The Long Beach State club hockey team has come a long way since John Cacciatore first took over the head coaching position six years ago.
Cacciatore, a Marine Corps veteran, has turned a rag-tag struggling program into one of the most organized and successful club hockey teams in the country.
“The first couple of years were a struggle,” Cacciatore said. “We were losing games by scores like 13-2. But we worked hard and built a reputation of never giving up and never forfeiting any games.”
The hard work in the past, and the continued commitment by the team now is paying dividends.
LBSU is going into the winter break with a 15-5 record and is tied with Utah State at No. 6 in the most recent American College Hockey Association Division II West Region rankings. New rankings come out this weekend.
Although it’s been a good season, Cacciatore is far from content.
“I didn’t expect us to be undefeated, but I was hoping we would have about three losses instead of five,” Cacciatore said. “[With] that said we are definitely having a good season.”
The 49ers are looking to advance to its first ever ACHA National Tournament this season, but the road to the 16-team National Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo. won’t be easy.
If LBSU doesn’t finish ranked in the top two in the West Region, which is probable, then they will have to win the West Region Tournament which will takes place Feb. 16 and 17 in Logan, Utah.
“The West Region Tournament will be difficult because it is at Utah State,” Cacciatore said. “Whoever wins that tournament will probably have to go through Utah State, and they have a great advantage at home because their crowd gets so into the game.”
What LBSU does have going for them is the most prolific scorer in ACHA Division II hockey.
Center Brian Horowitz has scored 33 goals and has 27 assists. Horowitz’s 60 points leads all teams in ACHA Division II and is second in goals.
The 49ers also have Jason Hastings, and although Hastings is a defenseman, he is second on the team and ranks 18th in ACHA Division II with 44 points (19 goals and 25 assists).
LBSU is losing one of its team leaders in goalie Mike Bergman, who is graduating after this fall semester. Bergman had a 3.87 goals against average while splitting time between the pipes this season with goalie Frankie Mitrano.
“Mike has been here from the beginning, and it is great that he is graduating, but he is definitely going to be missed,” Cacciatore said. “Frankie has some large shoes to fill, but he played well for us in the tournament last year, so I think we are still in a good situation in goal.”
In its last game in 2006, LBSU lost to No. 1 Colorado, 6-5, at the 49ers home at Glacial Gardens Arena in Lakewood on Saturday.
According to Cacciatore, LBSU was a man down for 14 of the first 20 minutes of the game, because of penalties. With LBSU players going in and out of the penalty box, Colorado took advantage, scoring four goals in the first period and the 49ers were unable to catch up.
“Our penalty kill isn’t the problem as much as it is we can’t be taking so many. The best penalty kill is not committing the penalty in the first place,” Cacciatore said. “It’s something we have to work on for the rest of the season.”
LBSU Hocket Schedule
Jan. 11 Washington 9 p.m.
Jan. 12 Utah Valley State 9 p.m.
Jan. 13 Utah Valley State 9 p.m.
Jan. 26 Loyola Marymount 9 p.m.
Jan. 27 BYU 9 p.m.
Feb. 2 UNLV 9 p.m.
Feb. 3 UNLV 9 p.m.
All home games are at Glacial Gardens Arena in Lakewood.
