Santa Margarita Hockey National Champs Celebrate

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Even as the Ducks seek a spot in the playoffs, Santa Margarita Catholic High School won the USA Hockey Division 1 National Championship on Monday, in an overtime victory, 3-2, over Regis Jesuit High School of Colorado.

With two seconds remaining in the third period, junior Joey Felicicchia scored to tie the game off a pass from freshman forward Brendan Williams and junior Jerrett Overland. Senior Leevi Selanne, son of Ducks legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne, then scored the game winning goal in overtime with assists from Williams and sophomore Ryan Johnson.

“I didn’t know whether to celebrate, scream or cry,” said Selanne. “It was an awesome moment for sure. I felt like it was my time. I owed the team and had to step up. They needed me. This was our chance to win a national championship and I was going to get that puck in the net. … Father (Mark Cruz) told us to play with your heart and that’s what we did.”

The Eagles went undefeated during the regular season with a 16-0 record in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League winning the ADHSHL Division 1 title as well as the California state championship before moving on to the 2018 Chipotle-USA Hockey Division 1 High School National Championships in Plymouth, Minn. The championship victory caps off a perfect 30-0 record.

This is not the Eagles first time winning the national title. Santa Margarita won the national gold medal in 2013, took silver in both 2015 and 2017, and in 2011 earned bronze. This was the third meeting in the national championship finals between Regis and Santa Margarita with Santa Margarita winning in 2013 and 2018 and Regis in 2015.

Santa Margarita’s program, in its ninth year, is California’s first and only USA Hockey national varsity champion.

The team is under the leadership of NHL veteran and former U.S. Olympian Craig Johnson who spent the majority of his career playing for the Los Angeles Kings but also played for the Ducks in 2003. Johnson has led the team from its inception in 2009 helping to grow the program while establishing a winning culture and developing players’ skills and confidence. The program began with just eight players on a single team and has since grown to include 36 players with two varsity teams, Division 1 and Division 3, with senior players mentoring underclassmen.

Johnson said the camaraderie of the team has been exceptional both on and off the ice.

“I am so proud of our entire team and what they accomplished this season,” he said. “They fought hard to the very last second. All of them will forever remember this incredible win and the great lesson to never give up no matter what the circumstance.”

The team credits their coaches, the support they have for one another and the backing of the entire Santa Margarita community for their triumphant season.

The Eagles young ADHSHL Division 1 roster includes forwards senior Brian Armijo, junior Joseph Felicicchia, sophomore Maxwell Sullivan, sophomore Taylor Loh, freshman Brendan Williams, junior Will Howhannesian, senior Logan Orsini, junior Nicholas Gluck, freshman Marcus Kim, sophomore Daniel Doss, senior Dylan Hernandez-Ramirez, senior Leevi Selanne, sophomore John Mulvihill II, freshman Aidan Casey, senior Nicolas Mauthe and freshman Tyler Badame; defensemen junior Jerrett Overland, junior Brian Mathis, senior Jacob Makowecki, senior Ryan Parkinson, senior Kevin Peck, junior Michael Allee, junior Hunter Voyles and sophomore Ryan Johnson; and goalies freshman Brandon Yamasaki, senior Fred Taylor III, sophomore Jacob Rossi and sophomore Megan Warren. Kaelin Groon, Jesse Orsini and Kevin Skule serve as assistant coaches to Johnson.

At the national tournament, the Eagles presented a jersey to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s ice hockey team with the words “Eagle Strong,” the eagle head logos from both schools and the number 17 in honor of the 17 lives lost in the horrific Feb. 14 shooting at the Parkland, Fla. high school.

Photos, courtesy Santa Margarita High School