Keller ISD has their very own competitive hockey team, something that many people are unaware of. The hockey team is district-wide, consisting of players from each high school.
They compete against other districts in the metroplex at various Dr. Pepper StarCenters and the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills. Most of the players hope to advance as far as the National Hockey League, and this high school sports congregation is a great step in the right direction.
Keller has three different teams: Junior Varsity, Varsity Bronze and Varsity Gold. JV has a few eighth graders, but most players are high schoolers of all four grades.
Last year, their top varsity team won the championships. This year, both Varsity Bronze and Varsity Gold are in the playoffs, competing to once again claim their glory.
The Keller ISD hockey team plays 18 games during the regular season and then, if they advance, they compete in the playoffs to win their equivalent of the Stanley Cup. The playoffs for this season are just now beginning.
Varsity Gold has one practice per week that lasts an hour and a half, while JV and Varsity Bronze practice twice a week for an hour at NYTEX Sports Centre, working hard to ensure they perform well throughout the season.
“Hockey is important to me because it’s the game I’ve been playing and loving since I was four years old,” said Varsity Bronze player Corbin Yanez.
Varsity Gold will be playing on March 20, at the Frisco Dr. Pepper Arena at 8:15 p.m. Varsity Bronze will be playing on March 22 at the Euless Green Rink at 8:45 p.m.
Varsity Gold players from Timber Creek
Austin Orth
Tristan Bonifay
Varsity Bronze players from Timber Creek
Josh Pafford
Corbin Yanez
Eric Hohler
Matthew Floyd
UPDATE :
On Monday, March 20, the Keller Varsity Gold Team advanced to the semi-finals with a hard fought victory over the squad from Allen-VG 5-2 at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. On Tuesday night however, Keller VG lost the semi-final matchup against the top-seeded team from Frisco, 4-1.
The Keller Varsity Bronze Team earned a first-round playoff bye due to the success of their regular season record. On Wednesday, March 22, Keller VB would face the Richardson/Rockwall VB Team in the semi-final round at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Euless. After holding a 5-2 lead at the start of the final period of play, Keller VB was eliminated from the playoffs with by defeat by the Richardson/Rockwall VB Team in Overtime. The final score was 7-6.
AT&T High School Hockey League:
http://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/
Playoff scores & stats:
http://starcenter.hockeyshift.com/stats/standings/31#/31/schedule?season_id=691