The Willow Glen Resident

Razor-sharp: The San Jose Blades celebrate after winning the California state title in the California Amateur Hockey Association earlier this month.

Glen athletes help Blades team slice its way to top

By Aji Mathai

With the help of six Willow Glen players, the San Jose Blades hockey team of boys ages 11-13 brought home the state title in California Amateur Hockey Association play this month, reported team parent Kristin Clause.

Coached by Skip Downing and Dave Gaylon, the team is the first from San Jose to win a state title in the association, Clause said. The championship game in Sherman Oaks capped off a near-perfect 1997-98 season for the Blades, who finished with a record of 28-1-1. In their last game, the Blades beat the West Valley Wolves from Southern California with a score of 4-1.

Phil Albanese, Luke Clause, Tim Hayes, Zach Kuster, Ryan Moss and A.J. Purdy are the Willow Glen members of the team.

The Blades, who had an 8-0 record in post-season playoff games, also have players from all over the Bay Area, with some coming from as far away as Napa and Aptos.

"The Sharks couldn't do it, but the S.J. Blades get to hold the hockey 'cup' of excellence for the 1997-98 CAHA season," Clause said.

At the end of the season, the two Northern California champions compete against the two Southern California champs. Usually the SoCal teams dominate, said Clause, but not this year.

"One of the things that made this special was winning the championship as a Northern California team, especially the Blades, being such a young hockey club," Kuster said.

The Blades, who practice at the Ice Centre on 10th Street in San Jose, have only been in existence for five years.

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