UCLA Bruins men's ice hockey
| UCLA Bruins men's ice hockey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Conference | WCHC Tier 1 Division |
| First season | 1926–27 |
| Head coach | Griffin McCarty 2021 - Present season |
| Arena | The Cube Ice and Entertainment Center, Santa Clarita, California Los Angeles, California |
| Colors | Blue and gold[1] |
| Conference regular season championships | |
| 2022-2023 WCHC Regular Season Champions | |
The UCLA Bruins men's ice hockey team is a college ice hockey program that represents the University of California, Los Angeles. They are a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association at the Division II level. The university sponsored varsity ice hockey from 1926 to 1941.
History
Before the school was even called 'UCLA', the ice hockey program was formed, joining several other local teams including USC and Occidental. The team continued for several years despite the great depression being in full force. In the late 1930s a new arena was built for the Los Angeles programs but World War II forced all of the pacific coast teams to shutter their programs in the early '40s. When teams were reconstituted afterwards, UCLA was not among the programs to resurface and the new arena, the Tropical Ice Gardens, was demolished in 1949.[2]
UCLA eventually returned to the ice in 1961 but only as a club sport. Until recently, it played against many of its former varsity opponents in the Pac-8.[3]
Currently, UCLA plays in the West Coast Hockey Conference in the Tier 1 division against rivals like Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State, Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona, Arizona State, and others. They've made back to back appearances at the ACHA Men's D2 Western Region playoffs. They are currently coached by former player Griffin McCarty, son of the Detroit Red Wings legend Darren McCarty and Sean Allen, a former Hamilton College men's hockey player.
Historically, UCLA and USC have faced off in an annual 5-game series dubbed "The Crosstown Cup". Up until the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the games took place at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Note: UCLA used the same color scheme as the University of California, Berkeley until 1949.[4]
Season-by-season results
References
- ^ "Style Guide // UCLA Athletics for Print and Digital Applications" (PDF). UCLA Nike Jordan Style Guide. July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "UCLA Men's Ice Hockey History". UCLA Bruins. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-8 Hockey". Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ Rose, Adma (August 27, 2008). "Wear blue, thank you". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 3, 2008.
Even if you don't wear the "official" game day shirt (we all know the well-loved, 10-year-old shirt is best anyway), just make sure to wear True Blue ... or Powder Blue, for you traditionalists.