A SURPRISE FROM VALENCIA'S HOOD FORMER FORWARD FLOURISHING ON DEFENSE.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer Patrick Hood is just full of surprises. A 5-foot-8, 155-pound Valencia Vipers Hood defenseman, Hood is among the Junior-B Western States Hockey League's smallest players. Don't tell that to Vipers opponents who have been on the receiving ends of his crushing checks. Hood may not look like an ``enforcer,'' but he takes great pride in playing one. ``They see me coming, and they're like, 'He's not that big, he's not going to hit me hard,''' Hood, 18, said with a sheepish sheep·ish adj. 1. Embarrassed, as by consciousness of a fault: a sheepish grin. 2. Meek or stupid. sheep smile. ``But I just carry my momentum into them, and I hit them with speed. ``Knocking around bigger guys isn't a bad gig.'' His propensity for delivering hard hits, as well as bringing a scoring dimension to his position - he has scored five goals and seven assists and is tied for third on the team with 12 points - has made him one of the league's most talked-about players. His exciting play figured in his selection to the three-day 10-team Junior-B All-Star National Showcase Tournament, which begins today in Buffalo, N.Y. ``I wasn't really expecting it, but I saw myself on the ballot and I was like, `What do you know,''' Hood said. ``Then I got picked and I was like, `Cool, right on.''' Hood's all-star selection is surprising, considering he's a converted forward. ``I expected him to do well, but not to be one of the leading goalscorers for defensemen in the league,'' Vipers coach Andrew Murtagh said. ``You wouldn't think a defenseman who's a converted forward would be doing so well.'' His playing style has sparked Valencia (6-8), which is locked in a tight race for third place with San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. (9-7) and rival Bay City of Lakewood (6-9). ``He's always getting his nose dirty,'' Vipers forward Justin Dyke said. Dyke, a Canyon Country resident, was an all-star selection as well, but won't go to Buffalo because he has a broken collarbone col·lar·bone n. See clavicle. . Hood also has brought the Vipers a winning attitude. He was a starting center for the Bakersfield Dragons youth-level Pee Wee Pee Wee, Pee-wee or peewee may refer to:
Former city and sultanate, Java. It was located at the western end of Java between the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean. In the early 16th century it became a powerful Muslim sultanate, which extended its control over parts of Sumatra and Borneo. (13- and 14-year-olds) Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Amateur Hockey Association state championship teams. Hood, who commutes to Valencia from his home in Bakersfield, hopes to parlay An open programming interface (API) to a service provider's network (the network operator), developed by the Parlay Group (www.parlay.org). By enabling the customer's application to talk directly to the network, it allows the end user to have greater access to network information as well his experience with the Vipers into a stint with a Junior-A team and eventually a college scholarship. He's sure to get a look from collegiate and amateur scouts at this weekend's tournament. ``I think he can (play college hockey College hockey most often refers to the American hockey competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. There are 3 national divisions, I, II and III, each having many conferences, and supporting both men's and women's teams. ),'' Murtagh said. ``He's got to get a little bigger and gain some strength and size, but he's got the vision and the potential. ``He's surprised everybody thus far, and he really works hard. He's just so tenacious te·na·cious adj. 1. Clinging to another object or surface; adhesive. 2. Holding together firmly; cohesive. tenacious viscid; adhesive. , and that is rare.'' Gideon Rubin (818)713-3607 gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Patrick Hood will participate in the Junior-B All-Star National Showcase Tournament. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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