It’s More Than A Name

San Diego… a place with stunning beaches, unreal sunsets, killer weather, and the bold buffoonery that comes from living in the nation’s least affordable city yet never wanting to leave. 

Add to that a roller hockey scene that’s got grit, grime, and gumption, and you just might have the best place in the world. 

A place where you could be wheelin' while the ocean breeze keeps things nice and refreshing in the beach-town vibes of Oceanside, deking steel posts and boardshort-wearin’ beauties on tennis courts in Mission Bay, showing off dirty dangles and silky mitts for the family-friendly scene in Temecula, or even getting dusty and sniping holes in goal netting at the one-and-only Escondido rinks–a place where you can try hard always, sometimes, or never and still have an awesome time. 

The names of the San Diego Elite Draft League teams aim to reflect the area’s iconic nature and inviting hockey culture.

Introducing The Team Names

North County Surfers

From the iconic Trestles to the bluffs at Blacks, San Diego county has no shortage of stellar surf spots. Favorites amongst players of the San Diego Elite Draft League include Beacons and Grandview in Encinitas, off 8th Street in Del Mar, and the many breaks along San Onofre. And of course, just a short drive from Carlsbad State Beach is the lowkey outdoor rink at MLK Park in Oceanside, which became the go-to spot for many during the Covid lockdown.

“The beauty of San Diego is you get everything you like within an hour or so, whether it’s the desert, the mountains, the beach, or even playing hockey. Having these opportunities is what makes life special. It’s always a great time here in SD.”

– Noe Santos, San Diego Elite Draft League Team Manager

Mission Bay Ospreys

Some of the boys play casual 3v3 scrimmages at a couple of the Mission Bay tennis courts. No shinnes, no helmets, and sauce kits for goals. The tennis courts make for a crappy surface, a great time, and the perfect spot for a large bird nest. Atop the court’s exterior lighting is a formidable nest built by the resident osprey. It’s always a win when the boys get to see the majestic sea hawk fly in from the bay with a fish to feed the family.

“Skating at the tennis courts brings back memories of playing at local parks with friends when I was younger. I think it keeps us young and we always get a good group of guys. And it’s special sharing the space with the Osprey. We’ve been playing at these tennis courts for over five years and the nest has survived through heavy storms, and we’ve seen multiple baby ospreys over the years!”

– Keith Gurr, San Diego Elite Draft League Player

Temecula Vineyard Vipers

Temecula has some of the best vineyards in the state, and everyone loves a good alliteration, so Vineyard Vipers came as a natural fit to represent this Riverside County lot. While not technically in San Diego, the Temecula crew bring a great energy to the local roller scene, and the Temecula Valley Inline Hockey Association (TVIHA) has some of the best youth hockey programs around. 

“TVIHA creates a great community vibe. The program has players from six to 70 years old, and it offers a wide variety of skills with many different divisions that you can play in. We welcome all and have clinics and used-gear options to provide a great entry point for anyone interested in playing. We’re out there to support each other, so it’s a really good environment for parents and kids alike.”  

– Tony Giluso, Player & Proud Father at TVIHA

Del Mar Bandits 

The name ‘Bandits’ was inspired by the local San Diego tournament team, Mafia. Led by Anthony Dykes, Mafia’s core group has been making memories together on and off the rink for decades. They’re a staple group at Escondido’s Kit Carson Park, and they remind us of playing hockey in a simpler time, when you kept things close to the chest while competing on the rink and shared beers generously in the lot afterwards. Nothing soft. Nothing pretty. Total beauties.

“The core identity of Mafia is a play on words from ‘mi familia’ because of how tight-knit we are as a group. We’ve been Mafia for 15 years, but we’ve been family for pretty much our whole lives going back to circa ‘93 when a lot of us were playing at Tri City together. It’s awesome to still be playing competitively with this group, but even more so, it’s great to be able to spend time consistently with these guys that I’ve known basically my whole life. That’s what Mafia is all about.” 

– Anthony Dykes, San Diego Elite Draft League Player