SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

Hear these Lions roar

By Phillip Brents

Posted Feb. 8, 2005

The San Diego Jewish Academy, considered the weakest team in the North County League, continued its amazing “second season” by rolling to its third consecutive inter-league win on Feb. 7 as Johnny Simkin scored five goals and three assists in the Lions’ 11-0 victory against Southwest.

The victory added to previous wins against Sweetwater (13-2) and Montgomery (10-7). Josh Shinoff scored four goals to assist Simkin in the win against the Raiders while Aaron Shinoff added two goals and Michael Levin was credited with a pair of assists.

The Lions had entered inter-league play with a 0-14-0 record in North County League play.

The SDJA showed the disparity between the level of play in the North County League and the South County's two leagues by outscoring Montogmery -- a middle of the pack team in the South County -- by a 7-1 margin in the final period to erase a 6-3 deficit. Simkin had five goals and two assists to help lead the charge in that game.

The Lions' victory against the Aztecs, who fell to 6-11-0, was nothing short of amazing for a team that had been outscored 182-26 in North County League play.

Through three inter-league contests, the SDJA had outscored its three opponents 39-6. Siimkin was chasing La Jolla’s John Noris in the inter-league scoring race with 18 goals and six assists (24 points). Noris was the leader with 15 goals and 11 assists (26 points).

North County League notepad
North County League leader Poway had outscored opponents 30-0 in its first two inter-league games. Stephen Lockwood paced the Titans on the court with five goals and three assists in its 24-0 win against Castle Park on Feb. 2. In all, goals were credited to 12 players in the Poway lineup. Seth Gritton finished the contest with a hat trick to go with a pair of assists while Danny Barnes, Trevor Cochran, Adam Gould, Josh Higson, Kevin Ingram and Matt Pecenco all scored two goals.

Freshman sensation Rory Hansen led Rancho Bernardo (7-7-1) with two goals and four assists in the Broncos’ 7-5 win against Eastlake on Feb. 1 while RB captain Justin Michitsch racked up three goals and one assist in a 7-3 victory against Mar Vista on Feb. 7. The Broncos rolled to a third-period outburst with three unanswered goals to claim the win against the South Bay League champion Mariners.

Rancho Bernardo remains undefeated in three inter-league games, defeating South County opponents with a combined win-loss record of 31-11-4.

La Jolla’s John Noris (son of Skate San Diego operator Joe Noris, a former pro in the NHL and WHA in the 1970s) established himself as the early inter-league scoring leader with 15 goals and 11 assists. He had a part in all 12 Vikings’ goals against Southwest with seven goals and five assists. He contributed three goals and three assists in the Vikings' 10-4 win against Montgomery on Feb. 7.

Inter-league update

Mar Vista, which was coming off a 6-6 with Westview in its first inter-league encounter, came out strong in its second game against Rancho Bernardo. The teams traded early goals and were tied 2-2 before the Broncos broke loose with a pair of unanswered goals by Michitsch, including a momentum-stealer with just 13 seconds left in the opening period.

Ahead 4-2, Rancho Bernardo successfully weathered a string of Mar Vista power plays by giving up just one goal to lead 4-3 heading into the final frame. Two quick goals to open the final period -- one by Michitsch just 1:36 into the period and the other by teammate Corey Grahl just over a minute later -- hiked the Broncos lead to 6-3. Grahl added RB's seventh goal -- and third unanswered in the period -- with 1:33 to play.

Through 19 inter-league games, North County League teams held a decisive 17-0-2 edge against their South County foes.