EXPRESS OUTSHOOTS FOE, LOSES AGAIN.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - For a second consecutive week, the Valencia Express Midget A (17-and-under) team lost a game it should have won.

In Sunday's 2-1 loss to the La Jolla Jaguars, the Express - a team that features the nucleus of last season's Antelope Valley Northerners High School Hockey League squad - outshot its opponent 38-16. The previous week, Valencia (7-2-2 in Southern California Amateur Hockey Association play) outshot the Beach City Lightning of Lakewood 39-9 in a 5-2 loss that ended its streak of consecutive games without a loss at nine.

Shane Barrett scored the Express' only goal in the La Jolla game.

``Let's just say I don't know how to explain it,'' Express coach Dennis Gilbert said, ``but I'm glad it's happening now and not at the end of the season because I'm sure they'll get it back. We have a bunch of guys who know how to score goals, they just have to get back to doing that.''

Despite the recent setbacks, Valencia is in a three-way tie for first place in the SCAHA standings, tied with the South Coast Sabers of Anaheim (8-3-0) and the Anaheim Junior Ducks (7-2-2) with 16 points. The Express needs a top-10 finish in the 18-team SCAHA to make the playoffs. They're currently among six teams separated by two points, 10 teams separated by five points, and 13 teams separated by six points.

The Express resumes SCAHA play on the road against the Harbor City Red Wings of Torrance on Sunday at noon.

--Huge upset: After blowing a 2-0 lead in an eventual 4-2 loss to the Ventura Mariners on Sunday, the Valencia/Sylmar-based Vipers Midget (16-and-under) team pulled off a huge upset later in the day, beating the previously unbeaten Long Beach Ice Dogs 4-3. Brian Voogt scored the game-winner for the Vipers (5-7-1) late in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie.

Kyle Williamson had one goal and one assist for the Vipers, Seth Newton and Joseph Logudice each scored one goal, and goalie Neil Sweetapple had 19 saves.

``It was a big win for them because it keeps them in contention for the playoffs,'' Ice Station Valencia director of hockey operations Larry Bruyere said.

--Pee Wee update: After a bye week, the Pee Wee AA Vipers (11- and 12-year-olds) resume California Amateur Hockey Association play Sunday on the road against the Ontario Stars.

The Vipers (25-2-2, 13-0-1), CAHA's top-ranked team, are close to clinching a Southern Section title. They'll play for the state title in late February in the CAHA playoffs, which likely will feature three or four teams from the South and one or two teams from the North, depending on the outcome of a Bowl Championship Series-type ratings system.

--Remember the Flyers? Ice Station management is weighing the possibility of resurrecting its Junior B Valencia Flyers team next season, Bruyere said.

The Flyers played in the Western States Hockey League for two seasons before the program was canceled last spring because of financial considerations.

Those considerations, as well as the viability of the Western States Hockey League - the Las Vegas team folded midway through this season - are among the biggest concerns Ice Station management has about fielding a WSHL team next season.

``There seems to be a groundswell of interest, so I think there's a chance, but it's going to be a financial question,'' Bruyere said.

--High School Hockey: The Ice Station's High School Hockey League will have its first coaches' meeting Monday.

The league is adding a ninth team, from Bakersfield.

League play begins in early March, and practices start in early February.

Information: the Ice Station at 661-775-8686, Ext. 204 or 230.

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com