SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

Let the good times roll … in 2003-04

By Phillip Brents

NATIONAL CITY, Dec.1 , 2003 – In its fourth season as the state’s only officially-sanctioned high school roller hockey league, the CIF/Metro Conference is sporting an exciting new look. Membership has increased by one team – to 12 schools -- and a new playoff system has the field leveled in one division (as opposed to two divisions the past two seasons).

In other words, the fine-tuning – as well as trend-setting – continues.

If Monday’s opening games are any indicator, a changing of the guard could also be in order.

At right: Hilltop's Erick Morgan.

“Watch out because we're going to the top. Whoever is at the top had better watch out because we're steaming behind them," said Mar Vista coach Ron Cole after his team defeated perennial power Hilltop, 10-9, in the 2003-04 Metro Conference season opener for both teams.

The exciting, back-and-forth contest that was in doubt until the final few seconds was among three season openers played at Skate San Diego in National City. The conference is utilizing two playing sites this season. The district-funded rink at Castle Park High School will be used for regular season games for the first time this season after serving as a practice facility last season.

In other games Monday, Montgomery officially jump-started the newest campaign with a 15-1 victory against Sweetwater while Bonita Vista shut out Chula Vista by a 23-0 score.

The runner-up in overtime in last year’s now discontinued Division II championship game, Mar Vista took the early lead in the South Bay League standings on the strength of four goals and four assists by junior Trevor Stutzman. The Mariners recovered from an 3-2 first period deficit to lead by a score of 6-5 at the second intermission and eventually built an 8-5 advantage before the Lancers engineered a late rally designed to satisfy thrill-seekers.

Erick Morgan, who led Hilltop with five goals and one assist in the game, scored with 1:37 remaining in regulation play to cut the deficit to 9-8. Mar Vista freshman Ian Nicklen answered with his second goal of the game with 41 seconds left before the Lancers’ Cory Garvin, set up by Morgan, made it 10-9 with 20 seconds to play.

The Mariners, however, controlled the puck for the final seconds to preserve their heroic victory.

Seniors Clint Jones and Tony Arciga each had two goals and one assist for Mar Vista while Garvin finished the game with a pair of goals and Nick Donahue had a goal and assist for Hilltop, which received three assists from Andy Diaz and a pair of helpers from Brian Mark.

Montgomery’s Josh Royal (pictured at left) earned the distinction of scoring the first goal of the 2003-04 season by converting a pass from teammate Chris Troie at the 1:37 mark of the Aztecs’ game against the Red Devils. Montgomery – last year’s Division II champions – led 5-1 at the end of the first period and 8-1 entering the final period.

Troie led the Aztecs with six goals and three assists. Following him on the scoresheet were Royal (3 goals, 1 assist), Bobby Palma (2 goals, 3 assists), Manny Simental (2 goals, 1 assist) and J.P. Leksell and Mike Mortensen, each with one goal in support of goaltender Danny Valle

Marvey Ferrer scored Sweetwater’s lone goal.

Montgomery returns six players from last year’s squad, including its top scoring line. The Aztecs will need strong efforts like Monday’s to contend for a playoff berth this season in a format that rewards the top three finishers in both the Mesa and South Bay leagues with post-season Kiwanis Cup berths.

The Mesa League includes Bonita Vista, Chula Vista, Eastlake, Montgomery, Scripps Ranch and Sweetwater. Scripps Ranch has appeared in the last two Division I championship games while Bonita Vista won the 2002 Kiwanis Cup title and Eastlake has qualified for the past two Division I playoff tournaments.

The Aztecs will be looking to be in the thick of what could be a four-team race for three playoff spots. “The playoff format is a little different this year. We’re shooting to get in the top three in our league and to play every game hard,” Montgomery coach Jeremy Parker said.

Bonita Vista certainly fired the first salvo in its first game by steam-rollering a young Spartan squad for a 10-0 first period lead. Junior James Arakaki turned in the best offensive performance for the opening slate of games with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists. Senior Van Nguyen had five goals and three assists while sophomore Eric Enciso had four goals and three assists and senior Chi Hom contributed three goals and three assists.

The Barons, who added nine goals in the second period for a 19-0 lead, also received offensive support from freshmen Blake Tanner (2 goals, 2 assists) and Willy Anderson (1 goal, 2 assists). Freshman goaltender Andrew Goularte recorded a shutout in his first-ever game.

Arakaki, a national-caliber tournament player, 43 goals and 78 points in 20 games last season.

“With James Arakaki coming back, he’s going to be the core we revolve around,” Bonita Vista coach Keith Quigley said. “It’s also exciting to have some freshmen. If they stick with the team, they’ll really be strong by the time they’re juniors.”

At right: Bonita Vista's James Arakaki.

Quigley, who has coached the team since its days in the club-based San Diego County High School Roller Hockey Conference (which totals 18 teams this season and will play games Wednesday evenings at Skate San Diego), said the focus for this season will be to return to the top after reaching last year’s Division I semifinals.

“We want to get back up there. It’s still early to see who the better teams are but give us a couple more games and we’ll see how we stack up,” he said.

Chula Vista, like Sweetwater, finds itself in a rebuilding stage this season. “We have a young team. What I want to accomplish this season is to build a solid base and everyone to have fun and hold their own,” said first-year head coach Oscar Mendoza, who along with his father, Carlos, helped start the genesis for the Spartan team at the club level.

Senior Willie Wiser becomes the first four-year Metro player for the Spartans. He is joined by sophomore Heath McNerney as the team’s other most experienced player.

Mendoza joins former South County pioneer players Doug Lentz (Bonita Vista), Erick Syktich (Eastlake) and Paul Newell (Hilltop) as coaches in the league this year. Lentz and Syktich are handling duties at Sweetwater while Newell – regarded as the best player the area has ever produced – is coaching his alma mater.

Syktich scored the first-ever goal and registered the first-ever hat trick in Metro Conference history.

“I like it. It’s a lot different. I wish I could put on the skates to go out there to help the team,” he said, chuckling.