By Ted Parkhill

This past weekend the Tahoe Grizzlies Pee Wees (ages 11 and 12) played the Cupertino Cougars in Cupertino. The Pee Wees had never won on Cupertino ice. It was an exciting game and was tied 2-2 in the third period.

The Grizzlies broke the streak with Matt Newberger, No. 87 center, of South Lake Tahoe scoring with 50 seconds left in the game. From the slot Newberger used his solid wrist shot and fired the puck into the goalies blocker side upper corner of the net. The Cupertino goalie was clearly their MVP; stopping a barrage of Grizzly shots. On Sunday they played their last regular season game against the San Jose Junior Sharks. The Sharks just returned from winning gold at the California State Winter Games in San Diego.

It was a close game and the Grizzlies’ Reiss Jensen, No. 9 center, from Reno was on fire and scored a natural hat trick.

However, Jensen’s three goals were not enough. The game was tied in the third period 3-3.

Once again the Grizzlies showed their desire and Spencer Lloyd, No. 24 of Reno, scored with a beautiful shot with just 37 seconds remaining in the game.

With the two wins on the weekend the Pee Wee Grizzlies rounded out the season with a league leading record of 11 wins, three losses and two ties. They will be playing next at the NORCAL youth hockey playoffs in Vacaville March 19-20.

The Tahoe Grizzlies Squirts (ages 9 and 10) recently played at in the California State Winter Games in San Diego where they won the silver medal. Over this past weekend they also faced the Cupertino Cougars on Saturday. It was a physical game and one of the Cougars was tossed out for punching one of the Grizzlies who stepped in to defend his teammate after he was illegally checked into the boards.

Despite the powerplay at the end of the game the Cougars remained ahead 4-3.

On Sunday the Squirts played the Roseville Capital Thunder and it was their last opportunity to clinch first place in their division. The Thunder rolled in and over the Grizzlies and Roseville won 2-1. The Squirts ended the season in second place overall with 11 wins and five losses. They are also headed to the NORCAL playoffs in Vacaville on March 18–20.

Ted Parkhill is with the South Tahoe Amateur Hockey Association.