The Los Alamitos High hockey team came up short in the JV title game of the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League on Thursday the Honda Center in Anaheim.
The Los Alamitos High hockey team came up short in the JV title game of the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League on Thursday the Honda Center in Anaheim.
The Griffins led early, but two late goals by JSerra proved to be enough as the Lions held off Los Alamitos, 5-4, for the JV title.
The Griffins had two goals each from Chris Hartman and Anthony DeMarco, but two goals late in the third for JSerra gave the Lions a 5-3 lead. Hartman appeared to have his third goal of the game when a shot from just inside the blue line got past the goalie and trickled along the goal line, but did not cross over for the tying goal.
JSerra was able to hold off the Griffins in the final minutes. Hartman had given the Griffins a 1-0 lead at 13:45 in the first period when he took a lead pass from Tripp Kenmuir that gave him a breakaway on goal. Hartman beat the goalie top shelf for the goal. Hartman had another goal at 9:49 in the second period that gave the Griffins a 2-1 lead. Jake Gealy had the assist on the goal.
DeMarco scored on a backhand shot with 38.4 left in the second period, with assists from Matthew Eclivia and Corey Castellanos. After JSerra took a 5-3 lead, DeMarco closed the deficit to 5-4 with his second goal through a defender to the top left corner of the net. Despite the loss, Assistant Captain Demarco said the season was a big win for the program in just its first year of existence.
“The Los Alamitos ice hockey team gave me the opportunity to play for a championship.” DeMarco said. “During this time, I met many great people and made great friends that I will never forget.”
