GAME ON! Saturday's game vs. ucla reinstated; Senior Night moved

The suspension of the ucla hockey team has been lifted, ahead of their scheduled meeting with their club sports council at 5:30pm. As a result, Game 5 of the Crosstown Cup has been reinstated.

The game is still scheduled for Saturday, February 4 at 7:30pm at The Rinks - Anaheim ICE.

USC's Senior Night will likewise be moved back to Saturday's game.

Also note that the Victory Bell will be in attendance, and Kazan Taiko of USC will be drumming the Trojans into battle.

We thank all of our fans for their support and emails in support of ucla's appeal... we know it was awkward, but it was in the Spirit of the Rivalry.

And we'd like to take the ucla hockey team for their efforts in working towards resolving this situation.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program. FIGHT ON!

Help USC reinstate Game 5 of the Crosstown Cup series; email in support of UCLA's appeal of their suspension

UPDATE 4:36pm:

Game 5 has been reinstated... we WILL be playing ucla on Saturday at 7:30pm at Anaheim ICE, and Senior Night will be on Saturday as well. More details to come.

Click here for more details.

UPDATE:

UCLA's appeals hearing on their suspension is TODAY (Feb. 2) at 5:30pm. As you may have heard, our Feb. 4 game vs. UCLA was to be Game 5 of the Crosstown Cup series, currently tied at 2-2. It was also to be our Senior Night as the last home game of this season, before we head to playoffs in Seattle next week.

We're asking all USC fans to send an email in support of UCLA's appeal, so that we can decide this year's winner of the Crosstown Cup on the ice, and so that our graduating seniors get the proper sendoff.

Read about the situation from BruinsNation.com:

http://www.bruinsnation.com/2012/2/1/2765606/ucla-hockey-team-suspended-before-final-crosstown-cup-game-vs-usc

Email Contacts:

• Club Sports Program Director Jason Zeck (the person who suspended them) - jzeck@recreation.ucla.edu
• Club Sports Executive Council (who will conduct the appeals hearing) - csecouncil@gmail.com
• Copy/Paste for your convenience: jzeck@recreation.ucla.edu, csecouncil@gmail.com

Here's a sample letter:

"I am writing in support of the UCLA men's ice hockey club's appeal of their suspension effective February 1-7, 2012. As a result of the suspension, Game 5 between USC & UCLA on February 4 to determine the winner of this year's Crosstown Cup has been canceled. Not only should the winner of the Crosstown Cup be decided in competition, the cancellation of this game will have consequences for UCLA's team as well as far-reaching and detrimental repercussions for USC's program.

This game has been anticipated all year, with family and friends coming in from out of town to send off our graduating seniors in the proper manner and play out the rivalry as it was meant to be. Because of UCLA's suspension, the USC hockey team will lose significant revenue from our biggest game of the year -- revenue that would have helped them cover their costs of traveling to the PAC 8 playoffs in Seattle next week. Instead, they are stuck with a large nonrefundable bill for ice time and referees, and will also lose a game that counts towards their rankings -- not to mention the blemish this cancellation would have on the rivalry itself.

In the spirit of our rivalry, I respectfully ask you to overturn UCLA's suspension.

Thank you for your consideration."

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PAC 8 playoff schedule announced

The PAC 8 Hockey Conference has released the game and event schedule for the 2012 Championship Tournament in Seattle, WA on February 10-11.

The tournament is being hosted by the University of Washington at Olympicview Ice Arena, located at 22202 70th Avenue West in Mountlake Terrace, WA.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

• 4:00pm: #2 Utah vs. #3 USC
• 7:15pm: #1 Washington vs. #4 ucla

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

• 2:00pm: 3rd Place Consolation Game
• 5:15pm: Championship Game

Immediately after Championship, the PAC 8 Awards Banquet will be held at the Columbia Tower Club in Downtown Seattle.

To purchase tickets to the games and/or banquet online, visit:

http://pac8tournament.eventbrite.com/

Statement: Saturday's game vs. UCLA canceled

To our fans, and all hockey fans,

It is with regret that we must announce the cancellation of our game on Saturday, February 4 against UCLA.

The cancellation is due to the fact that the UCLA hockey team has been placed on an administrative suspension by their university, and is effective from February 1 to February 7. During this team, their team is not allowed to practice or play; however, this includes an exception to allow UCLA to play LMU on Friday, February 3.

The UCLA team has decided to file an appeal, and we are assisting them as much as we can, however the likelihood of a successful result is slim.

We thought it was prudent to inform our fans and family immediately of the change in schedule.

We share in your severe disappointment in this outcome, as Saturday's game was not only to determine the winner of the Crosstown Cup, but was also going to be our send off for our graduating seniors. As well, the last USC/UCLA matchup is always one of our most popular games of the season, and UCLA's suspension will severely affect USC Hockey both tangibly and intangibly.

Senior Night will now be rescheduled for our Friday, February 3 game against Cal State Fullerton (Facebook event page).

USC will also win this season's Crosstown Cup by forfeit. As a competitive team, we obviously would much prefer to win the Cup on the ice.

We will make announcements if and when further details are available.

We thank you for your continued support as we look towards our game on Friday against CSUF and to PAC 8s next weekend.

Fight On!

Johnny Nguyen

General Manager of Hockey Operations

USC Ice Hockey

USC Hockey's CHOC Night & Teddy Bear Toss a Success

Loss to Oregon doesn't dampen spirits

ANAHEIM, CA - On Saturday, January 28, the USC men's ice hockey team hosted its 2nd Annual CHOC Night, a charity hockey game that benefited the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

This was also the first year of the Teddy Bear Toss for the Trojans, and it was easily the highlight of the evening.

Fans were encouraged to bring new, unwrapped teddy bears or other stuffed animals, which were to be thrown onto the ice on the Trojans' first goal.

While a charity game, this was still a regular season matchup between USC and the visiting Oregon Ducks, and the Ducks showed no charity towards the Trojans, scoring the first two goals of the game including their first just 25 seconds into the 1st period.

However, this did not stop the roar of the crowd when USC scored their first goal at the 12:21 mark of the 1st period. Almost instantly, stuffed animals of all kinds, shapes and sizes came raining down from the stands (video).

The honor of scoring the "Teddy Bear Goal" went to Trojan forward Ryan Kucinski, his 9th goal of the season.

"It doesn't matter how long you have played," Kucinski said, "every time you score a goal, it's a thrill.

"The best part about the teddy bear goal was seeing so many teddy bears being tossed onto the ice, and knowing we have so many great fans who support us and support CHOC."

Teammate Adam Zacuto agreed, "It was an awesome sight to see those teddy bears raining down on the ice after our first goal. We are all glad to be all able to give back to a good cause."

Even the Oregon team was touched by the scene.

"It was a bummer given it meant that we'd been scored on," stated Ducks forward Matt Hanlon, "but it was impressive to see such support from the community for a such good cause. And who doesn't love watching teddy bears being thrown around?"

As the toss was happening, the USC Ice Girls were tasked with collecting the bears.

"It looked like a tidal wave of teddy bears falling onto the ice!" exclaimed Ice Girls co-captain Alexandria after the bears were gathered up.

"It was like every kid's dream," said Rachel, another member of the squad. "It was literally raining toys. I was so excited I got to be a part of an event that will make so many children happy."

Co-captain Daniele added to the sentiments.

"We were stunned to see so many bears land on the ice. When we went out to collect them we were overcome with joy, as all the teddies were going to children who really need them. Being a part of this event made me realize that we can’t forget about those who are struggling and all it takes is something small like a teddy bear to make a difference."

All told, the Trojans collected almost 200 stuffed animals on behalf of CHOC.

Along with the teddy bear toss, the night also included a silent auction, raffle, and hardest shot contest. The NHL's Anaheim Ducks contributed many of the items for auction, and The Rinks - Anaheim ICE provided the ice time at cost for the event.

As well, the police and fire departments from the City of Anaheim were on hand before the game to create a family-oriented, fun atmosphere.

Many other local businesses contributed to the event with raffle prizes and discount offerings.

While the Trojans ultimately fell to the visiting team 6-4, the night's event will surely remain a fond memory for all who were there.

Special thanks to all who contributed to a fantastic night!

• Anaheim Ducks
• Anaheim Fire Department
• Anaheim Police Department
• Employers Group
• Hooters of Anaheim
• Jacks n Joe
• Oggi's of Mission Viejo & Orange
• Oregon Ducks Hockey
• Redondo Beach Cafe
• Refresh Truck
• The Rinks - Anaheim ICE
• Simply Sporty
• Styles for Less
• UltraLuxe Cinemas at Anaheim GardenWalk
• USC Alumni Association

And to all of the fans and supporters of CHOC and USC Ice Hockey!

It's official: USC is going to PAC 8s

"We got in?"

That was the mantra among players, coaches, and fans alike when official word came from the PAC 8 Conference that USC did indeed qualify for the PAC 8 Tournament after their 2 wins last weekend against archrival UCLA. The players found out at practice the following Monday.

The PAC 8 Tournament is hosted again this year by Washington; the Huskies also hosted last season.

The typical excitement surrounding playoffs was replaced with some confusion because of the complicated ranking system the PAC 8 uses to determine conference standings, which includes a weighted point system which values victories over teams with higher winning percentages higher than wins against underperforming teams.

In fact, before playing the Bruins, on behalf of USC, I asked for clarification from PAC 8 Commissioner Roger Kulpa, who is an accountant by day, on how different results would have affected the final standings.

"I was wondering about that myself," quipped USC head coach Jeff Langille.

Based on the information provided by the league, most scenarios required USC to win at least one game against Oregon the following week to secure a spot in the playoffs. The information also seemed to indicate that UCLA was a lock for going to Seattle.

"Are you sure?" UCLA head coach Mark Francis asked me before Friday's game in Anaheim. It seems confusion is just a part of being a member of the PAC 8.

It was clear that Washington (being the host and receiving an automatic bid) and Utah (2nd place and well ahead of 3rd place UCLA) would be at the tourney. What was unclear was the effect that #5 Oregon would have should they win against their remaining opponents, 1st-place UW (which would given UO bonus points under the PAC 8 system) and 4th-place USC, who was trying to hold off UO in the standings, especially with the head-to-head match up.

USC decided to bring in some Zen and simplify things: win the last remaining games and there's no question about who's going and who's not.

So when the buzzer sounded last Saturday after the 2nd win against UCLA, half of the mission was complete, and the Trojans were celebrating because of the crosstown victory, with no thought given to PAC 8s at that point.

USC also got some help from Washington, who defeated Oregon twice on the weekend.

When the new standings came out, we thought it was a typo: the Trojans had skipped over the Bruins into the 3rd spot, pushing UCLA into 4th.

Queue the phone calls, emails, and texts being exchanged between all parties, along with the mad calculations and recalculations. After 2 days, the official confirmation came through.

There was indeed a mistake, and not only was the field of 4 teams finalized, we even know the matchups... (1) Washington vs. (4) UCLA, and (2) Utah vs. (3) USC. There was no possibility for Oregon to gain enough points to secure their berth, even with help from other teams.

And there you have it... the wild and wacky world of PAC 8 hockey.

- Johnny

Notes:

- While this week's game vs. Oregon will have no effect on PAC 8 standings, they still count for ACHA consideration.

- Game 5 of the Crosstown Cup series vs. UCLA does not count for PAC 8 standings; a league rule counts only a maximum of 4 games per opponent.

Press Release: USC Ice Hockey Hosts 2nd Annual Charity Game for CHOC Children's Hospital

CHOC Night to include family-oriented activities & demonstrations before the game.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(click here for a .pdf version)

ANAHEIM, Calif., January 26, 2012 – The University of Southern California men’s ice hockey team, in partnership with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League and The Rinks – Anaheim ICE, hosts their 2^nd Annual “CHOC Night & Teddy Bear Toss” on Saturday, January 28, to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Full details can be found on the event webpage, USCIceHockey.com/CHOC.

The game itself will feature a regular-season matchup between the USC Trojans and the visiting University of Oregon Ducks. Warmups will begin at 7:15pm, with the game to start at approximately 7:30pm.

This year’s game will include a “Teddy Bear Toss,” where spectators can bring a new, unwrapped teddy bear or stuffed animal to throw onto the ice after USC’s first goal. All the bears collected, as well as proceeds from the night, will be donated to CHOC; plastic bags will be provided to keep them dry and clean.

Those bringing stuffed animals will receive $5 off their admission to the game (usually $10), as well as a special flyer of deals from various local businesses. Those with military, fire, or police ID or USC student IDs will receive a further $5 discount.

There will also be a silent auction during the game of autographed Ducks memorabilia and other items.

Starting at 6:00pm, there will be family-friendly pre-game festivities in front of Anaheim ICE. Scheduled to participate are SWAT and K-9 units from the Anaheim Police Department; fire trucks from Anaheim Fire & Rescue; and the Anaheim Ducks Street Team with a street hockey rink. Food and refreshments will be available from the Refresh Truck.

The pre-game portion of CHOC Night is free and open to the public.

The USC Ice Girls, collegiate hockey’s only ice crew, will also be on hand to meet and greet fans during the festivities and game.

CHOC Night is one of the highlights of the formal partnership announced last season between USC Ice Hockey and the Anaheim Ducks, the first and only one of its kind between a Southern California college hockey team and an NHL club. (more on next page)

# # #

Johnny Nguyen
Assistant General Manager/Executive Director of Operations | USC Ice Hockey
Email - jnguyen@uscicehockey.com | Phone - (213) 290-6080
Lyon University Center | 1026 West 34^th Street | Los Angeles, CA 90089-2500

USCIceHockey.com | facebook.com/USCIceHockey | twitter.com/USCHockey, @USCHockey
USCIceGirls.com | facebook.com/USCIceGirls | twitter.com/USCIceGirls, @USCIceGirls

About USC Ice Hockey

Established in 1925, USC Ice Hockey is a student-run, student-funded organization at the University of Southern California. The Trojans are members of the PAC 8 Conference, and are the reigning 2010 champions. The team is a sanctioned member of USA Hockey and the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the national governing body of non-varsity intercollegiate college hockey. USC Ice Hockey plays approximately 25 games a season, playing teams locally, nationally, and even internationally. In 2002, USC became the first American collegiate hockey team to visit China, and also the first to play against their national team. Other past trips include to Iceland, Italy, and Japan.

The USC Ice Girls were formed in 2010 and is the only NHL-style ice crew for any college hockey team at any level in the United States.

In October of 2010, USC Ice Hockey and the Anaheim Ducks signed a formal partnership and marketing agreement to support and promote both teams, as well as help develop the sport of hockey in the Southern California region. The Rinks – Anaheim ICE is the official practice and training facility for the Ducks, and has served as the Trojans’ home rink for the past fifteen seasons.

END