NORCAL Rep Club 97-98 Midget Team

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Midgets finish in top 4 in State

For the first time in NORCAL Rep Club history, a team representing the club took part in the California State Tier II Championships when the midgets traveled to Escondido to face off against the best of the Southern California Tier II teams. Finishing up round-robin divisional play with a 2-1 record, they qualified for the semi-final round. Against perennial powerhouse L. A. Wildcats, the midgets lost 3-0, ending their bid to represent California in the Tier II Regionals in Tacoma.

The midgets opened play Friday afternoon against a surprisingly strong team from West Valley, the eventual winners of the division. Although the game was bitterly contested throughout, NORCAL ended up on the short end of a 3-1 decision, with West Valley's third goal coming in the last minute on an empty net.

The midgets have played some of their most exciting hockey against Bay Harbor, and the game Saturday morning followed suit. NORCAL seemed in control with a 2-0 lead, when Bay Harbor exploded for two goals within a minute, to tie the score with 5 minutes remaining in the second period. Play went back and forth for the rest of the second and most of the third. As parents and coaches on both sides were beginning to figure out the implications of a tie on the standings, NORCAL broke through with less than two minutes remaining. A scramble in front of the Bay Harbor net seemed destined to produce nothing, with the Bay Harbor goalie stopping several point blank shots. But the puck squirted loose into the high slot, and Sean Castagna put away the game winner high on the goalie's glove side.

Despite a questionable bench minor penalty in the final minute of play, NORCAL survived the 6-on-4 empty net and held on for one of the sweetest victories of the season, 3-2.

From the first shift of their final preliminary game, against host club San Diego, it was clear that the San Diego club was motivated to do more than just show up for this tournament. With a tie and a loss coming into the game, San Diego's players knew that a win over NORCAL would put them in a position to qualify for the semis, despite being overlooked and overmatched for much of the season.

Coming from an unlikely source, the NORCAL team took advantage of two goals by defender Michael Tornabene to secure a 2-1 win and a place in the semi-finals.

The NORCAL team left the arena not knowing who their opponent would be the following morning. Word eventually reached the hotel that West Valley eliminated Bay Harbor, and that NORCAL would face perennial powerhouse L. A. in the semi-final. Having faced LA twice in the regular SYHL season, posting one tie and one loss, NORCAL looked on this game as a chance to even the record, and give them a virtual lock on the state championship.

0-0 after the first, the pinpoint passing of the L. A. team, combined with some excellent goaltending, led to two second period goals, and a capper late in the third. Despite many scoring chances, the NORCAL team just couldn't break through the LA goaltending. With the final score 3-0, the NORCAL midgets finished the season with their heads high, knowing that being but a single victory away from a State Championship in their first-ever trip to the State Tournament was no small feat.

Midgets to travel to Medford, OR

The midget team traveled to Medford, Oregon to put on a hockey exhibition as part of the grand opening of "The RRRink", a new arena in Medford. The midgets played three games against the Portland Junior Hawks Midget AA team, registering two wins and a tie.

The Saturday night game was in front of a full house of paying customers (somewhere around 400). The game was three 20-minute periods with ice cuts between each. The fans saw a great game, with NORCAL winning 4-1.

Second Place Finish in Marquette

The Midget team traveled to Marquette, Michigan, and came away with a second place finish against a strong field of teams from the heart of hockey country. Going 3-1 in the preliminary rounds, including a 1-0 victory over the host team, the Marquette Simmons American Eagle, the NORCAL team came up short in the championship game, losing to Marquette 4-2.

Derek Eisler

NORCAL Rep Midget coach Derek Eisler is featured in this article that appeared several years ago while he was working for another Northern California hockey team. Sharks Magazine article on Derek Eisler

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Team Volunteers

Game Scheduler:

Mark Adamek

Travel Coordinator:

Erick Razz

Team Treasurer:

Janice Prior

Team Manager:

Randy Smith

Team Reps:

Michael Lee

Chuck Collins

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