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USC ice hockey coach Mark Wilbur has plenty of trophies. In the last four years, his team has won the Pacific-8 Conference title each time.
But this year he said the goals for his Division II club team are greater.
"I want to take it one step beyond the Pac-8 and focus on winning the national championship," he said. "We definitely want to not just qualify for nationals, but if we're as deep as I think we can be, why not go after the championship?"
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That's no small order for a team with an obvious geographic problem: There's
not a lot of ice to play on in Los Angeles, and local children often grow up
playing sports played on courts, fields and in swimming pools. Ticketmaster
Wilbur said the notion of Southern California not being a hockey haven can be an advantage when playing against national powerhouse teams in the east and north. When they don't take USC seriously, the Trojans are able to jump in front of teams with more depth and experience.
Three seasons ago, when USC played Siena in the national tournament, the Trojans weren't expected to be a challenge. After all, Siena was the top-ranked team in the hockey-rich Northeast.
"They thought we were a joke," said USC forward John Blair, who was a freshman that year. "When you're facing an opponent in any sport and they look at you like you don't belong on the ice, it motivates you."
USC, using its team speed and defense, won the game 6-4. It became the talk of the tournament. Ticketmaster
"All of the sudden, it's 3-0 at the end of the first period, and they're like, 'What the hell happened?'" Wilbur said.
When the final tryout for this season's hockey team ends Wednesday, Wilbur said he expects to field the deepest team he's seen at USC in his nine years as head coach. That, he said, should help once the postseason begins in February.
He said a talented group of freshman will join players such as forwards Raffie Kalajian, Blair and Brandon Krikorian, and defenders Zach Shuler, Brett Cohen and Scott Sargent. Ticketmaster
Kalajian, an All-American last season, will graduate in December and only be eligible the first half of the season. Before the season began, players were unsure whether he would play at all.
"Having him back is huge," said team president and forward Fred Green. "He's a leader, and it's definitely in the back of our heads [that he's leaving]. We have to get some chemistry going without him."
"If I can get him for a semester, great. If I can get him for longer, great. Raffie is a natural leader," Wilbur said.
Unlike last season, Kalajian will not be a captain. Sargent will take over those duties, and Shuler and Blair will be assistants.
The Trojans, without past assistant captains Nick Nickson and Mike Imohara, will take the ice in an exhibition home game against San Diego State at Disney Ice on Saturday.
The Trojans open their regular season Sept. 25 against Long Beach State at Lakewood Glacial Gardens. Ticketmaster
"It'll be interesting to see how the new team comes together after losing those guys," Green said.