The weekend of Feb. 21, the SMCHS varsity ice hockey team participated in the State playoffs that determined which team the league will choose to represent California in Chesterfield, Mo. for the 2015 High School Hockey Nationals on March 19-23.

So now there is good news and bad news. Bad news: the State Championship game was played at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and the boys fought hard but fell short in a 1-3 loss to Orange Lutheran (OLu). Good news: the ADHSHL was able to send the top two teams in California to Nationals. So SMCHS is Nationals-bound! Despite the Eagles’ second place finish in States, their dreams of the National Title are still alive.

“The loss to OLu was devastating but it will motivate us to come back from it, watch our mistakes and fix it in Nationals,” said junior Cavin McClare. “Going into Nationals knowing that feeling of second place will give us the edge we need to play our game as well as we can.

Leading into their tough yet rewarding weekend, the Eagles’ started at 11:15 a.m. on Friday Feb. 20 with a shocking 3-0 win against OLu, their first win against OLu of the season. They kept their energy up and were able to defeat Bellermine 4-3 and JSerra 5-3 to land them a spot in the State Championship game against their rivals, OLu.

“Going 3-0 in our first three state games was something our team really wanted to accomplish this weekend,” said varsity captain senior Tyler Gebauer. Beating OLU for the first time was a very big accomplishment for our team. I believe winning these games just gave our team an additional boost of confidence going into the Championship game.”

Throwback 27 years ago, when ice hockey in California seemed impossible and improbable. However, following legend Wayne Gretzky’s trade from the Oilers to the Kings, a hockey boom ignited in our state. In 1993, the Anaheim Ducks were the third hockey team from California to be inducted into the National Hockey League (NHL), behind the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings. In 2007, the Ducks went on to win its first Stanley Cup, spurring the hockey craze in Southern California.

On July 1, 2008 the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League (ADHSHL) was established with JSerra as its charter member. Six years later, in 2014, 41 teams have enrolled for the 2014-2015 season including Bellarmine, Damien, Edison, JSerra, OLu, Servite and SMCHS in Division 1.

“Out of all three seasons I have played in the ADHSHL, this year the competition seems to be the highest,” Gebauer said. “Typically, us and JSerra dominate Division 1, but this year all the teams have closed the gap. All the games are highly competitive and its anyone’s game.”

The Eagles are trying to defend their league title this year, but this season proved to be the toughest yet. In 2013, they captured the National Championship Title in Coral Gables, Fla. and won all 14 of their season games. This year, in regular season play their final tally was 10-6  with the frustrating reality that all six losses ended in a one goal difference.

“Losing is always frustrating, especially when it is only by one goal, but we are a resilient team and we found a way to use that frustration and turn it into positive motivation,” said senior Jake Rosenbaum.  “I think that’s why it was so easy for us to go on our big win streak just before the playoffs.”

Revenge was exactly what they got.  Their 2014-2015 season had a disappointing start that consisted of three consecutive losses. However, about six weeks into league play, the Eagles regained the determination and confidence needed to become a winning team. They battled to win nine out of their 11 remaining scheduled games. Both losses being to the number one ranked team, OLu.

“OLu had a great team this year with a good amount of AAA players that I have played with and against, making them a really good challenge for us,” Rosenbaum said. “Every time we play them we know it is going to be an all-out war. We don’t have to try hard to get pumped up for games like that.”

Their ability to generate a four-game winning streak landed them in second place in Division 1 behind OLu. Besides the opportunity to go to Nationals, this puts the Eagles in a good spot in the ADHSHL Playoffs as well, which will take place at Anaheim Ice from March 3-9 for junior varsity and March 5-9 for varsity. The Championship game is set for March 9 at 8 p.m. at the Honda Center.

“Winning the ADHSHL is something our team has wanted to do since the start of the season,” Gebauer said. “Obviously winning it last year makes it extra special this year and as long as we play to our true potential and play our best hockey we should have no problem defending the League Title.”

These past few weeks have consisted of high tempo practices, hard workouts and hours of video review in order to prepare for both the ADHSHL Championships and Nationals.

“Having been to the national stage before and winning the whole thing, I know that myself and the four others [Eemil, Tyler, Dante, Gluck] who were on the championship team with me will be able to provide a kind of guidance and motivation to propel ourselves back to where we belong — at the top,” Rosenbaum said.

The ADHSL Playoffs take place from March 3-9 at Anaheim Ice and Nationals take place from March 19-23 in Chesterfield, Mo. The varsity ice hockey team will be led by seniors Tyler Gebauer (Captain), Dante Saccacio and Eemil Selanne (Assistant Captains).