California Cougars Youth Hockey Team Takes California By Storm

Editor's Note: The following article was provided to San Mateo Patch by Kathleen Sochan with the California Cougars Squirt B1 team. California Cougars Squirt B1 team plays at Cupertino Ice Center. To submit an article to Cupertino Patch, please e-mail anne.ernst@patch.com.

"It was a heck of a run—a once in a lifetime experience," said proud hockey mom Kathleen Sochan.

The Team: California Cougars Squirt B1 team. 

A youth hockey travel team of 8 to 10 year old boys (born 2001-2003) based out of San Mateo / Cupertino (http://www.californiacougars.org/teams/SquirtB1/)

Coaches: Sean Connolly (head), Mike Gonzales (Asst) and Mike Maddox (Asst)

Title:

The 2011-2012 NORCAL Squirt B1 Champions. 

Winning NORCAL qualified them to play in the CAHA State Playoffs, which took place in San Jose at Sharks Ice San Jose (formerly called Logitech) the weekend of April 13 through 15. 

CAHA Playoffs (California Amateur Hockey Assoc www.caha.com)

Game 1 was Friday against LA Hockey.  The Cougars came out strong and finished the game 5-1. 

Game 2 was played on Saturday against San Francisco Sabercats.  It was a competitive game which ended in a 2-2 tie.  The game then went into a sudden death 4 minute overtime which ended scoreless.  The game proceeded to a player by player shoot out. Cougars player Daniel Yusupoff scored the winning goal in the shoot out. Goalie Victor Bodin held off the Sabercats from scoring and the Cougars won 3-2.

Game 3 was also played on Saturday against Jr. Kings.  It was another amazing game which also ended in a 2-2 tie.  The game then went into a sudden death 4 minute overtime which also ended scoreless. This game again proceeded to a player by player shoot out. Cougars player Daniel Yusupoff scored the first goal of the shoot out. The Jr. Kings answered back with a goal and then the shoot out went into the most incredible, edge of your seat, nail biting shoot out I’ve ever seen. The shoot out went back and forth for more than 10 rounds; going completely through the Cougars roster. Goalie Victor Bodin was impenetrable.  You should have seen the crowd grow as the shoot out progressed. The Cougars got back to the beginning of their roster and when it was Cougar Asher Connolly’s turn he scored. Again Goalie Victor Bodin held off the Jr. Kings and the Cougars won 3-2, finished the tournament in 1st place to advance to the finals for the State title.

Game 4 was played early Sunday morning against LA Hockey Club. The boys played like champions. The offense, including players Joey DeMeo, Cooper Nielsen, Connor Plamondon (from Mountain View,) Chris Smails (from Saratoga,)  Isaiah Tano and Daniel Yusupoff challenged LA’s defense and goalie with numerous advances and shots on goal.  The first period ended 0-0. LA Hockey scored in the second period. The Cougars continued to press the LA team hard and the defense including players Michael Imison, Cody Nielsen, Michael Sochan, and Simon Thue held the score to 0-1.  The third period was a nail biter. The offense and defense continued their outstanding play. Goalie Victor Bodin continued to successfully fend off all the shots on goal and the offense continue to press LA’s goal. With not much left in the game the Cougars almost answered back with a shot that hit the cross bar and bounced out. The clock counted down...after an amazing showing and an incredibly close and evenly played game the Cougars were defeated by LA Hockey 0-1 placing 2nd in the State for the Squirt B1 division. It was a heck of a run—a once in a lifetime experience.

Record Review:  42-W, 6-L, 2-Ties

http://www.californiacougars.org/teams/SquirtB1/record.php

Other Titles:

7th Annual Pacific District US Regional Silver Stick Tournament Champions

50th Annual International Silver Stick 4th Place Winners

Cal State Winter Games Champions

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