Sharing the gold

LAS VEGAS, Nevada—Andy Oda picked up the tournament MVP to lead the Ho`okahi

Ikaika to their first Gold Medal in the 18-and-Under Junior Division at the

National Tohrs Tournament held in Las Vegas from July 7-11.

Sharing

accolades with Oda, co-caption Koree Nadai-Willet of Mililani, O`ahu earned

“Best Defenseman” honors while Goalie of the Game awards was shared by the

team’s Christian Aki and Kilo Akama.

The Gold Medal victory came after

almost eight years of participating in national roller hockey

tournaments.

Team members from Kaua`i, Mililani, and Maui combined their

talents to represent Hawai`i, preparing by training for a week on Kaua`i at the

residence of coach Todd Mayer.

The rigorous training regime included 5 a.m.

runs on the back roads followed by lap swims at the beaches with the afternoons

being occupied with honing skills in skating, stick handling, timing, and

communication on the rink.

Entering the Las Vegas arena, Ho`okahi Ikaika

took the first win 4-2 against the Texas Hot Wheels only to suffer defeat 2-7

at the hands of the Southern California Vipers.

Regrouping on a 7-3 win

over the Chicago Screams and bolstered by a 6-0 win over the Sacramento Surge

put Ho`okahi Ikaika in the semi finals against the Hot Wheels with the final

score coming in overtime for the 6-5 win setting the stage for a rematch

against the Vipers.

With the clock ticking at the midnight hour, the

Ho`okahi Ikaika prevailed with a 5-3 win for the gold.

Team members include

Kauaians Andy Oda, Jonathan Anderson, Derek Laguatan, Christian Aki, and Kilo

Akama. O`ahu members include Koree Nadai Willet, John Chun, Kimo Chun, and

Adam Burke with Tevia Arlidge and Ian Roodt filling the ranks from

Maui.

Team coaches include Kaua`i’s Todd Mayer and Mililani’s Kimo

Willet.

Members unable to make the trip include Kyle Chun, Mathew Fujikawa,

Jason Wada, David Laguatan, Justin Muraoka, Kevin Fujimoto, and Mika

Scalon-Given.

Ho`okahi Ikaika was formed two years ago when coach Willet

had an idea that his Mililani team combined with coach Mayer’s team would form

the perfect Hawai`i team.

With team moms Tugor Nadai Willet and Crystal

Fujikawa coordinating the details of forming the team and taking care of travel

logistics, the team came together, and following a win at the 1999 state

tournament, Ho`okahi Ikaika traveled to Chicago to capture the silver medal and

sportsmanship awared at the 1999 USA National Tournament.

This was the

second silver medal to be won by a Hawai`i team, the Kaua`i Bulldogs capturing

the medal three years prior in the PeeWee division.

Ho`okahi Ikaika

members in Las Vegas. Tevia Arlidge, John Chun, Derek Laguatan, Jonathan

Anderson, Andy Oda, Kimo Chun; Coach Kimo Willet, Koree Nadai-Willet, Christian

Aki, Adam Burke, Kilo Akama, Ian Roodt, Coach Todd Mayer.