Tuesday October 9, 2001

Despite bringing lesser-known weapons this season than in previous years, the Icecats did not miss a beat during their season-opening trip to Southern California.

After losing 80 percent of its scoring production from a year ago, Arizona showed the rest of the American Collegiate Hockey Association that it is again poised to be amongst the nation's elite, trouncing USC 7-1, and 11-3 this past weekend.

The youth of the Icecats was on display in the USC games, as three players scored their first career goals in the opening-night victory.

Freshman Mickey Meehan scored twice, while fellow classmates Shawn Brooks and Mike Smith also found the net for the first time as Icecats.

The goaltending of freshman Bryan Aronchick added to the Icecat youth movement, making 22 saves and earning the victory in his first career start. Aronchick takes over for senior Jason Morgan, who - despite being a three-year starter - did not try out for his senior season.

"We're going back to the basics this year," said UA head coach Leo Golembiewski. "We're harping on a styled discipline and playing solid defensively."

The Icecats - UA's club hockey team - did exactly that in dominating the flow of both contests against USC. Aronchick and UA's defense allowed just four goals in the weekend sweep.

With the team cautioning against a letdown after a successful opening night, the Icecats came out flying in their second game of the season and led the Trojans 7-1 after the first period of play. All four of Golembiewski's offensive lines saw ice time, and the balanced attack included freshman Nick Woods scoring the first two goals of his Icecat career.

Senior Kyle Neary also netted a hat trick in the victory, and Aronchick made 25 saves to improve to 2-0.

Golembiewski said he was the impressed with the early-season play of UA's special teams.

Senior Pavel Jandura anchored an explosive power play that cashed in on six opportunities - three in each victory. Jandura's goal during the second game gave him 36 in his career, making him the all-time leading goal scorer among Icecat defensemen.

Fellow blueliner Dave Galardini said he was impressed with the way UA responded to its first challenge of the season.

"This definitely went a lot better than last year's opener," Gallardini said. "I think the biggest improvement was the forwards crashing the net and working really hard.

"We were confident that we could win, but we did not expect it to be that easy."

Golembiewski said he thought the Trojans may have had similar thoughts until things got underway on Friday.

"(USC) probably thought we would be easy to beat, considering all that we had lost," Golembiewki said. "After the game, their head coach said that this is one of the more balanced teams that he's seen from us.

"The feeling on the ice and in the locker room is very refreshing, and the attitude right now - across the board - is great."

The Icecats have a few weeks to enjoy their opening-weekend success until they open their home schedule against Arizona State at the Tucson Convention Center Oct. 26 and 27.