SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

South Bay League 2003-04 Season-In-Review

Mar Vista Mariners (12-6-0)

The Mariners easily stand as the most improved team among returners in the 12-team conference this season. Mar Vista finished 10-8 last season and advanced to the Division II tournament championship game, dropping an overtime contest to Montgomery. The previous season, the Mariners finished 5-14-1.

All what Mar Vista has done this season is to earn inclusion into the top rung of the Kiwanis Cup playoffs – the first-ever in school history. The Mariners’ 14-6 victory against South Bay League rival La Jolla on Tuesday gave Mar Vista a 12-6-0 record – a school record for wins in one season -- and assured the Mariners of a second-place finish in the league standings and a Kiwanis Cup opening-round contest against Bonita Vista, the third-place finisher in the Mesa League.

The Mariners stood fifth best among the conference’s 12 teams in terms of overall win/loss record.

"We have to be the most improved team in the league," Mar Vista coach Ron Cole said. "We brought a lot more talent on board this year. We have some good young players who are learning to work together. That will continue for the next couple years because they are young players."

High points for the season include a pair of 10-9 victories against longtime Metro power Hilltop that helped make the Mariners a legitimate power broker in conference play this season.

"Beating Hilltop the first time was memorable in that it was the first game of the season and really set the tone for the season. It was an exciting win. It was a team win," Cole said.

Other game highlights two victories against Metro newcomer La Jolla, including an 8-6 come-from-behind victory on Feb. 11. Both games carried significant post-season ramifications. "The come-from-behind win against La Jolla was an exciting win for us," the Mariner coach said.

The biggest season highlight has to be making the playoffs, Cole said. "We’re making the playoffs for the first time ever. We surprised some teams. We may have a few surprises left in store," the Mar Vista coach said.

This year’s team – defined just by that word ("team") -- is led by an exciting blend of veteran and young talent. Senior Tony Arciga and junior Trevor Stutzman have been looked upon for leadership throughout the season. Entering the final week of regular season play, Stutzman paced the team in scoring while Arciga, a three-year varsity player who Cole feels may have one of the hardest slapshots in the league, ranked second overall with 25 goals.

Both serve as team co-captains.

Stutzman had two goals and three assists in the key 14-6 win against La Jolla while Arciga contributed three goals and one assist.

Impact newcomers include a trio of freshmen: goaltender Mike Gisi, Jeremy Tanaka and Ian Nicklen.

Nicklen has made the biggest impact by pushing for the team scoring lead. Entering Mar Vista’s final two games, he ranked first with 27 goals and second in overall points (40). He scored the game-winning goal in the second meeting against Hilltop – a win that likely put the Mariners into the playoffs.

Tanaka has followed his cousins lead with 15 goals and nine assists to rank fourth in team scoring.

Gisi has established himself as the team's starter between the pipes.

Other three-year players on the team besides Arciga include senior Javier Cardona and junior Heather Lamb, who has the chance to become the first ever four-year player in school history.

Sophomore Trevin Tuovinen is the team’s "hot dog." He earned the nickname during a preseason fund-raiser when he donned a make-shift hot dog costume to solicit customers for a team hot dog sale. In 18 games this season, he ranked sixth in team scoring with 12 goals and 7 assists.

La Jolla Vikings (10-8-1)

The first-year Vikings have enjoyed a successful season despite contending with an overhauled roster from last season’s club team and commitments by players to ice hockey. Entering the final week of the season, La Jolla had assured itself of a winning record and was contending for a playoff spot in the Kiwanis Cup tournament.

"It’s been a great year. It’s totally cool," said head coach Joe Noris. "We have a great chance to get into the playoffs for a first-year team. We’ve molded a bunch of new kids into a system. They’ve come a long way."

The Vikings returned just three players – Jamie "Bam Bam" Huntley, Jacob Glover and Natalie Noris off last season’s club team that finished 1-10-0 and was outscored 77-33 in the San Diego County High School Roller Hockey Conference.

While Huntley, Glover and Noris have continued to play leadership roles on this year’s squad, it has been the influx of newcomers that have helped the Vikes attain respectability in their first season of CIF-sanctioned play. The newcomers have been led by senior captain Cameron Cerone, a transfer from Scripps Ranch, who leads the team in scoring.

The team has had a luxury this season: three goaltenders – Chris Granillo, Dylan Hogan and Kenny Satterlee (who has had the most playing time).When not between the pipes, both Granillo (16 goals, 25 assists) and Hogan (5 goals, 2 assists) have helped contribute offensively. Granillo ranked fourth in team scoring behind Cerone, Glover and Huntley.

Glover has racked up a 40-point season (30 goals, 14 assists) despite ice hockey commitments.

Cerone (33 goals) and Huntley (30 goals) are also members of La Jolla's 30-goal club.

"When we’re a full team, we’re pretty good," the elder Noris said.

La Jolla’s games against Mar Vista – another high achieving team this season – have helped provide the competitive highlights. The Vikings dropped the teams’initial matchup, 8-6, in a game that featured La Jolla taking an early lead.

"It was a great game – back and forth, end to end. It was one of those games you hate to lose. It was a well-played game by both teams," the Vikings coach said.

La Jolla also showed its spunk in an 9-8 victory against longtime Metro power Hilltop after dropping a 15-4 game to the Lancers before the holiday break.

The Vikings' 14-6 loss to Mar Vista sets up a dramatic final day of regular season competition, with La Jolla needing to defeat Bonita Vista in its final game or Hilltop lose its final game to Eastlake.