S. Tahoe Grizzlies dominate on home ice

By Ted Parkhill

It was another amazing weekend of ice hockey in South Lake Tahoe. This past weekend featured teams from San Jose and San Francisco playing against South Lake Tahoe’s Grizzlies.

The San Jose Junior Sharks Pee Wees (ages 11 and 12) faced the Tahoe Grizzlies Pee Wees in a double-header. The first place Grizzlies solidified their lead league by sweeping the series against the Sharks. Both games were really close and could have gone to either team. The Grizzlies dug deep and took advantage of their opponent in the third period of both games as the other team tired out up here in the fresh air.

Carson Bailey, left wing for the Pee Wees, carries the puck over the blue line. Photos/Provided

Game one on Saturday, the Grizzlies won 3-2 with Reiss Jensen of Reno leading the scoring with two goals.

Game two on Sunday morning was just as close with the Grizzlies winning 4-3.

Highlights included Matt Newberger of South Lake Tahoe opening the scoring early in the first period with a wicked slapshot to the top shelf. The game winner, late in the third, came from a strong effort by Spencer Lloyd of Reno.

The Tahoe Grizzlies Squirts (ages 9 and 10) faced the San Francisco Sabre Cats. The undefeated Grizzlies Squirts cruised by the Sabre Cats on Saturday afternoon 10-1.

On Sunday morning, the Sabre Cats returned refreshed and played a much stronger game, although the Grizzlies triumphed by winning 4-0.

The highlight of the season was the all new “Mick Trick”. Mickey Sullivan of South Lake Tahoe scored a double hat-trick (a hat trick is scoring three goals in a game) by scoring six goals in Saturday’s game. An unbelievable effort that was worthy of any Gretzky or Crosby. Special mention goes to defenseman Axel Sorenson of South Lake Tahoe who scored his first goal as a Squirt. He did it again on Sunday by scoring a Power Play goal.

Travis Wood, defense with the Grizzlies Pee Wees, clears the puck from his zone.

Nick Ilvento earned his second shut out of the season.

The Pee Wees and the Squirts are in first place in their respective NORCAL divisions. This weekend the Tahoe Grizzlies Pee Wees are headed to Fresno for two games against the Fresno Falcons. The Tahoe Grizzlies Squirts do not play again until early February in San Jose and Roseville.

The next home games are Saturday afternoon Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena (1176 Rufus Allen Blvd.). Admission is always free.

Ted Parkhill is with South Tahoe Amateur Hockey Association.