More than 350 elementary- and middle-schoolers in the Fullerton School District strapped on their shin guards and went head-to-head in a daylong street hockey tournament Saturday that ended with the awarding of two hefty trophies to winning teams.
The event at Richman Elementary was the first time since the district began organizing the tournament about six years ago that teams from all 20 schools participated. In total, 23 teams battled it out on the pavement — fourth- and fifth-graders against each other, and seventh-graders and eighth-graders in another division.
Acacia Elementary school’s goalie, Nehemiah Kissling goes for the block against Commonwealth during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Commonwealth’s Jazmine Flores Garcia, left, during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Commonwealth’s, Abram Rodriguez, far left, battles with Acacia Elementary during the elementary and junior high hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Elementary and junior high school hockey teams in the Fullerton School District played in a hockey tournament at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Commonwealth’s Christian Hipolito, foreground, battles with Acacia elementary during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Elementary and junior high school hockey teams in the Fullerton School District played in a hockey tournament at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Annie Higgins, left, is hugged by Deanna Klasey during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Acacia’s Henry Michael, far left, and Mazzy Hall, battle with Commonwealth’s Peter Belenyesi during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
The Anaheim Duck;s DJ, “Sammy” plays popular tunes during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Cami Walker, and Aiden Adams cheer on their team with signs during the during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Acacia Elementary scores against Commonwealth during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Commonwealth’s Peter Belenyesi, foreground, cheers on his team after scoring against Acacia during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Commonwealth’s, Abram Rodriguez, battles Olivia Vo during the elementary and junior high school hockey tournament held at Richman Elementary School in Fullerton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
(Photo by Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer)
Equipment for the students was provided by the Anaheim Ducks, through its SCORE program. A tournament for fourth graders from the participating schools takes place annually at the Honda Center.
The district-wide tournament organized in Fullerton “is emulated from the big event that they have at the Honda Center,” said Alison Garcia, a consultant for the school district who helped coordinate the competition.
The tournament has become more popular since district officials first launched it in 2016, when only 12 teams from a few schools with students interested in street hockey participated, said Sung Chi, director of educational services with the Fullerton School District.
After a pandemic-hiatus, the goal in bringing back the event was to give kids “many more opportunities and experiences, and really bring back a lot of the fun in schools,” Chi said.
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