CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior Icecat goalie Bryan Aronchick watches a shot go wide of the goal Saturday against ASU. He made 83 saves in the weekend's two games.

Masked man saves day again

Facing what Icecats' head coach Leo Golembiewski thought was a very underrated ASU team in their opening series, junior goalie Bryan Aronchick withstood the Sun Devil gauntlet, yielding only four goals in two games for No. 10 Arizona (1-0-1). Before the first game against No. 18 ASU (5-3-1), Aronchick was battling food poisoning, but he played through it and had 83 saves over the two games.

The saves also moved him to over 1,500 for his career. Going into the season he was tied for first in UA history in goals against average after his first two seasons.

Aronchick sat down with the Wildcat to talk about "He shoots, he scores, hey goalie, you suck" chants, this weekend's home games against the Tennessee Ice Vols, Clarence Farmer and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Wildcat: So how are you feeling?

Aronchick: I'm feeling fine, had two tough games, just winding down from it.

Wildcat: How did it feel to get 37 and 46 saves?

Aronchick: It felt good, but it didn't feel good at the same time because it shows our team's a little rusty from last year.

Wildcat: I noticed you just went over 1,500 saves for your career. Is that something you're aware of?

Aronchick: I had no idea, actually. It's a cool thing.

Wildcat: Since you've been in Tucson, how many times do you think you've heard the word "Suck?"

Aronchick: (Laughs) Ever since I've been here. I didn't play my first semester here. I was in the stands and when the organ guy was there, on every note he played, it was like, da na na na na na na (imitating the organ), "You suck." Did you ever hear that?

Wildcat: Yeah, it was cool.

Aronchick: They don't have that anymore. It was funny.

Wildcat: Do you have any favorite chants or cheers that the fans do?

Aronchick: I used to like when they played the "Rocky" song and the guy ran up the stairs.

Wildcat: If you were a goalie for another team and you came in here and were kind of ragging you like that...

Aronchick: Yeah, the "Hey goalie, you suck."

Wildcat: Would that affect you?

Aronchick: I don't know that that would affect me, but it's pretty cool. I like it.

Wildcat: I had no idea Tennessee had a hockey team, so I looked them up and saw they just moved up to division 2 (the Icecats finished 6th in D 1 last year), and that their arena only holds like 300. Do you think they'll be really surprised at the Madhouse?

Aronchick: I really have no idea. We played a team like that last year, Depaul (the Icecats won 16-2 and 14-1). It'll probably be the same kind of thing. They don't really know what they're doing out here.

Wildcat: It's kind of obvious how the fans feel about ASU. How do the players feel about ASU?

Aronchick: They're a cheap team. We hate them just as much, but there comes a point where you can't retaliate.

Wildcat: What's your favorite NHL team?

Aronchick: The Flyers. I'm from Philadelphia.

Wildcat: Do you like the black jerseys or the orange jerseys better?

Aronchick: Orange, I like the orange.

Wildcat: Who's your favorite NHL goalie right now?

Aronchick: Right now I'd have to say... that's a tough question, I'd have to say (Jean-Sebastian) Giguere.

Wildcat: How big do you think it would be to win it all in the 25th anniversary year?

Aronchick: It would be huge for the team and for the whole organization - (it would) bring the fans back maybe.

Wildcat: What is it like to play the same position as a coach that's so prominent?

Aronchick: He's hands-on. He knows a lot about hockey in general, but he obviously knows more about goaltending than he knows about anything else. You've got to benefit more from it.

Wildcat: Have you ever scored a goal while you were playing goalie?

Aronchick: No.

Wildcat: Is that a something you want to do?

Aronchick: Yeah. The reason I started playing hockey is (former Flyer netminder) Ron Hextall, and he scored two goals.

Wildcat: In the program, in the Naughton's ad, it said that Dwain Pipe is a forward. Do you think he could score on you?

Aronchick: Yeah, maybe (laughs).

Wildcat: What mascot - not a hockey mascot, just one in general - would you like to see on skates?

Aronchick: That's a tough one. I don't know any mascots.

Wildcat: Like you know, the Phoenix Suns have the Gorilla, or there's the Philly Phanatic.

Aronchick: The Philly Phanatic would be funny.

Wildcat: Why number 27?

Aronchick: Ron Hextall.

Wildcat: What's your favorite sport besides hockey?

Aronchick: Golf.

Wildcat: What's your major?

Aronchick: I'm in regional development.

Wildcat: I saw in an old story that you wanted to design golf courses.

Aronchick: I think they design golf courses in landscape architecture, but I dropped it, so I'm not doing it anymore.

Wildcat: When you get all suited up, do you ever need to go to the bathroom?

Aronchick: Yeah, a couple times (laughs). You got to undress totally - you can't just take off one piece. That's a tough question though (laughs).

Wildcat: What's the worst place to play?

Aronchick: So far, I'd say Penn State. You mean worst as far as toughest or worst as in worst rink?

Wildcat: Worst rink.

Aronchick: ASU.

Wildcat: The football team has kind of had the worst possible year almost. What do you think about their situation?

Aronchick: I don't know. I saw that they let go of Clarence Farmer. I know him. I don't understand why they did that - he's the best player on that team by far - but I know nothing about football other than betting on it (laughs).

Wildcat: How excited are you to go up to Glendale and play in the Coyotes' new arena next semester?

Aronchick: I don't rally care, unless there's a lot of fans there.

Wildcat: Since Halloween is this weekend, what do you think was your best costume?

Aronchick: I dressed up like an army guy. That was pretty funny (laughs). I don't really remember, myself.

Wildcat: Do you get to pick what the design is on your facemask?

Aronchick: Yes.

Wildcat: Why did you pick that?

Aronchick: I just had like a graphic. A kid in the art program, he did my helmet for me, with some abstract art stuff.

Wildcat: What's your favorite Icecats jersey, white or black or blue?

Aronchick: Blue.