Change comes slow for high school roller hockey teams

San Diego County High School Roller Hockey League scoreboard

Metro Conference scoreboard

By Phillip Brents

Posted Nov. 23, 2002

The revolution that is CIF roller hockey may one day reshape the way in which the sport is played by high school athletes. For the time being, at least, it appears that only an elite few will be eligible to play it.

With a November 1 deadline closing in for new admissions, the face of the maverick Metro Conference in South San Diego County appears largely unchanged from last season during which two new teams were added to bring membership to 11 teams.

After the conclusion of last season’s exciting championship playoffs (an estimated 200 fans attended the final between Bonita Vista and Scripps Ranch), it was thought — or hoped, at least — that more teams would join the still fledgling circuit.

While the slow response has been mildly disappointing to the staunchest supporters of CIF-sanctioned roller hockey, there is always hope that one key addition could trigger a domino effect among school districts in ensuing seasons.

"We’re taking small steps," said Don Cerone, who serves as an assistant coach with Scripps Ranch as well as commissioner of the club-based San Diego County High School Roller Hockey Conference, which is entering its eight season of operation in 2002-03.

"Every year is a new battle for recognition. It’s not an easy task to get done. It takes time," Cerone said. "We have to be patient. Changing opinions and attitudes takes time."

While the three-year-old Metro Conference continues to fill out its ranks with at least one new team this season, the SDCHSRHC will continue to offer the sport at the next closest level without actually being CIF-sanctioned.

The SDCHSRHC will feature a 10-game regular season capped by a championship playoff tournament at the end of February. Of the 16 teams that competed in the inaugural season, more than half are still active members.

"We try to hold it together as a high school league as close as possible but faces change year to year," said Cerone, who cited leadership by involved parents as the key to keeping programs going in the absence of official sponsorship by school districts.

"The kids are ready to play. It often takes a parent to step out of the woodwork," he said. "It runs in cycles."

Rancho Bernardo returns to defend its title but runner-up Granite Hills — devoid of much of its upperclassmen talent of a season ago — has forgone membership this season and instead opted to play in a youth house league in El Cajon with several other onetime SDCHSRHC members.

This season’s conference muster roll includes 18 teams (the same amount as last season), including one returning team and two new teams in the newly created Southeast League that will convene Monday nights at Skate San Diego in National City. The existing North County and Inland leagues will play Wednesday’s at Kit Carson Park in Escondido.

Last year’s conference membership stood at 18 teams.

Skate San Diego, which will also host Metro Conference games on Tuesday and Thursdays, is an indoor rink; the rinks at Kit Carson Park are outdoor rinks.

Monte Vista, St. Augustine and West Hills look to be the resident powers in the new Southeast League. They will be joined by Pt. Loma, La Jolla and Mission Bay. Pt. Loma returns to the conference after an absence. Both La Jolla and Mission Bay are new teams.

The lineup for the Inland League features Poway, La Costa Canyon, Rancho Bernardo, Mt. Carmel, Torrey Pines and San Pasqual. The North County League includes Escondido, Rancho Buena Vista, Vista, Carlsbad, Fallbrook and San Marcos.

With Skate San Diego hosting games from both conferences, the bridge between CIF and club-sponsored teams in one sense grows smaller.

Last season’s Metro Conference schedule included 20 games, plus a season-ending playoff tournament that featured two competitive divisions. Plans are to continue the two divisional format for playoff competition, though the format may be tweaked somewhat to ensure more competitive balance.

The outdoor rink at Castle Park High School in Chula Vista — believed to be the first roller rink built for use by high school teams by a high school district — will make its debut as the Metro Conference’s official practice facility.

Regular season play starts Dec. 3.