Two California teams enter running at America’s Showcase
The state of California will be well represented at the upcoming America’s Showcase.
The annual event – held this year at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center from April 20-24 in Pittsburgh – features the best high school junior and senior hockey players from around the country, giving them the opportunity to compete against one another as well as giving them the chance to be seen by major hockey institutions from across North America.
This year’s event, the 26th annual, will feature not one but two California representatives. Players from the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League and Los Angeles Kings High School Hockey League, along with the Northern California High School Hockey Leagues will combine to form Team California.
Joining Team California will be Team San Diego, which will be making its second trip to the tournament.
Selected to lead the 2017 edition of Team California in this tournament will be head coaches Jeff Noviello of JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Dan Adams of Lutheran High School of Orange County in Orange and Barry Sherer of Damien High School in Laverne. Leading Team San Diego will be Jason Galea of Poway High School in Poway and Dan Wagner of La Jolla Country Day School in La Jolla.
“As the playing level of high school hockey continues to grow in California, the expectation level increases as well,” said Noviello. “Each year, the interest level of the players grows. This is a great opportunity for student-athletes.”
America’s Showcase was developed to provide the nation’s premier high school players an opportunity to be scouted by high-level programs so those players may further their hockey careers in prep school, junior hockey, college, and beyond.
“Last years’ experience only makes the expectations grow, and we need to continue that success and show that California players can compete nationwide,” said Adams.
Both California teams can consist of only junior and senior students in good academic standing who participate in the high school leagues throughout the state.
This tournament is an annual event for scouts from many colleges, junior hockey programs, and central scouting organizations throughout the country to come and see some talented players compete.
Tryouts for Team California were Feb. 11-12 in Southern California at the The Rinks-Anaheim ICE, while tryout dates for Team San Diego will be released shortly.
— John B. Spigott
