The puck has finally dropped on the high school roller hockey season locally following the face off of the club, college and pro ice hockey seasons earlier this fall.
The pioneering CIF-Metro Conference unveiled its 19th season on the court with three games Monday at the Escondido Sports Center and three more on Wednesday at the same venue.
Membership in the conference remains at 17 teams. There are 10 Sweetwater district teams divided evenly between the Mesa League and South Bay League and seven non-district teams that comprise the North County League.
The North County League got the jump in scheduling with games Monday and Wednesday at the Escondido facility.
Barring a delay due to inclement weather, the conference’s southern teams are scheduled to face off their respective seasons Thursday and Friday at the outdoor Castle Park High School rink.
Bonita Vista and Eastlake have the opening game at 5 p.m., followed by a scheduled 6 p.m. match-up between Hilltop and Otay Ranch to conclude the Mesa League double-header.
BVHS pride
Bonita Vista began playing roller hockey in 1998 and the Barons are still rolling as head coach Keith Quigley enters his 21st season behind the bench.
Quigley is especially excited about this season.
“We have 15 players which is the largest team we’ve had in a while,” the BVHS coach noted. “We have lots of new faces on the team with a ton of potential. We don’t have many seniors on the team this year, which is a good thing so that we can keep building. This team definitely has lots of potential to do well in our league. We just need to keep working hard in practice so that it shows in the games.”
Top returners included seniors Anna Custodio and Nicholas Stark. Top newcomers include freshmen Niklas Massarene and Alvaro Ruiz along with junior goaltender Faith Sunga.
This season’s Mesa League alignment includes Bonita Vista, Hilltop, Eastlake, Otay Ranch and Castle Park high schools. Eastlake is the defending league champion.
This season’s South Bay League alignment includes Chula Vista, Mar Vista, San Ysidro, Southwest and Sweetwater high schools. Chula Vista is the defending league champion.
Eastlake advanced as far as the semifinals of last season’s Kiwanis Cup championship tournament, settling for a fourth-place finish in the 12-team playoff field.
This season’s North County League roll call features Cathedral Catholic, Escondido Charter, Patrick Henry, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch and Westview high schools.
Rancho Bernardo defeated Westview in last season’s Kiwanis Cup championship game.
Face-off
A change in the balance of power in the conference, especially in the North County League, offered a tantalizing preview in Monday’s three games.
The Escondido White Tigers rolled past the Cathedral Catholic Dons, 11-2, in the opening game while the Scripps Ranch Falcons topped the Poway Titans also by an 11-2 score and the Patrick Henry Patriots stunned the Westview Wolverines, the runner-up team in last season’s Kiwanis Cup finals, by a 5-4 score in overtime.
Matthew Voegel tucked in the rebound from a shot initially by Matt Russell with 2:13 seconds left in the overtime period to boost Patrick Henry to its season opening victory. The Patriot win was sparked by superb goaltending by Aidan Rion and Josh Mitchell, who combined to stop 21 of 25 Westview shots.
Patrick Henry opened up a 3-0 lead on goals by Tyler Daniel, Russell and Voegel. The Wolverines got one back on a goal by Kyle Bucholtz to trail 3-1 but the Patriots ended the second period with a goal of its own by Russell to take a 4-1 lead into the third period.
Westview did all the scoring in the third period, however, to send the game into overtime. Andrew Chua scored back-to-back goals with 10:54 and 3:23 left in the period to narrow the score to 4-3. Chris Ritchie then tied the game, 4-4, on a goal with just nine seconds to play in regulation.
Patrick Henry logged the only shot in the overtime period as the teams combined fro 49 shots in the game – 25 by the Wolverines and 24 by the Patriots.
Russell finished the game with two goals and one assist while Voegel scored two goals and Daniel added a goal and assist.
Chua, a junior, led Westview with two goals while freshman goaltender Matthew Mahlow recorded 19 saves.
Patrick Henry head coach Chuck Russell was understandably elated after the season opening win.
“We are off to a great start,” the elder Russell said. “Our goal in our third season is to improve on last year’s 9-13 record. At the same time, we have added six players who are new to roller hockey and we expect to develop those players to help us to be increasingly competitive as the season wears on and in future.”
The Patriots have seven seniors returning for the 201819 season, including their top four scorers from last year: Voegel, Matt Russell, Ruben Allen and Daniel. Returning senior goaltenders Rion and Mitchell will share goaltending duties for the team.
Brett Miller, Zach Thurman and Aiden Elswick made huge strides last season, according to the Patrick Henry head coach, and will play a big part in the team’s lineup this season.
The new crop of Patriots include Tommy Alduenda, Tony Carey, Dylan Montes, Jackson Rayner, Briley Menzer and Sam Moorhead.
After last season’s runner-up finish to Rancho Bernardo for the conference championship, Westview head coach Ron Smith said his team this season will be young and in the “rebuilding stage.”
“We are looking forward to see how the season develops with their aggressiveness and determination,” Smith said in regard to his players.
The Wolverines’ top returners include Chua as the team’s defensive captain, and Bucholtz and Rylie Lissebeck, both seniors.
“They will share their leadership and experience, with each having won CIF championships in the past,” Smith said.
New impact players include Mahlow in the net as well as fellow ninth-graders Mike Chua and Oliver Polonichko, who bring ice hockey experience to the rink.
The White Tigers are looking to move up the standings as well this season after making an impact showing in their opening game of the season.
Bryce Mendoza received credit for scoring the first goal in the 2018-19 season, assisted by Josh Aldridge. Escondido Charter reeled off the opening four goals in the game en route to building a 5-1 lead after the first period.
After the Dons had pulled to within 5-2 on the scoreboard, the White Tigers closed out the game with six unanswered goals.
Mendoza finished as Escondido Charter’s high scorer with four goals and two assists while Jaime Ormeno recorded two goals and two assists. Seven players overall picked up points in the debut contest. Noah Meni scored two goals while Aldrige received credit for three points (one goal, two assists). Riley Stephan and Ashton Domi each scored one goal.
Jon Wolf and Sam Lathus each scored goals for Cathedral Catholic while Ben Rodenbeck was credited with one assist.
The White Tigers piled up a 30-20 shot advantage.
Scripps Ranch finished third behind Rancho Bernardo and Westview in last season’s Kiwanis Cup playoffs. The Falcons expect to once again play a leading role among conference teams this season.
“Rancho Bernardo is still the team to beat but we are close,” Scripps Ranch head coach Greg Friedman said. “With only one senior were are in good shape for the next few years. We have two goalies, Taylor Cady, a junior, and girl goalie Tori Fraser, a freshman, who also plays ice. We have lost in the semis the last four years, so our goal is to play in the final game this season.”
Top returning players include forward Kyle Fraser, a junior and AA Jr. Gulls player, junior Cody Ayers, a second team all-league selection last season and forward Cody Sherman, a senior and AAA-18 Jr. Ducks player.
Impact newcomers include Ben and Jack Ivey, freshmen playing for Jr. Ducks AAA-14. “Both are very skilled, Cody Sherman-type players,” Friedman noted.
The Iveys helped lead the scoring parade in the season opener with a combined output of nine points (three goals, six assists). Jack Ivey, a defenseman, collected two goals and three assists while Ben, a forward, notched four points on a goal and three assists.
Fraser matched Jack Ivey with five points on three goals and two assists while Ryan Mikami was credited with two goals.
Three players each scored one goal: Aaron Lowry, Joon Bae and Israel Yates. Cady stopped 28 of 30 shots for a .933 save percentage.
Ian McGrath notched both goals for Poway, which also received an assist from Michael Little.
Scripps Ranch improved to 2-0 on the young season after posting a 10-1 win over Escondido Charter on Wednesday. Fraser paced the Falcons with six goals while the Iveys continued to impress with nine points between them. Jack Ivey collected a goal and four assists while Ben Ivey had a goal and three assists. Ayers and Bae each posted two points on a goal and assist. Cady and Fraser split time between the pipes to record the win.
Still kicking
Rancho Bernardo faced off defense of its conference championship with a 13-3 win over Patrick Henry on Wednesday.
Ike Frankel, Miles Cook and Colton Clapham each scored hat tricks while Niklas Thomas led the team with seven points on two goals and five assists.
Poway evened its record at 1-1 by defeating Cathedral Catholic (0-2) on Wednesday. The Dons opened scoring on a pair of goals by Sam Lathus but the Titans responded with three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead. Poway later reeled off five consecutive goals after Cathedral had knotted the game at three goals.
Michael Little led the Titans with four goals and one assist while Ian McGrath contributed two goals and two assists. Ben Louie had two goals and one assist.
Quinn Conway had two goals in the loss for the Dons.
CIF-Metro Conference Standings
North County League
(Through Nov. 28)
Scripps Ranch Falcons 2-0
Rancho Bernardo Broncos 1-0
Escondido Charter White Tigers 1-1
Patrick Henry Patriots 1-1
Poway Titans 1-1
Westview Wolverines 0-1
Cathedral Catholic Dons 0-2
Mesa League
Bonita Vista Barons 0-0
Castle Park Trojans 0-0
Eastlake Titans 0-0
Hilltop Lancers 0-0
Otay Ranch Mustangs 0-0
South Bay League
Chula Vista Spartans 0-0
Mar Vista Mariners 0-0
San Ysidro Cougars 0-0
Southwest Raiders 0-0
Sweetwater Red Devils 0-0
Week 1 Schedule
Monday, Nov. 26
Escondido Sports Center
Escondido Charter 11, Cathedral Catholic 2
Scripps Ranch 11, Poway 2
Patrick Henry 5, Westview 4 (OT)
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Escondido Sports Center
Rancho Bernardo 13, Patrick Henry 3
Scripps Ranch 10, Escondido Charter 1
Poway 8, Cathedral Catholic 4
Thursday, Nov. 29
Castle Park High School
Bonita Vista vs. Eastlake, 5 p.m.
Otay Ranch vs. Hilltop, 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30
Castle Park High School
Castle Park vs. Mar Vista, 5 p.m.
Southwest vs. Sweetwater, 6 p.m.
San Ysidro vs. Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
SPORTS XTRA: HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER … WHO DO YOU FIGHT FOR?
Cancer is a terrible scourge and it’s taken far too many loved ones from us: a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, a sibling, a spouse, a child.
There are reminders all around us. Not all of them need to be bleak.
Professional hockey teams across North America are helping in the fight to eradicate this terrible disease by scoring much-need goals.
November is Hockey Fights Cancer Month across the National Hockey League. Founded in 1998 by the NHL and NHL Players Association, the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families.
Players, coaches, equipment managers, front office staff, corporate partners and fans provide an assist to inspire hope and courage to those who are living with, going through or moving past cancer.
The initiative had raised $14 million through 2015, according to the campaign’s website.
The Hockey Fights Cancer initiative is as an outgrowth of a similar program instituted by the Tampa Bay Lighting after former player John Cullen made a brief NHL comeback after suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
During Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month, every NHL team joined the hockey community’s fight against cancer by hosting its very own Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night — a night when players, fans, team personnel and partners could come together to raise money and awareness for this most important battle.
Games featured lavender dasher boards, lavender stick tape, helmet decals and “I Fight For” cards. Most prominent to fans watching the games, players donned specialty-themed lavender jerseys.
The Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators faced off the month with their special Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on Nov. 3. The Anaheim Ducks followed on Nov. 4, the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 5 and Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 6.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals hosted their cancer awareness night on Nov. 9. Among NHL Pacific Division teams, the San Jose Sharks hosted their special night on Nov. 17, the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 18, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 19, Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 24 and Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 25.
The Boston Bruins got a jump on their 30 rivals by hosting their cancer awareness night on Oct. 25.
Survivors have helped create much needed awareness in the fight against cancer. The disease spares no one, not even the most prominent members of society, and in that vein, the hockey community.
NBC-TV commentators Mike (Doc) Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire are all cancer survivors.
Emrick, 72, was diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in 1991 and has been cancer-free for more than 25 years.
Olczyk, 52, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in August 2017 and announced he was cancer-free in March of this year.
McGuire, 56, was diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in October 2017 and has been cancer-free since January.
The trio of hockey analysts has been working together for 14 years; they were finally reunited in March after Olczyk and McGuire returned to work after beating the disease.
In McGuire’s case, he did not need chemotherapy. Olczyk, however, required surgery as well as chemotherapy in his recovery process. Olczyk lost 40 pounds while receiving chemotherapy.
Emerick provided support for both his broadcast partners.
“I’m back to my normal routine,” Olczyk noted in an interview on NHL.com. “I couldn’t feel better.”
The former Chicago Blackhawk star praised the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative.
“It’s still very emotional for sure, knowing where I had been and where I am now and knowing that this is one of the greatest initiatives the league has ever been a part of and to know how important it is because it touches us all,” Olczyk continued in the interview.
Linda Laughlin, the wife of longtime Capitals analyst Craig Laughlin, went public with the news that she was battling uterine serous carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer.
She put the spotlight on her ongoing battle with the disease when she dropped the ceremonial first puck when the Caps hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets during the team’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
Linda Laughlin, 60, said she considers herself fortunate since there are no tests or pre-screenings for uterine serous carcinoma. She estimates she has a 75 percent chance of defeating the disease since she was diagnosed early.
New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle announced his cancer is in remission last October. He had been diagnosed with chronic Myeloid leukemia last September; it took just over a year to put the disease into full molecular remission
Boyle, 33, returned to play on Nov. 1, 2017, and tested cancer-free in October 2018. He represented the Devils at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa and received the 2018 Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy for his perseverance and dedication to hockey.
The Nashville Predators may not have won the Stanley Cup but they certainly won the hearts of fans everywhere when they granted Make-A-Wish kid Devin Roque truly a wish come true in March of this year. The Predators signed the 8-year-old battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, to a lifetime contract.
Devin signed his “endless, priceless” contract alongside Predators director of hockey operations Brian Poile during a formal press conference at Bridgestone Arena.
During Devin’s two-day experience he received a customized jersey, joined the team for a group photo and watched practice from the bench. After practice, he got to take shots on Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne, his favorite player.
Devin got to even lead the team onto the ice for its March 22 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The experience was a collaboration between the Nashville Predators Foundation and Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee.
Devin’s mother Stephanie called the experience, which brought a smile to her son’s face, “priceless.”
Hitting home
Twenty-one of the 31 American Hockey League teams joined the NHL and NHLPA for its Hockey Fights Cancer initiative this year.
The San Diego Gulls hosted their inaugural Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night last Friday, Nov. 23, when they entertained the Pacific Division rival Stockton Heat at the Valley View Casino Center.
The Gulls wore lavender jerseys throughout the game, with all proceeds raised from the post-game jersey auction donated to the American Cancer Society.
During an intermission between periods Gulls players and coaches delivered an inspirational message to fans via the video scoreboard above center ice. Head coach Dallas Eakins was the first to speak, followed by defensemen Jaycob Megna and Keaton Thompson and forward Max Jones.
All had lost a family member to the terrible disease.
Eakins lost his mother Carol to kidney cancer. She was 51. His stepfather, estranged by his wife’s death, later committed suicide.
“It’s a nasty disease and it never goes away,” Eakins told fans.
It was poignant to witness players make their personal stories public. But they were messages that needed to be aired in the battle to help eradicate the disease.
Eakins later addressed the media in a post-game press conference.
“Cancer is a disease that affects us all,” the San Diego coach said. “It has affected many guys in our dressing room. If affects everyone around the world. If we can just give back and try to raise some funds to fight this nasty disease, I think we’re better for it.”
An equally poignant moment occurred during a time out in the second period when fans were asked to hold up “I Fight For” cards to represent those who have been affected by cancer in their lives.
It was amazing to see that a sizable percentage of the 8,004 fans in attendance held up the cards.
So, who do you fight for?
