LOCAL NOTES

The U.S. in-line hockey team will have an opportunity to defend its gold medal on its home turf this summer, when the third International Ice Hockey Federation In-Line Hockey World Championships return to Anaheim, July 20-25.

Last year, the U.S. team defeated Canada, 5-4, in front of 8,162 fans at the Arrowhead Pond. The U.S. team beat Canada, 13-5, in the 1996 title game.

“Anaheim proved to be a perfect host for last year’s championships,” IIHF President Rene Fasel said in a press release.

The United States will be joined this summer by Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Russia and Switzerland. The event is sanctioned by USA Hockey and the NHL.

The tournament will begin July 20 at Disney ICE, the Mighty Ducks’ twin-rink facility in Anaheim, and conclude July 25 at the Pond. Tickets for all games go on sale May 1 at Ticketmaster locations and the Pond’s box office.

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Santa Margarita forward Tim Pierce has signed to play soccer with UCLA. Pierce, who scored 22 goals with 10 assists for the Southern Section Division III champion Eagles, chose UCLA over Southern Methodist and California. Pierce was the Division III offensive player of the year for this season and a first-team All-Sea View League selection.