The Lynbrook roller hockey team won a division championship this past spring. Members of the team included (front row, l-r) Firrend Naman, Greg Nyple, Dennis Raj and Emeric Chen, and (back row, l-r) manager and assistant coach Todd Hirozawa, Ed Yum, Kyle Piercy, Derek Heidinger, Derik Hirozawa, Mike Mohebbi, Brian Yum, Matt Grant, Nate Louie, Jeff Lee, assistant coach Dave Grant and coach Peter Faria. Not pictured is Fred Tseng.
It's official: Vikes win hockey title
And they did it in their first year
By Dick Sparrer
The sport may not be official by high school standards.
But there was nothing unofficial about the league championship that the Lynbrook junior varsity roller hockey team cruised to this year at the Rollin' Ice Twin Rink at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.
The Vikings won the JV Division 3 title this season, beating Mount Pleasant in the finals to wrap up a 9-1 season.
Winning the title was no easy accomplishment for the Vikes, and not only because of the competition on the rink.
Roller hockey is not a sanctioned high school sports, so no funding or support comes from the schools who are represented in the league.
"Two sophomores at Lynbrook High School struggled for two years to start a school team," said parent Renée Euchner. "Just before the deadline this past season, they were able to gather a team of 14 Lynbrook sophomores and juniors and three adult coaches."
In the tradition of the "Mighty Ducks" of movie fame, the Vikings took the floor for their first game wearing T-shirts turned inside-out with numbers made of duct tape.
Much like the Ducks in their debut, the Vikings lost a lopsided decision in their first game. But that was only the beginning.
The mighty Vikings turned their season around in a hurry and played their way into the title game in their division. When they defeated Mount Pleasant to clinch the JV crown, it was more than just championship--it was an amazing accomplishment of perseverance.
"We were proud of more than their playing ability," added Euchner.
Playing for the championship Vikings team were Kyle Piercy, Mike Mohebbi, Matt Grant, Ed Yum, Derek Heidinger, Derik Hirozawa, Brian Yum, Nate Louie, Jeff Lee, Firrend Naman, Greg Nyple, Dennis Raj, Emeric Chen and Fred Tseng. The coaches were Peter Faria, Dave Grant and Todd Hirozawa.
Lynbrook was one of three teams from the Fremont Unified School District in the roller hockey league. Monta Vista sent two teams to the floor. Playing as the Mustangs, one team finished second in JV Division 2, losing 6-4 in the finals to Independence.
Because roller hockey is not a sport sanctioned by the Central Coast Section or the California Interscholastic Federation, players must provide their own league fees, uniforms, equipment and insurance. Still, teams from 34 schools played in the league this year.
Roller hockey is played both in the fall and spring seasons at Rollin' Ice. For information on the upcoming fall season, call Gabby Cresini at 408.280.7588, ext. 12, or by email at gabby@rollinice.com.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
