SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

Kiwanis Cup, All-Star Game formats announced

By Phillip Brents

Updated Jan. 26, 2004

The 2003-04 Metro Conference roller hockey season will end in All-Star fashion for the first time in the league’s four-year history. The timing could not be more perfect for the contingent of four-year seniors who comprise the pioneering circuit's first graduating class.

The inaugural Metro Conference Senior All-Star Game will follow the conclusion of the Kiwanis Cup playoffs. The history-making contest will pit seniors from the Mesa League and South Bay League against one another. Teams will include 12 players each with coaches from each of the six teams in each league selecting one player to represent their team.

Coaches of the respective champions in each league will then select the remaining six players, with no more than three players selected from one team.

The Kiwanis Cup playoffs will feature a new format this season, with the top three teams in both the Mesa League and South Bay League qualifying for post-season competition.

The champions of the Mesa League and South Bay League will each receive first-round byes. The second-place team in each league will play the third-place team in the other league in single-elimination games, with the two winners joining the two league champions in a four-team semifinal round.

The four remaining teams will be re-seeded based on overall record, with the first- and fourth-seeded teams meeting and the second- and third-seeded teams meeting in single-elimination games. The two survivors will then play in the championship game.

The Kiwanis Cup playoffs will follow the conclusion of league play on Feb. 19. Dates for the playoffs are Feb. 23-24 and 26. Games on Feb. 23-24 are at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. The Feb. 26 championship game is scheduled at 7 p.m.

The date for the All-Star-Game has been set for Monday, March 1, at 5:30 p.m.

Eastlake High update

If Eastlake's 4-3 loss to defending league champion Scripps Ranch is any indicator, it appears as if the Titans have a legitimate shot at vying for the Kiwanis Cup.

Eastlake rebounded from the loss to Scripps Ranch with a 5-0 victory Jan. 12 against arch-rival Bonita Vista as goaltender Dustin Tewilliager picked up his conference co-leading fourth shutout of the season (to tie Scripps Ranch’s Brandon George). Zack and Chad McElory each had two goals, junior Victor Mancillas scored once goal while Powers had two assists.

The Titans continued their surge with an 11-3 win against longtime Metro power Hilltop on Jan. 15 and a 14-1 victory against Sweetwater on Jan. 20 to improve to 8-2-0. Powers (who led the team in scoring with 26 goals and 21 assists in 10 games) had five goals and three assists in the Hilltop win while Chad and Zack had McElory (second and third in team scoring with 31 and 30 points, respectively) along with Emmanuel Castro each had two goals and two assists against Sweetwater.

The only other blemish on Eastlake’s record this season is a 6-5 loss to South Bay League power Castle Park in the opening game of the season.

“We’re facing the elite teams now. We have to take care of business,” Titan coach Jeff Mechling said.

Senior Honor Roll

(4-year Metro Conference seniors denoted in italics)

Bonita Vista: Chi Hom; Van Nguyen; Matt Tincup

Castle Park: Donny McGraw; Richard Garcia; Everett Hinojosa

Chula Vista: Willie Wiser; Ted Olson; Alonzo Maciel; Bryan Flitcraft; Denise Bohn

Eastlake: Junior Briseno; Chad McElroy; Scott Powers; Justin Rodriguez

Mar Vista: Garrett Spadacino; Clint Jones; Tony Arciga; Javier Cardona

Scripps Ranch: Dan Comrie; Brandon George; Zach Walters; David Welch; Greg Best

Hilltop: Andy Diaz; Erick Morgan; Jeremy Schmidt

Sweetwater: Ivan Arvizo; Marvey Ferrer; Marco Munoz; Rodrigo Vega

Montgomery: Bobby Palma, Manny Simental, Chris Troie, Josh Royal, Fernando Duhart, Greg Varias, Matt Mickelson

La Jolla Country Day: Ben Bartlett; Garrett Iaco; Lyndon-James Perry