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San Diego County high school club roller hockey league rolls out ninth season

By Phillip Brents

Updated Dec. 15, 2003

They’re back! The league that set the standard for high school roller hockey in San Diego County is set to roll out its ninth season Nov. 19 as 18 club teams take the court at three rinks.

Two-time defending San Diego County High School Roller Hockey Conference champion Rancho Bernardo returns while 2002-03 runner-up Vista will be out to avenge last season’s 7-4 title game loss to the Broncos.

The league has had five champions and 11 different finalists in eight previous seasons and there is no reason to believe that parity will not rear its head again this season.

The 18 teams will play this season in three geographic leagues. Returning to the Inland League are Mt. Carmel, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, San Pasqual, Torrey Pines and Westview. The North League features Carlsbad, Escondido, Calvin Christian, San Dieguito Academy, San Marcos and Vista. The Southeastern League will boast Mission Bay, Point Loma, St. Augustine, West Hills, La Costa Canyon and Grossmont.

This is the third consecutive season the conference has fielded 18 teams, though each season features minor tweaks to the lineup. La Jolla departs to play in the CIF-sanctioned Metro Conference while playoff qualifiers Fallbrook, Monte Vista and RBV also do not return. However, the conference welcomes four new teams in Westview, San Dieguito Academy, Calvin Chrristian and Grossmont.

Otherwise, nine of the 12 playoff qualifiers from last season return: #1 Rancho Bernardo (9-0-2), #2 Vista (8-1-2), #4 San Pasqual (8-2-1), #5 Escondido (7-3-1), #6 Poway (7-3-1), #8 Mt. Carmel (6-3-2), #9 St. Augustine (5-4-2), #10 Torrey Pines (6-5-0) and #11 Carlsbad (5-5-1).

Rancho Bernardo finished undefeated with a 12-0-2 record, inclusive of three playoff round victories.

Parity certainly was on order last season as both semifinal games were decided by 7-6 scores, with second-seeded Vista edging third-seeded Monte Vista in come-from-behind fashion and top-seeded Rancho Bernardo holding on against fourth-seeded San Pasqual.

Defending league champions include Rancho Bernardo (Inland League) and Vista (North League).

League games will be played Wednesdays at two rinks at the Escondido Sports Center and also in National City at Skate San Diego.

The 11-week regular season concludes Feb. 18, with the opening playoff scheduled Feb. 23 at the Escondido Sports Center round (the top four seeded teams receive byes), followed by quarterfinals Feb. 25 at Skate San Diego. Semifinals are scheduled March 1 in Escondido. The championship game is scheduled March 3, also in Escondido.

A North-South All-Star game will put a wrap on the season March 6 at the Escondido Sports Center.

The major disappoint to the start of the 2003-04 season has to be the departure of Monte Vista -- one of the conference's pioneer teams and its early flagship club with appearances in the first four playoff championship games and winners of three consecutive titles from 1997-99.

"It's a sad way for it to come to an end," said Tony Mauro, a former player with the Monarchs.

Scoreboard 11/19

Week 1 @ Skate San Diego

Poway 19, Pt. Loma 0

Escondido 17, Mission Bay 2

Week 1 @ Escondido West

Torrey Pines 6, San Marcos 1

Mt. Carmel 7, West Hills 6

Westview 8, Carlsbad 4

Week 1 @ Escondido East

San Dieguito Academy 1, Monte Vista 0

St. Augustine 4, Rancho Bernardo 1

Vista 7, San Pasqual 5

Calvin Christian 9, La Costa Canyon 5

Scoreboard 12/03

Week 2 @ Skate San Diego

Carlsbad 1, Mission Bay 0 (forfeit)

Week 2 @ Escondido West

Escondido 6, La Costa Canyon 5

Vista 10, San Dieguito Academy 1

Calvin Christian 5, San Marcos 4

Week 2 @ Escondido East

San Pasqual 4, Rancho Bernardo 3

Westview 8, West Hills 5

Poway 3, Torrey Pines 2

Mt. Carmel 4, St. Augustine 1