, and FIGHT ON!

USC Ice Girls

After suffering through a scortcher of a day, I found myself frozen to the bone as I sat in the Iceland Ice Rink in Van Nuys, California watching the open skate for the USC Ice Girls.

The Ice Girls were founded last season through a collaboration between the USC men's ice hockey team and group of girls from the USC Figure Skating Team.

Junior Niki Huenergardt, co-founder and squad coordinator, met with USC Figure Skating president Jessie Ranko Houston and USC Ice Hockey Assistant General Manager Johnny Nguyen, and it was decided with a group of girls on the figure skating team that they wanted to find a way to be a part of the spirit of USC through their skating skills. Thus, the USC Ice Girls were born.

This open skate was such a success that they decided to have a Varsity and Junior Varsity team – a huge milestone for the girls, as last year there were only five on the team. Niki was beyond thrilled with the turnout and explained that she hopes that even more girls will take an interest in the future, “We want to let girls know that they don’t have to be a skater. We want bubbly, fun, personality girls. We want to be an important asset to the USC community.”

This 2011-2012 season appears to be a promising one for the girls, as they will have more members to help promote their team throughout the USC community. They love reaching out and interacting with the fans. They are quite excited about becoming more and more apart of the spirit of the university.

There was lots of fun to be had at their open skate. I could feel the excitement from the girls who were having a blast skating around and forming new friendships with their future teammates. Work was accomplished as the girls’ skating ability did need to be tested to see who was eligible to be apart of the girls who actually perform during the intermission of the USC Ice Hockey games. They are also responsible for clearing the ice of snow throughout the USC Ice Hockey team's games.

The highlight of the evening was AGM Johnny Nguyen attempting figure skating tricks in his hockey skates. He made a valiant effort as he entertained all those who were there to witness.

There were some stumbles, some impressive tricks, and lots of laughter – all indicators that the USC Ice Girls are in store for a fantastic season.

This past week at Rivalry Night at the Honda Center, fans were able to meet their new USC Ice Girls team, and they were welcomed with open arms. The girls helped make the entire evening go off without a hitch and truly made a connection with the fans. Congratulations to the new Ice Girls who looked like seasoned pros at their debut event:

Alexandria, Amy, Daniele, Emily, Felicia, Jill, Joyce, Katie, Meghan, Rachel, and Treasure

USC comeback falls short with uneven officiating; 49ers win 4-3.

LAKEWOOD, CA - In a contentious and hard-fought game that was marred by questionable officiating calls against both teams, USC (0-1, 0-0 PAC 8) falls 4-3 to host Long Beach State (1-0) in the regular season debut for both squads in front of a standing room only crowd.

Fresh off an exhibition game against UCLA at the Honda Center, the Trojans looked to avenge last season's two losses to the 49ers, with many fresh faces appearing the lineup.

The teams immediately made their presence known, playing aggressively and together racking up 9 penalties in the 1st period, while holding each other scoreless. Shots on goal were nearly even, 12-11 in favor of USC.

Long Beach State drew first blood early in the 2nd period, with Brad Roberts (Robbie Zdjelar, Ian Hoang) scoring off a rebound 2:11 into the frame.

The lead didn't last long, as USC answered immediately with rookie forward David Knight (Corey Newman) scoring just 46 seconds later to notch it up 1-1.

Later in the 2nd, the 49ers score again as Tyler Robertson (Zac Zamoya, Hoang) wrapped around the net and scored from USC goalie Alex Caravaggio's right side, giving The Beach a 2-1 lead.

But again, the lead was short lived as the Trojans scored a mere 19 seconds later. Sophomore forward James Huebner (Ryan Kucinski, Adam Zacuto) collected a rebound off Long Beach goalie Ricky St. Louis and punched the puck in to tie it up 2-2.

Both teams collected 9 more penalties; 2nd period SOGs were 14-6 in favor of USC.

In the 3rd period, the 49ers again scored quickly and took the lead 3-2 , with Zamoya (Matt Rushton) punching it through A. Caravaggio just 1:33 into the period.

Controversy struck as an apparent game-tying USC goal by a driving Zacuto is waived off. The referees conferred and agreed that the puck caromed into the net by a high stick, even though Zacuto was the only Trojan within 15 feet of the net.

Halfway through the 3rd, the Trojans tied the game as USC rookie forward Corey Newman scored unassisted off the faceoff after a Long Beach icing call.

Late in the game with the score 3-3, the 49ers put the game away on a 3-2 breakaway with 3;09 left in the game. Zdjelar streaked up the weak side and slid the puck behind A. Caravaggio off a pass from Roberts (Chris Chan).

USC desperately tried to even the score, pulling A. Caravaggio several times to bring on an extra attacker. On two consecutive series, the linesman whistled USC's drives dead for sending the attacker too early, before the goalie reached the bench. In the second incident, defenseman Ryan Manning came on to replace fellow defenseman Tom Duffy, but was mistaken as the extra attacker by the linesman, who consequently blew his whistle.

"One of the worst calls I've ever seen," said USC Head Coach Jeff Langille after the game. "How he could confuse my defenseman as the extra attacker is beyond me."

USC faces two more West Coast Hockey Conference teams next week, as they drive down the coast to face San Diego State (0-1) on Friday (9:00pm, Kroc Center), then play in their own home rink as the visitors against Cal State Fullerton (0-0) on Saturday (7:30pm, The Rinks - Anaheim ICE).

Both games will be broadcast online on Ustream. Visit http://www.ustream.tv/channels/uscicehockey for more details.

Game Notes:

- USC remains winless against teams from WCHC, which was formed in the 2010-2011 season.

- Manning & Zacuto received misconduct penalties at the end of regulation.

- Next matchup between USC and Long Beach State is Thursday, 10/6 - 8:30pm at Anaheim ICE.

Tryout Info for the 2011-2012 season

Dates:

- Sept 4-5: Training Camp (off-ice)
- Wed Sept 7: On-Ice Tryouts/Captains' Practice (Anaheim Ice, 10pm)
- Mon Sept 12: On-Ice Tryouts (Glacial Garden, 10:15pm)
- Wed Sept 14: Preseason Practice (Anaheim Ice, 10pm)
- Mon Sept 19: Preseason Practice (Glacial Garden, 10:15pm)

- Full gear (including full face cage) required for on-ice sessions, plus a white & dark jersey.
- All required forms (e.g., USA Hockey registration, Rec Sports waiver, medical forms) must be completed and submitted before the first ice session.

To receive further details on training camp and tryouts, you must email Head Coach Jeff Langille at jlangille@uscicehockey.com with the following details:

- Full Name

- Year in School

- Cell Phone number

- Email address

- Hometown

- No. of Years playing

- Level of play

- Previous team played for

5 Trojans invited to PAC 8 All-Star Team

UPDATE: Follow the PAC 8 All Stars below to receive updates and scores from Philadelphia this weekend!

• Facebook
• Twitter (@PAC8AllStars)
• ACHA All Star Challenge Website

Five players from USC Hockey have been invited to help represent the PAC 8 Conference against other all-star squads on April 1-3, lead by freshman goalie Alex Caravaggio, voted to the All PAC 8 First Team as the league's best goalie this past season.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) All-Star Challenge will be held in West Chester, PA, near Philadelphia, and will pit the PAC 8 team against the best players from the East Coast, Northeast, and other regions known for producing top-notch hockey teams.

Joining the young Caravaggio is his brother, junior defenseman Dante Caravaggio, as well as senior forward Charlie Mach, who was selected to the PAC 8 Third Team. Additionally, USC Assistant GM Johnny Nguyen will join the team in Philly as a GM.

Invited but not able to attend are senior defensemen Mike Gawlik and Jason Bush (PAC 8 Second Team).

Accompanying the Trojans will be players from Cal, Oregon, UCLA, Washington, and Washington State. Oregon has the largest representation with six players; the current PAC 8 Champion, Washington, was only able to send one player.

Stanford is currently serving a season-long sanction and their players were not eligible for the all-star team. Utah is still completing the process of joining the conference.

Schedule of Games (all times Eastern):

Friday, April 1
- 12:30pm PAC 8 vs. Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA)
- 8:00pm PAC 8 vs. Super East Collegiate Hockey League (SECHL)

Saturday, April 2
- 11:45am PAC 8 vs. Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Conference (GNCHC)
- TBD Game #4

Sunday, April 3
- TBD Game #5

UPDATE: Full PAC 8 roster below...

GOALIES:

- Jack Barry (Oregon)

- Alex Caravaggio (USC)

DEFENSE:

- Dante Caravaggio (USC)

- Ashton Christian (UCLA)

- Justin Lacasse (Oregon)

- Dougo Reese (Oregon)

- Nathan Taylor (WSU)

FORWARDS:

- Michael Carder (UCLA)

- Jordan Chenersky (UW)

- Nik Haigh (WSU)

- Charlie Mach (USC)

- JP McNicolas (Cal)

- Zach Peters (Oregon)

- Dan Sulitzer (Cal)

- Kevin Trihey (Oregon)

- Daniel Vaynter (UCLA)

- Derek Wolfson (Oregon)

- TJ Wynn (Cal)

STAFF:

- Cyril Allen (Cal)

- Mark Francis (UCLA)

- Johnny Nguyen (USC)

- Chris Soriano (WSU)