May, 2008 - Rubber Hockey Magazine

calirubber b com
b Interview:
Kevin Culbertson
b Inline studentathletes honored
b LA Selects
celebrate
national title
b Stoddard
recognized for
charitable work
S b UTHERN
EXP b SURE
Hockey’s future in San Diego is brighter than ever
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 Spring 2008
California’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey
THE LINEUP:
4...........Editors Column
Rubber Interview...........5
6..........Cover Story
San Jose Sharks.............8
9..........Los Angeles Kings
Valley Christian feature.10
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11.........Jess Koizumi feature
Association Reports......12
16.........College Hockey
Junior Reports..............17
19.........John Stoddard Feature
Association Reports......20
24.........Inline Hockey
On the cover:
calirubber Bcom
BInterview:
Kevin Culbertson
BInline studentathletes honored
B LA Selects
celebrate
national title
BStoddard
recognized for
charitable work
S B UTHERN
EXP B SURE
Hockey’s future in San Diego is brighter than ever
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 Spring 2008
California’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey
Clockwise,
from back,
San Diego
skaters: Jr.
Gulls: Zen
Hamil, SDIA:
Eric Wright,
La Jolla:
Connor
Noon.
.
California Rubber Magazine
is a production of:
senior editor & publisher: Brian McDonough
editor: Jeff Loftsgaarden
senior designer: Jennifer Hron
associate designer: Jayson Hron
3
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Editor Column: Summer
a key
time for development
A
s the season comes to an end, players are beginning to unwind after what has been an exhilarating year of hockey in California.
For most, the time has come to sit back, relax and
reflect back on the improvements and accomplishments that have come and gone over the past several
months.
Having played hockey my entire life at virtually
every level, I can tell you that the summer season is
the most crucial component of development for players of all ages.
The decision to stay active on and off the ice during the off-season is often
times what makes or breaks young talent. As you begin to shift your attention
towards the 2008-09 season, keep the following points in mind during the summer
months:
Ask yourself how you’re going to make it to the next level? It’s not easy road,
by any means, and it’s the details that get hardworking players from the A to AAA
team, or from Junior B to Junior A.
Focus on doing the little things each day to improve. Whether it’s stick-handling a golf ball in the garage or going for an afternoon jog at the beach, make a
conscious effort to improve as a player, and more importantly, as a human being.
The pride and privilege that comes with having the opportunity to wear your
local team’s colors carries a heavy weight. As a player, you hold an unparalleled
duty to represent not only your team, but your city, school, family and the entire
hockey community.
Sportsmanship, team play and dedication shouldn’t end when the final buzzer
sounds. These are attributes that separate hockey players from other athletes;
they’re what make us special.
Players that break these rules stand out from the crowd, but for the wrong
reasons. Be proud to be a hockey player and make an effort to thank the people
who give you the opportunity to play the best sport in the world.
Have a safe and relaxing summer!
Reach Jeff Loftsgaarden @ jeff@calirubber.com
www
b
ca l i r u b b e r
b
c o m
McColgan taken in first round of WHL Draft
T
Shane McColgan
4
he Kelowna Rockets
again looked south of the
border for their first-round
pick in the annual Western
Hockey League Bantam
Draft on May 1.
The Rockets’ first
selection (13th overall) was
Shane McColgan, a forward
from Manhattan Beach who
played Midget AAA last
season in Los Angeles.
The 5-foot-10, 160pound McColgan was the
only U.S.-born player
chosen by Kelowna, who
drafted Arizona native and
University of Michigan
recruit Luke Moffatt second
overall in 2007.
“We’re really excited to
draft Shane as he is one of
the top U.S.-born players,”
Kelowna GM Bruce
Hamilton said. “We look
forward to Shane playing
with the Kelowna Rockets
in the near future as our
scouting staff had him
rated as one of the top three
players in the draft.
“Needless to say, we’re
really pleased to have
Shane joining the Rockets
organization.”
Other California
natives drafted were: Kyle
Buffardi, F, Westminster,
Kamloops (4th round, 72nd
overall); Brendan Jensen,
G, El Granada, Vancouver
(6th round, 130th overall);
Jordan Watt, F, Corona,
Kamloops (9th round, 182nd
overall); Garrett Haar, D,
Huntington Beach, Moose
Jaw (10th round, 209th
overall); Adam Reid, F,
Chino Hills, Lethbridge (11th
round, 226th overall); and
Jonathon Robinson, F,
Carlsbad, Saskatoon (11th
round, 228th overall). b
- Matt Mackinder
Wave Makers Rubber Interview:
b The LA Selects’ PeeWee AAA team
celebrated a USA Hockey national
championship last month, the only
California team to win a national
title this year (see more on the Selects on Page 12).
b Shane Madolora (Salinas),
Matt White (Whittier) and Dakota
Eveland (Anaheim) were crowned
Tier I junior national champions as
members of the Omaha (Neb.) Lancers of the USHL.
b Placentia’s Jeff Ceccacci and
Woodland Hills’ Josh Rabbani won
a Tier II Junior A national championship as members of the NAHL’s St.
Louis Bandits.
b San Jose Jr. Sharks’ U18 AAA
defenseman Adam McKenzie has
committed to the Air Force Academy
(Atlantic Hockey) for either the start
of the 2009 or 2010 season (see more
on McKenzie on Page 21).
b Long Beach’s Adam Cardwell,
an Alaska-Fairbanks recruit, was
named to the All-South Division and
All-NAHL Team after leading the
league in scoring with 91 points (32
goals) as a member of the Wichita
Falls (Texas) Wildcats.
b Darren Rowe, from Simi Valley,
was named to the NAHL All-Rookie
Team after scoring nine goals for 36
points for the Springfield (Ill.) Jr.
Blues.
b John Stoddard, of La Mesa,
won the NAHL Community Service
Award. This past season, Stoddard
skated for the Topeka (Kan.) RoadRunners (see more on Stoddard on
Page 19).
b Anaheim’s Steve Mohler has
committed to Utica (N.Y.) College of
the Division III ECAC West conference for next season. This past
year, Mohler skated for the NAHL’s
Springfield Jr. Blues.
Kevin Culbertson
Beach City Lightning President
A
Kings fan growing up in Laguna
Niguel, Kevin Culbertson now
heads up the Beach City Lightning as
the association’s president. California
Rubber’s Brian McDonough caught up
with Culbertson to learn more about the
organization and hockey in California.
California Rubber: How did you first
get involved in hockey?
Kevin Culbertson: I actually got
started as a fan attending Los Angeles
Kings games in the mid-70’s while living in my current hometown of Laguna
Niguel. My son got involved with inhouse at Aliso Viejo in the mid-90’s, and
that’s when I started to become involved as bench help for the coaches. As a Mite,
my son was invited to a tryout with the Lightning, and we’ve been with them ever
since.
CR: Talk a bit about your role as president?
KC: In 2004, while serving as team manager for the third year, I was approached
by then-president Valarie Broadhead to see if I’d consider the position. Surprised that no one else was interested, I said I’d do it if no one else wanted to. So,
since I didn’t say no, here I am.
I see my role as one of the many Board facilitators working for the wants and
desires of the Lightning membership. We try very hard to keep the interest of the
group as a whole in mind with our decision-making because the group is much
more important than any one individual.
CA: How is hockey in Southern California progressing, in your estimation?
KC: Clearly, Southern California and California as a whole is having more and
more of an impact on the development of youth hockey. The region has produced
many quality players who have moved onto junior, college and pro levels, and not
just making the team, but having a real impact. The region has really got the attention of programs from all over the country, and that’s a testament to the ability
and quality of the SCAHA and NorCal programs.
CA: Is the Lightning active in trying to attract more people to the game?
KC: The short answer is yes, but since our program is not a rink-operated program, we’re not able to provide the “Learn To Skate”-type programs that some
clubs have access to.
Nonetheless, we strive to provide a program at the Mite and/or Squirt levels
geared towards the development of the players’ skills and capabilities. While this
is really true for all of our teams and levels, we have a particular focus on the
younger kids to keep them placed at a level where they can compete and improve
their talents. And most importantly, a focus of having fun will hopefully keep
people interested in our group, as well as attract new players.
Interview Continued / Page 20
5
Sunny
Disp b siti b n
San Diego’s influence
not to be forgotten
By Brian
McDonough
I
t might not
steal the
limelight as often
as its northern counterparts in Los Angeles and San Jose, but the San Diego
hockey community is - and has been
- putting its best foot forward in terms
of turning California into a contender.
“San Diego has a lot to offer young
hockey players,” said Larry Cahn, a
Santa Rosa native who serves as the
director of hockey for the San Diego Jr.
Gulls and also the director of hockey at
Escondido’s Iceoplex.
“All of the rinks offer programs to
get more kids involved in our sport,
there are coaches and staff to develop
them and top-notch travel organizations to compete at the local,
state and national levels.”
Those four programs include
the Jr. Gulls, the San Diego
Saints, San Diego Ice Arena
(SDIA) and the La Jolla Jaguars.
All are working effortlessly to
dispel the myth that hockey is
an afterthought in California’s
second largest city.
“Hockey in San Diego is larger than most people think it is,”
said Sweden-born Cristopher
Benitah, the hockey director and
Midget 18A head coach for the
Jaguars program.
And it’s not only providing
a fun, healthy environment for
kids and adults alike, but it’s also
grooming many for college and
professional opportunities.
“We’ve proven ourselves
worthy of respect and I believe we’ll
continue to be a forerunner in youth
hockey,” said Cahn.
Growing Pains
With close to 900 registered youth
players in the region, general consensus amongst the existing programs is
that the sky’s the limit for San Diego
in terms of increasing participation
dramatically.
“Our numbers continue to grow
each season with newcomers, as well
as local kids coming back home to play
in their hometown instead of traveling
to the Los Angeles or Orange Country
areas,” said Cahn.
6
Benitah is a firm believer that there
needs to be more competitive programs
- both in terms of numbers and talent
- outside of the local house leagues to
make San Diego a real player.
“Right now, there are a lot of players satisfying themselves with the level
of play that exists down here, or they
move to LA to get more competitive,” he
said.
And that’s where cost rears its ugly
head.
Jason Galea, the Saints’ director
of hockey, notes that he’s seeing more
and more kids wanting to play hockey
at the house level, but it’s the travel
commitment that holds the area back.
“The concept of travel hockey is
beginning to deteriorate with the increased cost in gas and the tremendous
distance San Diego teams to have to
travel for league games,” he said.
The Challenges
Like the rest of the country – especially the so-called “non-traditional”
markets – San Diego battles mightily
for participation. Competition with
other activities is always an issue, as is
the sticker shock of equipment, ice time
and travel.
The enviable climate doesn’t help
either, according to Cahn.
“The weather in San Diego is always good, so if you’re a young parent,
do you want to watch your child play a
sport in a cold rink or outside enjoying
the perfect weather?” he said.
Simple marketing is also an issue,
says Craig Sterling, the hockey director at SDIA who grew up playing the
sport in Canada.
“We have to really put our
name out there and let [the community] know there’s hockey in
San Diego,” he said. “A lot of
people in San Diego don’t even
know we have ice hockey.”
And the investment – both for
equipment and travel – can scare
any parent off easily, and that hit
to the wallet only gets harder as
players climb the ladder.
“Children have a difficult time
merely equipping themselves,”
said Galea. “Add to that the cost
of traveling - gas and hotels – and
it makes it quite difficult to keep
kids involved.
“They realize they’ll need to
play at higher levels if they want
to move onward, and as you move
up in competitive levels - A to AA
or AA to AAA - the cost increases
drastically.”
Professional Help
Since the San Diego Gulls of the
professional ECHL closed up shop two
years ago, the city has been left with
a major void, one that virtually every
local administrator believes is stunting
the growth of the sport.
“We miss having the Gulls,” said
Sterling, who did a lot of volunteering
with the team. “They were a huge part
of the San Diego community and the
kids.”
Benitah is bullish on the return of
professional hockey. He goes so far to
say that San Diego needs a pro pres-
ence for the youth community to flourish.
“I think hockey went down a little
bit when the Gulls disappeared,” Benitah said. “The kids don’t have a team
to look up to, which is why many travel
to Anaheim or LA to play.”
“A professional team would do
wonders,” said Galea. “It would help
remind people that hockey exists and
that it can provide opportunities for
kids. If properly operated, a team could
do very well here.”
Cahn agrees that a professional
organization would help with the
sport’s missing identity in the city, and
one that would ultimately create more
interest and participation.
“A pro team would of course help
the development and recruitment of
new players in San Diego,” said Cahn.
“The more education about the sport,
the more kids we’ll have playing it.”
“San Diego, as a city, needs it as
well, since many of the parents have
never seen a real game live and not
everyone wants to travel to Anaheim or
LA,” Benitah added. “Only good things
could come out of a new team down
here.”
One Big, Happy Family
What’s encouraging for hockey’s
future in San Diego is that all four
associations are putting their hands
in the middle for the betterment of the
sport and its growth.
All of the rinks participate in the
Greater San Diego Youth Hockey
League through their house programs.
In this circuit, there are no major
championships or playoffs.
“We just encourage
the kids
play-
ing and having fun,” said Galea.
“It’s a unique program that benefits all San Diego players by allowing
them the opportunity to compete on a
beginning level while developing the
skills needed to progress through the
programs,” said Cahn.
The administrators from each
association also keep an open line of
communication, meeting regularly to
share ideas on how to keep all of the
programs healthy and efficient as they
look towards the future.
“All in all, we have great communication,” said Benitah.
The Name Game
Make no mistake; San Diego is producing its fair share of top-of-the-line
hockey players.
In addition to their plentiful state
and national accolades on a team
level, the Jr. Gulls boast a number of
prominent alumni, among them Bryce
Charpentier, who went on to a career
in the minor-pro ranks, and Brandon
Crawford-West, who played college
hockey at Miami University in Ohio.
Ian Drummond is skating at
Middlebury College, while David Inman just finished his junior season at
Yale University.
Former Jr. Gull Raymond Macias, a Colorado Avalanche draft pick,
played minor-pro this past season;
Rafael Rodriguez is skating at
Robert Morris University; and Nathan
Sigmund is with Northern Michigan
University.
“The Jr. Gulls have helped develop
many players so they can chase their
dreams, and sometimes that’s all it
takes: a dream and a little direction,”
said Cahn.
A number of players have also
come out of the SDIA program,
including Garret Taylor,
who was drafted
by the Western Hockey
League’s Red
Deer Rebels
and played
for the U.S.
National
Team Development Program’s Under17 Team.
Sigmund also toiled in the SDIA
program, where many players have
also advanced to the USHL, one of the
top junior leagues in the country.
La Jolla boasts a handful of college
players, among them goaltender Ricky
St. Louis, who is playing for Long
Beach State.
Unsung Heroes
Like any youth organization
– hockey or otherwise - no success
comes without the help of committed
volunteers, both in terms of time and
resources. San Diego is lucky to have
some of the best.
“Everyone in the Jaguars organization works together,” said Benitah.
“Our house parents and coaches really
work together to make the club better.”
At SDIA, San Diego State law
professor Joel Henderson has over 30
years of experience in hockey training.
He plays an integral role when it comes
to directing the youth players.
“He’s made the youth scene in San
Diego even stronger,” said Sterling.
In addition, former professional
Gulls captains Brad Belland and
Martin St. Amour are serving as
SDIA directors for youth development,
with former New York Ranger Sandy
Fitzpatrick lending a helping hand as
well.
“These guys are in it for the interest of the kids and the development of
them into fine young men,” said Sterling.
Cahn credits the Gulls’ coaching staff for “making the club thrive
each and every season,” as well as the
association’s president, Laura Ryan.
“She’s helped guide the program
through thick and thin over the past
eight years, and her dedication is very
much appreciated from all around the
club,” said Cahn.
Because of Sandy Kayfish’s role
in the Saints’ golf tournament, the
program is able to provide a number of
scholarships to its players.
Board members Vince
D’Ambrose, Marty Mayer, Paul
Smigliani, Dan Miller and Ron Kayfish have also shown an unparalleled
and selfless commitment to the growth
of the Saints.
“They’ve been instrumental in helping our young program create a strong
foundation within its overall structure,”
said Galea. “We’re so lucky and blessed
to have people and families such as
these within our program.” b
7
San Jose Sharks
J.R.’s resurgence lifts Sharks
J
Wilson, a former
teammate and Roenick’s
first roommate when
Roenick broke into
the NHLwith the
Chicago
Jeremy
Roenick brought
a much-needed veteran
presence to San Jose this
past season.
Blackhawks back in 1988,
phoned his old buddy to offer
him a proposal, one they
would discuss over a round
of golf.
“I was on the plane to
San Jose the next day,”
Roenick recalled.
Wilson felt that his
young team could use
another vocal veteran. A
player who led by example
and whose tenacity and
enthusiasm could spark the
play of others.
He got his man in
Roenick.
“I might be 38 years
old, but I feel like I’m 19,”
Roenick said after a game
during this year’s playoffs,
in which he scored two goals
for five points in 12 games.
“It’s easy to play on this
team. It’s an unbelievable
club with a great supporting
cast.”
The Boston native also
accomplished some personal
milestones this past season.
In a November game against
Phoenix - one of six NHL
teams he’s dressed for
- Roenick scored his 500th
career goal, becoming just
the third American-born
player to do so. He also went
over the 1,200-point mark
for his career.
And the younger Sharks
have certainly heeded to
Roenick’s wisdom.
“J.R. has been a huge
addition to out team this
year,” Sharks forward
Torrey Mitchell, 23,
told NHLPA.com. “I’ve
personally enjoyed watching
how he prepares day-to-day
and picking his brain on the
little things that can give
you an edge early in your
career. He’s a very savvy,
veteran guy.” b
- Zachary Plaza
Auction at a Western Conference quarterfinals game
last month.
The auction raised over
$14,000, all of which will
benefit Kelley Lowery, a local Sharks fan who suffered
two devastating strokes in a
Last month’s stick auction to assist Kelley Lowery raised over
$14,000.
8
single day last year.
T The auction featured 22
sticks from various members of the current Sharks
roster and each was sold
via a Blind Auction. The
highest-selling stick of the
evening was that of Jeremy
Roenick ($1,500) followed
closely by Joe Thornton ($1,251) and Marleau
($1,128). In total, $14,382
was raised and the average
price for a stick was $653.
In January of 2007, Lowery, an otherwise healthy
and active young lady, had
been suffering for several
days from a consistent and
extremely painful headache.
When it was more than she
could bear, Kelley made the
trip to a local hospital emergency room. While getting
out of the car in the parking
lot, she suffered a stroke,
only to suffer another later
that day in the ER.
Since then, Kelley has
endured an exhausting
regimen of physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Confined to a wheelchair,
she presses forward everyday towards her goal of a full
recovery, which includes one
day walking again.
Marleau met Kelley
during a past Sharks home
game and, inspired by this
fighter’s determination
to walk again, decided to
organize an auction fundraiser, even going so far as
to personally share Kelley’s
story with teammates.
“Hockey players have
to have a ton of heart, be
tough and persevere for the
win, and Kelley shows us
what that really means,”
said Marleau. “I’m proud the
Sharks can be a part of her
recovery.” b
Photo / San Jose Sharks
Marleau leads auction for worthy cause
T
he Sharks Foundation
and San Jose Sharks
captain Patrick Marleau
took time during the hectic
playoffs to help a heroic
member of the community
when they hosted an Autographed Game-Used Stick
Photo / San Jose Sharks / Don Smith
eremy Roenick was
supposed to be retired.
His skills were supposed
to be diminished and
his passion for the
game was supposed to
be in question.
But San Jose
Sharks executive
VP-GM Doug
Wilson had
a sneaking
suspicion
there was a
little more
gas left
in the 38year-old’s
tank, and he
was right.
Los Angeles Kings
Workshop helps get women on ice
L
adies took center stage recently at
hockey,” said Evans.
the sport.”
“The fact that so many women are
Along with honing their hockey
the Los Angeles Kings Women’s
Hockey Workshop, which gave 50 wominterested and that there are more and
skills, the clinic stressed a positive, fun
en ranging from 7 to 63 years old the
more younger girls getting involved
environment in which to learn.
“It was my first time and I had a
chance to come together for five clinics
means great things for the growth of
to learn how to play hockey.
blast, so much so that I definite The participants were
ly want to keep going and get
outfitted in full gear, which they
better,” said Brielle Diedolf,
were able to keep at the end
one of the participants. “I’m goof the workshop, received two
ing to look into rinks that have
lower-level tickets to two Kings
open ice time or stick time so I
games and were able to skate on
can get back out there.”
Since the Women’s Workshop,
STAPLES Center ice after Kings
games twice.
many of the girls having been
Former King and radio
skating on their own and parcommentator Daryl Evans was
ticipating in other clinics. A mathe lead instructor, with Maria
jority of them will be trying out
Dennis, one of the most decofor the Lady Kings, the women’s
rated women’s hockey players in
hockey league at Toyota Sports
Southern California, serving as
Center, for the upcoming season.
“My personal goal is to get
the assistant instructor.
“This workshop has been
better in skating and stick-hanamazing because of the posidling, then join the Lady Kings
tive interest from the amount
league,” said Diedolf. b
Kings alumnus and radio commentator Daryl Evans offers
of women, of all ages, who have instruction during the Women’s Hockey Workshop.
such enthusiasm and passion for
- Brian McDonough
Minor Pro
Condors’
community work
unmatched
Photo / Bakersfield Condors
W
hen it came to charitable
endeavors this season, few
teams – if any – matched what the
Bakersfield Condors brought to the
table.
In 2007-08 – the team’s 10th
anniversary season - the ECHL
club raised $433,620 in cash, goods
and services for deserving non-profit
organizations and local students.
That’s a Condors all-time total of $2.65
million in giving.
“We’re proud to help make our
community a better place to live,
because at the end of the day, that’s
what it’s all about,” said Matthew
Riley, the team’s president.
Bakersfield put its best foot forward
in countless events throughout the
season, including the popular Teddy
Bear Toss, in which 7,026 stuffed
Mike Hofstrand visits a young Condors fan
at a local hospital.
animals were collected and divided
between more than a dozen local nonprofit organizations and disseminated
amongst children in need.
In February, the Condors hosted
their fourth annual Fighting Cancer
Hockey-Thon, raising $56,700 for Links
for Life, a local breast cancer resource
center.
“As a community leader, it’s our
responsibility to do everything we can
for the community that supports us,”
Riley said. “To that end, the Condors
act as a conduit for our fans, allowing
their passion to fulfill our priorities.”
Another highlight was March’s
ninth annual Tip-A-Condor, where
Condors players waited tables and
sang karaoke to the tune of $16,044
for the Kern County Shrine Club.
During the season, the Condors
made nearly 200 community
appearances, many to schools to
encourage students to work hard and
achieve goals.
The Condors also participated in a
number of special events and projects,
including Habitat for Humanity,
Adopt-A-Highway, the Special
Olympics, Great Strides, Read Across
America and the United Way Day of
Caring, to name a few.
“That’s why the Condors
organization is so successful,” said
Brian Marsh, the team’s community
relations manager. “We look out for the
members of our community.” b
- Brian McDonough
9
Title Wave
Shamansky said. “She held up her
end of the bargain, there’s no question
about that.”
Valley Christian tied the game on a
Valley Christian repeats
goal from captain Anthony Bradley,
as HP Sharks High School
who was assisted by Paula’s brother,
David Romanchuk.
League champs
In the playoffs, Cimino was
Bellarmine’s leading scorer. During the
By Vytas Mazeika
regular season, junior Jared Melman
scored the most points for the Bells
here’s nothing more valuable in the
while senior Gage Emerson put the
playoffs than goaltending, and the
puck in the back of the net with the
Valley Christian Warriors know this.
most frequency.
Thanks to the stellar play of Alan
It’s that line of Cimino-MelmanAshby, who made 47 saves in the
Emerson and a roster with more than
NorCal High School title game, the
half travel tier-type players that had
Warriors repeated as champs with a
Bellarmine favored to win the champi4-3 win over Bellarmine Prep.
onship this season.
“I would say
“Are they the best in the country?
the second time
No,” said Yost, whose son Mark is a
was more satisfysophomore forward
ing simply for the
for the Bells. “But
fact that there
with their athleticism,
was so much more
they’re showing that
competition in the
they can play this game.
league,” Valley
“Give them another
Christian coach
10 years, 15 years, I
Ken Shamanski
think you’re going to see
said.
California contributing
With 800 fans
its fair share to some
screaming for both sides
of the more advanced
and time running out at
hockey programs.”
Sharks Ice in San Jose
Until then, the HP
last month, the pressure
Sharks High School
grew in a tied game.
League hopes to keep
Bellarmine senior
growing – and maybe
Sam Cimino scored a
one day be part of the
hat trick in the chamCalifornia Interscholaspionship game, helping
Alan Ashby backstopped the Warriors to another HP Sharks High School
tic Federation, which
the Bells jump out to a
League title with 47 saves.
oversees most high
2-0 lead and then tying
school sports like footthe game after Valley
Valley Christian lost some key players
ball, basketball and soccer.
Christian took its first lead with eight
prior to the game. This included Max
“We certainly have our eye on makminutes left on a 5-on-3 power play.
Ballais, who tried to skate before the
ing ice hockey a CIF sport,” Yost said.
Coming out of a timeout late in
puck dropped, but his injured ankle
“I don’t know what it’s going to take or
the third period, the puck rolled into
wouldn’t allow him to play.
how long it’s going to take. But if we
the Bellarmine defensive zone, where
“With that in mind, the boys
can get the CIF to be a part of it, you
Marco Gagliardi’s wraparound with
just kept playing,” Shamansky said.
never know what’s going to happen.”
2:11 to go – his second goal of the game
“Thanks to Alan Ashby’s superb goal Shamanski, who moved down from
– put Valley Christian up for good.
tending, we surprised everyone. We
Winnipeg three years ago, was part of
“I’d like to say I had something resaw it in the recent playoffs, didn’t we.
a league that developed slowly and now
ally intelligent to say (during the timehas 32 teams.
out), but at that point we were trying to That’s why they play the games.”
After falling behind 2-0, the first
“And hopefully, we’ll head in that
catch our breath,” Shamanski said.
Valley Christian goal came from the
direction here,” Shamanski said.
“We had plenty of chances to tie it
only girl in the HP Sharks High School
“Sometimes it’s not about winning,
up, but we weren’t able to,” Bellarmine
League, which has seven varsity teams
it’s about the kids, them having fun
coach Mike Yost said. “It was a great
and 13 in all. The Warriors entered the
and having a place to develop their
game. I can look back on it, and the
third period down 2-1 thanks to the
skills.”
only thing I would’ve done different is
That includes developing goalI would’ve emphasized the defensive ac- goal from Paula Romanchuk, who
will play at Princeton University come
tenders like Ashby, who can almost
tion a lot more.”
the fall.
single-handedly change the outcome of
The Bells’ only consolation was a
“That’s quite a coup for our area,”
a championship game. b
first-place finish during the regular
T
10
season, splitting the two games against
the Warriors and winning the Rivalry
Cup on goal differential.
“Even the regular season games are
really intense, extremely competitive,”
Yost said. “They were the class of the
league last year. This year, I think, on
paper we had an excellent team. However, their goaltending is stronger than
ours and that was the difference.
“In the end, like it happens in any
kind of playoff hockey, you get a guy
who stops 47 shots, that’s a pretty
darned good game,” Yost added.
Valley Christian was out-shot
50-32 in the championship game, but
Ashby literally stood on his head. He
turned away four breakaways while the
Warriors had none. And
he did it with the help of
only three defensemen, as
Good as Gold
By Danny Bernardini
Photo / USA Hockey
W
hen Jess Koizumi’s family made the move from Minnesota to
California when she was 12, she wasn’t sure that she would be able to
continue with her true love of hockey.
The Golden State
wasn’t exactly known for churning
out players on the
National or Olympic team,
something she’d
wanted since she was 15 years
old.
That was around the time
she quit playing men’s hockey
and focused on becoming one of
the nation’s best while playing in
the California Selects program.
“I was devastated by the
move (from Minnesota),” the
23-year-old Koizumi said. “You
never think California and
hockey.”
She eventually wound up
back in Minnesota when she
enrolled at the University of
Minnesota Duluth and was named
to the National team last October.
The Simi Valley product
has already taken care of goal No. 1, as
she made the U.S. team as a forward as
the Stars and Stripes took home the IIHF
World Women’s Championship in China
last month. And if things continue and
she successfully rehabs a couple leg
injuries, she may be able to check
being an Olympian off her to-do list.
Koizumi said as a graduate
student at Minnesota Duluth, she
was close to being named a coach
with one of the most renowned
coaches in the world, Shannon
Miller. She eventually chose
to represent her country,
which she said may have
ruined her chances to
coach.
“It was very
Simi Valley’s Jess Koizumi celebrated a World Women’s
Championship title in China last month.
difficult to quit,” said Koizumi. “I pretty much messed that
up leaving for hockey, but it was all worth it after winning the gold.
“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s something that you work for since you’re a
kid. Once you reach it, it’s kind of indescribable.”
Michele Amidon, USA Hockey’s director of women’s ice hockey, said
that Koizumi brought a spark to the championship run with the third line.
She said Koizumi was part of a youth movement on the squad that kept the
team going.
“The win in China was a big accomplishment. Sometimes youth can be
a big positive,” Amidon said. “She did well. There’s a role for here there. She
Koizumi finds a home on
Women’s National Team
added a lot in terms of energy.”
USA brought home the title for
the second time in the 11 years of the
championship – the other nine have been won
by Canada. With the win, Amidon said the
team has gotten some attention, but remains
relatively unknown.
“I think there’s always a challenge
getting any publicity, being men’s or
women’s. It’s the nature of sports in the
U.S.,” she said. “It was splashed all over the
papers and picked up on the NHL Network,
so we got some publicity we haven’t got in
the past. People are starting to realize that
women do play hockey.”
But don’t think that when Koizumi comes
home to the left coast, she is showered with
attention or given a parade. She said in
Minnesota the team is looked at as minicelebrities, but not so much in California.
“It’s really tough, coming from California.
Everywhere I go, they say, ‘You play
hockey?’” she said. “It’s kind of frustrating
since we’ve had three Olympic teams; you
think they would know something about it.”
Koizumi said the trip to China brought
some challenges to the players, both on and
off the ice.
“I can honestly say I don’t think I’d go
there voluntarily, but I’ll always remember
it,” she said. “The food was tough; they eat
things like beef tongue. We packed oatmeal,
tuna and used crockpots. We tried to not be
rude about the food, but it was tough. They
also allow smoking in the rink. We were
playing and [the fans] were smoking behind
the bench.”
And as for beating Canada, Koizumi
said there was definitely some satisfaction.
In fact, she remembers playing that team a
couple times earlier in the year. They were
blown out the first game and eventually lost
a nail-biter the second time around. But she
said it was during those Four Nations games
that her team really started to get it going.
“It was such a frustrating feeling. We
kind of grew a lot as a team in those two
games. Canada knew we were coming,” she
said. “I definitely had hopes of us winning
gold. A lot of great changes happened and
we’re getting stronger and stronger.”
Although Canada is America’s top rival,
Koizumi said the Olympics are becoming
more competitive and USA has to be ready
for all comers.
“No doubt, the Olympics are going to
be anyone’s game. We can’t just focus on
Canada,” she said. “You can’t take anyone for
granted anymore.” b
11
LA Selects’ PeeWee AAA’s wrap storybook season
National Treasure
By Steve Stein
I
t’s a long way from Los Angeles to Hackensack, N.J. It’s
even longer when you take a detour to Quebec City.
But that’s the route the LA Selects’ PeeWee AAA
team traveled to conquer its season-long goal: a national
championship.
The Selects won the national title last month in
Hackensack in drama only a championship hockey game
can produce with Brian Williams scoring in sudden-death
overtime to give the Selects a 2-1 victory over Detroit
Honeybaked.
A few weeks before the Selects and Honeybaked met for
the national championship, they collided in another huge
game. It was a division championship game at the Quebec
International PeeWee Hockey Tournament, better known as
the Peewee World Championships.
Honeybaked won that game, 3-0.
“We didn’t feel we played our best game against
Honeybaked in Quebec,” said Selects co-coach Rick Kelly.
“We never got it going. If you made a mistake against them,
you paid, and we fell behind 2-0 early because of mistakes.”
The Selects were ready for the rematch in New Jersey in
the finals of the 12-team national tournament.
“We played with a real sense of urgency,” Kelly said. “I
thought we outplayed Honeybaked in every aspect of the
game, but we only beat them by an overtime goal. That’s how
good they were.”
The Selects weren’t slouches, either. They finished 54-73, and Kelly knows why they were so successful.
“Our players and families made a huge commitment
to the program,” he said. “I’m not talking about just travel
and practice. The kids also had homework, we had video
reviews... I can’t believe there was another PeeWee AAA
team in the world that worked harder than us.”
The Selects found themselves on a worldwide stage when
they faced the Moscow Red Army team in the quarterfinals
of the 56-team top division at the World Championships.
The game was played in front of more than 11,000 fans
at the Colisee Pepsi, home of the WHA and NHL
Quebec Nordiques from 1972-1995, and a
nationwide television audience on TSN,
Canada’s version of ESPN.
“It felt like an Olympic atmosphere in
the building,” Kelly said. “The crowd
was behind us, chanting, ‘LA!
LA! LA!’ I don’t think many
people there - including us
- gave us much of a chance to
win. We’d seen the Russian
team play earlier. They were
so smart, mistake-free, so
unemotional.”
While it wasn’t
exactly a reincarnation
of the Miracle on Ice,
the Selects stunned the
hockey world with a 4-0
12
shutout of Red
Army. Goalie
Eric Comrie
pitched the
shutout.
The Selects’
11-day stay in
Quebec City
was memorable
for more than just hockey. Record snows produced drifts that
went over telephone poles and forced residents to enter their
homes through tunnels in the snow.
“It was quite the winter wonderland for these California
kids,” Kelly said.
Fast forward to New Jersey, where the Selects opened
national tournament play with a 5-1 victory over Mario
Lemieux’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Then came an 11-2
hammering of Alaska and a 6-1 win over Westchester
Express from New York. Actress Hilary Duff and her
boyfriend, Mike Comrie of the New York Islanders, were at
the Westchester game to watch Mike’s brother, Eric, play.
The New Jersey Rockets were no match for the Selects
in the quarterfinals as LA won, 8-0. Team Maryland gave
the Selects more of a battle in the semifinals, but the Selects
prevailed, 4-0.
Williams scored both Selects goals against Honeybaked
in the championship game, faking a forehand shot and going
top shelf with a backhand both times. Trevor Moore’s pass
set up Williams’ first goal, and Williams went in all alone on
his game-winner after intercepting a Honeybaked pass.
Comrie was spectacular in the national tournament,
allowing just two goals.
Defensemen Daniel Basist, Christopher Grosvenor,
David Longaker, Kyle Mitsunaga, Matthew O’Donnell,
Scott Savage and Bradey Selinske were solid in front of
Comrie. Mitsunaga, who played wing much of the season, led
all defensemen in scoring at the tournament.
Williams
had 16 points in the tournament,
second only
to a player from Wisconsin.
Max Becker, Taylor
Crunk, Chase DeLeo,
Andrew Oglevie, Jakob
Romo, Ryan Siroky and
Moore also did a good job
up front for the Selects.
Taras McKey
had the difficult task of
being the backup goalie
to Comrie all season.
“He would have
been the No. 1 goalie on
any other team,” Kelly
said
Kelly and Sandy
Gasseau were the Selects’
co-coaches. Patrick Angeles
and Bill Comrie were
assistant coaches, and
James Jensen was the
goalie coach. b
Goaltender Eric Comrie celebrates LA’s national title with teammate Andrew Oglevie.
Pasadena Maple Leafs
SONORAN YOUTH HOCKEY LEAGUE
New rink in store for
Pasadena
PRESENTS
R
ight now, the Pasadena Maple Leafs are looking towards
the year 2009 for completion of a new rink in the city.
“Pasadena’s rink is old and non-standard,” said Denise
Hamilton, a Pasadena hockey mom. The rink itself is 150
feet by 90 feet, as opposed to the NHL standard of 200 feet
by 85 feet.
“It’s inside an old ornate ballroom that, with the public’s
interest in dancing, the city wants to restore,” Hamilton
added.
The Maple Leafs always had B teams, she said, because
it was hard to attract A-level players to a rink that wasn’t
at least NHL size in a building with no locker rooms and no
showers.
“With the buzz about the new rink and the Bantam team
winning the [Southern California Amateur Hockey Association title], there’s some interest,” Hamilton said.
In December of 2006, the Pasadena City Council approved a $16.2 million rink project, but that project has since
run into delays, based on a story in the Pasadena Star News
from March of this year.
Two Great Arizona Travel Tournaments!
Made In The USA
Labor Day Tournanent
Coyotes Cup
Holiday Hockey Festival
August 30 - September 1, 2008.
December 27 - December 31, 2008
www.labordayhockey.com
www.coyotescup.com
Bring your game to Arizona!
For more information visit: www.sonoranyhl.com
- Joshua Boyd
Channel Islands Riptide
Anaheim Jr. Ducks
18U’s battle to CAHA
title game
Keeney making a
difference off the ice
hannel Islands Riptide Midget A team captain Jon
Paule sent a text message to his teammates, thanking
them for being brothers.
Paule said his experience on the team was fun and that
all the teammates will be brothers to the end.
Several months later, the Riptide’s 18U team, all of
whom were selected by coach Kevin Shields at tryouts, was
in the California Amateur Hockey Association championship
game against the California Cougars.
Shields had only 10 players for the weekend. Matt
LaCount had a sprained ankle and still contributed a key
goal to push his team into the title game.
“To reach the championship game was unbelievable,”
said Shields. “The kids played with so much heart and courage. We were just outsized and out-muscled. The kids were
beat up.
“But they were hugging each other after the championship game. They’ve stuck together and I’ve seen them all
grow up.”
After forfeiting its first game, the Riptide downed the
Cougars and the Santa Rosa Flyers before falling in the final
to the Cougars, 3-2.
ohn Keeney is one busy Bantam.
Along with playing for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks’ Bantam
AAA team as a goalie (and winning the USA Hockey Pacific
District Regionals and making a Nationals trip), he is very
busy with the Boy Scouts of America.
Recently, Keeney made Eagle Scout, which at the age
of 13 is “a huge accomplishment,” according to his mother,
Sharon.
Keeney has completed 63 Merit badges, is the troop
scribe (writing up all meeting notes and handouts) and was
the troop librarian for three years.
Next winter could be an even busier one for Keeney, as
he has been asked to be on a snowboard “ride team” representing Snow Valley Ski Resort, along with continuing on
with Tier 1 youth hockey.
A typical hockey day for Keeney involves waking up at
6 a.m. to leave for school, home by 3:30 p.m., do homework,
eat, get in the car by 4:30 to get to Anaheim for off-ice conditioning. The on-ice session is 8:20 to 9:45 and then it’s eat
and home by midnight.
C
- Joshua Boyd
J
- Joshua Boyd
13
Beach City Lightning
Plenty recognized at awards banquet
H
Also, the Trevor Win’E Excellence
ard work for the year paid off as
Ryan Panella
eight different players pulled down in Leadership Award was presented
(Midget 18) with the
Athlete of the Year honors at the Beach to Ben Glick (Bantam AA) and
presentation made by Trevor’s sister,
City Lightning’s 15th
Tracy.
annual awards banquet.
The Lightning
“This is one of the
also announced its
rare opportunities for
captains for the 2008the whole Lightning
09 season: Anthony
family to get together
Ryan (Squirt), Sam
and reminisce about
Uisprapassorn
the season just passed,”
(PeeWee B), Jamie
said Lightning president
Chilcoff (PeeWee
Kevin Culbertson.
A), Mike Marshall
The following players
(Bantam B), Norm
won Athlete of the Year
Savage and Bill
awards: Sean Scola
Sweatt (Bantam A),
(Squirt), Alberto Gomez
Danny Gibb (Bantam
(PeeWee B’s), Cole Euell
AA), David and Paul
(Peewee A’s), Nicholas
Rannis (Midget A
Florentine (Bantam
16), Doug Sheridan
B’s), Jack Gardner
(Midget AA 16 93’s),
(Bantam A’s), Andrew
Jeff Shields (Midget
Daehlin (Bantam
AA 16 92’s) and Mike
AA’s), Kamran Qadeer The Lightning’s Athletes of the Year, from left, Cole Euell (PeeWee A), Jack
Eveland (Midget AA
Gardner (Bantam A), Andrew Daehlin (Bantam AA), Sean Scola (Squirt), Nate
(Midget 16’s), and Nate
18).
Tomasewski (Midget A18), Alberto Gomez (PeeWee B), Nick Florentine (Bantam
Tomasewski (Midget
- Joshua Boyd
B). Not pictured: Kamran Qadeer (Midget A16)
18’s).
San Diego Ice Arena
Pucks keep moving over the summer
M
ost youth hockey
programs generally
see a decline in enrollment
as the spring and summer
approach.
That’s not the case in
San Diego, where once again
SDIA Hockey Club has seen
a jump in the enrollment
of all of their spring and
summer programs.
“We try to offer
everything for players at
every level from power
skating to age-appropriate
skill clinics,” said hockey
director Craig Sterling. “Our
summer house league gives
travel-weary players and
parents a chance to play
while staying close to home.”
A major showcase
for SDIA is the Ironman
Tournament, held on May
25.
14
The
event follows a 4-on-4
format with one goalie.
The games are 10
minutes long and the only
stoppage would be in the
last minute of play.
Each team plays a
minimum of four games.
“This tournament
happens in the course
of one day, so there’s
only one traveling day,”
Sterling said.
Of course, the fun
time also includes a
potluck barbecue dinner,
“so everyone gets to meet
each other from around
Southern California,”
Sterling added.
- Joshua Boyd
The celebration continues
for SDIA youngsters even
after the season ends.
La Jolla Jaguars
La Jolla continues to grow, succeed
W
hile La Jolla Jaguars players
(as opposed to, say, 6 a.m. on Sunday
encouraged by the
learn the game as young’uns
morning).
continued fun atmosphere and
“One of the best kept secrets of
from coaches, many of their fathers are
competitive spirit,” Benitah added.
starting to learn the game themselves.
the Jaguar program is plenty of ice
“Our coaches remain committed to
“Many of our Jaguar dads are now
time and civilized game times,” said
being a guide for our Jaguar players,
lacing them up with the recent creation
Benitah. “Coaches also find extra
keeping them safe, exposing them to
of our Jaguars men’s team in the adult
opportunities with Friday and Sunday
new challenges, helping them develop
league,” said Jaguars hockey director
‘stick-and-puck’ hours.
new skills and character and ensuring
“Jaguar teams and players
Cristopher Benitah. “It has provided
that their experience is rewarding and,
a great opportunity for the dads to
have showed steady improvement
of course, fun.”
The Jaguars have gotten some
have fun, try new challenges and learn
throughout this
and develop important hockey skills.
season and all
good team-building time in as well,
In embarking on this challenge, we’ve
involved are
spending several nights at the
developed a new respect for our Little
Honda Center for Anaheim
Jaguars in what we know they can do.”
Ducks games, including
The Jaguars youth hockey program,
intermission shootouts for the
recognized as the smallest association
Mini-Mites and Mites.
Some players also had
in California in a recent issue of USA
Hockey Magazine, now has nine teams
an opportunity to meet with
and “continues to enjoy tremendous
some key members of the
growth and success at all levels,” said
Ducks following a Ducks vs.
Benitah.
Dallas Stars regular-season
Over 120 players ranging
game.
While the Mite
from Mini-Mites to Midgets play
competitive hockey, while the team is
players are certainly on the
also introducing the games to others
young side, even the older
through its Hockey Academy.
players for the team could be
“Our Hockey Academy is the
considered youthful as well.
“Our Midget 18A team
perfect start to a promising future in
hockey (as a Jaguar),” said Benitah.
has been the youngest team
“With the 62 kids currently
in [the Southern California
enrolled in the Hockey Academy,
Amateur Hockey Association]
our Jaguars hockey program
the last two seasons and we’ve
should continue to prosper for
done pretty well for the age we
the foreseeable future.”
have,” said Benitah, also
A major point of pride for
the head coach of the 18A’s.
the Jaguars program is its
“Most players could still
ice time at Icetown on La
play 16, but chose to go 18.”
Jolla Village Drive in San
- Joshua Boyd
Diego, that and game times
La Jolla’s Kenner Carlin is a member of SCAHA’s youngest Midget 18A team.
on Saturday afternoons
Another junior team hits San Diego
T
he Tier III Junior A San
Diego Surf has some
new company in California’s
southernmost city.
The San Diego Gulls
ownership group has
purchased a franchise in
the Western States Hockey
League. The club will
also double as an 18AAA
exhibition and tournament
team for the upcoming 200809 season.
Along with play in the
WSHL, the same team
will play in 18AAA holiday
tournaments, at least with
those players who are ageeligible.
There will be 48 WSHL
league games along with
15-20 more games in 18AAA
exhibition and games in
high-profile tournaments.
The team also has as its
top priority player exposure
for advancement.
“We feel if we help our
players move on, our success
will be secured,” said Gulls
hockey director Larry
Cahn. “We will use any
resources available to move
players onto higher levels.”
These resources include
affiliations and relationships
with a number of higherlevel junior programs in the
U.S. and Canada. Also, the
team has numerous contacts
with USHL personnel
and NCAA Division I,
Division III and club team
representatives.
The Gulls will be the
fifth WSHL team that
will call California home,
joining the Capital Thunder,
Southern California
Bombers, Valencia Flyers
and the Surf.
- Joshua Boyd
15
College Hockey
Fullerton shooting to ice team in fall
A
bout to complete his freshman year at Cal State Fullerton, Jason Holmes has already used up his eligibility
for the 18AA Anaheim Jr. Ducks’ ice team.
The thing is, Holmes isn’t ready to give up ice hockey,
so he’s leading the charge to resurrect the program at Fullerton. The search for some help didn’t stray far from home,
with his mom, Clare, a big part of getting the word out.
“I contacted all the Orange County ice rinks,” Clare
Holmes said. “They have either posted flyers or distributed
flyers at the ice rinks. Right now, this is based on grassroots.
We don’t have enough for an ice team, but we haven’t done
any advertisement at school yet.”
The movement to start both ice and roller hockey teams
started in March, and Fullerton must have an ice team by
Sept. 30 in order to join the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
“Ideally we want 15 players with one goalie,” Holmes
said. “That would be three lines. By word of mouth in the
last month, we probably have about half of that.”
Tryouts are planned for August when school starts up
again.
Clare Holmes has helped manage hockey teams for both
her sons, so the current grassroots effort is not all new to
her. The most important thing at the start was to set up the
infrastructure, and to that end Holmes has procured the
services of Dave Cairns, who has 26 years of youth, adult
and pro coaching experience, and Nick Moran, who has six
years of NHL training.
“I think it’s really important to have those guys around,”
Holmes said.
There are similar programs at UCLA, USC and Loyola
Marymount. A lot of the local ice hockey talent departs to
play for junior teams, but Holmes is confident that out of the
more than 37,000 students at Fullerton, it is possible to start
a competitive program.
“There’s also a lot of kids that decided to stay,” Holmes
said. “And if there were teams at their school, they would
play at their school.”
There will be financial obstacles for rink fees, tournaments, equipment, etc., but that’s down the road. Right now
the priority is getting enough bodies to fill up three lines.
“The only way to contact them is for them to contact us
first,” Holmes said.
If interested, e-mail contact information to titanhockey@
charter.net. b
- Vytas Mazeika
Western States Hockey League
2008-2009 Season Tryouts
Phoenix Polar Bears
April 17-20
Chandler, AZ
hmahood@phoenixpolarbears.com
El Paso Rhinos
June 20, 21 and 22.
August 22, 23 and 24
El Paso, TX
cherman@elpasohockey.org
SoCal Bombers
May 30, 31 and June 1
August 15-17
Lakewood, CA
BomrJrAHky@aol.com
San Diego Gulls
May 30, 31 and June 1
Escondido, CA
16
San Antonio Diablos
June 19-21
San Antonio, TX
gmhosty@diabloshockey.net
Capital Thunder
May 17-18
Oakland, CA
shark006@hotmail.com
Colorado Outlaws
April 24-26
May 15-17
July 24-26
Westminster, CO
hockeylife102000@yahoo.com
Tulsa Rampage
June 17-19
July 21-23
Contact Chad MacLeod:
(918) 671-5312
Valencia Vipers
May 30, 31 and June 1
Valencia, CA
Bruyere444@aol.com
Cajun Catahoulas
June 27-29 Clearwater, FL
July 18-20 Lafayette, LA
madcnd@yahoo.com
Dallas Hawks
TBA
Check league web site at:
www.wshl.org
Junior Hockey
Bombers’ captains earn high praise
T
he Southern California Bombers
say that the two biggest positives for
captain and led the Bombers in every
didn’t have the most success on
the team were the way they came
way,” noted Sheehy, who will be
the ice in the Western States Hockey
together and gelled as players and
stepping down next season as coach,
League this past season, but head
learned to stand up for each other both
but will stay with the team in an
coach Joe Sheehy found more than
on and off the ice and by the way most
advisory role. “Although Charlie only
enough positives outside of
of them matured and
stands about 5-foot-nothing,
wins and losses and most
came out of their
he hits as hard as any 6-footcentered on the Bombers’
shell with both skills
plus player in the league. His
captains.
and tenacity.”
cool and steady play on the
blue line set the tone for the
With only three returning
junior players, the Bombers
younger players to follow.”
started the year with a group
Grocki and Campbell
of young kids, most of which
were equally as impressive.
were still Midget-aged, but
“Joey and Dusty soon
captains Charlie Linehan,
followed suit by leading
Joey Grocki and Dusty
the team in scoring,”
Campbell held the team
Sheehy said. “Grocki and
together.
Campbell also took a lesson
Dusty Campbell
Charlie Linehan
from Charlie in the hitting
Linehan was returning for
his second full season, while
category.”
Grocki and Campbell were just getting
It was also a family affair for
Joey Grocki
their feet wet as junior players.
Linehan as his two younger brothers,
Timmy and Johnny, also played with
“And what a way to start, too, by
being asked to fill the team’s shoes
According to Sheehy, naming Linehan
the Bombers.
as assistant captains,” Sheehy said of
as the captain was an easy choice.
Grocki and Campbell. “I guess I could
- Matt Mackinder
“Charlie Linehan was a true
WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Commissioner/President: Ron White • wshloffice@aol.com
1000 E. Cerritos Ave. • Anaheim, CA 92805 • (714) 502-9185 x 240 • www.wshl.org
WESTERN DIVISION
Bay Cities Bombers
Glacial Gardens Arena
2400 E. Carson Ave,
Lakewood, CA
Contact: Nick Ganga
E-mail:nickganga21@hotmail.com
Phoenix Polar Bears
Polar Ice Arena
2001 W. Alameda Dr.
Chandler, AZ 85282
Contact: Tyler Ramsey
E-mail: tramsey@phoenixpolarbears.com
Valencia Flyers
Ice Station Valencia
27745 N. Smyth Rd.
Valencia, CA 91355
Contact: Larry Bruyere
E-mail: bruyere444@aol.com
San Diego Surf
IceoPlex
555 N. Tulip St
Escondido, CA 92025
Contact: M.F. Schurman
E-mail: mfschurman@cs.com
Capital Thunder
Skatetown Ice Arena
1009 Orlando Ave.
Roseville, CA 95661
Contact: Bob Armando
E-mail:shark006@hotmail.com
MIDWESTERN DIVISION
Dallas Hawks
Addison Square Garden
15100 Midway Rd.
Addison, TX
Contact: Brad Lason
E-mail: Brad@playershockey.com
Cajun Catahoulas
Louisiana Hockeyplex
3607 N.W. Evangeline Thruway
Carencro, LA 70520
Phone: (337) 896-2040
E-mail: hands09@att.net
Tulsa Rampage
Oilers Ice Center
6413 South Mingo
Tulsa, OK 74133
Contact: Julie Wilson
Email:julie@tulsarampage.com
Colorado Outlaws
10710 Westminster Blvd
Westminister, CO 80020
Phone: (303) 499-9610
Contact: Jeremy Chatman
E-mail: hockeylife102000@yahoo.com
San Antonio Diablos
Ice Center @ Northwood
17530 Henderson Pass
San Antonio, TX 78232
Contact: Ryan Egan
E-mail: coachegan@diabloshockey.net
El Paso Rhinos
4100 E. Paisonia
El Paso, TX 79905
Phone: (915) 479-Puck
Contact: Cory Herman
E-mail: cherman@elpasohockey.org
Junior A Tier III
17
Yorba Linda Blackhawks
Anaheim Wildcats
PeeWee B’s do the
program proud
Squirt 98 squad shines
in Motown
t was one memorable season for the Yorba Linda
Blackhawks’ PeeWee B team, one that ended with a
run to the California Amateur Hockey Association state
championships.
The Blackhawks didn’t win the Southern California
Amateur Hockey Association or the CAHA title, but to
hockey director Dean Wilson, there was still a lot to be
proud of.
“The players gave their all and cherished every moment
of the playoffs,” Wilson said. “Head coach Sean Beaty did a
great job with this group of kids, many of whom were playing
together for the first time. Sean always preached to the kids
to play hard, play fair and to always have fun and enjoy our
great sport.”
There were three sets of brothers on the team, along with
an experienced assistant coaching staff that helped along the
way.
“The season had some highs and lows in the wins
and losses column, but at the end of the day, success was
measured by the skills and camaraderie that they developed
within the team and the families,” Wilson said.
he Anaheim Wildcats’ Squirt 98 team traveled to Detroit
last month to compete in the AAA Showdown in Motown
Youth Hockey Tournament, where they cruised to a perfect
4-0 record in round robin play.
The Wildcats downed the Wooster (Ohio) Selects (7-0), a
team from Southfield, Mich. (5-2), Detroit Belle Tire (11-1)
and the Minnesota Machine (2-1).
In the semifinals, the Wildcats fell to Victory Honda, 7-3.
In the finale Minnesota defeated the Victory Honda, 2-1, in
the championship game.
Although disappointed with the semifinals defeat, the
Wildcats once again proved themselves as one of the most
promising young teams in the nation.
“It’s important that we maintain our presence among
the top 1998 teams in North America, and to do that we
need to attend many of these tournaments,” said Wildcats
coach Konstantin Lodnia. “At this time, we’re no longer a
surprise team at these events.”
The busy Wildcats also planned to compete in the Cougar
Selects tournament and to attend tournaments in Canada,
Detroit and Chicago in the fall.
I
- Joshua Boyd
T
- Brian McDonough
Scout Speak
with Chuck Grillo
What makes
Sid so special?
I
first met Sidney Crosby five years
ago. We were sitting across the aisle
from each other on an airplane, and
even then you could tell he had his
training program down to a science; he
knew exactly where he was going and
how he was going to get there.
As we parted ways, he said, “Well,
Mr. Grillo, if you’re ever at a game
where I’m playing, I’d appreciate if
you’d come down to the locker room
and visit after the game.”
A major-league statement for a 15year-old.
Sid is humble, has all the intangibles and is as great a person as he is
a player. His creativity, work habits
and will to win are as good as it gets.
He sees every option on the ice
18
and he learned early on that sharing
the puck with his teammates would
get him more rewards and wins than
over-handling it and passing out of
necessity.
He is one of those “critical moment” guys capable of capitalizing on
the few that present themselves during a game.
Sid is mature beyond his years
with a curiosity level beyond his years.
He is the most dynamic player in the
league and takes nothing for granted.
Each year he shows up to camp
bigger, quicker, stronger and faster
than the year before. He’s on a mission
to get better because he knows he’s
still in his development years.
Young players can learn a lot from
Sid. For one, don’t take your life, career, talent level or status for granted.
There is always someone out there capable of catching you, passing you and
beating you, both in hockey and in life.
Sid raises the bar in every situation he
encounters, whether it’s a game, training session or social setting.
He’s not interested in being a
Lemieux, Gretzky or Forsberg. He
will anoint himself, be Sidney Crosby,
leave his own mark and blaze his own
trail.
There’s no greater honor for a
parent than to hear that their son is a
detail person who puts the welfare of
others ahead of their own career. You
can say that about Sidney Crosby. b
Chuck Grillo is an amateur scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the owner of Minnesota
Hockey Camps (www.mnhockeycamps.com).
Natural Born Leader
Stoddard recognized
for his many
charitable endeavors
By Phillip Goodman
Photo / Robert J. Meyer
B
eing a hockey player is not always
about scoring points on the ice.
Through 53 regular-season games,
John Stoddard registered just 14 of
them on six goals - including two gamewinners - for the Topeka Roadrunners
of the Tier II Junior A North American
Hockey League.
Yet his off-ice contributions are
what make him a true team leader
and a respected individual in
his community, and why he was
recognized as the winner of this
year’s NAHL Community Service
Award.
“I always like helping
people,” said Stoddard.
Born in La Mesa, Stoddard
attended Grossmont High in
San Diego for only his freshman
year. Because of his involvement
with the San Diego Gulls’ Midget
team, he attended the Charter
School of San Diego and maintained a 3.8 GPA.
His Midget AAA team won a
state championship, but missed a
national title. He also played for
the Ontario Senators and the LA
Selects before going through Santa Fe, N.M., to finish his junior
days in Topeka as a Roadrunner, who advanced to this year’s
national tournament.
He attributes part of his success to
the growth of hockey in the West.
“Better players are coming from
California,” said Stoddard. “When I see
rosters from other teams, it’s not all
kids from Michigan or Minnesota; there
are kids from California. It makes me
proud to be raised in California and
that I learned to play there.”
But Stoddard has contributed more
to his community in just one season
with the Roadrunners than most
hockey players will over a lifetime.
This year, he managed and participated in the very successful “Read with
the RoadRunners” program; served as
a judge for the Chili Cook-Off to benefit
the Kansas Neurological Institute; participated in the Big Brothers program;
helped area firefighters fundraise
nearly $20,000; conducted field trips to
the local arena for elementary school
kids; and conducted a tour of locker
rooms, offices and the ice surface for
local scout troops.
And that’s the abbreviated list.
Stoddard picked the Big Brothers program as his favorite and most
rewarding.
“You’re kind of like a mentor to
a kid without a father or mother,” he
said. “You come in once a week, have
lunch with the kid or play with the kid
at recess.
La Mesa’s John Stoddard, right, is presented
the NAHL Community Service Award by St.
Louis Blues forward Cam Janssen.
“You get closer to them. Sometimes
they open up. It’s kind of nice being
that person. It’s rewarding looking forward to seeing them the next week and
the look on their face when they see
you, how they tell their friends about
you. It’s pretty cool.”
With four younger sisters at home,
it’s a role Stoddard is already accustomed to filling.
“I love being a big brother, I guess,”
said Stoddard.
Yet most refreshing about his
contributions is his overwhelmingly
positive attitude towards it all; he
genuinely wants to help.
“With the team, we do a lot of
stuff,” said Stoddard. “I’m the captain,
so I’m always there doing as much as I
can.”
His good deeds are not just about
the acts themselves, but more a chance
to connect with people around town.
“When you get out in the community, they see the players and get to know
what’s behind the mask,” said Stoddard. “When I get out there, they want
to come out to the games and it brings
in more fans. It really helps out.”
And in a town like Topeka, even a
20-year-old is treated like a star.
“With juniors, you’re kind of
a like a pro or semi-pro player,”
said Stoddard. “Fans want your
autograph, wear buttons with
your picture.”
Arch Ecker, the Roadrunners’
operations manager, has gotten
to know Stoddard well both on
and off the ice.
“He’s a selfless individual
who will go back and return the
money when the drive-thru gives
him too much change,” said
Ecker. “He’ll sacrifice of himself
to aid another without fail. He’s
our captain, our leader and a
true gentleman.”
Although this season’s championship run ended with a playoff
loss in St. Louis, the young
Stoddard certainly has a bright
future ahead of him. He ages
out of juniors this season and is now at
those proverbial crossroads.
While playing Division I hockey is
a goal and potential reality, he would
rather go to school and play closer to
home. Stoddard has not been home in
several months, but his parents have
made trips to see him play in Topeka.
If hockey is not in his cards though,
he wants to pursue a career in civil
engineering while still finding time to
help others along the way.
“If the opportunity comes and
people need help, I’m ready to lend a
hand,” said Stoddard. “If I can help, I’d
really want to do that.” b
19
Interview from Page 5
CA: What are some of the major
challenges in terms of getting people
involved?
KC: For us, the biggest challenge is the
same as any other volunteer organization: You have to have people who are
not only interested in helping, but committed to the benefit of the entire organization. While many of these types
of personalities will generally step
forward to volunteer, we’re always on
the look out for those who have those
traits, but maybe need just a little bit
of coaxing to get involved. We’re very
fortunate to have many quality people
serving on our Board and with each of
their respective teams.
CA: Is there a certain credo the association lives by?
KC: Our mission is to create and maintain an environment that emphasizes
the fun of ice hockey to our youth mem-
www
bers, as well as the funda­mentals of the
game, sportsmanship, team work and
fair play, all the while maintaining the
integrity of the game. We really do try
to focus on these key elements, with a
particular emphasis on both “fun” and
“fundamentals.”
CA: Talk about some of the success the
Lightning association has had recently?
KC: The first thing that comes to mind
is our Bantam program, which for the
past three years has won the regularseason championship at the “A” level, a
league and state championship, as well
as a state runner-up title at the “B”
level. We regularly place upwards of
50-80 percent of our teams in the playoffs, be it at the A/B or Tier II levels.
CA: How well do the different associations in SCAHA work together?
KC: I think the average person doesn’t
really appreciate how well we do in fact
work together. The first impression is
b
ca l i r u b b e r
b
that we’re all competing against each
other vigorously, but the fact of the
matter is there’s a genuine and mutual
respect for our organizations with a
common goal of providing good environments for kids to develop their skills,
no matter their geographical location.
We’re all very good about sharing tips
and ideas amongst each other.
CA: When you’re not in the Lightning’s
“Oval Office,” what else keeps you busy
and entertained?
KC: This time of year is my busiest as
we try to get ready for the next season, so I actually spend a lot of time
in the office for my non-paying hockey
job. My paying job occupies a lot of my
remaining time, but when I do have
time for other things, I like to go to the
movies and get out of town for maybe
a little fishing or sightseeing with my
family. b
c o m
Rink renovations in
Harbor City
T
he Bay Harbor Red Wings’ home rink,
The Skating Edge, is finalizing the
permit process for a rebuilding project.
The plans include a new sheet of
ice with new compressors, followed by
new locker rooms, a new pro shop and
remodeled restrooms. The renovations are
expected to begin in June.
“We want to bring back the winning
spirit from years past,” said Monica
Lewis of the Bay Harbor Minor Hockey
Association. “I believe the upcoming
season will be a new start for the club.” b
CAHA State A Champions
Squirt: LA Jr. Kings
Pee Wee: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Bantam: Santa Clara Blackhawks
Midget 16U: Fresno Falcons
Midget 18U: California Cougars
20
CAHA State B Champions
Squirt: Yorba Linda Blackhawks
PeeWee: California Cougars
Bantam: Channel Island Riptide
We want
to see it!
Mane of the Game Contest
Submit a digital photo of yourself showing off your
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be sure to include your name, hometown and team
you play for!
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stick, compliments of Warrior Hockey.
One winner will be announced each month.
San Jose Jr. Sharks
Photo / OutsideEdge Photography
McKenzie commits to Air Force
Air Force recruit Adam McKenzie has his sights set on junior hockey next
season.
Y
et another player from the San
Jose Jr. Sharks program has
committed to a Division I school, as
U18 AAA defenseman Adam McKenzie recently
committed to the Air Force Academy for either the
start of the 2009 or 2010 season.
An offensive-minded blueliner who
quarterbacked the Jr. Sharks’ power play, McKenzie,
from Petaluma, recorded six goals and 16 assists this
past season.
“Adam is a great kid who works hard every day,”
said Jr. Sharks U18 AAA coach-director of coaching
Tony Zasowski. “The Jr. Sharks are really proud
to see a product of our organization realize his dream
and get an offer to his first choice of schools.”
As for next season, odds are that McKenzie will
play junior hockey, either in the NAHL or the USHL,
two of the top developmental leagues in the country.
Air Force, which competes in the Atlantic Hockey
conference, already boasts three Californians on
its roster in freshman forwards Derrick Burnett
(Corona) and Blake Page (Capistrano Beach) and
freshman defenseman Kevin Wright (San Jose).
- Brian McDonough
21
Fresno Jr. Falcons
State title has Fresno buzzing
A
mateur hockey in Fresno found its way onto the map
an empty-netter to seal the deal for Fresno.
last month, as the Fresno Jr. Falcons’ 16U A captured
“It’s an awesome feeling being state champions, and it
the California Amateur
feels great being rewarded
Hockey Association
for all the hard work the
state championship in
team put in all year,” said
Escondido.
Beisinger.
Ross Piche and
“This has gotten
the club a lot attention
Anthony Charo came
in Fresno,” said Jr.
up huge on the penalty
Falcons director of
kill, while defensemen
hockey-coaching Brandy
Spencer Brown, Nick
Semchuk. “We’ve been
Goodenough, Mike
doing TV and radio
Bandy and Kyle Lenhof
interviews, as well as
stood tall on the blue line.
getting plenty of coverage
“It feels great,
in the newspaper.”
especially after all the
The Jr. Falcons went
hard work we’ve put in,”
undefeated at States,
said Lenhof of being state
beating Valencia, 4-2, in
champs. “It’ll probably
the championship game.
be the last time we all
Jason Beisinger
play together, so it was a
stole the show in the
special win.”
finale, scoring the gameThe Jr. Falcons’ 16U A team finished last month’s state championships with - Brian McDonough
winning goal along with
a perfect record.
California Cougars
Hard work results into state title
T
he California Cougars’ Midget 18A team celebrated a
state championship last month, downing the Channel
Islands Riptide in the tournament finale in Escondido.
“It’s very nice to see a group with individual goals - and
mutual goals - have the ability to put them all together for
something so special,” said coach Aaron Mullagh.
The Cougars’ Midget 18’s went 15-1 in regular-season
play; 32-6-5 overall, including two 18AA tournaments in
Phoenix and Chicago.
“At the end of the day, win or lose, a positive experience
is what matters most, but in this case, it was a beautiful
ending to a beautiful story,” said Mullagh.
The team was carried by a number of worthy
performers, among them captain Zach Bevens and
assistant captains Mauricio Schmidt and Max Delance,
as well as Donovan Watt, Brett Delorenzi and Ryan
Borges.
“The team had a common goal from Day 1,” said
Mullagh. “Each player sacrificed so many things and
dedicated themselves to winning the state championship.
“I’ve never pushed a team so hard in my life and it paid
off,” he added. “Not a bad lesson for today’s youth that hard
work, sacrifice and dedication can pay off.”
- Brian McDonough
22
The Cougars’ Midget 18A squad finished the season with
a 32-6-5 record overall.
Chalk Talk
Should I stay
or should I go?
A
s the summer approaches, so too
do tryouts. This lends to question:
When do you send your child away to
play for a team out of your area?
The concept is nothing new. I
grew up playing AAA hockey in Chicago and all of the best teams were in
Detroit and Ontario. I would be lying
if I said I didn’t dream of playing in
Canada since we usually lost to them.
But, I didn’t move until I was ready
for juniors.
The exciting thing is that AAA
hockey is truly a national now. Teams
from all USA Hockey Districts can
compete at Nationals. The days of
Alaska walking through the Pacific
with Tony Zasowski
District are over;
teams from California can compete.
But parents now find their children being recruited at a younger
and younger age. I’ve seen PeeWees
turn down the chance to play for their
hometown team in order to travel all
over the country to compete.
It’s exciting when someone tells
you that your child has special abilities or he or she the best player on the
team, but does that mean they need to
move on?
The player that stays home and
travels on the weekends is going to
Santa Clara Valley
Bantam A’s win state
championship
miss out on true development, which
comes in practice. At the NCAA Division I level, teams practice twice for
every game. Can this player afford
a year without that kind of development?
Whether a player should leave
home before their senior year of high
school is obviously up to the parents,
but remember to not rush your child.
Let them dominate a level before they
go to the next. And when I say dominate, it doesn’t mean being the best on
their team; it means being one of the
best in their age group.
Getting recruited is a great feeling
and having choices of where to play is
a good thing. Just don’t make decisions for short-term gain that might
affect your career in the long run. b
Tony Zasowski is the director of coaching and the U18 AAA head coach of
Mane of the Month
T
he Santa Clara Valley Hockey Association capped
off a great season with two of its teams - the NorCal
champion Bantam A’s and PeeWee A’s - representing the
program at the CAHA state championships in Escondido.
The Bantam A team lost its first game in overtime to the
Stockton Colts in a rematch of their NorCal championship
game, but rebounded to win the next two games to set up yet
another rematch with the Colts in the title game.
Heading into the championship, the Blackhawks had lost
four consecutive games to Stockton. After falling behind 2-0
early in the first period, the Hawks tied the game with just
over two minutes left in regulation.
Less than a minute into the extra session, Dalton Holt
fired a shot from a bad angle that took a fortuitous bounce off
of a defender’s skate and into the net to give the Blackhawks
the state title.
The PeeWee A team defeated the Oakland Bears in its
tournament-opener, but lost the following two games to its
Southern California counterparts.
- Norbert Tydingco
Ethan Thompson
is a forward for
the San Francisco
Sabercats’
PeeWee B team.
He wins a FREE
composite stick,
compliments of
Warrior Hockey!
To enter, send a photo of your hockey hair to maneofthegame@calirubber.com
23
Inline Hockey
Chen a good fit for Mustangs’ stable
I
f there’s one thing the
Professional Inline Hockey
Association’s Northern California Mustangs are known
for, it’s heart.
A perfect case in point
is Minor team goaltender
Lonny Chen. Growing up in
Burnaby, British Columbia,
Chen loved the Montreal
Canadians, but experienced
his first real taste of roller
playing street hockey with
his friends.
Mustangs owner-head
coach Mario Sousa drafted
Chen because of his work
ethic and dedication. The
netminder works out before
every game to stay in shape
during the season and frequently contacts Sousa for
advice on how to improve his
game.
“What impressed me
about Lonny was that he
was extremely down to
earth and very passionate
for the game,” said Sousa.
“Although there were a lot
of more experienced goalies
available, I knew he had the
ability and drive to play in
this league.”
“The professional way
Mario has approached the
team from the very beginning impressed me,” said
Chen. “He makes it obvious
that PIHA is something
special and exciting.
“He and (Mustangs
assistant coach) Gary
Brown have given me
a few pointers that
have helped my game
a lot, technically. Their
positive feedback reinforces everything I’ve
learned.”
Chen attended
numerous Vancouver
Voodoo games of the old
Roller Hockey International games when he
was younger. For him,
it was a great introduction to profes-
sional roller hockey.
“Being on this team
is a huge honor and thrill
for me,” said Chen. “Even
though I’m older in age than
most of the other players,
I look up to all of them for
their hockey experience and
skills.”
Despite all the high
praise, Chen credits his
teammates for much of his
success.
“I can’t say enough about
the players in front of me,”
he said. “The goals are obviously huge, but all of their
blocked shots, defensive
breakups and tied-up sticks
are just as big as the saves.” b
- Kristin Appleton
Lonny Chen’s work ethic helped him land a
spot on the Mustangs’ Minor team.
NARCh Finals makes its way to San Jose
W
est Coasters have been waiting patiently for years for
the NARCh Finals to invade their home state. Silver
Creek Sportsplex has made that dream a reality.
NARCh Finals will hit the San Jose facility in July in
what is expected to boast over 400 teams from across North
America and over 200 from California alone.
“We knew that we’d get a lot of
in-state teams to participate, but I
honestly didn’t think it would be this
crazy,” said NARCh president Daryn
Goodwin.
Over 1,100 games will be played
during the event over 17 days at Silver
Creek Sportsplex, and Rollin’ Ice founder
and president of Silver Creek Sportsplex
David Maley couldn’t be happier.
“Hosting the NARCh Finals has been a
dream of ours since we began planning our
new facility several years ago,” said Maley. “So
many of our staff and local teams have played at NARCh
over the years, and now that we have a world-class facility,
we’re all very proud and excited to be able to welcome teams
24
from around the world.”
According to Goodwin, team participation is expected to
surpass last year’s total in which 403 clubs competed, and
it’s the first time he’s been worried about turning teams
away.
Goodwin was encouraged with last month’s San Jose
regional qualifier, which was sold out.
“It honestly was one of most fun
events I can remember running,” he
said. “People were nice, grateful and
anxiously awaiting the big event this
summer.”
Men’s, Women’s, 35 & Over, Girls,
6 & under and High School of NARCh
Finals are open divisions. Those teams
can simply sign up and participate; they don’t
have to qualify.
“We’re grateful Daryn has chosen to bring
the finals to California, and to Rollin’ Ice and Silver Creek
Sportsplex in particular” Maley added. b
- Brian McDonough
Inline Hockey
Student-athletes honored at IHF gala
By Jay Piz
S
tars lit up the night for the Interscholastic Hockey Federation’s
inaugural all-star event at the 949
Roller Hockey center in Irvine as
hundreds of fans filled the stands in
a four-hour, graduation-style event to
salute the league’s division finalists,
special achievers and 55 all-stars, some
of whom would play in their last high
school game.
Emceed by the
uayle
Mary Q
author and introduced by 949 host
Eddie Limbaga
and IHF president
Art Wells, the
event opened with
a parade of eight
division finalist
teams receiving their
trophies before the
cheering crowd. The
spotlight then refocused as the audience
was presented, one by
one, with 14 studentathletes.
In a significant first,
these student-athletes
were recognized for their academic
and social achievements by an award
from Anaheim Ducks executive VP-GM
Brian Burke.
“This is an important first for the
inline hockey community,” said Wells
in his address to the audience.
Presented by Wells, every award
was hailed with applause and pride in
their recognition of these honorees and
for the inline hockey community.
Honorees included: Chasen Davis; Dylan DeCarlo; Matt Brown;
Josh Winters; Tyler Hainey; Brett
Olinger; Ryan Tyson; Brock Booth;
Raffi Tchekmedyian; Kevin Brooks;
Yen Le; Jordan Wallace;
Ja’Nien Barber
Jake Konoske; and Mary Quayle.
Yen Le, a senior who maintains a
3.77 GPA who helps with local charities, is the founder of the Loara roller
hockey club and captained them to the
quarterfinals this season.
“I’m just a kid that loves the sport,”
said Yen. “After graduation, I’ll attend
Cal State Long Beach. I’ll also be playing on their roller hockey team.”
“What an amazing
award for Mary,” said
mother Patty Quayle.
Mary is president
of the Mater Dei
roller hockey club and
founder of the Give
Blood Play Hockey
Inline Hockey Charity
Tournament, which
raised $32,000 and
107 pints of blood for
local charities.
With emotions elevating, the JV stars
of the Mascot Cup
were introduced to
the anxious crowd. Coached by Jim
Irwin of the Mission Viejo club and Dave Feld, Sr.
of El Modena, stars from each of the
leagues’ JV clubs would compete in two,
12-minute periods of stop-clock action
using penalty shots instead of power
plays.
Commentators Miguel Castellanos and Kyle Mathews hyped the
crowd into a hockey craze with music
and hot microphones while the JV
Stars played feverishly in a game-long
offensive frenzy.
The game went on to see penalty
shots and two goals each scored in the
first period, but it would be Irwin’s
team outscoring Feld’s home team, 5-3,
in the second period for the victory.
“What a good time we had and I’m
pretty sure all of the
boys had a great time,”
said Irwin after the
game. “I made some new
friends and am already
looking forward to next
year.”
The announcers
kicked it up a notch as
the Varsity Stars were
announced to the rink.
The lineup included the
league’s top-ranked players and goalies from each
club, including some
from the national champion teams of Marina,
Yen L
e
Santiago
and Los Alamitos.
The roster also included Ja’Nien
Barber, the only female star and the
only goalie to defeat the dynasty Marina team in over three years of league
games.
The crowd rose to its feet for the
national anthem sung by Katie Piz of
the Northwood club. Her brother, CJ, a
varsity star, waited anxiously with the
others to hit the rink.
Coached by Ken Gibo of Marina
and rival Terry Winters of Santiago,
the stars took to the rink to play for
three periods in an unplugged, uncaged
and turned-loose all-star hockey game,
with Winters’ team winning by a final
count of 11-8 to clinch the inaugural
victory.
The evening festivities drew to a
close with medal awards and industry
sponsor gifts from Revision, Mission
and Harrow being presented to these
shining stars.
In a closing statement by guest
Jerry Nestlerode of the CIF-sanctioned San Diego Metro roller hockey
league, Nestlerode thanked the attendees for their generous donations of
hockey gear to benefit his community
outreach program resulting from the
event’s donation drive.
The inaugural event theme HOCKEY HELPING HOCKEY. ONE
COMMUNITY UNITED. - was realized
at the event through the community action by the Anaheim Ducks, from a host
of volunteers who helped in producing
the event and sending Nestlerode’s
truck home full to those helping introduce hockey to new youth players and
keeping the sport growing and spirit
strong. b
25
Bear
Essentials
By Norbert Tydingco
O
akland hockey has seen its fair
share of change in the last year,
and with it came uncertainty about
the future of the Oakland Bears’ youth
hockey organization.
But Oakland Bears president Ian
Fazzi says Bears hockey is alive and
well and he believes there’s a bright
future ahead for the club and its
members.
Fazzi, who is also the hockey
manager at Oakland Ice Center,
assumed the role of president in March
and immediately started to work out
plans for the upcoming 2008-09 NorCal
season.
One of the biggest challenges for
Fazzi since taking over was to ease the
concerns Oakland Bears members had
about the club’s future.
“Most people were concerned that
Sharks Ice was going to monopolize
Northern California hockey, when all
they want to do is invest in what is
already around and help to improve
the rink and clubs it becomes involved
with,” said Fazzi.
He says that since then, many
people in the organization are
starting to see things from a different
perspective and are becoming more
supportive. Fazzi believes taking a
proactive approach to revitalizing the
club will ensure that there will be
stability and success in the future.
“I try to make myself available
to anyone previously involved with
the club, whether they were players,
parents, coaches or managers, and just
letting them know that we’re looking
to improve the club and that any
suggestions are welcome,” he said.
Fazzi grew up playing hockey in
the Bay Area before skating for the
Rochester Institute of Technology,
an NCAA Division I program in the
Fazzi helping lead Oakland’s youth hockey resurgence
Atlantic Hockey Association, and also
at San Jose State University. Having
had the opportunity to play hockey at a
high level is a plus for him and for his
role with the Bears.
Fazzi says it helped him gain an
understanding of what it takes to
Newly-appointed Oakland Bears
president Ian Fazzi played his
youth hockey in the Bay Area.
develop players who aspire to play
hockey beyond their youth, and
also how to engage kids who are in it
just for fun.
“To me, there’s nothing more
important than ensuring that the kids
develop a love for the game,” said Fazzi.
“ It’s sounds very cliché, but the smiling
faces I see on the kids are priceless
and it means that hockey in Northern
California will be around for awhile.”
Don Ballard, Fazzi’s former
youth hockey coach, affirmed those
sentiments.
“Ian learned at a very early age
Become a fan of
26
on
about the value of keeping youth
hockey fun and competitive,” said
Ballard. “It’s that attitude and his
friendly demeanor that endears him to
the kids.”
Fazzi is confident of his ability to
lead the Bears organization and credits
the support of its members as a key
component. He’s also thankful to have
Melissa Fitzgerald involved with the
hockey program in Oakland.
“She has a lot of experience in
running youth programs and being
involved in youth hockey in general,”
said Fazzi. “She has a world of
knowledge that I hope to learn from.”
Fazzi joined the staff at Sharks Ice
in 2006 and is the administrator of the
Mighty Mite youth hockey league at
Sharks Ice at Fremont.
He points to the successful
implementation of the Mighty Mite
league in Fremont in conjunction with
other hockey and skating programs
as a factor in the continued success
of the Santa Clara Valley
Hockey Association. Silicon
Valley Sports and
Entertainment
purchased the
rink in 2004.
“At that time,
the rink didn’t have
an in-house program
and the rink was in poor
shape,” said Fazzi. “Now, we have
a successful in-house youth league and
several beginning hockey programs
that are helping develop players so
they can have a chance at playing at
the travel level.”
Fazzi believes successful rink
programs are vital to the success of any
club and, as more and more skating
programs are added to the schedule at
the Oakland Ice Center, Fazzi says that
it’ll only be a matter of time before the
Bears reap the benefits. b
n of
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S
ic ice h
t
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outdoor
“We love our ice rink...the boys go out in the
morning and skate until after dark.”
John Rockwell, Coach of the Jr. Sharks,
Pee Wee AA ‘96
www.pacificice.net
phone: 408.348.5859
Fax: 408.395.7535
Email: info@pacificice.net
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