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2002-2003 University of Redlands Ice Hockey Club

Kneeling: Justin O'Neill, Steve Baker, Bryce Bunker, Bodey DeNault, Ed Wingenbach,
Don Duffy, Andy Alexander, Hector Torres

Standing: Justin Wang, Mateo Munoz, Jake Fraleigh, Erick Guzman, Sean Owens, Fardad Marvasti, Chris Seward

Not Pictured: Matt Lang, Mike Harding

From the Bulldog Weekly Student Newspaper:

This year was the third full season of play for the Ice Hockey Club, and it represented a major step for the club’s eventual goal of joining the Pacific College Hockey Association (PCHA). The team played its first intercollegiate games, a home and home series with the University of California, Irvine. The first game, in April, was played at Redlands’s home rink in Ontario, and attended by approximately 100 fans. The team controlled the pace of play for the first two periods, playing a defensive strategy combined with aggressive counterattacks, and entered the final period leading 5-4. Irvine took advantage of a lucky bounce to score a tying goal early in the period and followed that with 2 more, leaving Redlands down 5-7. After a timeout the Bulldogs adopted a more offensive approach, controlling the puck in the offensive zone and taking more risks on defense. Redlands roared back, scoring 3 goals in the final 10 minutes and winning 8-7. Goalie Bryce Bunker preserved the win, turning away a flurry of shots in the final minutes, some on spectacular saves.

The second game, on Irvine’s home ice in Anaheim, was even more dramatic. Coming off a long break, the Bulldogs were sluggish in the first period, falling behind 1-4. The team decided to pursue a strategy of physical intimidation in the second period, hitting Irvine players hard at every opportunity. Though the punishment did not yield immediate results (the period ended with Irvine still leading 2-5), the strategy paid off in the final period, as Irvine became tentative with puck and avoided the center of the ice. Redlands took advantage of Irvine’s timidity, outscoring them 6-1 in the third period and emerging with an 8-6 victory. The two victories leave the Hockey club undefeated in intercollegiate play, and bode well for the future. Irvine is a member of the PCHA, and the team’s ability to defeat them indicates that it should be at least competitive in the college league.

In addition to the games with Irvine, the Ice Hockey Club played in the Riverside Adult League in the fall, finishing second in the regular season and losing a close playoff game. In the spring the team moved to the Ontario Adult League. Because the team joined after the season was already in progress, it was unable to accumulate enough points to qualify for the playoffs, missing by one point, despite beating all four playoff teams during the regular season. The team also held semi-regular practices. In total, Redlands played approximately 30 league games in addition to intercollegiate play.

The team is currently discussing the possibility of joining the PCHA next season, which includes teams from UC Davis and Irvine, San Diego State, Fresno State, and University of San Diego, among others. It may also play a New Year’s tournament sponsored by Sacramento State. The team looks strong, returning all but three players and hoping to add new talent in the fall. The graduating seniors include Andy Alexander, Fardad Marvasti, and Erick Guzman. The rest of the team includes juniors Jake Fraleigh, Sean Owens, Bodey DeNault, Matt Lang, and Mateo Munoz, sophomore Justin O'Neill, and freshmen Bryce Bunker, Hector Torres, Justin Wang, Chris Seward, Steve Baker, and Mike Harding.