SRJC Polar Bears Defeat Cal Berkeley in season opener

The SRJC Polar Bears hosted Cal Berkeley Friday night at Snoopy’s Home Ice for the first game of the 2012-13 season. The Polar Bears came out fired up and ready for battle in front of over 500 fans. “The crowd had a lot of energy and as a player you feed off the reactions of the fans” said Polar Bears’ forward Spencer Wright about the atmosphere during the game.

It took the Polar Bears only 24 seconds to break the ice with their first goal when Alexi Kulikouskiy beat the Cal Berkeley net-minder with a wrist shot. After that the two teams took turns scoring goals, keeping the game close and exciting for the fans.

Rookie Spencer Wright broke into his college hockey career with 2 goals in his first game as a Polar Bear. Chris Whitten, Don Coyle, and Josiah Nikkel also scored their first goals in a Polar Bear uniform.

Rookie goaltender Jacob Pavsek held his own with an 18 save effort to get his first win as a Polar Bear.

Next Friday the Polar Bears travel to Vacaville to play Sacramento State and then return to Santa Rosa Saturday night to face them again at Snoopy’s Home Ice.      

---