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Preview
of Husky Hockey 2000-2001
By
Sabina Luk
Two words come to
the mind of Husky Hockey when thinking of the up and coming season: Pac-8
Champions. Yes, that is right; it is time for another season
of hockey at the University of Washington! Not only will this
season be different, but also it will be stronger with the return of
injured players, veteran players, as well as new recruits.
This year’s Husky Hockey team will have three veteran coaches behind the
bench, head coach Cindy Dayley and assistants Zoe Harris, Devin Harmala
and former player Jim Helfield, to guide them to a championship berth.
In summation, last
season was considered a successful season for Husky Hockey despite just
missing the playoffs by one point. The attitude coming into
the 2000-2001 hockey season is full of excitement and hope.
With positive reinforcement from coaches and personnel, the players know
they possess a team that could bring home a championship.
The goal is
simple: to win the Pac-8 championship. Getting there requires
hard work and dedication, qualities that the team holds.
Although the goal is clear, the Husky Hockey team still has a couple of
quirks to work out in order to enhance the team, such as improving on the
game systems. Forward Steven Hyun knows “talent on this team
is not a question, but in order to play our best, we need to play
smart.” Improvement will surely come and quickly.
Head coach Cindy Dayley says, “We are looking at a new and different
team than the years past.”
With a strong
offense and a skilled penalty killing team, the rest of the league will be
looking at a fresher, more energized, and fiercer team. Fifth
year forward and assistant captain, Clay Josephy, sees the “strong
forwards and power plays along with solid coaching and systems” as the
strong points of this team. The amount of heart and energy
this team has will help bring wins against powerhouse teams such as UCLA
and USC. “USC was undefeated last year and won the Pac-8
Championships. They are the team to beat” remarks assistant
coach Zoe Harris. Other teams to beat are Oregon and Stanford.
With new teams joining the national association, such as Lewis and Clark,
the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) in which the Husky
Hockey team participates, is expanding and growing more popular every
year. Defenseman Brian Smith knows one thing for sure, “if
we play our brand of hard hitting, quick-paced hockey for the whole game,
we can beat anybody.”
The new recruits
this year will only add to an already strong team. Defenseman,
Steve Savage, knows that “with our new additions this season, we could
take this team farther than it has ever been before.” The
new recruits “have good offensive ability” says defenseman Michael
Woods. Sam Kim, center man and team captain, sees “the new
faces on the team to be very promising. Adding their fresh
legs and youthful spirit to our experience means we’ve got a really
promising team.”
One thing is for
sure; support for the team is crucial to the game. The fans
add energy and enthusiasm for the team is essential in keeping a positive
energy on the road to the championships.
This season will
be a fast paced and exciting with a lot of heart and talent on the ice, so
come support Husky Hockey and show the team your support at Olympicview
Arena or visit www.huskyhockey.net
for more information. 
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