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  • Reed fires a shot while Orange Lutheran's Ryan Sanchez defends...

    Reed fires a shot while Orange Lutheran's Ryan Sanchez defends Sept. 7.

  • Blake Reed handles the puck while being chased by Santa...

    Blake Reed handles the puck while being chased by Santa Margarita's Travis Hoey during a regular season game at Anaheim Ice, Oct. 24.

  • JSerra's Blake Reed faces off against Santa Margarita's Jonathan Skule...

    JSerra's Blake Reed faces off against Santa Margarita's Jonathan Skule during a regular season game at Anaheim Ice, Oct. 31.

  • JSerra freshman Blake Reed celebrates a goal scored against Santa...

    JSerra freshman Blake Reed celebrates a goal scored against Santa Margarita during a regular season game at Anaheim Ice, Oct. 31.

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It took a matter of moments to recognize the prized gem that JSerra’s hockey team had in its freshman ranks.

At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Blake Reed is not the easiest treasure to keep hidden. Nor does he want to be.

His explosive slap shot from the point alerts goalies to his presence. For the rest of the opposition, his physical frame does the talking.

Though such qualities are certainly the mark of a good hockey player, his most recent impressive moment occurred in the first round of the CAHA State Tournament opener against now-two-time defending champion Orange Lutheran.

With his team leading, 2-1, early in the third period, Reed was felled by a knee-to-knee collision. His face was bloodied upon impact with the ice.

Murmurs broke out in the crowd as teammates, fans and broadcasters speculated about his health and availability for the rest of the tourney.

But what looked like a long-term knee injury ended up being a facial gash, another battle scar for a decorated hockey player. Minutes after going to the locker room, Reed was back on the ice, helping his team close out the first-round victory.

Following the game, Reed was at urgent care in Aliso Viejo. He received seven stitches and dressed for the Lions’ game that night, a 4-1 win over Bellarmine of San Jose.

Reed’s dad, Phil, called his son an inspiration, adding that Blake has always been willing to put his body on the line for his teams.

“Coming back from a gash to his face is nothing new to help his team,” he said. “When he was hit and down on the ice and we realized he was cut, we went to the locker room. We got him set, we glued, we taped it and we padded it.

“He knows what it takes to be a true hockey player at the age of 15.”

Reed was on skates by the age of 2. By the age of 4, he had his first pair of hockey skates. He is the first member of his family to play competitive hockey, and for a long time, his dream was to go pro.

Reed excelled in youth hockey. His Anaheim Jr. Ducks Bantam AAA team made it to the semifinals of nationals last year.

Now in high school, it appears that Reed’s club hockey days are over. He expressed a desire to live a normal high school life, enriched by the prospect of hanging out with friends at the beach. He picked up an interest in photography, and he also ran a car wash out of his driveway this summer.

“I just wanted to enjoy school,” Reed said. “You only get to do it once. Playing club was great. Hockey’s fun. If you can play high school hockey, then you can also go to school, go to the beach and enjoy the social aspect of it. It’s great.”

Reed has spent most of the season centering a line with Brendan Pagani and Zack Brunelle.

The Lions’ freshman star is tied for the team lead in points with 24.

His 15 goals are second in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League’s Division 1, behind only teammate Francis Lemay, who has scored 17.

Re-evaluating his hockey goals, Reed said his new target is to play college hockey.

“That would be amazing if I could play Division 1 hockey or even Division 3,” he said. “I would more than feel accomplished if I could do that.”

Reed doesn’t have to explain himself to anyone. It’s only natural to want to be close to friends, and when Reed played for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, only a handful of his teammates were even from Orange County.

The high school game is gaining traction in California, and more so than ever, hockey players are choosing high school over club or combining the two. The Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League has had at least one representative in the High School Division 1AA Nationals since 2010.

JSerra and Orange Lutheran, the CAHA state finalists, will be going to the Nationals in Reston, Va., which will take place March 17-21.

“The top teams in high school hockey are proving that the level of play is comparable to what it was in their clubs,” JSerra coach Mike Perkins said. “Kids that want to have that experience, have a high school to play for and be involved in other things, they have an opportunity in the high school game.

“We want to offer what the other kids are getting in the other sports on campus.”