Two Poway Unified School District high school helped their KHS Ice Dogs ice hockey team capture the state championship title.
The Anaheim-based 16U AAA team won the championship game on Feb. 1 in San Jose. They claimed the title after sweeping the Los Angeles Junior Kings in a best of 3 series with two wins.
Poway High School junior Michael Nilsen and Del Norte High School junior Darin Cerasuolo celebrated the victory with their teammates.
Nilsen described winning the state ice hockey championship as “really rewarding.”
“It felt like all of my own and my teammates’ hard work and sacrifices paid off,” said Nilsen, who plays center. “It was really cool to experience that with this team.”
Cerasuolo, who plays right wing, shared his enthusiasm.
“It was great to win a state championship with my friends,” he said. “It’s something we’ll forever.”
The KHS Ice Dogs will compete in the western United States district playoffs at the Great Park skating rink in Irvine at the end of this month. The winner will advance to the national tournament in Madison, Wis., on April 1.
With a limited number of ice rinks in San Diego County, several players make the commute several times each week to play hockey at the Anaheim rink.
Other players on the championship team from San Diego are Nathan Clark of Cathedral Catholic High School and Nick Barnett of San Dieguito High School Academy.
