WPH Press
The WPH 3-Wall Icebreaker Series kicked off in 2020 to provide handball players and fans with the chance to compete during the pandemic. WPH camera crews have been on hand to bring all of the action to you from the WPH’s Clark Park in Tucson, as the game’s best have made their way to the desert to compete for the now famous ice plunge.
Check out the full list of Icebreaker Champions and Finalists, all finishes in each of the Icebreaker events, plus the history of Icebreaker Contenders.
*All events are small ball unless otherwise indicated
*Non-ranking event means that only two or three players entered, thus not qualifying as an official Icebreaker title
Icebreaker History (2020-2023)
Icebreaker #1 – March 2020: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 7-15, 15-10, 15-4
Icebreaker #2 – September 2020: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-4, 21-6
Icebreaker #3 – November 2020: Dylan Hernandez (CA) def Erik Torres (CA) 21-12, 21-11
*Icebreaker #4 – January 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Stephen Cooney (IRE) 21-2, 21-10 *non-ranking event
*Icebreaker #5 – January 2021: Leo Canales, Jr. (TX) def Sam Esser (AZ) 21-6, 21-19 *non-ranking event
*Icebreaker #6 – February 2021: Ashley Moler (AZ) def Mikaila Mitchell (AZ) 21-0, 21-16 *non-ranking event
Icebreaker #7 – February 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-11, 21-14
Icebreaker #8 – March 2021, Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 4-15, 15-10, 15-13
Icebreaker #9 – April 2021 Killian Carroll (MA) def Sean Lenning (AZ) 16-14, 15-10
Icebreaker #10 – May 2021
Ashley Ruiz (AZ) def Tracy Davis 21-14, 21-4 (CA)
Abraham Montijo (AZ) def Adam Bernhard (TX) 21-13, 21-2
Icebreaker #11 – May 2021
Big Ball Singles: Alfredo Morales (CA) def Josue Tellez (CA) 15-4, 15-6
Big Ball Doubles: Alfredo Morales (CA)/Boxer Rosales (ID) def Josue Tellez (CA)/Darryl Garcia (CA) 21-9
Icebreaker #12 – July 2021: Killian Carroll (MA) def Daniel Cordova (TX) 16-14, 15-3
Icebreaker Ice Bowl #13 – August 2021
Killian Carroll (MA) def Daniel Cordova (TX) 21-11, 21-9
Danielle Daskalakis (NY) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 17-21, 21-15, 11-2
Icebreaker #14 (Big Ball) – September 2021: Brian Medina (CA) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 15-4, 15-9
Race 4 Eight Icebreaker #15 – December 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Luis Cordova (MEX) inj. fft.
Icebreaker #16 (Small Ball Doubles) – March 2022: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX) def S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ) 15-4, 15-1
Icebreaker #17 – July 2022
Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Sam Esser (AZ) 15-4, 15-0
Big Ball Singles: Brian Medina (CA) def Lucho Cordova (MEX) 15-9, 15-9
Icebreaker #18 – August 2022:
Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 15-7, 15-2
Big Ball Singles: Brian Medina (CA) def Samzon Hernandez (CA) 12-15, 15-4, 15-12
Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 15-5, 15-6
Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) def Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) 15-4, 15-9
Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #19 – September 2022
Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Danos Cordova (MEX) 15-6, 15-6
Ashley Ruiz (AZ) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 15-8, 15-3
Big Ball Singles: Oscar Siordia (CA) def Chava Cordova (CA) 15-9, 6-15, 15-14
Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) 15-12, 15-2
Big Ball Pro Doubles: Chava Cordova (CA)/Antonio Chavez (CA) def Alberto Pizano (CA)/Anthony Hernandez (CA) 15-14, 15-7
Big Ball B Doubles: Javier Flores (CA)/Beni Gonzalez (CA) def Fernando Zapata (CA)/Julio Perez (CA) 15-8, 15-12
Icebreaker #20 (R48 Icebreaker #2) – December 2022
Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 21-16, 21-8
Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 21-7, 15-21, 11-4
Icebreaker #21 (USHA National 3-Wall Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles)
(Small Ball Doubles) – March 2023: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX) def S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ) 21-16, 21-12
Icebreaker #22 (Clarkbreaker II) – July 2023
David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-11, 21-2
Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 14-21, 21-16, 11-9
Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) 15-11, 15-4
Icebreaker #23 (Ice Bowl II) – August 2023
Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-3, 21-4
Big Ball Singles: Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez (CA) def Alberto Pizano (AZ) 12-10, 10-12, 12-5
Big Ball Doubles: Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez (CA)/Alberto Pizano (AZ) def Brian Medina (CA)/Gilberto Rosales (ID) 12-8, 11-12, 12-10
Junior Singles: Kelvin Lindsey (AZ) def Johnny Lindsey (AZ) 11-6, 11-5
A Singles: Ayden Brule (AZ) def Jose Maldonado (AZ) 21-17, 20-21, 11-2
Icebreaker #23 (R48 Icebreaker #3) – December 2023
Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 21-6, 21-6
Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 16-21, 21-2, 11-1
Icebreaker Finishes by Event
Men’s Small Ball Icebreakers
2020
Icebreaker #1 (8-man event): March 2020
1st: Fink (AZ)
2nd: Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: Canales (TX), Montijo (AZ)
Icebreaker #2 (4-man event): September 2020
1st: Fink (AZ)
2nd: Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: Montijo (AZ)
4th: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)
Icebreaker #3 (4-man event): November 2020
1st: D. Hernandez (CA)
2nd: E. Torres (CA)
3rd: R. Palma (CA)
4th: L. Collado (CA) (no matches won)
*Icebreaker #4 (2-man event): December 2020
1st: Fink (AZ)
2nd: Cooney (CA) (no matches won)
*non-ranking event
2021
*Icebreaker #5 (2-man event): February 2021
1st: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)
2nd: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)
*non-ranking event
Icebreaker #6 (4-man event): March 2021
1st: Fink (AZ)
2nd: Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)
4th: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)
Icebreaker #7 (8-man event): April 2021
1st: K. Carroll (MA)
2nd: S. Lenning (AZ)
3rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)
5th: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)
6th: Montijo (AZ)
7th: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Hernandez (CA) – neither won a match
Icebreaker #8 (4-man event): April 2021
1st: Montijo (AZ)
2nd: A. Bernhard (TX)
3rd: M. Langmack (MO)
4th: N. Mattioni (FL) (no matches won)
Icebreaker #9 (12-man event): June 2021
1st: Carroll (MA)
2nd: D. Cordova (TX)
3rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)
Icebreaker #10 (16-man event): August 2021
1st: Carroll (MA)
2nd: D. Cordova (TX)
3rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)
Race 4 Eight Icebreaker #11: December 2021
1st: Fink (AZ)
2nd: L. Cordova (MEX)
3rd: Ruiz (AZ), Canales (AZ)
2022
Icebreaker #1: July 2022
Small Ball Pro Singles
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: Esser (AZ)
3rd: Ruiz (AZ)/Torres (CA)
Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2022
Small Ball Pro Singles
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: D. Fink (AZ)
3rd: B. Bidegain (CA)/L. Canales (AZ)
Icebreaker #3 (Clarkbreaker): September 2022
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: D. Cordova (MEX)
3rd: B. Bidegain (CA)/A. Montijo (AZ)
Icebreaker #4 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2022
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: D. Fink (AZ)
3rd: Mulkerrins (IRE)/D. Cordova (MEX)
2023
Icebreaker #1 (Clarkbreaker): July 2023
Small Ball Pro Singles
1st: D. Fink (AZ)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: Canales (AZ)/L. Cordova (MEX)
Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2023
1st: D. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: Fink (AZ)/L. Cordova (MEX)
Icebreaker #3 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2023
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: Fink (AZ)
3rd: Lenning (WA)/D. Cordova (MEX)
Women’s Icebreakers
2021
*Women’s Icebreaker #1 (2-woman event): January 2021
1st: A. Ruiz (AZ)
2nd: M. Esser (AZ) (no matches won)
*non-ranking event
Women’s Icebreaker #2 (4-woman event): April 2021
1st: M. Esser (AZ)
2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: D. Daskalakis (NY)
4th: T. Davis (CA) (no matches won)
Women’s Icebreaker #3 (4-woman event): April 2021
1st: A. Ruiz (AZ)
2nd: T. Davis (CA)
3rd: M. Esser (AZ)
4th: Ciana Ni Churraoin (TX) (no matches won)
Women’s Icebreaker #4 (6-woman event): August 2021
1st: D. Daskalakis (NY)
2nd: M. Esser (AZ)
3rd: T. Davis (CA)
4th: A. Ruiz (AZ)
2022
Women’s Icebreaker #5 (6-woman event): August 2022
1st: M. Esser (AZ)
2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: A. Tuohey (WI)
4th: T. Davis (CA)
*Women’s Icebreaker #6 (Clarkbreaker) (3-woman event): September 2022
1st: A. Ruiz
2nd: M. Esser
*Non-ranking event
Women’s Icebreaker #7 (4-woman event): December 2022
1st: M. Esser (AZ)
2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: B. Camacho (AZ)
2023
Women’s Icebreaker #8 (3-woman event): July 2023
1st: M. Esser (AZ)
2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: B. Camacho (AZ)
Women’s Icebreaker #9 (3-woman event): December 2023
1st: M. Esser (AZ)
2nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: Munroe (IRE)
Men’s Big Ball Icebreakers
2021
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #1: June 2021
1st: A. Morales (CA)
2nd: J. Tellez (CA)
3rd: Gonzalez (NY)
4th: Ruiz (AZ)
Doubles
1st: Morales (CA)/Rosales (ID)
2nd: Tellez (CA)/D. Garcia (CA)
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #2: September 2021
1st: B. Medina (CA)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)
3rd: Chavez (TX)
4th: Gonzalez (NY)
2022
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #3: July 2022
1st: B. Medina (CA)
2nd: L. Cordova (MEX)
3rd: Pizano (AZ)
4th: Ruiz (AZ)
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #4: August 2022
1st: B. Medina (CA)
2nd: S. Hernandez (CA)
3rd: O. Siordia (CA)/C. Cordova (CA)
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #5: September 2022
1st: O. Siordia (CA)
2nd: C. Cordova (CA)
3rd: S. Hernandez (CA)/J. Vicencio (CA)
2023
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #6: August 2023
1st: A. Hernandez (CA)
2nd: A. Pizano (AZ)
3rd: G. Rosales (ID)/I. Chapa (CA)
Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers
2022
Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker #1: March 2022
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)
Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker #2: August 2022
1st: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)
2nd: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)
Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #3: September 2022
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)
Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers
2023
Icebreaker Pro Doubles w/ USHA Masters Nationals: March 2023
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)
Clarkbreaker Pro Doubles: July 2023
1st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)
2nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)
Big Ball Doubles Icebreakers
2022
Big Ball Icebreaker #1 (Clarkbreaker): September 2022
Pro
1st: C. Cordova (CA)/A. Chavez (CA)
2nd: A. Pizano (AZ)/A. Hernandez (CA)
B
1st: J. Flores (CA)/B. Gonzalez (CA)
2nd: F. Zapata (CA)/J. Perez (CA)
2023
Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #2: August 2023
Pro
1st: A. Hernandez (CA)/A. Pizano (AZ)
2nd: G. Rosales (ID)/B. Medina (CA)
Icebreaker Contenders (Qualifiers)
2021
Small Ball Contenders #1 (April 2021): Contender champion: Max Langmack (KS)
Small Ball Contenders #2 (May 2021): Contenders: Danny Perez (AZ) (champion)/John Chapman (CO) (finalist)
*both Perez and Chapman qualified
Big Ball Icebreaker Contenders #1 (May 2021): Contender champion: David Fink (AZ)
Small Ball Contenders #3 (June 2021): Contenders champion: Dylan Key (AZ)
Small Ball Contenders #4 (August 2021): Contenders: Victor Sanchez (TX), Armando Ibarra (CO), Leo Canales, Sr. (TX)
*All events are small ball unless otherwise indicated
*Non-ranking event means that only two players entered, thus not qualifying as an official Icebreaker title
David Fink
Icebreaker Senior Statistician