History is made with two Lake Tahoe Grizzlies teams taking state titles

Two South Lake Tahoe hockey teams went to San Jose to compete in the 2017 California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) State Championships, and both came home with a division title.

The Lake Tahoe Grizzlies Pee Wee A and Bantam B hockey teams won their respective divisions during the tournament at Sharks Ice March 31 to April 2.

This is the first time in CAHA history where two teams from one hockey club took home the gold in the same year.

“These kids worked their tails off all year long and it really paid off for them," said Mike Gunderson, Head Coach of the Grizzlies Pee Wee A Team. "It’s easy to lose focus over such a long season, especially with the ski season we just had, but they never lost sight of their goals. You’d be hard pressed to find a more diverse group of personalities anywhere but they bonded and pulled it together when it mattered most. I am super proud of each one of them and their families should be too”.

“These young men and women deserved this after leading the regular season standings in the Northern California," said Pee Wee Assistant Coach, Shane Romsos, "I can’t wait to raise the banner at our home rink!”

The Pee Wees regular season standings were 10 wins, 2 losses and 3 ties.

The Bantam Team also dominated the regular season with a record of 11-2-1. they went undefeated at the state tournament.

"Our bantam team played as a team, everyone contributed, and that makes a huge difference in this sport, especially considering that nearly half of our players commuted from Mammoth and Bishop, CA to participate this season,” said Bantam Head Coach Ken Wood.

Assistant Coach, Gary Gramprie noted the team’s statistics as a reason for success. "Oour team’s power play broke other team’s backs, scoring about 80% of the time during the regular season, and 100% in the state championships,” said Gramprie. He also recognized that the team only had 11 players this season, and each one contributed in many ways.

“The success of both teams will further help to put Lake Tahoe on the hockey map!" said South Tahoe Ice Arena Operator, Van Oleson. "Hockey is a great sport and we’d like to see more Tahoe kids get involved.”

Pee Wee A is a division of youth hockey that is open to boys and girls aged 11 and 12. Bantams are for ages 13 and 14.

In the Lake Tahoe Grizzlies Pee Wee A Team Photo: (L-R) First row kneeling and sitting – Drew Gunderson, Will Posey, Tadi Wright, Charlotte Sonntag, Blaise Broadhurst, and Brennan Monroe. (L-R) Top row - Head Coach Mike Gunderson, David Salcido, Assistant Coach Jeff Posey, Carson Oleson, Hayden Cannon, Health Fellows, Assistant Coach Dave Monroe, Jacob Pratt, Patrick Webster, Assistant Coach Jake Pratt, Lauren Romsos, and Assistant Coach Shane Romsos.

In the Lake Tahoe Grizzlies Bantam B Team Photo: (L-R) Front row - Goalies Tammer Bohatch and Devon Cole. Second row - Andrey Shemyakin, Adin Burns, Quinn Proctor. Third Row - Head Coach Ken Wood, Diego Honda, Pablo Honda, Noah Sorrenson, Petey Sullivan, Nate Cimino, Mason Croskery, Wallace Sonntag, Ty Gunderson, Assistant Coach Gary Gramprie.