From The Star News

By Phillip Brents

Eastlake High School alumnus Aaron Mayer is playing his final semester with San Diego State University’s men’s ice hockey team. As the games start to dwindle before he assumes alumni status with the Aztecs, he admitted his remaining time with the team is obviously becoming special.

“It’s a little nostalgic thinking back to how the team has developed over my five years here,” Mayer acknowledged, “moving the puck more, more speed, everyone contributing,” .

Mayer continues to be a contributor to what could very well be one of the most successful Aztec squads in program history. The team is poised to make history with a 20th win in its final seven regular season games.

Mayer is eligible to play in four of those games before the second semester starts later this month.

SDSU carries a 19-3-1 record into this weekend’s two-game series against the University of Iowa, which is undefeated on the season in 17 games (16 wins and one shootout loss). The teams will meet Friday at the Kroc Center Ice Arena at 8 p.m., then switch venues for a high profile date the following afternoon at Pechanga Arena San Diego in a double-billed game with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.

Saturday’s SDSU-Iowa game faces off at 12:30 p.m. The Gulls will host the Ontario Reign later that evening at 7 p.m.

The Aztecs, who are tied for second most wins among American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II teams, appreciate the spotlight.

“This is one of the best records in school history,” SDSU head coach Phil Bateman said. “This team has the opportunity to win 20 games and no other team in school history has done that. The guys take great pride in that.”

By the numbers

Though he’s been unable to travel with the team due to work commitments, Mayer still ranks as one of the team’s top point-getters with nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 13 games.

His 1.85 point-per-game average ranks second on the team to German import Artem Klein, whose 61 points (16 goals, 45 assists) lead the nation.

It’s elite company.

Bateman has had the privilege of coaching Mayer for more than seven years, starting at the youth level.

“I was fortunate enough to coach Aaron in his minor midget year with the San Diego Jr. Gulls,” Batemand said. “Then again I was his coach for the past four years with the Aztecs program. Over that period Aaron has been a pleasure to coach. Aaron is exceptionally talented, enthusiastic, a student of the game, and a quiet leader for the program. Aaron led the team in scoring this past season after finishing second in 2018, and has thrilled the fans of Aztecs hockey over his four-and-a-half years. Aaron’s calm presence will be deeply missed upon his graduation.”

Mayer, who accumulated 14 goals and 37 points last season, had one of his most productive outings this season by collecting seven points (three goals, four assists) in a three-game weekend series Nov. 1-3 against the University of Washington and UCLA .

Mayer said confidence is rising throughout the roster as the team nears the end of its Pac-8 schedule and next moth’s conference championship tournament in South Lake Tahoe.

“Everyone is moving their feet; everyone trusts each other, playing their position,” the SDSU super senior said. “Especially against the University of Washington, once we started moving our feet, they couldn’t stay with us. If we can continue to do that, not too many teams can hang with us.”

Mayer is joined on this season’s SDSU team by fellow Chula Vistan Daryn Taras, an Otay Ranch High School alumnus.

Taras, who has collected 10 goals and 21 points in 23 games, accompanied the Aztecs on a two-game road swing to Wyoming and Colorado in November. SDSU defeated the University of Wyoming, 5-2, and topped the University of Denver 10-1.

“It was fun, it was definitely cold,” Taras said. “It was nice playing those teams. Denver was more of a challenge but we pulled away. It was difficult to play in Colorado due to the altitude. I didn’t really think it would affect me much but it made a difference. I was huffing and puffing at the end.”

Taras, one of the team’s senior leaders, said the trip allowed the team to better bond in its quest to win this year’s conference title.

“We want to take it all. Last year we came up short,” Taras said. “The guys coming back know that. We want to win the championship.”

Ice chips

The Aztecs host the University of Michigan Jan. 17-18 at the Kroc Center then close out regular season play with a three-game series at Arizona State Jan. 24-26.

Klein, studying abroad for a semester from the University of Mannheim, departed for Germany prior to the Christmas holiday with a lot of pleasant memories.

“It was a great feeling,” Klein said before departing for Europe. “I just tried to give my best every game and help the team win games. We had a great group of guys this year and it definitely feels good to lead the league but I’m more happy about the fact that we have won so many games during the time I was there. Wish I could play the whole season and especially the playoffs!”

Bateman said Klein’s primary contribution to the program was bringing a mature approach to the game.

“He taught so many of the younger players on our roster how to approach the game, and prepare for the game with a certain professionalism, maturity,” the SDSU head coach said. “On the ice he was fantastic. He the nation in points in D2 ACHA at the time of his departure. That clearly will be a hole that others will have to fill.”

Those “others” include Derian Theberge, who takes over as the de facto team scoring leader following Klein’s departure. The Santa Clarita native has recorded 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 23 games. He leads the team with the 22 goals.

Freshmen Ian Stentz (Edina, Minn.), Blake Reed (Aliso Viejo) and Michael Pellegrino (Ladera Ranch) follow Theberge on the scoring ledger. All have made major contributions to the team in just their first season at the ACHA level.

Mayer and Taras, who follow the three freshmen in team scoring, will provide invaluable senior leadership down the team’s sprint to the conference championship tournament.

La Mesan Elisha Reece follows Taras with 10 goals and 21 points in 23 games. He remains a key player on the team following his splash as a freshman last season.

A total of 13 players, including Klein, have recorded double-digit points this season for the Aztecs while 19 players have scored at least one goal.

Brian Milner (eight goals, 19 points), Wesley Varrasso (four goals, 12 points), team captain Reece Breuckman (two goals, 12 points) and Calum McRae (10 assists) all have recorded at least 10 points this season.

Theberge, Reed, Pellegrino, Taras and Sullivan all have notched two game-winning goals. Other game-winners have come off the sticks of Stentz, Reece, Milner, Varrasso and Adrien Wisch.

Backstopping the team between the pipes has been ironman Nick Ilvento, who has played every minute in the net this season to go with a 2.53 goals-against average and .902 save percentage.

(Originally published at https://www.thestarnews.com/sdsu-hockey-career-ticking-down-for-titan-alum-mayer/)