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Hockey
James Barron | The New Mexican
3/3/2009 - 3/4/09
On paper, everything went wrong for the Santa Fe Blue Jackets club hockey team.
What mattered, though, was what the scoreboard read in Blades Multiplex Arena in Rio Rancho.
Despite having to play four games in one day with just nine players — and despite collecting the most penalty minutes in the championship game — the Blue Jackets won the New Mexico Interscholastic Ice Hockey League title Sunday.
It is the third straight state crown the composite team of players from local high schools has won and the first while playing "pure" high school teams, whose players come from one school.
Blue Jackets head coach Paul DeVincentis said it might have been the hardest title the team has earned.
"It was one of those things where if there was a will, there was a way," DeVincentis said.
Willpower definitely had a say in it. The second-seeded Blue Jackets entered the double-elimination tournament with only 10 players, then lost defenseman Mike Specht to a fractured collarbone after beating Albuquerque Cibola on Saturday.
In a Sunday morning matchup against No. 1 and undefeated Los Alamos, Santa Fe lost 3-2 and had to go through the loser's bracket. A 2-1 win over Taos forced an afternoon rematch with Los Alamos.
The Blue Jackets won 4-1 to force a deciding game. Despite having played three games already, DeVincentis saw a relaxed and ready group.
"I've played hockey before, but I'm not sure of four in one day," DeVincentis said. "But they (Los Alamos) had everything to lose."
Santa Fe jumped out to a 1-0 lead 15 seconds into the finale and went on to a 5-2 win despite committing more penalties than Los Alamos.
Then came the accolades.
Robby Medieros' six goals and four assists earned him the tournament MVP. Peter Bessone took the league MVP honor and was the top goal scorer.
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