Barons are lapping the field in 2021-22 roller hockey season

Bonita Vista High School roller hockey coach Keith Quigley absolutely loves this season’s Barons squad.

And there’s a lot of love about this season’s Bonita Vista squad.

“I love this Barons team,” said Quigley, who has coached the BVHS program since its inception in 1998 at the club level. “Not just the talent but the way they handle themselves and the unselfish play. “

The Barons rolled onto the floor with high expectations after finishing undefeated in last spring’s shortened season. Virtually all of the team returned, this time with an eye on proving itself in the playoffs.

Quigley’s bunch zoomed to a 5-0 start in a schedule that seemed to change every day in some stretches because some teams were unable to play because of COVID-19 protocols. Even the Barons had to take some time off.

Bonita Vista got its first inkling of just how good it is – by South County standards, at least – when it paired up against a likewise undefeated San Ysidro Cougars team on Jan. 19. Both teams were 5-0; the Cougars also had an explosive start, defeating Mar Vista, 23-1, on Jan.10.

Bonita Vista won, 14-0, in the highly anticipated paring. The teams rematched the following evening. The Barons won, 15-1, to prove the previous victory was no fluke.

The Cougars challenged to their best ability. But Quigley’s team just had too much speed and depth to contend with.

“They had a lot more players than we did,” San Ysidro coach Caroline Talavera said.

Talented players at that, and quite a few of them.

Bonita Vista senior Max Anderson and San Ysidro’s Alejandro Vargas have emerged as top candidates to capture this season’s district scoring title.

In games through Tuesday, Vargas topped the district scoring chart with 36 goals and 20 assists for 56 points while Anderson was close behind with 35 goals and 17 assists for 52 points. Anderson had a chance to pass Vargas on Tuesday but the Barons’ game against Mar Vista was postponed because of COVID issues on the Mar Vista team.

Meanwhile, Vargas was held scoreless in a 12-0 loss to Eastlake on Tuesday. The scoring duel looks to go down to the wire as games are made up.

The Barons’ 14-0 win over San Ysidro was definitely an eye-opener all around.

“Great win for the Barons tonight,” veteran BVHS head coach Keith Quigley said. “I’m proud of them. I knew San Ysidro had some good players over there, so I really stressed to the team we needed to come out flying and keep the pressure on them. And that’s basically what we did for three periods. It was a true team effort. I was loving all the passing. Their goalie played really well.”

The latter was an understatement.

Anderson (six goals, two assists) and a pair of freshmen —Jacob Hunter (two goals, three assists) and Cam Belyk (two goals, one assist) — were the three stars of the game as far as scoring went.

All three players are ice hockey veterans and because of that they had a definite edge on the floor. Anderson (Poway Hawks for ice) and Hunter (San Diego Saints Hockey Club) seem to have developed a special chemistry already. Anderson made a deft back-pass in front of the San Ysidro net on one occasion. Hunter quickly filled the empty space and let off a one-time cannon shot.

Hunter’s volley flew over the net, but it stood as the game’s prettiest shot.

Belyk plays for the Jr. Reign, which holds practices for San Diego region players in Carlsbad. He had been out two weeks because of COVID but looked strong on skates both offensively and defensively even though he said he wasn’t used to the slower-moving puck on concrete than ice.

“I love watching Cam play,” Quigley said. “He’s often too unselfish. He’s all about setting up his teammates. I told him tonight ‘Shoot the puck … You deserve to get a few.’ He’s really developing into a really strong two-way player. And he’s improved his shot a ton! Very accurate.”

BV goaltender Eliana Santos received credit for the shutout win, though the whole team contributed in front of her.

“We knew we had to come out strong,” BV co-captain Diego Nunes said. “It was an entire team effort.”

Bonita Vista led 15-0 in the shot count after the first period and 4-0 on the scoreboard. The Barons held a 28-2 advantage in shots through two periods and led 8-0. Bonita Vista tacked on six more goals in the third period braced by an 18-0 edge in shots.

Totaled up, the Barons out-shot the Cougars 46-2 in the game. Emely Vasquez may have been the top player on San Ysidro with 32 saves on the night.

Quigley called the 15-1 victory in the teams’ rematch “another solid win.”

“The Barons really put together two strong back-to-back performances versus San Ysidro,” the BVHS bench boss said. “We had a few players missing, so it was great to see some of the other players step up. Our team chemistry seems to be really starting to click. We’ve definitely been taking more shots and getting more shots on goal. Our passing is clicking, too. I just love their unselfish play.”

Hunter and Belyk, who combined for four goals and four assists in the 14-0 triumph, were not available for the rematch.

Anderson revved up his motor a bit by amassing 10 points in the rematch on six goals and four assists. Diego Nunes contributed a hat trick while Alvaro Ruiz collected four points on one goal and three assists. Brady Murphy and Keala Nunes both contributed one goal and two assists to the winning effort while Noah Burke had a goal and assist. Renata Herbst dished up two assists.

The Barons rolled up a 5-0 edge to start the game, though the Cougars kept the game scoreless for the first 5:50 of the first period.

San Ysidro made a dent in the score when junior Grant Faucher scored on an odd-man rush, assisted by Vargas.

Bonita Vista closed out the game with 10 unanswered goals.

The Barons’ 9-1 win over Eastlake on Monday was another eye-opener as the Titans appear to have emerged as Bonita Vista’s top challenger for district supremacy.

Anderson collected eight points on five goals and three assists while Belyk notched three goals and one assists as Bonita Vista piled up a decisive 46-9 shot advantage.

“That team has some talented players and it was a great that our defense held them to just nine shots,” Quigley said.

Bonita Vista and Eastlake rematched on Wednesday with the Barons posting a 7-1 victory to remain undefeated on the season at 9-0.

Anderson once again led the scoring parade with four goals and two assists while Diego Nunes contributed one goal and two assists.

Bonita Vista held a 43-5 shot advantage.

The Titans, who defeated Castle Park by a 16-1 score on Jan. 20 and San Ysidro by a 12-0 score on Tuesday, saw their record dip to 5-4 on the season following the second loss to the Barons.

SWEETWATER DISTRICT STANDINGS
(Through Jan. 26)
Bonita Vista Barons 9-0
San Ysidro Cougars 7-3
Otay Ranch Mustangs 5-3
Eastlake Titans 5-4
Mar Vista Mariners 0-3*
Castle Park Trojans 0-5*
Hilltop Lancers 0-8
*score of Jan. 26 not reported

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