Club ice hockey has high expectations for '09
By Gabe Taylor
Although only three years old, the Santa Clara club ice hockey team has spread interest throughout the university. According to senior defender and Co-President Charlie Clark, the team has grown minimally in size, but largely in reputation.
Santa Clara is now back on the ice and aiming for its second Pacific Hockey Collegiate Association North Championship. Three games in, the Broncos have failed to pick up a win, dropping two of those games by only a goal each, but Clark sees the games as having slipped away.
"I would say we have more talent than the two teams we've faced so far," he said.
Senior center and Co-President Tom Sullivan agrees that the talent is there, but he believes the team needs to bring multiple aspects of the game together.
"The only thing is getting that talent and using our intelligence and our heart to turn results in for us," said Sullivan.
In a home-and-home series against Fresno State, the Broncos lost 7-1 but regained their composure to hang tough with the Bulldogs in the second game, falling 3-2 in the losing effort.
Santa Clara fought hard in their next game to erase a two-goal deficit against UC Davis but could not stay out of the penalty box, losing 5-4.
Despite the mental lapse, Sullivan has noticed that the elements of a true team are in place.
"We're not just going out there as individuals," said Sullivan. "We're not necessarily about individual players as much as the entire effort of the group."
Santa Clara immediately began team practices at the beginning of the school year in an attempt to get a feel for their level of play and prepare for the start of their season, which occurred just two weeks later.
However, the Broncos did not wait for the season to start learning the essence of teamwork.
Prior to the season, the team organized runs at a hill in San Mateo, one that, according to Sullivan, NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice once ran as well. In addition, groups of players occasionally coordinated trips to Sharks Ice in San Jose to sharpen their skating and shooting skills.
The team consists of many players with PCHA experience, but new additions to the team have improved the depth chart. In just a few weeks with Santa Clara, freshmen James Berry and Sam Lass have had an instant impact on the team, said Clark.
As for veteran leadership, Clark, Sullivan and seniors Chris McNamara and Alex Nelson have all returned to the Broncos for a fourth time.
Santa Clara has also seen a resurgence of leadership from Santa Clara law student Steve Barbieri, co-founder and first president of the club.
Barbieri, a 2008 alumnus, spent a year away from the Santa Clara campus but has returned to the team he created after enrolling in lawschool.
Sophomore Kevin Orlando sees the enthusiasm Barbieri exerts towards playing the game and recognizes Barbieri as an example for the team.
"No matter the situation, whether we're winning or losing, he plays with passion and encourages others," Orlando said.
With 17 games left, the season is still young. Despite the rough start, Clark and Sullivan are confident that the team will make the playoffs and hope to make nationals in Las Vegas.
Although only having two years of league play, the ice hockey club has been able to gain a group of dependable fans.
On multiple occasions, the club has brought the university marching band with them to Sharks Ice in San Jose to keep the crowd engaged.
As for those who may not have ever experienced a live hockey game, Clark has a selling point:
"The past two years we've had the reputation of being the hardest hitting team in the league."
Santa Clara travels south to face off against Cal State Northridge on Friday. The Broncos' next home game is October 24 at 10 p.m. against Gonzaga.
Contact Gabe Taylor at gtaylor@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918.