DATE: Friday, September 12, 1997            TAG: 9709110229

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 19   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

SHARKS' 15- TO 16-YEAR-OLDS ROLL HOME WITH NATIONAL TITLE

The Virginia Beach Sharks 15- to 16-year-old select roller hockey team recently won an age-group national title at the U.S. National Roller Hockey Championships in Des Moines, Ia.

Sponsored by Kimnach Ford and skating out of the Haygood Roller Rink, the Sharks had to fight back after losing the opening two games of round robin play.

The Sharks had to win the state title and the Southeast Region title to advance to the 13-team field.

Five of the six regional champions advanced to the six-team single-elimination championship round, with the Sharks just squeaking in as the third seed from their bracket, tied for the worst record out of the six qualifiers at 3-2-1.

But from there it was three wins in a row, starting with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa, Fl., U.S. Stars in the medal round elimination game. Whitley Whaley had a pair of goals and two assists to lead the effort, while Matt Kelly, Larry Woods and Robert Richardson each had goals. Curtis Hill had the victory in goal, stopping 10 shots.

In the semifinals, the Sharks scored a 2-0 victory over the Duncanville, Tx., Final Fury on goals by Woods and Daniel Toscano. Derek Bishop was in goal this game, stopping 11 shots.

The Sharks dominated play in the title game, recording 21 shots on goal to only six by the East Stroudsburg, Pa., Big Wheel Flames in a 3-1 gold medal win.

Hill rejected five quality shots to help secure the win, while goals were scored by Rick Klobuchar, Woods and Whaley.

Jason Graham was the other team member, while Charlie Hill was the head coach. His assistants were James O'Neill and Rick Klobuchar Sr.

The Sharks other age-group teams also advanced to the nationals after winning their respective regional titles.

The 13-14 freshmen finished seventh in their field; while the 11-12 midgets were ninth. ILLUSTRATION: The Virginia Beach Sharks roller hockey team, front

row, from left: Derek Bishop and Curtis Hill; back row, from left,

assistant coach James O'Neill, Matt Kelly, Daniel Roseano, Robert

Richardson, Rich Klobuchar, Larry Woods, Jason Graham, Whitley

Whaley, assistant coach Rick Klobuchar and coach Charlie Hill.

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