Prep Roller Hockey: Poway High’s Wright eyeing college ice hockey

Slipping past one, two and ultimately three defenders, Eric Wright found himself uncontested on goal. A quick strike, and Poway High had a 1-0 lead in the first minute.

“It’s like watching a young Wayne Gretzky!” a parent on the opposing side said while applauding.

Wearing No. 88 for the Titans, Wright seems like he isn’t even trying. It all appears to come natural.

In a recent 10-4 Metro Conference win over St. Augustine at the Escondido Sports Center, Wright finished with nine goals.

Yet roller hockey isn’t Wright’s primary sport. He prefers the speed, intensity and frigid temperatures of ice hockey.

“Ice hockey is more serious than roller hockey for me,” Wright said. “But playing for my school, Poway, is really a lot of fun.”

Wright, a 5-foot-11 senior, said roller hockey sharpens his skills and playing for Poway has helped him improve on the ice.

“Roller hockey is a lot more about finesse and stickhandling,” he said. “Ice hockey is more about speed and overall effort.”

Wright said he was introduced to roller hockey at about age 5. He used to hang out with his older brother’s team. After taking ice skating lessons, he fell in love with ice hockey.

Wright competes for a Junior Gulls team and also holds a part-time job at the San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa, but hockey isn’t his only interest.

“I work (with) the Future Farmers of America, where I help to raise livestock,” Wright said.

Last year, he raised turkeys, two of which won awards at the Del Mar Fair.

“In 2015, I’ll turn my attention to pigs,” he said.

With high school graduation not far off, Wright said he’s not planning to end his hockey career any time soon.

“I’m hooked on hockey,” he said. “My friends wonder how I can play all the time. I play five times a week and it still never gets old.”

In addition to games, Wright also lifts weights and runs with his ice hockey team. In an all-star game last week, he contributed two assists.

Wright said he hopes to play NCAA Division I ice hockey in college.

“I’m going to take a gap year next year and play in a junior hockey league back east called the North American Hockey League,” Wright said. “I’d really like to go to school on the East Coast, but I’d be open to any program that wants to take me.”

Opponents can’t help but notice Wright’s drive and skill.

“He is a very talented player who is extremely confident is his ability,” St. Augustine senior Michael Anderson said. “He played very well against us and was critical for Poway’s success.”

As a freshman, Wright led the Metro Conference with 97 points in 20 games. He finished in the top five in scoring as a sophomore and junior, playing in a limited number of games because of his ice hockey commitments. Poway (8-3) won’t release this year’s statistics until the end of the regular season.

Wright isn’t playing for stats anyway.

“I play because it’s fun,” he said. “If you aren’t having fun, then you aren’t playing the game correctly. Hockey is what I truly love to do.”