SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

2003-04 Scripps Ranch Falcons -- best since 1998?

History is on Falcons' side

By Phillip Brents
Posted Jan. 6, 2004

History has an odd way of repeating itself, especially if one happens to be a member of the Scripps Ranch High School roller hockey team.

"The last time we had a team this young, we went to the finals," Falcon head coach Greg Friedman said.

At right: Dan, Rick, Brian and Matt Comrie pose after Dec. 22 alumni game.

Expectations are high for the 2003-04 Scripps Ranch squad — a team that is integrating seven new players into its 14-man varsity roster and one that boasts six sophomores and two freshmen.

"With a program as deep as ours, there are always expectations. Some of the parents are already talking about going to nationals," said Friedman, whose team appears to be playing a level above most of the competition to open the CIF/Metro Conference’s fourth season.

Despite their extensive makeover, the Falcons had outscored opponents 114-4 in winning their opening seven games. Scripps Ranch defeated Sweetwater by a combined score of 49-0 and also owned lopsided wins against Montgomery (16-0), Chula Vista (22-0) and league newcomer La Jolla (15-1).

Scripps Ranch’s toughest test came in the team’s eighth match of the season – a gritty 4-3 win against fellow Mesa League power Eastlake on Jan. 8.

Previously, the Falcons had defeated perennial Metro powerhouse Castle Park 16-2 and had avenged last year’s Kiwanis Cup championship game loss to La Jolla Country Day with a 12-1 win — a game that saw Torreys goaltender Ben Bartlett collect 52 saves on 64 Scripps Ranch shots.

What is most impressive about those blowout victories is that the first six came without the services of superstar Dan Comrie, who is back to terrorize opposing defenses after a forced retirement from ice hockey.

Comrie — the 2001-02 Metro Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore — had planned to embark on the road to a professional ice hockey career by playing in the United States Hockey League this season. However, after appearing in only three games for the Lincoln Stars, he suffered a concussion – the sixth of his career -- that forced him to give up his dreams of playing competitive ice hockey at its highest levels.

A cousin, Mike Comrie, scored 20 goals and 31 assists last season for Edmonton in the NHL.

Returning to Scripps Ranch, Dan Comrie received clearance to compete in “non-check” roller hockey. He made his season debut Dec. 22 in the Falcons’ annual alumni game by scoring five goals and two assists to lead the varsity team to a 13-5 victory against the alumni.

Friedman was astonished by the performance. “It doesn’t look like he missed much,” the Scripps Ranch coach said.

Friedman was awed more by just Comrie’s performance, however. He generously passed around the accolades at the display he saw on the floor. “We moved the puck. The alumni were chasing us all over the place ... maybe it’s a good sign for us,” he said.

Freshman Ryan Knight had four goals and two assists against the alumni while sophomore Erik Brody had three goals and two assists. Freshman Matt Comrie -- the youngest of the four Comrie brothers to play in the program -- contributed one goal and three assists.

Goaltender Brandon George was the star of the game for the varsity, however, according to Friedman. “He stood on his head (in the net),” the Falcons coach said. “He was making saves you wouldn’t believe against guys who could play in top college programs.”

What made the varsity team’s victory even more impressive this season was that it came against an alumni team boasting marquee players off the 1998 Scripps Ranch team that placed second in the USA Hockey InLine nationals.

“This is the best team we’ve had since then,” Friedman said of the 2003-04 varsity squad.

Scripps Ranch competed in last spring’s USA Hockey InLine regionals, losing in the semifinals with a roster comprised of six freshmen, two juniors and one senior. “Those are the guys now who are flying out there for us — those freshmen,” Friedman said. “One-line teams have don’t stand a chance against us. Some of the better teams might have two good lines. We’re going three lines deep without any drop-off.”

The team’s six sophomores include Brody, who was promoted to the varsity team at the end of last season, Andrew Reinhold, Grant Chinda, Josh Lopez, Wes Crooks and Matt Thompson. Chinda and Reinhold were freshman starters last season while Lopez, Crooks and Thompson are all seeing their first tour of varsity action.

The upperclassmen on the roster include seniors Zach Walters, David Welch, Greg Best, Dan Comrie and George and junior Andrew Woodfine. Best joined the team only after the holiday break, along with Comrie.

Matt Comrie had an auspicious freshman debut by scoring two goals and four assists in his first-ever varsity game and came back with five goals and an assist in his second game.

Woodfine had five goals and four assists while Brody had four goals and four assists in a 21-0 victory against Sweetwater. Walters had four goals and an assist in a 28-0 win, also against Sweetwater.

Alumni game notepad

To prepare for nationals, Friedman said the team may compete in NARCh regional tournaments.

Miles Harper led the alumni with two goals while Rick Comrie, Brandon Seibert and David Brassfield each scored single goals. Also suiting up for the alumni team was Tony Mello, a member of the famed 1998 squad, and Duncan Cerone, Matt Speck and Brian Bay.

Superstar returns

Dan Comrie had five concussions before the one that ended his ice hockey career. “That was the sixth and it wasn’t really the hardest hit. That was the scariest part,” he said. “It was pretty serious. But there are other things in life. I was fortunate to go as far as I went and meeting all the people I did. I’m fortunate to have all those memories. But this is a great place to come back to – San Diego. I’m always going to have a passion for the game. But I’m going to have to be playing a little different style – not as physical. We’re looking forward to giving it a shot this year.”

Comrie made his Metro Conference debut in the Falcons’ 22-0 win against Chula Vista, contributing one goal and six assists. He had three of his team’s goals in the 4-3 victory against Eastlake, including two power play goals.

His stature remains large in the game.

“The team always comes first. Our team overall is solid. Looking at the teams we play against – I know Bonita Vista and Eastlake have great teams – and I know things are going to be tougher in the playoffs. But with our goaltending and our depth, that’s going to make a big impact in the playoffs,” he said.