Three OC high schools join Anaheim Ducks’ hockey league

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Five teams and three schools were added this week to the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League for the 2010-11 season.

The league began in 2008 with JSerra Catholic High School (San Juan Capistrano). In 2009, Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Santa Margarita) joined. The three new schools are Servite High School (Anaheim), Damien High School (La Verne) and Lutheran High School of Orange County (Orange).

“The addition of these five teams will help the growth of hockey in Southern California and give young players an opportunity to play at a high level without having to leave home,” said Art Trottier, the league’s director. The league will continue to work toward CIF status.

JSerra and Santa Margarita, which began with varsity programs, will add junior varsity teams, while Servite, Damien and Orange Lutheran will debut in junior varsity.

Current head coaches Dave Karpa (JSerra varsity) and Craig Johnson (Santa Margarita varsity) will be joined by Jason Marshall (Orange Lutheran), Randy Burridge (Servite), Arne Pappin (Damien), Kelly Askew (JSerra junior varsity) and Dennis Hands (Santa Margarita junior varsity). All league games will be played Saturdays at Anaheim Ice.

Marshall, a defenseman in his NHL days, played 12 seasons with St. Louis, Anaheim, Washington, Minnesota and San Jose. Burridge played 13 NHL seasons with Boston, Washington, L.A. and Buffalo. Pappin was a member of the New York Rangers coaching staff for the 1993-94 season when the team won the Stanley Cup. Askew played NCAA Division I hockey before joining the Canadian National Team for the 1995-96 campaign. Hands has spent the last five years in a volunteer coaching capacity within the Jr. Ducks program.

-- Debbie Goffa