Oakland Bears News - NORCAL’s Division Shuffle: Preseason Recap

Alright, hockey parents, bring it in! The preseason is behind us, and we’re strapping on our skates for the long haul—the regular season. NORCAL’s been busy behind the scenes and here’s what went down.

Be sure to read to the end for a recap of a crazy East Bay Bears win.

So here’s the deal: Clubs declare their division level—AA, A, BB, or B—when they submit their early team rosters. NORCAL dives into the stats and watches every preseason game. They've seen it all - the good, the bad, and the "maybe we should've practiced more." If a team outperforms, they may get bumped up a level. If they under-perform, the opposite happens. Teams are moved around to keep games competitive (and stop the 15-0 blowouts that make everyone miserable).

12AA - Relegation Drama

Now, rewind to last month’s newsletter. Remember, Tier teams (AA/AAA) play under the CAHA umbrella and compete state-wide except at the 12U level. 12AA operates under NORCAL’s jurisdiction this year and won’t face off against Southern California teams during the regular season outside of tournaments. So, eligibility rules got a gentle nudge. Local clubs seized the opportunity, declaring new 12AA teams. And let’s be real—this whole hockey business is also a numbers game. Ice time ain’t cheap, and clubs are in a friendly brawl for players.

But back to the main event: NORCAL watched the preseason showdowns, and guess what? Four out of the nine 12AA clubs got the relegation memo and were demoted to 12A.

• GSE 12AA-2

• Tri Valley Bulls 12AA-1

• San Mateo Black Stars 12AA

• Santa Clara Blackhawks 12AA

Still standing in the 12AA spotlight:

• GSE 12AA-1

• Oakland Bears 12AA (way to hold your ground, Bears!)

• San Jose Jr Sharks 12AA-1, 2, AND 3 (save some ice for the rest of us, Sharks!)

Is everyone happy? Nope. Is it for the best? Probably. Better to have nail-biters than games where we're staring at our phones by the second period.

14U - A Novel Playoff format

On the 14U front, the skill disparity within the B division was glaring. Recognizing this NORCAL stepped in and sanctioned a 14BB division. So what’s the big deal? Well, it doesn’t officially exist within CAHA or anywhere else in the country. It’s a NORCAL thing—a unique solution to level the playing field and keep games competitive.

The playoff format is where it gets interesting:

• The top three 14BB teams and the best 14B team duke it out for the division title.

• Winners advance to State playoffs

• 14BB teams traveling for tournaments are eligible to compete at the 14B level. (What happens in NORCAL stays in NORCAL?)

16AA - The Showdown

We've got drama brewing between Bears 16AA and GSE 16AA. They're doing a best-of-three series over a month for that sweet Tier 2 spot. Loser becomes a tournament team. No pressure, kids!

And now, let’s get into the updates! 🏒🥅

I’ll see you at the rink!

5 Skaters, 1 Goalie: East Bay Bears’ Heroic Victory

High school hockey is heating up, and last Sunday delivered a jaw-dropper: The East Bay Bears faced off against the Sonoma County Flyers in a varsity showdown, and the final score? A decisive 3-0 victory for the Bears. But here’s the thing: The Bears did it with just 5 skaters and a goalie—no line changes, no substitutions. These kids were out there for the entire game. Talk about stamina!

Austin Anderson, rocking jersey #16, fired up the Bears with a goal late in the first period. Then, in the nail-biting third period, Nate Eidt (#2) sealed the deal with not one, but two tallies. But let’s give credit where it’s due: Goalie Andreas Sotos (#32) stood tall, stopping 26 shots and shutting out the Flyers.

So, kids, don’t skip your dryland workouts or gym sessions. Conditioning matters! 🏒💪

Summer 2024 - Adult League Champions

Let's hear it for our OIC Beer Adult League heroes! These weekend and late night warriors battled through the Summer Season and somehow came out on top! They conquered 10:45 PM game times, benches shorter than the lifespan of a Netflix series, mysterious "kids home from college" ringers, and the ever-popular "goalie work trip" excuse. But hey, they showed up, played their hearts out, and only occasionally needed oxygen between shifts. Congrats to our champions - may your beer always be cold and your knees hold up for another season! 🏒🍺