SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

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CIF/Metro Conference 2004-05 Report

NATIONAL CITY, Nov. 29, 2004 – It was a tumultuous offseason for the Eastlake Titans. After placing second in the Kiwanis Cup championship game last season to Scripps Ranch, the Titans lost their top two offensive players – Chad McElroy and Scott Powers – to graduation, their second team all-conference goaltender Dustin Tewilliager moved out of state, and two other top players transferred to other schools.

But one would not know the talent drain was so severe after watching Eastlake’s 20-0 victory against Sweetwater in the season-opening game of the CIF/Metro Conference’s fifth season. The Titans received points from all 10 field players on the roster in Monday’s game at Skate San Diego. New goaltender Orlando Villela, a transfer from San Jose, picked up the first shutout of the 2004-05 season.

"We’ve lost a few kids but we’ve picked up a few kids with some experience at the same time," Eastlake head coach Jeff Mechling said. "I guess I can use the same cliché as last year – if we can stay healthy and keep everyone eligible, we should have a successful season."

The Titans took all of 27 seconds to score the first goal of the season against a Red Devil squad returning just two players from last season. Senior Chipper Castro was credited with the goal, assisted by sophomore Zack McElroy.

Eastlake led 9-0 after the first period and 18-0 entering the final period.

McElory paced the Titans offense with five goals and four assists while Castro tallied four goals and two assists. Eastlake also received a three-goal hat trick from newcomer Jonathan Williams, one of two impact freshmen on the team, according to Mechling. Senior co-captain Patrick Johnson contributed a goal and four assists.

Casey Shotwell, a sophomore newcomer with ice hockey experience, matched returner Kyle Wagner with two goals and an assist while the other half of the freshman duo, Nathan Scharmann, picked up a goal and two assists. Junior Chris Sexton had a goal and assist. Senior Kyle Hughes rounded out the team’s nine goalscorers with one goal while newcomer Daniel Hoshina earned one assist.

Hughes, Castro and Johnson round out a core of three four-year performers on the Titans, who finished with the school’s best-ever record of 18-5-0 last season.

For Hughes, his role as a co-captain this season has brought his career full circle. "My freshman year, my goal was just to get playing time. Now it is to build up the guys under me to get playing time and also hopefully to win a league title," he said.

Hughes said last season was indeed a special one for everyone skating with school colors on. The Titans defeated South Bay League champion Castle Park in the semifinals to get a shot at Scripps Ranch in the championship game. The Kiwanis Cup title game was close through two periods before the Falcons pulled away with an 8-4 win to post the first-ever 22-0-0 season in the nine-year history of high school roller hockey in the county.

"It was a dream season. We couldn’t have asked for more. We got everyone but Scripps Ranch," Hughes said.

With a new three league format this season and Scripps moving from the Mesa League to the new North County League, Eastlake has its sights set on capturing the Mesa League championship.

Said Hughes: "We want to push everyone on this team to play at their best. We want this year to be our year to win the Mesa League banner."

Montgomery 13, Chula Vista 2

The new-look Aztecs received goals from seven players and points from nine players in all in downing the Spartans. Mike Mortensen and Julius Edraisa led Montgomery with a hat trick apiece while Josh Cordtan scored two goals and one assist and Jesse Vindiola added a pair of goals in support of goaltender Josh Pizarro.

The Aztecs, who opened the season with 12 players on the court and expect as many as 15 to round out the full roster, used a 5-0 first period advantage to put some distance between them and their opponent. Montgomery led 8-2 after two periods.

"With the number of guys, I did not know what to expect," Aztec third-year coach Jeremy Parker said. "Basically, we want to be in the top 12 team to make the playoffs and in the top 10 so we don’t have to face Scripps Ranch."

Jimmy Gagliardi and Rolando Bumbari each had a goal and assist for Montgomery, which also received a goal from Josh Bowie. Dan Angkiangco had two assists while Justin Gaspar contributed one assist.

Heath McNerney scored both of Chula Vista’s goals, the second assisted by Richard McCaskill.