SMCHS Beats JSerra, Repeats as State Champ

A year after winning a state championship but losing eight players to graduation, the Santa Margarita Catholic ice hockey team did it all again.

The Eagles on Sunday defeated JSerra, 7-1, to claim their second consecutive California Amateur Hockey Association state title. The match was played in San Jose at the NHL Sharks' practice facility.

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The two Orange County club programs were tied at 1-1 when Andrew Kristauf scored the decisive goal in the second period. Kyle Penn scored twice for Santa Margarita, and Max Kilkuts, Tim Ciotoli, Tatu Hiltunen, and Tyler Gebauer also scored.

Goalkeeper Brandon Schellin got the win in net.

Santa Margarita will compete in the USA Hockey National High School Championships in Coral Springs, Fla., later this month, March 20-24. The Eagles will try to improve on its performance last year at the nationals, when it was defeated 2-1 by Waterloo, Iowa, in the quarterfinals. Waterloo went on to finish second.

The only setback during the state championship weekend for Santa Margarita was an 8-7 loss to San Jose Bellarmine Prep, but the Eagles still emerged from their pool, with a 10-1 victory over Valley Christian and a 7-2 victory over JSerra.

JSerra also advanced by winning two of three in the round robin portion of the tournament, beating Bellarmine, 2-0, and Valley Christian, 3-1.