March 21, 2004 in Roseville
(Game 3)	Final
Tri-Valley Blue Devils (0-2-1)	2
California Cougars (1-1-1)	5
March 20, 2004 in Roseville
(Game 2)	Final
California Cougars (0-1-1)	0
SC Blackhawks (0-0-2)	0
March 20, 2004 in Roseville
(Game 1)	Final
Oakland Bears (1-0-0)	3
California Cougars (0-1-0)	2

Cougars Season Ends at NORCAL

March 21
ROSEVILLE, CA -- The Cougars finished the NORCAL Championships with a 1-1-1 record to finish third and did not qualify for the championship game.

Cougars Take Regular Season Finale

March 13
SAN MATEO, CA -- It was Saturday, the 13th day of March, 2004.  The sun rose brightly over the eastbay hills and caused the rink at Bridgepointe to sparkle.  This day would mark the last game of the regular season for the California Cougars.  The 6:20pm drop of the puck was still 12 hours away, but as the staff of the Ice Center in San Mateo was feverishly preparing for the anticipated sell-out crowd.

Today we chronicled the game day preparation of one of the Cougar forwards...  the Mauler, the Masher, the Head Crasher,...  No. 99 - Dustin Thomas.

While no. 99 historically has represented the all time greatest players Wayne Gretzky, today it would be well represented by our own speedy Dustin Thomas.

Let's follow along...

6:20am - We find Dustin still snoozing, dreaming of that evenings contest.  He is skating hard carrying the puck up the right wing, moving left and right into the Sharks zone when CRASH!,... he gets pounded into the glass...

6:21am - wakes up with a headache with his brother tapping him lightly on his head,... "Wake up dear brother.  You must begin your game day preparation."  Dustin: "Leave me alone.  I need my beauty rest."

7:00am (stomach grumbling) - awakens again and walks toward kitchen.  Makes pit stop at bathroom.

7:20am - Arrive at kitchen.  Pull out box of Lucky Charms and pour to the top of the biggest bowl he can find.  Pull out all of the marshmallows.  "Too much sweets on game day is no good.  You have them lil bro."  "Thank you my idol of the ice", lil bro answers.  Head to living room to eat and watch Sponge Bob.  Laugh hysterically.

8:00am - Finish breakfast.  Change into jogging uniform and head to the bay trail for a run.

11:00am - Look up and realize that I've run a little too far when I see the Transamerica Pyramid in front of me.  Call grandma to come pick me up.

12:00pm - Arrive home.  Lunch time.  Open up a box of Twinkies.  Squeeze out all of the cream filling and give to lil bro.  "Too much sweets on game day is no good.  You have the cream filling lil bro."  "Thank you my idol of the ice", lil bro answers.  Head to living room to eat and watch Sponge Bob.  Laugh hysterically.

1:00pm - Finish Twinkie lunch.  Go to bedroom for a power nap.

3:00pm - We find Dustin still snoozing, dreaming of that evenings contest.  He is skating hard carrying the puck up the right wing, moving left and right into the Sharks zone when CRASH!,... he gets pounded into the glass...

3:01pm - wakes up with a headache with his brother tapping him lightly on his head,... "Wake up dear brother.  You must continue your game day preparation."  Dustin: "Leave me alone.  I need my beauty rest."

3:30pm (stomach grumbling) - awakens again and walks toward kitchen.  Makes pit stop at bathroom.

3:50pm - Arrive at kitchen.  Pull out box of Oreos Double Stuff and begin removing the Double Stuff.  "Too much sweets on game day is no good.  You have the Double Stuff lil bro."  "Thank you my idol of the ice", lil bro answers.  Head to living room to eat and watch Sponge Bob.  Laugh hysterically.

5:00pm - leave for rink.

5:20pm - arrive at rink.

5:30pm - dry land warm-ups.

5:50pm - return to rink and begin putting on gear. 

6:00pm - Coach arrives and gives motivational speech.  Reminds of us penalties and to try and not get them.  I recall to myself that it has been a few games since I have had a penalty.  Cool.

6:20pm - hit the ice for game warmup. 

6:25pm - Game starts.  Feeling good.

6:55pm - Still first period.  We're playing well.  Good passing and cycling going on.  No score yet but I'm getting some good ice time.

6:58pm - On the bench waiting to go onto the ice for my next shift.  "Change it up!", I hear.  I jump the boards and rush to the Sharks zone.  Uh-oh, the puck is gonna come out.  There's Nathan.  Get there Nate, I think to myself.  Nathan keeps the puck in.  Good Job.  Let's see, where did the puck go.  Oh there it is on Ryan's stick.  Ryan's making some good moves.  I better give him someone to pass to.  He's way over there above the other circle.  I'll just slip right down here near the opposite face off dot.  He sees me.  Here comes the pass.  Nice pass.  It should be right on my stick.  There it is.  It hit right on the tape.  Quick look up.  There's an open spot on the opposite post.  If I can just get a little lift on this wrist shot.  The shots away.  WOW!  What zip there is on the puck.  TIIIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!  It's off the post and in the net.  I score.  My Cougar teammates crowd me and congratulate me. "Thanks for setting me up", I tell them.  I skate to the bench and high-five the team.  "Good hustle Justin", I hear.  Feeling Good.

7:30pm - After a hard fought game by both teams, we are victorious beating San Jose by a score of 1-0.  Great defense and goaltending by my teammates. 

7:35pm - In the locker room after the game.  The coach commends us on our play. 

8:15pm - Arrive at home. Think to myself how not eating all those sweets helped tonite.   Lil Bro brings me the marshmallows, cream filling and double stuff from earlier.  "Congrats big bro.  Now you can have the sweets.", lil bro says.  Head to the living room to watch Sponge Bob.  Laugh hysterically.

10:00pm - After a long day, retire to bed.  Fall asleep dreaming of that evenings contest, skating hard carrying the puck up the right wing, moving left and right into the Sharks zone when CRASH!,... he get's pounded into the glass...

Good Game Dustin.

The Cougars Midget A team is coached by Chris Hathaway.  Practice times for the season are Monday from 6:30pm to 7:45pm (power skating), Tuesday from 7:45pm to 8:45pm (solo) and Thursday from 9:15pm to 10:15pm (combined with Midget B team).  Tues/Thurs practices are at Bridgepointe and Monday is at Belmont.