Bulldogs provide bite at AAU Winter Nationals showcase By Phillip Brents
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he Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Winter Nationals helped face off the holiday tournament season Dec. 15-17 at THE RINKS-Corona Inline. A total of 55 teams participated in 13 divisions. The host Bulldogs program helped set the standard for the pre-Christmas event by collecting division championships in the 6U, 12U-A Tier 1, 12U-A Tier 2 and 16U-AA divisions. The Bulldogs also notched runner-up finishes in the 8U-A, 10U-AA, 18U-A and 18U-AA divisions. “What a great way to head into the holidays,” noted Bulldogs age-group coach Ben Barrett. “The program as a whole did great and represented the Bulldogs with great class and pride. The teams are starting to hit their stride at the right time and played some great teams during the tournament. “To have the success we did was just icing on the cake, but better was where they have all come from October when we first started the season. We are excited to see what 2018 brings for the Bulldogs.” Top individual performances turned in by the Bulldogs included those by division high scorer award winner Noah Shoemaker (16U-AA) and division top goaltender award winners David Ricci (8U-A), Natalie Williams (10U-A), Quinlen Johnston (12U-A Tier 1), the tandem of Gianni McConnell and Kat Reyes (12U-A Tier 2) and Evan Pawluk (16U-AA). McConnell and Reyes combined to post a .886 save percentage, while Johnston turned in a .876 save percentage and Pawluk recorded an .857 save percentage. The Bulldogs wasn’t the only program to reap its share of success at the AAU Winter Nationals.
AKS won championship titles in the 14U-A and 14U-AA divisions. The Pama Cyclones won the 10U-A division championship while recording three runner-up finishes (8U-AAA, 12U-A Tier 1, 12U-A Tier 2). The OC Marvel won the 8U-A division title while recording two runnerup finishes (6U, 10U-A). The Labeda Jets won the 8U-AA championship and finished second in 16U-A while the HB Militia won the 18UA title and finished runner-up in 14U-AA. Other division champions included the California Kings (10U-AA), Raiders (16U-A) and Feelin Groovy (18U-AA). The Temecula Warriors (14U-A) and Sour Skittles 02 (16U-AA) each recorded runner-up finishes to round out the list of finalists.
Top individuals
Maciel of the Jets (16U-A). Welsh and Buium each recorded 13 points to lead their divisions, while Ochoa and Podergois each racked up 12 points. Top goaltender award-winners also included Joseph Bridges of OC Marvel (6U), C.J. Harkness of the Cyclones (8U-AA), Kaeden Tate of the Kings (10U-AA), Timo Schmitt of AKS Red (14U-A), Ethan Valentine of HB Militia Gray (14U-AA) and the Raiders’ tandem of Zach Jones and Vincent Dunton (16U-A). Among notable goaltending performances, the tandem of Jones and Dunton posted a .914 save percentage while Schmitt recorded a .909 save percentage. Valentine posted a .867 save percentage and Tate recorded a .818 save percentage.
Cooper Bell of OC Marvel (6U) The Bulldogs 6U team celebrates win- Rolling along and Chase Edwards of Feelin Groovy ning its division at December’s Amateur Corona Inline will host the AAU West Athletic Union Winter Nationals event at (18U-AA) topped all division high scorer THE RINKS-Corona Inline. Coast Nationals from May 25-28 and award-winners with 14 points each. the AAU Junior Olympics-International Luke Benavente of Feelin Groovy (18U-AA) led all Inline Championships from July 5-15. division top goaltender award-winners with a .952 save The Western Inline Hockey League (WIHL) tournament percentage. schedule includes stops at Irvine Inline (Jan. 27-28, March Other division high scorer award-winners included 31 and May 12), Corona Inline (Feb. 10-11), West Covina Lucas Abarquez of OC Marvel (8U-A), Rocket Welsh (March 10-11) and Huntington Beach Inline (April 14-15). of the Labeda Jets Navy (8U-AA), Sammie Ochoa of The WIHL championships will span two weekends: the Labeda Jets (10U-A), Dylan Podergois of the Kings June 1-3 at Huntington Beach Inline (6U, 10U, 14U and (10U-AA), Zeev Buium of the Cyclones 07 (12U-A Tier 18U) and June 8-10 at Corona Inline (8U, 12U, 16U and 2), Connor Martin of AKS Red (14U-A) and Jacob 23U).
First-year Cypress team improving in ADISL inline realm By Phillip Brents
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since posted a 1-4-1 record. “The season has started off a little rough, but the players always try to get better,” Mario Zoida said. “The older players are learning leadership skills by helping the younger players improve their game. Some of the older players hope to continue at a college roller hockey program after graduation, which is also offered through the Ducks.”
Tamahana scored two goals. Ethan Zabala, Maxim Alayev and Nicholas Zoida each collected one assist in support of winning goaltender Benavente. “We hope that the team grows over the next couple seasons,” Mario Zoida said. “We look forward to teaching these players the great game of hockey, and hope one day it may become a CIF sport for our high schools.” Cypress has already entered the spotlight after Zabala earned recognition as the ADISL’s Player of the Month for December. “As a freshman in his first season playing roller hockey, Ethan works hard in practice to get better and better,” Paerels noted. “In a recent game, Cypress was down to four skaters, forcing everyone to stay out for the duration. They were all exhausted, but Ethan kept pushing the whole game and was very excited to score his first goal. “In addition to his love for hockey, Ethan is also very passionate about baseball and has already made the freshman team at Cypress. Down the road, he is interested in becoming a doctor or first-year sports therapist – after his pro baseball career.”
hile roller hockey has not yet attained official recognition by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) outside of the San Diego Section, the sport continues to thrive at the club level in other areas of the Golden State. The Anaheim Ducks Inline Scholastic League (ADISL) added three new programs this season to its high school division. Among the newcomers is the team representing Cypress High School in the Anaheim Union High School District. While Mario Zoida had coached his son, Nicholas, in youth leagues over the past halfdozen years, when it came time for Nicholas to enter high school, roller hockey did not exist as a CIF sport in the Southern Section. But there was an attractive alternative available. The elder Zoida worked with Cypress High School athletic director Jeff Russell to form a club team and then completed the necessary paperwork to ADISL coordinator John Paerels to apply for a team in the ADISL. The Cypress High School roller hockey team has become a reality with “We were welcomed into their high school membership in the Anaheim Ducks Inline Scholastic League for the 2017-18 season. organization and our first season is underway,” Junior High Division Zoida explained. “The Ducks organization has really The ADISL held its inaugural Junior High School Nicholas Zoida serves as team captain on the made many kids’ dreams come true. Not many high newly-branded Cypress club team, while Jacob Holl Division championship playoffs Dec. 15 at THE RINKSschools offer roller hockey and the Ducks noticed and Luke Benavente serve as assistant captains. Irvine Inline. this. My son is so excited to be graduating wearing his Second-seeded Hewes Middle School upset topThrough the team’s opening six games, Holl led the school colors, and he gets to play with his best friends.” team with six goals and nine points and Nicholas Zoida seeded Lakeside Middle School 7-4 to win the Tier 1 The ADISL’s 2017-18 season started in October. ranked second in team scoring with seven points on championship, while fourth-seeded Jeffrey Trail Middle The fledgling Cypress team earned placement with five five goals and two assists. School roared back from a 5-1 deficit to edge Rancho other teams in a similar competition-based tier. Cypress Holl led Cypress with four goals and one assist in Santa Margarita Intermediate School 7-6 to win the Tier defeated Edison 6-4 to win its inaugural game, but has its history-making season-opening win, while Michael 2 title. CARubberHockey.com
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