Ospreys and Surfers Surge Ahead in Return to League Play

Following the three-week break for NARCh Summer Nationals, players and teams were excited to get games back in action. Despite the uniform excitement for the return of Saturday evening games, the time off affected teams differently. Some teams came out strong and structured, while others had difficulty getting in sync. 

There is growing separation in the standings following week four of game play. Time will tell if teams at the top will continue building winning momentum or if teams at the bottom will be motivated by desperation to pull themselves back into the mix. 

Week Four Recap

Mission Bay Ospreys vs. Del Mar Bandits 

The Mission Bay Ospreys came out fast and structured against the Del Mar Bandits. The Ospreys’ Jason Effertz scored the opening two goals of the game and displayed top-notch chemistry with teammates Andrew Day (three points–1G; 2A) and Noe Santos (two points–2A). The Ospreys also received points from Joe Kubani (1 point–1A) and Nathan Roberts, who scored back-to-back goals in the middle of the game to remind us of his lethal shot. And of course the team was backstopped by goalie Wyatt Beaupre, whose vocal play and lateral movement supported team defense and shut down any semblance of a Bandits scoring opportunity.  

The Bandits, who were missing some key players in their lineup, had a hard time gaining clean entry into the offensive zone and an even harder time generating high-quality scoring opportunities. Passing was off, which halted momentum, led to turnovers, and created frustration. Once they were down, the Bandits overrelied on individual play that was unable to crack the Ospreys’ team defense. 

Despite the Bandits’ struggles, the Ospreys put together a strong performance that earned them a well-deserved win. They applied their signature pressure to take away time and space from the opposing team, and their sound defensive structure kept virtually all Bandits’ offensive zone time to the outside.  

With 29 saves and the first recorded shutout in San Diego Elite Draft League history, Wyatt Beaupre was recognized as player of the game.   

Final Score
Mission Bay Ospreys: 5
Del Mar Bandits: 0

North County Surfers vs. Temecula Vineyard Vipers
The game between the North County Surfers and Temecula Vineyard Vipers felt more even than the first game on August 3. Comparable number of shots. Both goalies came up with big saves in key moments. Neither team pressed too hard on the forecheck, holding odd-man rushes to a minimum. While the Surfers’ passing was cleaner than Vipers’, the big difference in their performance came from the respective emotional energy levels.

The Surfers’ more vocal bench helped build team chemistry and sustain an enthusiastic playing style. Conversely, the Vipers’ quieter approach seemed to have the opposite effect, subduing the team into less team-oriented play and an overreliance on individual performance. Given the Vipers’ array of talented scorers, they need to find an emotional lever to help them all row in the same direction. 

The first goal of the game, which turned out to be the game-winning goal in this closely contested matchup, came from a crowd-pleasing, Kinsey-brother connection. Ray Kinsey used his speed to gain entry into the offensive zone and control the puck behind the Vipers’ net before passing to  brother Reed Kinsey, who snuck into a soft spot in the low left circle and managed to score five-hole on Vipers’ goalie, Zach Cummings. The second goal of the game was a grindy one scored by Anthony Dykes, who potted a rebound goal in from the goal line after a shot barely squeaked through Cummings’ initial save. Reed Kinsey scored an open-net goal in the final minute of the game to put this one on ice.  

With two goals, Reed Kinsey was recognized as player of the game. 

Final Score
North County Surfers: 3
Temecula Vineyard Vipers: 0

Looking Ahead: Keys to the Game

These are the key components to giving each respective team an advantage, as analyzed by the San Diego Elite Draft League back office.

Mission Bay Ospreys: Outwork and out-structure teams with speed and disciplined defense. 

North County Surfers: Build momentum from strong defensive play and stay out of the penalty box.  

Del Mar Bandits: Be patient with neutral-zone possession to avoid frustration, attack with numbers, and generate high-quality scoring chances.

Temecula Vineyard Vipers: Find the emotional spark to get players thinking and playing as a team.