VOLUME 12
ISSUE 5
JANUARY 2019
A successful program on the ice playing in the LAKHSHL, the Santa Barbara Royals have been even bigger winners off the ice, proving that the phrase ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ definitely rings true JR. SHARKS ADVANCE PAIR OF PLAYERS TO JUNIOR, COLLEGE IRVINE’S GREAT PARK ICE OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC THOUSAND OAKS’ MOORE MAKES NHL DEBUT WITH TORONTO JR. GULLS’ GIRLS TOURNAMENT DEEMED A ROUSING SUCCESS
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FROM THE EDITOR Another new year means more memories to be made with hockey
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s we put all the holiday decorations into storage for another 11 months or so, we’re all reminded that it’s now January – the start of 2019. What a great time of year! The next couple months are when we see teams at all levels take their games to another level as they make their way to league and state playoffs, and for a select few, national tournaments. Just remember the legendary Herb Brooks quote: “Great moments are born from great opportunities.” More important than that, though, is when we get to look at players and teams and see how much they have improved since late August. For Matt Mackinder so many kids, this is night and day. It’s that sense of pride and accomplishment that has parents and coaches beaming. Let’s face it – hockey is a difficult sport. Players skate on ice on knives, essentially, and need to start, stop, turn, go backwards, all while lugging around a stick and attempting to make plays, even shooting the puck. Look at goalies – they do the same, but have mounds of equipment and have to sacrifice their body to stop the rubber. Yeah, not the easiest game to play. But it’s fun. And it’s worth all those long car rides, those weekends at the rink or hotel, those early-morning practices, those days practicing in the driveway and getting a chance to play on a frozen pond. And it’s only January. It might be the second half of the season, but there is still a lot more hockey to come! Laguna Hills native and Anaheim Lady Ducks graduate Annie Pankowski was tabbed as the first overall selection in December’s NWHL Draft by the Metropolitan Riveters. Pankowski currently sits second in University of Wisconsin scoring with 14 goals and 23 points in 18 games as a senior. “Annie is a fabulous, dynamic forward who quite simply is one of the best players in the game today,” said Riveters coach Randy Velischek. “Annie is a strong, dynamic hockey player who is a threat to score any time she touches the puck,” added Badgers assistant coach Jackie Crum. “She has one of the hardest shots in college hockey and is a great leader, on and off the ice.” Pankowski, also named the WCHA Forward of the Month for December, said she is excited to see what the future holds after the 2018-19 season. “It’s been amazing to watch the NWHL grow and I’m so honored to be drafted as a part of it,” Pankowski said. “It’s inspiring to watch the league continue to grow the game.” In addition, Los Gatos native Lauren Boyle (Ohio State University) was taken in the third round (14th overall) by the Minnesota Whitecaps. Speaking of the Lady Ducks, the NWHL announced earlier this month that the program has been added to the Jr. NWHL. The Lady Ducks are the 86th program to enter the Jr. NWHL’s ranks, joining the San Diego Jr. Gulls and LA Lions as California-based organizations in the Jr. NWHL. This is a huge honor that comes with numerous benefits. In junior hockey news, San Jose native Matt Vernon (Aberdeen Wings) was named NAHL Goaltender of the Month for December, while San Carlos native and former Golden State Elite, Blackhawks and Stars player Clayton Cosentino signed an NAHL tender to play next season in Aberdeen. And we would be remiss if we didn’t give a shout out to the three California natives – Jack St. Ivany (Manhattan Beach), Jason Robertson (Arcadia) and Sasha Chmelevski (Huntington Beach) on winning silver with Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Also, a big catch for the WSHL as the league has named longtime NCAA coach Mark Ostapina its director of academics. He’ll run the new WSHL Academic Guidance Program.
Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4
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SILVER & GOLD(EN)
The Vegas Jr. Golden Knights’ 12U AA team captured an International Silver Stick regional championship last month at the Las Vegas Ice Center and will play in the Silver Stick Finals later this month in Port Huron, Mich. More on the Jr. Golden Knights on Page 10.
ON THE COVER The 2018-19 Santa Barbara Royals: Top row (left to right): Head coach Steve Heinze, Peter Frisell, Ian Cope, Cameron Whicker, Tyler Martindale, Andrew Salentine, Cole Schroder, Dylan Diebold, Jack Lawrence, assistant coach John Ewasiuk, and assistant coach Will Hahn. Bottom row (left to right): Cody Turner, Cameron Stone, Shea Rousseau, Henry Bleasdale, Harrison Del Bonis, Luke Griswell and Amistad Hernandez. Photo/Will Hahn Productions
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Making A Difference Santa Barbara Royals are taking teamwork to new levels during ’18-19 season other parents while also talking about hockey and the challenges of raising highschool aged kids with like-minded adults. uccess on the ice has quickly come to be expected for the Santa Barbara Royals. “Not only are these fun social outings, but we have found them to be a great way The team won back-to-back championships in the first two years of the L.A. to develop a more collaborative support group as well,” Whicker said. Kings High School Hockey League’s existence, adding a junior varsity championship Knowing that it’s important to emphasize the value of charitable work and giving the second year for good measure. They’re off to a stellar start this season as well, to those less fortunate, the team has also embarked on a program called “Hockey having entered mid-January with a 7-2-0-1 record that put them second in the league Assists” that will help local organizations with the support of donors and the success standings. of the players on the ice. The program, however, is not singularly focused on winning championships. To “We’re using a tried-and-true method to raise money for charity,” Whicker exthe contrary, the coaches, administrators and parents who call themselves part of the plained. “The players ask friends and family to sponsor the team for every assist it Royals family have made extra efforts to help the players develop not only on the ice records throughout the season, and we will donate the proceeds to an organization but as young men who are preparing for that is near and dear to our hearts.” life as adults. Whicker said that last season, the Going above and beyond to help the team recorded 92 assists, and he did student-athletes get the most of out of some simple math to estimate the potentheir high school hockey experience, they tial financial impact for local charities. have planned several team-building exer“If someone last season had agreed cises and twice-monthly parent meetings, to donate 50 cents per assist, at the end have designed a charitable giving proof the year they would have contributed gram that directly correlates to what they $46,” he said. “This year, if each memdo on the ice and even are producing a ber of the team could get 10 people to “hockumentary” film that will go behind pledge this amount, it would result in the scenes and show viewers what it’s $460 raised for each player. If 15 players like to be part of such a successful prowere to do this, it would generate a total gram. of $6,900 for the whole team - not bad “We’ve always felt that youth sports for simply sharing the puck and making are more than about learning how to play plays.” a sport and winning games,” said Greg Added Heinze: “Greg has done a terWhicker, the team’s manager who also rific job with this program, and the fact has a son playing for the Royals. “It’s all that we’re able to do it really speaks to about the life lessons that they get out of Players from the Santa Barbara Royals team recently took to a local beach to participate in the wonderful community we have here the experience. One of the keys is learn- the California Coastal Clean-Up. Photo/Will Hahn Productions and the involvement of the parents.” ing how to win or lose with dignity. As these kids move on in life and start getting Perhaps the most fun and unique activity that the Royals are participating in this jobs, the lessons they have learned about teamwork will prove to be very important. year is the “hockumentary” that they have been filming all season. Former Royals “We have a chance to mentor kids, bring them along and mold them into good hu- goalie Will Hahn is an assistant coach with this year’s team and is also studying man beings. Our goals are to have them film at Santa Barbara City College. He be winners on the ice and off the ice as proposed the idea of filming a documenwell.” tary similar to the HBO “24/7” series on The Royals’ roster for the 2018-19 seathe NHL’s Winter Classic and other big son includes forwards Shea Rousseau, sporting events, and the Royals jumped Harrison Del Bonis, Tyler Martinat the chance to be part of the project. dale, Cameron Whicker, Cody Turner, Hahn and a team of fellow student Cole Schroder, Cameron Stone, Luke videographers have been filming the Griswell, Andrew Salentine, and Peteam during practices, games and off-ice ter Frisell; defensemen Jack Lawrence, activities, and aims to use the best and Dylan Diebold, Amistad Hernandez, most intriguing pieces to put together the and Ian Cope; and goalie Henry Bleasfilm sometime after the season. It’s an dale. ambitious project, but one that could give Team-building exercises that the parents and others who follow the team group has taken on so far this season closely a great look at the inner workings have included indoor rock climbing, paintof the team. ball, a beach cleanup, and landscaping at “I can’t wait to see the final product,” a local train depot museum. The events Heinze said, adding with a laugh that he give players a chance to get to know each got heated talking to his team between other better off the ice and outside the The Royals have also been filming a “hockumentary” this season that focuses on all the inner work- periods during one game, and had to ing of the team. The film should be released during the upcoming offseason. Photo/Greg Whicker classroom, which has ultimately led to ask the crew to turn off their cameras. better chemistry on the ice. The outings are a great way to build camaraderie, and “They’re at every game and trying to produce a really great product - Will is a great they’ve helped in many intangible ways already. kid, and I’m sure he’ll pull it off. “It’s a win-win-win all around,” said Steve Heinze, the former NHL standout “Will is trying to make it something special and something he can hang his hat on. who now coaches the Royals. “The kids are helping the community, but they’re also He has a tremendous worth ethic, and I’m sure it will turn out great. At the very least, helping themselves grow. these kids will have something that will help them remember the season.” “I hope every one of my players makes it to the NHL, but I’m not sure that’s going Heinze said he’s proud of how his program has performed on the ice, but even to happen. There’s so much more to life than hockey, and the onus on us has always more pleased with the many great things the players and their families are doing been teaching the kids life lessons and showing them how to work as a team, set away from the rink. goals and try to achieve them.” “We’ve had some success in the Kings league, and the opportunity for a lot of The parent meetings typically occur once every two weeks and are very informal kids to play in the high school league has been really special and helped build a in nature. Parents who can make it will gather at a local restaurant or brewery for sense of community,” said Heinze. “These kids and their families are committed to some social time together away from the rink. They’re able to build relationships with the Royals. We’re trying to do everything we can to give back.” By Greg Ball
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CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
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Former Jr. Kings forward Krause’s next move: NCAA D-I Dartmouth
Absorbing, applying information leads Taylor to Clarkson commit
By Chris Bayee
By Chris Bayee
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erpetual motion is one of the keys to Alexander Krause’s game. “I don’t stop moving my feet,” the longtime L.A. Jr. Kings standout said. “I’ve figured out that I have to always be moving, staying on pucks constantly.” The 6-foot forward’s next move will be to NCAA Division I Dartmouth College (ECAC Hockey) in the fall of 2020. Krause, who committed last month, said he would like to follow in his father Daniel’s footsteps in the financial world. “The biggest thing for me is the academic piece,” the 2001 birth year said. “There’s life after hockey. I want to use hockey to put myself in the best situation I can academically. That’s why I wanted to play at an Ivy League school.” Krause began his hockey journey as Mite with the Ventura Mariners before moving to the Jr. Kings as a Squirt. “It was a family decision to go,” he said. “My sister (Isabel) is a figure skater, so my mom (Kate) drove us both from Calabasas to El Segundo. “I really enjoyed my time with the Jr. Kings. My coaches were Nelson Emerson, Rob Blake and Pat Brisson, and I played with their sons. They had a lot to do with me becoming the player I am. Not everyone has the opportunity to play for coaches with their experience. “I really appreciate everything they taught me.” Krause moved on after Bantams and spent the 2016-17 season at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C., further honing his game. “Hockey is everything in Canada, and that was good for me to experience firsthand,” he said. “That was a development year for me. I played a lot of minutes and saw another big jump in my game.” In 2017, Krause went coast to coast and enrolled at The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn. “The East Coast is very different, but the hockey is very competitive,” he noted. “The New England prep school league is one of the hardest to play in, but I’m learning a lot.” All the while keeping on the move.
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henever opportunity knocked, Kaelan Taylor has been determined to learn everything he can from it. Whether it was with the San Diego Jr. Gulls and L.A. Jr. Kings, in the NAHL or now for Dubuque in the USHL, the defenseman is gleaning whatever he can. That, combined with his hockey talent, is why he finds himself committed to NCAA Division I Clarkson University (ECAC Hockey), where he’ll enroll in 2020. “For me, it was such a great school,” the 1999 birth year said. “The academics there, which are my priority, are exceptional. The hockey team is successful, and they have a great tradition.” Taylor played for the Jr. Gulls through his first season of 16U, then made the drive from Oceanside up to El Segundo the next two seasons to play for the Jr. Kings. “A lot of guys like to go the prep school route, but staying home and developing worked for me,” Taylor said. “Every year playing in California for a different coach taught me something. “When I was younger, Noah Babin was one. I took so many lessons from him, and it really helped my skating, which gave me a step up. When I went to the Kings, Jack Bowkus and Barry Dreger played big roles. Jack taught me a lot about the game. Barry taught me how to play ‘D’ the right way, to be a solid defender.” He carried those lessons to the NAHL. “It was nice playing in the NAHL, where a lot of guys were older,” Taylor said. “I had to keep it simple. I learned a more mature game. When I came (to Dubuque), it was a little easier and I could use more of my skills.” In the eyes of his coach, California native Oliver David, Taylor’s transition has been rather seamless for a few reasons. “He is a steady player who leads through his actions,” David said. “Kaelan’s analytical and has the discipline and desire to develop well. “Discipline and desire are not a given. I’ll take a kid like Kaelan every day of the week.”
ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL
St. Mary’s enjoying inaugural season, on and off the ice By Matt Mackinder
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hen St. Mary’s High School announced plans to start a new high school hockey program for the 2018-19 season, it seemed like the perfect move for the Northern California town of Stockton. The city already has the AHL’s Stockton Heat and the Stockton Colts youth association, but the high school program was looked at as a viable option for players to play a high level of hockey without having to commute to Southern California. So far, so good. And the Rams are making noise off the ice, too. Towards the end of 2018, the hockey team held a reverse raffle, a fundraiser spearheaded by St. Mary’s general manager Rick Pelascki. In a reverse raffle, every ticket in the raffle pool is drawn and the winner of the raffle is the individual whose ticket number corresponds with the final ticket drawn from the pool. Reverse raffles are a popular activity for charity events. The St. Mary’s raffle had two prizes – a six-person, one-day plane ride from Stockton to Monterey and back and also a cash prize. “We limited the tickets to only 125 people, and we gave away $5000 at the end of the night,” said Pelascki, also the Colts president. “The plane ride raffle raised $3500 for us. Overall, we did very well. The end result was about $5500-6000 after we paid for
the dinners and drinks.” Truth be told, Pelascki made the connection with St. Mary’s and Rams coach Derek Eisler. “I go back seven or eight years with Derek and with me as president of the Colts and Derek the director,
that’s how we got put together,” Pelascki said. “The school came to me wanting to know about hockey and all the particulars about hockey. They’d been wanting to do it for a while, but they didn’t have a coach. That’s when I got Derek involved, one thing led to another, and here we are.” Now past the midway point of the season, St. Mary’s is in the home stretch of NAHL Prep and Ana-
heim Ducks High School Hockey League play. Pelascki said he’s been thrilled with how the season has gone to this point for St. Mary’s. “I go to practice almost every day and to be honest, they’re coming along,” said Pelascki. “We have a young, young team and a short bench, but we’re doing pretty well. They’ve been in every game and even though you might look at the scores and it looks like they got blown out, it was late in the game and the players were fatigued a little bit and the wheels came off the wagon a little bit. “For the most part, they’re in every game, and hopefully, they can start winning some of the close games here in the second half.” Looking ahead, Pelascki said he’s excited for not only what has already transpired, but for what the future holds. “From both ends, everyone is working very hard to make this thing work,” Pelascki said. “I would think that we’ll look back at this in five years and be amazed at what we’ve created. We’re hoping to be a place for kids to go that don’t want to leave California to play hockey. Scholastically, St. Mary’s is one of the best schools in all of California, great alumni program, and they’ve been here more than 100 years. “The foundation is pretty good and down the road, we’d like to add a couple more teams and an all-girls team. That’s what we’re looking to do, but like everything else, you have to crawl before you can walk and have to walk before you run.”
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Nevada product Harris using ‘blazing speed’ at NCAA level By Chris Bayee
in November and December. “We’ve had him out of our lineup for the past month and it hasn’t helped us,” Serratore added. “When he plays, it increases our team speed, it helps our depth. He’s our first-line center as a sophomore, he’s on our top power play and he kills penalties. That tells you a little bit about what we think about
went back to Vegas the next year and played my first year of Midgets for Pokey Reddick of the Las Vehe call of Minnesota’s Iron Range was too strong gas Jr. Storm. Then I went back to the Titans for my for Brendan Harris to resist. second year of 16U with Peter Torsson.” This despite the fact the sophomore centergrew Harris said the coaching he received, particularly up in Nevada (Henderson) and spent six seasons in those three seasons, helped him take steps that playing youth hockey in California and junior hockey would prepare him well for juniors. up the West Coast in Washington. “Going to California is what gave me that spark Harris finds himself as a key cog on a Bemidji and confidence to take my game to the next levState University (WCHA) team trying to re-estabel,” Harris said. “Several years playing in Nevada, I lish itself as an NCAA Tournament contender. was overshadowed by (Golden Knights prospect) “Hockey in Minnesota, there is really nothing Gage Quinney, and older players like that. better than that,” the 1996 birth year said. “The “It forced me to take my game to another levculture here is one where you’re expected to win. el that I didn’t know was possible. Peter Torsson It was one I wanted to be part of, a team that wins and Barry Bartholomay took me under their wing a lot of games and has a chance to win a chamand pushed me to be better.” pionship.” Harris played four seasons of junior, starting If the Beavers are going to do that, they need with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) before being the highly-skilled Harris to help them get there. traded to Wenatchee halfway through the 2013Harris has always been able to score, wheth14 campaign. Being back in the West agreed with er in youth hockey (he averaged two points per him. His point totals increased from 25 to 44 to game for the California Titans’ 16U AAA team in 56 to the 98-point onslaught. 2012-13) or juniors (where he won the BCHL’s The upward trajectory has continued in NorthBrett Hull Trophy for leading the league in scoring ern Minnesota. After 11 points as a freshman, he’s in 2016-17 with 98 points in 57 games for the nearly matched that in fewer than half the games. Wenatchee Wild). Harris’ rise from Las Vegas might not be so Brendan Harris is a player Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore says has “He’s got blazing speed – there’s not many ‘great skills, great speed.’ Photo/BSU Photo Services rare in the not-too-distant future. guys faster in college hockey,” Bemidji State coach him and where he’s at.” “The community is outrageous,” he said. “I skated Tom Serratore said. “His skill set is very high. He’s Where he’s been has a decidedly Western flavor. a couple times at home over winter break and there 5-foot-8, 155 pounds. He’s kind of a poor man’s He played youth hockey in the Las Vegas area were 40 or 50 people on the ice. A few years ago, Patrick Kane. He’s got great skills, great speed. until he hit a speed bump. it would be me and a few buddies with a whole rink He’s got a motor.” “One year of Bantams, there wasn’t a team for my to ourselves. And Harris has rounded his game out in his first age group, so that was my first year with the Titans, “It’s really good to see the sport taking off there. two NCAA seasons, though he missed seven games playing under Barry Bartholomay,” Harris said. “I It’s really exciting.”
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Jr. Golden Knights’ 12U AA team SAN DIEGO JR. GULLS Jr. Gulls show well at first-ever makes history at Silver Sticks San Diego girls tournament L T By Matt Mackinder
By Alex Morrison
hree rinks in San Diego played host to a 20-team girls tournament at the end of December that turned out to be a great success. Three different states from the West Coast were represented at the event, as seven clubs brought teams to compete in the San Diego Girls Christmas Invitational from Dec. 27-30. This all-girls tournament was the first of its kind in San Diego and its success is a testament to the all those involved who have committed to creating more hockey opportunity for girls in California and beyond. A trio of San Diego Jr. Gulls girls teams won championship games. In the 14U AA Division, the Jr. Gulls (pictured) went undefeated. Kylee Shannon and Emma Tasevski teamed up to create the game-winning goal in their championship game, and Destiny Provencio (who created the tournament logo) had a shutout in net. The 10U team saw Jillian McLaughlin and Kaelyn Walters score to win their championship game, combined with some stellar goaltending by Ana Makrogiannis. A newly-formed 8U team was led by the play of Sydney Smeltzer and Kat Dooris, as they proudly brought home a gold medal. The high school team made it to the championship game, thanks to the on-ice leadership of Tiffany Anderson, Tate Murphy and Soreya Hird. The middle school team was able to put all the pieces together in their final game of the tournament, as Meredith Stansfield, Cate Parker and Charlotte Crudale scored in the game.
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ast month, the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights’ 12U AA team etched its name in the history books by becoming the first Pee Wee team from the program to win an International Silver Stick regional championship. And the Jr. Golden Knights did it in their home state, capturing the title at the Las Vegas Ice Center. “It’s very special for us,” said Vegas head coach Kevin Mulcahy. “The competition was outstanding, and the boys rose to the occasion. They will remember this forever. Our commitment to our game plan was to win one shift at a time – it’s that simple. Do your job and move on to the next shift. That’s what we did that weekend.” The Jr. Golden Knights now move on to the Silver Stick Finals in Port Huron, Mich., from Jan. 24-27. “We are expecting to face some pretty talented and motivated teams,” said Mulcahy. “We will continue to do what got us here.” Mulcahy’s team is comprised of forwards Tyler Atchison, Casey Berninger, Jessie Brewer, Jack Lackas, Chayse Laurie, Finn McNabb, Chase Nehring, Caden Ross and Colin Spencer; defensemen Trevor Abele, Connor Beers, Carson Craig, Daniel Maddison and Kaden Mulcahy; and goaltenders Austin Neill and Logan Perez. Mulcahy is joined on the bench by assistant coach Bo Lackas and the team manager is Kevin Atchison. “What I like most about this team is the fact that they work so hard at every single practice,” Mulcahy said. “They all push each other to be better, which is remarkable at this age. Every player also has one speed only, and that’s fast.” After the Port Huron trip, Mulcahy wants to see the team keep moving forward on the pathway to success. “My expectations are to make the 16 athletes into young men and better hockey players,” said Mulcahy. “Our success comes from the unselfish locker room. Any player will play any position at any time when called upon. “That’s what makes our team special.”
L.A. KINGS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Knights’ JV team developing own success story in LAKHSHL By Greg Ball
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here’s something special happening in the remote town of Bakersfield in California’s Central Valley. Known far more as an agricultural and oil hub than a hotbed for hockey, the city has produced one of the most successful programs in the L.A. Kings High School Hockey League - and it goes far beyond the varsity level. While the Kern County Knights’ varsity team entered the new year atop the league standings, the junior varsity team has also taken some big steps forward since its difficult start. Richard Haas, who has served as the JV team’s manager the last three seasons and has been with the Knights program since it started four years ago, has fully bought in to what the lower-level team offers for high school hockey players. His son, Kaleb, serves as an assistant coach, and his daughter, Hannah, is a senior playing on the JV team. “A lot of the kids who have played at the JV level for us were the types of players that were dominating at the inhouse hockey level, and they needed this opportunity to take the next step in their hockey development,” Richard Haas said. The Knights’ JV team this season is coached by Brent Ilott and assistants Kaleb Haas and Charlie Moxham, with Richard Haas and David Whitson serving as managers. The squad’s roster includes Johnny Vega, Hannah Haas, Noah Houle, Camden Aitchinson, Coleton Barulich, Jacob Clanahan, Evan Neath,
Brendan Dunnigan, Riley Toms, Tyler Brandt, Timothy Haynes, Tristan Aranda, Emily Grier, Branden Bernotas, Kinsey Hillberg, Andrew Hamisch and Conner Whitson. While the squad had struggled to a 1-7 start to the 2018-19 campaign, it experienced a dramatic turnaround from Year 1 to Year 2, and they have high hopes for the
The Kern County Knights captured the LAKHSHL’s junior varsity championship to wrap the 2017-18 season.
second half of this season. The Knights’ JV team went winless in league play its first season, but quickly turned the page and skated to the league’s JV championship last season. “We really attributed it to 100 percent pure development following the USA Hockey development model,” Haas said. “The coaches kept things simple and made sure the kids were doing all the right things to improve, and as a result, kids have really moved up in the program.”
A large percentage of the players who were members of that junior varsity championship squad last year have moved up to varsity and have contributed to the squad’s perfect record through its first eight games. “It has been a great asset for the entire program to have a strong junior varsity team,” Haas said. “A lot of those players weren’t playing hockey before we started. Many of them have come to hockey at a later age than most, and we’ve been able to develop them into successful players.” As a whole, the Knights’ program pulls studentathletes from approximately eight schools in the greater Bakersfield area, ranging as far as 45 miles away from the team’s home rink at Valley Children’s Ice Center of Bakersfield. Many of the players and their families had grown weary of the amount of travel required to play tier hockey and may not have had any other options if not for the varsity and JV teams that the Knights began putting on the ice in 2014. “The families couldn’t commit to 70-mile drives 2-3 times a week to play tier hockey,” Haas said of the commitment necessary for travel hockey. “When the Kings’ high school hockey league came along, it really sort of saved youth hockey for a lot of the older kids. It opened the door to keep those kids playing. “We weren’t sure if the junior varsity team was going to become a reality, but we talked to the Kings and told them we had enough kids interested in playing at that level. Now the junior varsity level is thriving, and there are nine teams in the league.”
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TOYOTA SPORTS CENTER
Kings, ASEC seal partnership with Pickwick Ice By Brian McDonough
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he Los Angeles Kings made yet another commitment to nurturing the continued growth and success of the local amateur hockey scene recently - this time turning their attention towards Burbank. The two-time Stanley Cup champions, along with American Sports Entertainment Company (ASEC), announced last month the acquisition of Pickwick Ice facility operations and a long-term partnership with Pickwick Gardens CEO Ron Stavert and his family. The facility has been renamed LA Kings Ice at Pickwick Gardens with exterior and interior rebranding set to commence in June when the rink will temporarily shut down. The news comes just a couple of months after the Kings and ASEC, along with the City of Los Angeles, mapped out plans to architect a $26 million facility located in Reseda. Construction on that project, which will include an NHL-sized ice sheet and roller hockey rink, is expected to begin this year with an anticipated opening in 2020. “We’re excited to acquire the Pickwick Ice facility business as we continue to invest in growing the game of hockey in Southern California,” said Kings president Luc Robitaille. “We’re thrilled to partner with Ron and build upon Pickwick’s strong youth and adult hockey tradition, including being home to the successful California Golden Bears youth hockey club.” During the summer shutdown at Pickwick, ASEC will help lead a three-phase alteration and improvement project that will cost around $1 million.
Founded in 2006, ASEC is the largest independent Valleys and downtown Los Angeles. A number of enterowner-operator of ice rinks in the United States oversee- tainment giants, including Disney, Warner Bros., Dreaming 19 facilities across the nation, including El Segundo’s works and Universal, are headquartered in the area. Toyota Sports Center - the official training facility of the The rink will be privy to a number of upgrades, includKings and home of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings and LA Lions. ing the removal and replacement of the cold-floor pipes; a Pickwick Ice has been home to the Los Angeles Fig- chiller rebuild with enhancements; the removal of heaved ure Skating Club, Golden Bears and countless skating concrete and ice rink floor in an effort to meet NHL-acenthusiasts for decades. In addition to ice rink, the cam- ceptable tolerances; repair and renovation of the existing subfloor heat system; installation pus sports a 24-lane state-of-theof cold-floor center-feed headers art bowling center, six full-service and pipes; upgrade of the board conference and banquet rooms system and tempered glass; inteand a two-and-a-half acre garden for guests to enjoy. rior painting with Kings branding “The team at Pickwick Garand graphics; and the installation of new exterior signage with Kings dens is looking forward to our branding. relationship with the Kings and “I truly believe this is a great ASEC,” said Stavert, whose family opportunity for our customers, has owned and operated the rink coaches, employees and partsince 1961. “They are venerable Under the direction of the Los Angeles Kings and ners,” said ASEC president and organizations we trust to steward ASEC, Burbank’s Pickwick Ice will undergo a COO Brad Berman. “Under our ice facility and, more impor- number of aesthetic and mechanical upgrades in the leadership of the Kings and tantly, deliver world-class service the coming months. ASEC and our best-in-class customer service and operto our customers. “We’ll now be able to focus all of our energy and re- ating standards, we’re confident we can take the Pickwick sources on continuing to invest in our other businesses Ice facility to the next level. to ensure Pickwick Gardens remains a premier recreation “We’ll work closely with Ron and all of Pickwick’s condestination for future generations.” stituents to effectuate a seamless transition. We look forPickwick Gardens has been a thriving recreational and ward to quickly making significant investments to upgrade food service business for more than 60 years. The cam- its physical plant and enhance its customer-friendly envipus rests in the east end of the San Fernando Valley and ronment for our figure skaters, hockey players and their is centrally located to the San Fernando and San Gabriel families.”
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SAN JOSE JR. SHARKS
Jr. Sharks advance Peterson to NCAA, Braslavski to NAHL By Matt Mackinder
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a hockey player and a person over the past 10 years, both as her coach and as a family friend,” said Jr. Sharks’ 19U AAA assistant coach Rick Burke. “Claire has tremendous drive, a positive attitude, and a love for the game of hockey that accelerated her development to becoming a top defenseman at the Tier I AAA level today. I could not be happier to see Claire’s tireless hard
he San Jose Jr. Sharks continue to prove that the organization is not only big on team success, but on developing players to be ready to hone their skills at higher levels. Two recent examples are Devin Cooley (University of Denver) and Zak Galambos (Minnesota State University) playing for top-five NCAA Division I schools. The past few weeks have yielded two more as longtime Jr. Sharks girls standout Claire Peterson has committed to play NCAA D-I hockey at the University of Connecticut (Hockey East), while forward Barak Braslavski has signed a tender agreement with the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs for next season. Peterson, a 14-year veteran of the Jr. Sharks girls program, will join the Huskies as a defenseman, beginning with the 201920 season. She has remained a Jr. Shark for her entire youth career, beginning in The NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice 2005 as a four-year-old on the girls’ 10U Longtime Jr. Sharks girls standout Claire the next stop for Jr. Sharks team. Peterson was also a member of the Peterson is off to NCAA D-I UConn next fall. Braslavski. inaugural Jr. Sharks girls’ 8U team during the 2007 MLK Tournament and is now playing in her work, dedication to improve her game and a late growth fourth season at the 19U level. She was part of the Jr. spurt, pay off with this opportunity to achieve her dream Sharks girls’ 19U AA national championship team in of playing NCAA D-I collegiate hockey.” 2017. Braslavski is playing 18U AAA for the Jr. Sharks this “I have had the pleasure watching Claire develop as season. He started in the Jr. Sharks House League at
the age of four and has played a majority of his youth hockey in San Jose. Despite leaving for a couple season, Braslavski returned to the Jr. Sharks this season. “Ever since I started playing travel with the Jr. Sharks, I have been given the opportunity to develop my hockey sense in every situation,” Braslavski said. “The coaches really care about your development and getting you the next level and assist you in every way they can. They have been one of the bigg“In order to make Fairbanks, I need to really show my positive attributes as a player, such as my speed or shooting ability at main camp. I will continue to work hard the rest of this season in order to be at highlevel performance when the time comes.” Jr. Sharks’ 18U coach Matt Guffey can’t wait to see what Braslavski can do in the NAHL. “Barak’s explosive speed and elite stick skills will make him a valuable asset to Fairbanks,” said Guffey. “Not only do I expect him to earn a spot, I believe he’ll contribute right away. His quickness and Dogs will be top-end speed are very high. He can forward Barak stickhandle in a phone booth and has a fantastic shot. Barak is fearless and doesn’t shy away from dirty areas on the ice. His versatility is also worth noting, he can play wing and center; he’s quite adept at faceoffs. “He is a fantastic student and is already an NCAA prospect.”
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TAHOE PREP HOCKEY ACADEMY
Climbing the Mountain Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy student-athletes finding daily improvement on ice, in classroom By Greg Ball
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he snow has been falling in Tahoe for quite some time, and while skiers and snowboarders are enjoying a spectacular season at the area’s countless winter resorts, the student-athletes at Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy have kept their focus squarely on achieving success on the ice and in the classroom. Tahoe’s prep team found itself entering January in second place in the NAHL’s Prep League with a 6-2 record, and the varsity squad sat comfortably in third place in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League’s top division at 4-2-1-2. Here is a half-dozen players who have made special impacts to the program: Cobi Lennex A 15-year-old freshman defenseman on the varsity team, Lennex is settling in nicely in his first season on the campus of Tahoe Prep. He has previously played for the Valencia Flyers AA team in the northern Los Angeles suburbs, but was seeking something more for his hockey development. “At the end of last year, I was looking for a team - I knew this was a newer school, but it looked like I could get a better experience and improve my skills,” Lennex said, adding that a bonus is the location. “I love it up in Tahoe. You notice the elevation and the cleaner air, and you just see all of this wildlife.” Lennex, who started skating at the age of three, said he is working hard on improving his fundamentals like speed and becoming more of a scoring threat, and has aspirations to play junior hockey and use that as a springboard to a college program. The formula seems to be working. Lennex said his father, who makes the drive to attend the majority of his son’s games, has told him he’s become a completely different player in his time with Tahoe Prep. “He said he sees it in the way I move the puck and my confidence,” Lennex said, adding that the experience at Tahoe Prep has been first-class in all aspects. “We have great coaching. The dorms are amazing and I’m ready to be back with the team.” Jaxon Call One of a growing number of players from out of state at Tahoe Prep, Call has only been playing hockey four years, but picked the game up quickly. The native of Bountiful, Utah, is a 15-year-old sophomore defenseman for the school’s varsity team, and channeled his love for rollerblading into playing ice hockey.
Before making the decision to move to Tahoe, Call played for the Utah Golden Eagles in Salt
ing the right opportunity. “I think it was hard for my mom,” admitted Call, who has five siblings. “But I have found dorm life very fun because everyone is there for the same reason and everyone is your friend. It’s like having actual brothers.” Call’s goal for the season is to score 30 points or more and having logged 32 penalty minutes in his team’s first 16 games, he’ll have some catching up to do. “I don’t want to take any more penalties, and now I’ve gone five straight games without one,” Call said. “The play is a lot different from what I was used to. It is faster paced and more physical. Our coaches are fantastic, and Coach (Mike) Lewis has helped put us in a mindset that we can’t be undisciplined.”
Cobi Lennex
Jaxon Call
Chase Sechrist
Cameron “Bryce” Dunnigan
Austin Chesworth
Tyler Pierce
Lake City. When he and his family started looking at prep schools, they visited Tahoe Prep’s stunning campus, met the coaches and were sold on it be-
Chase Sechrist One of the original student-athletes at Tahoe Prep, Sechrist has been enrolled at the school since it first opened its doors in the fall of 2016. A 16-yearold junior center on Tahoe Prep’s varsity team, he had skated for the Santa Rosa Flyers in his Bay Area hometown and moved on to the Vacaville Jets when he reached the Pee Wee level. After winning a CAHA state title with the Jets in 2015, he jumped at the chance to attend Tahoe Prep, which his parents, Mike and Kelley Sechrist, helped found. Sechrist said he has seen a rapid transformation among his teammates at the academy. “A lot of kids have gotten a lot better, and this is our best year yet,” Sechrist said. “Our coaches are great. They are not too harsh on us. They’re supportive. The dorms are fun and everyone on the team is nice.” Sechrist is focused on improving his speed and is looking forward to traveling with the prep team for upcoming NAHL Prep games in Detroit. He has already played three games with the prep squad this year, contributing a goal and two assists. In 11 games with varsity this season, Sechrist has two goals and six assists. As for his future, Sechrist is focused on furthering his education and getting a chance to continue playing hockey. “I’m hoping to be able to play at a college somewhere,” Sechrist said. “Juniors would be nice, but I feel college would be best.”
Cameron “Bryce” Dunnigan Having grown up playing for the Valencia Flyers near his hometown of Bakersfield, Dunnigan knew that he’d have to move on Continued on Page 24
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ANAHEIM DUCKS
Great Park ICE & Five Point Arena opens to rave reviews By THE RINKS Staff
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he buzz of getting exciting hockey has been brewing around the city of Irvine and soon, that buzz will be turning into reality. After waiting 687 days since construction began, the community was finally offered its first sneak peek into the gorgeous Great Park ICE & Five Point Arena when it hosted the NHL Youth Cup West tournament recently. With more than 20 NHL-affiliated AAA youth hockey teams competing in the facility’s first ever tournament, the opened doors not only allowed the public to watch an impressive showing by the Jr. Ducks, who took home championships in the 2005 and 2007 divisions, but it also allowed the public its first glimpse at part of the 280,000 square-foot facility. “It is exciting to be able to watch hockey games in here for the first time,” THE RINKS marketing director Jesse Chatfield said regarding watching the guests’ first experience at Great Park ICE and the 2,500-seat Five Point Arena. “Even with just the two sheets up and running, the atmosphere is electric. People are in awe as they walk down the lobby before heading into the beautiful Five Point Arena. “Only some of the amenities are running right now but you can clearly see how incredible this place will be when its fully functional. Without a doubt, skaters are
going to be dreaming about coming back to play in the next tournament, coming to the next public skating session, or playing season after season in our recreational leagues after they get their first glimpse at this state-ofthe-art facility.” Although the facility has opened its doors for certain events, the official grand-opening event is not expected until February at the earliest. At that time, after the remaining two ice sheets and the full-service
restaurant, pro shop and Anaheim Ducks team store are finished, it will become the largest ice facility on the West Coast and will also be one of the official practice facilities for the Ducks. In addition to hockey, the facility will also be the home of United States Figure Skating training cen-
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ter and will also be able to host various other sports, including short track speed skating, curling and sled hockey. “We’re hoping it will be one of the best in the United States,” said THE RINKS vice president Art Trottier. “We looked at the new facilities in Pittsburgh. We looked at the one in San Jose and took concepts from those facilities and others around the country. This is a great investment for the community and for the city of Irvine. Hockey is still growing here. Ice is impacted right now. Everyone talks hockey, but it’s going to be a great asset to the community because everybody can use it. If they want to try figure skating, if they want to play broom ball, if they want to have a birthday party – you can do anything here with this space.” With the grand opening of the building in sight, you can now register for several of the programs happening at Great Park ICE, including the Anaheim Ducks Learn to Play program, youth and adult learn to skate programs and all levels of recreational adult hockey leagues currently available. Guests are also able get their first experience early and skate on one of the four sheets during limited public skating sessions that are now offered throughout the week. For more information or to register for one of the programs mentioned, visit www.greatparkice.com.
ANAHEIM JR. DUCKS Jr. Ducks teams capture quartet of NHL Youth Cup championships By Chris Bayee
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he Anaheim Jr. Ducks’ NHL Youth Cup overfloweth. Four birth year teams out of six won NHL Youth Cup West championships during the first weekend in January. Two of the four won them at the brand-new Great Park ICE & Five Point Arena in Irvine. “It was our first tournament at the new building,” Great Park ICE general manager Eddie Hawkins said. “Everything went really smoothly, and we’re proud of how well the Jr. Ducks did.” The club won titles in the 2005 and 2007 age groups and finished runner-up at 2009. The 2004 and 2008 birth years won championships in the Dallas area. The sixth annual tournament provides NHL-affiliated youth hockey clubs the opportunity to play a weekend series of five games against each other in a showcase format. This was the third year in a row the Jr. Ducks hosted a Western event, with the past two at The Rinks-Anaheim ICE. This year’s event came just two days after the new facility opened on Jan. 2. Two of its four rinks were utilized for the Youth Cup. The other two were ready on Jan. 16, just in time for the inaugural MLK Classic on Jan. 18-21. “We heard nothing but positive feedback about the facility,” Hawkins said. On the tournament’s opening night, there was a welcome ceremony at its amphitheater that included special guests Pat LaFontaine, a Hockey Hall of Famer, former Anaheim Ducks defenseman Bryan Allen and Ken Martel, a California native who is USA Hockey’s technical director of its American Development Model. The Jr. Ducks defeated the LA Jr. Kings 4-2 in the 2005 final. The Jr. Ducks edged the same opponent 2-1 in the 2007 final. The Dallas Stars edged the Jr. Ducks 4-3 in the 2009 final. In the 2004 final, the Jr. Ducks defeated the Colorado Thunderbirds 3-2. In the 2008 championship game, the Jr. Ducks edged the Dallas Stars 9-8 in a shootout.
JrDucks.com
Thousand Oaks’ Moore says NHL debut was ‘kind of a blur’ By Chris Bayee
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s stretches of one’s career go, Trevor Moore’s past seven months haven’t been too shabby. Consider: · In June, he helped the Toronto Marlies win the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Calder Cup. Moore was a key cog in the playoff run, ringing up 17 points in 20 postseason games after 33 points in 68 regular-season games. · On Dec. 23, he was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs on an emergency basis and made his NHL debut, a 5-4 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings. · On Jan. 5, Moore scored his first NHL goal – on Hockey Night in Canada no less – blowing past a Vancouver defender on a rush and firing a wrist shot through Jacob Markstrom’s five-hole. · In between, he was selected to his first AHL AllStar Classic after a start that saw him score nearly a point per game (26, including a team-high 19 goals, in 30 games). “It (the debut) was kind of a blur,” Moore said. “I don’t know if anything surprised me. I didn’t know what it would be like. You dream about this for so long.” Along the way, the Thousand Oaks native became the fourth member of his 1995 LA Selects team to play in an NHL game, joining Eric Comrie and Chase DeLeo, who both did it for the Winnipeg Jets, and Adam Erne, who did it with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And he could have more company in that club as Andrew Oglevie and Scott Savage are playing in the AHL, and Matt O’Donnell and Ryan Siroky are NCAA standouts.
“The amount of high-level players on that team was but tradition by his teammates – the solo lap. Led to crazy,” Moore said. “It makes you realize what a small believe he would lead the team out to warmups, he world hockey is.” hopped onto the ice only to realize he was skating by Moore received the call from the Leafs on Dec. himself. 22, and it gave him time to try to “It was both fun but terrifyget family members and friends ing,” he laughed. “The worst part to Toronto for the next night’s was I couldn’t find the pucks so I game. Several, including his fawas just skating around.” ther Dave, were able to make it. Moore said he received quite While the speed of the NHL a bit of feedback from Leafs was a bit of an adjustment, Moore coach Mike Babcock during his was heartened by his experience. six-game stint and when the team “I realized I can play at that told him he’d be returned to the level, not to say it will be easy,” AHL, at least for the time being. he said. “To be on that ice and “Babcock was very nice,” not feel out of place was huge for Moore said. “He stressed a lot my confidence.” of the small things it takes to be Having gone through multiple successful in the NHL. Getting prospect camps – he was signed to the net is harder because the as an undrafted free agent in defensemen are bigger, stronger 2016 after three seasons at the and faster. There were a lot of litUniversity of Denver, where he tle things he wants me to continwas a Second-Team All-Amerue working on.” ican in 2015 – and playing two A return isn’t guaranteed, but and a half seasons with the Marfor the better part of two weeks lies also helped his transition. Moore was able to take on a new Trevor Moore has played much of this season “The adjustment was better with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, but made his job description – NHL player. for me than going into a room full NHL debut last month with the Toronto Maple “It’s definitely not something of NHLers I didn’t know,” Moore Leafs. Photo/Christian Bonin/Toronto Marlies I’ve been able to say before,” he said. “I played with a lot of them on the Marlies, and said. I knew Auston Matthews through (former Denver But the Leafs must have liked what they saw. On teammate) Zac Larraza.” Jan. 13, Moore signed a two-year contract extension. Moore also was treated to a time-honored de- Why mess with a good thing? CARubberHockey.com
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HOCKEYSHOT
HockeyShot Tip of the Month: Advanced Pass & Shot Drills By HockeyShot Bench Boss Coach Jeremy
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ou can find a lot of hockey passing tips and shooting advice on HockeyShot.com, though the only way to really get good at them is to practice in an environment where you can concentrate. You want to practice receiving the pass with your back to the net so you get some practice taking a pass, moving and shooting. If you find yourself without a friend or teammate to practice with, HockeyShot’s Passers & Passing Kits are good tools for rebounding the puck back to yourself so you can keep your practice going, without damaging walls, garage doors or your mom’s rose bushes!
Drill #3 – The Pass, Receive and Move to the Power Backhand Shot This drill involves taking the pass with your back to the goal net on your forehand. You quickly push the puck away from your body and flip the blade of your stick over the puck. Finally, you make a quick flick of your wrist with a backhander, hopefully over the goalie’s blocker and into the net for a goal.
Drill #1 - The Pass, Receive and Shoot Forehand Shot Drill Just like it sounds, this drill involves passing the puck to your partner, receiving a pass back, a quick stickhandling move while spinning around 180 degrees before taking a shot from the backhand on net. Drill #2 - The Pass, Receive and Shoot Forehand Shot Drill This drill seems to be pretty much the same. Imagine you want to out-maneuver a defensive player. When you get the return pass, you will want to either sweep the puck with your stick as you pivot the 180 degrees, or you keep the puck still while you skate around the puck to the other side to face the net. Then you take your shot.
Drill #4 – The Pass, Receive and Through the Legs Spin and Shoot Drill For this drill, pass to your buddy, or the recommended HockeyShot Passer. When you receive the puck back, tap it between your skates, and then pivot around so you catch the puck from yourself, and then make a snap shot into the right corner of the net. You might want to practice this drill many times before you put it into use in a game.
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Drill #5 – The Pass, Full-Spin and Receive Before Shooting Drill This drill can be done with either a forehand or backhand shot. First pass and receive the puck after you spin around towards the net. Then shoot the puck while the goalie’s jaw is still resting on his chest from your graceful techniques. Drill #6 – The Pass between Legs, Receive from Between Legs and Shoot Drill Here’s another cool drill you can have some fun with. Pass the puck to your partner or recommended HockeyShot Passer. Have the puck come back between your legs, and then take a forehand or backhand shot, depending on what you feel like doing. Practicing all these drills will be a lot of fun and will greatly improve your passing and shooting skills. Have fun, work hard, and you’ll find you’re racking up more goals and impressing the fans with your fancy stick work. The two products I personally recommend for these drills are the 4-Way Elite Passer and Crowd Goes Wild Shooting Tarp. Enjoy this article? Then be sure to visit HockeyShot. com for the latest tips and tricks! Remember these are great tools to help any player step up their game and are the most-used products by hockey players around the world.
NEVADA REPORT
Faith Lutheran achieves Nevada high school milestone By Matt Mackinder
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istory was made on Dec. 14 at City National Arena. That night, Faith Lutheran High School shut out the Utah Selects high school team 4-0 in front of a packed house at the Vegas Golden Knights’ practice facility. The team is coached by Pokey Reddick, a former pro player in Las Vegas and longtime youth hockey coach. What made the game a historical one is all the players on the Crusaders attend Faith Lutheran. “It is so very special,” said Faith Lutheran general manager Craig Thornton. “It is rare enough that a new hockey organization is formed, let alone the first high school team in the 154-year history of Nevada. Our team and school do not take this once-in-a-lifetime blessing lightly. Our students, faculty and fans feel the same way as they packed City National Arena out the doors, close to 1000 of them. It was unbelievable.” Thornton added that the inaugural home opener was “absolutely electric.” “We had a complete sellout, and the energy in the building was incredible,” said Thornton. “We were very fortunate to open at home with a 4-0 shutout against a very good Utah team from Salt Lake City. All in attendance agreed it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, all while witnessing high school hockey history.” Moving forward, Thornton sees nothing but excitement and growth. “We have exceeded any expectations for our inaugural season and the exciting thing is we just started the
season,” said Thornton. “I can hardly wait to see what the been an individual effort. “The humility and support of this school’s administrarest of year one has to offer. Our plans have always been to build a program that is second to none, and to gain a tion, our hockey organization and our student-athletes – all national presence along the way. We envisioned initial work hard, taking it in stride and absorbing everything in a phases of this journey to consume our first 3-5 years. To manner that represents Faith Lutheran principles and morour surprise, we have had multiple inquiries already from als as we wear our shield proudly,” Thornton said. “This families outside of our region, wanting more information is an educational institution with an incredible reputation about Faith and the hockey program. Our success is in Las Vegas for nearly 40 years that is proud to display largely due to our coaching staff. Pokey has coached for our faith as the forefront of our education process. In addition, the incredible support from over 15 years at the AAA level, the Vegas Golden Knights and taking multiple teams to state City National Arena has been just and national championships while grooming student-athletes fantastic – a group of professionto be good citizens and positive als from top to bottom, supporting youth hockey in Las Vegas contributors to our society. with ourselves and the Jr. Golden “More and more, we are seeKnights with anything they can do ing families show their desire to has been such a blessing. have this sort of balance for their “With the kind of exposure student athletes, rather than an we have experienced, our Board ‘all or nothing’ experience.” The Faith Lutheran roster is Faith Lutheran High School players celebrate a goal of Directors has approved expemade up of forwards Zachary during the inaugural home opener on Dec. 14 at City diting our long-term agenda by taking the high school program Ditmore, Colin Driscoll, Jack National Arena. Photo/Radioactive Productions Edlin, Matty Johnson, Hunter Keech, Kyle Martin, into more of a national presence beginning next season Noah McAnallen (also plays defense), Joseph Naylor heading into the northeast and possibly Canada. With a (also plays defense), Phillip Stromer and Jacob Walo; large number of returning skaters, our roster openings are defensemen David Fadell, Colton Fleitz, Tucker small, and we feel the caliber of skater we will produce can Smith and Andrew Thornton; and goaltenders James represent our school and program well.” Brendel and Zack Ortolano. Reddick is joined by asFor more information about the Faith Lutheran High sistant coach Joel Blasko. School program, contact Craig Thornton at flhshockey@ Thornton added that getting to this point has not gmail.com
FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM Sport-specific training: Let’s look at the truths and the myths W
ith sports specialization at a young age becoming the norm, how about the question of sport-specific training? Social media and marketing suggest that all athletes should train specifically for their sport using cool-looking exercises that mimic specific sports. Are these training programs truly helping your athlete or making matters worse by overtraining the same movements or performing exercisChris Phillips es that the athlete is not prepared to do? I do agree that we need to look at the demands that will be placed on an athlete and devise a program to help meet those demands, but we still need to look at basic movements and flexibility that is required to play sports in general. We see many “cool” exercises performed by elite athletes that help them become better players, but can your athlete squat correctly, lunge correctly or touch their toes? Do they have the core strength to even hold a proper plank for 30 seconds or the cardio capacity to play a game without getting tired? Renowned strength coach Mike Boyle notes, “Does a fast baseball player look any different than a fast soccer player? The answer is no.” Probably the biggest concern I hear from parents is that their kid needs to get from Point A to Point B quicker. Improve their acceleration by improving mechanics, power and strength. These are things ALL athletes need to work on. The truth in sport-specific training is that we do need to look at the different demands placed on athletes and the injuries that are common in their sport. The myth is that we can not overlook the basics of athleticism, which are flexibility, stability, speed, strength and power.
Chris Phillips is an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning specialist with over 20 years’ experience in professional hockey, football and soccer. Chris is the owner of Compete Sports Performance and Rehab in Orange County. CARubberHockey.com
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Successful first semester sets up ADISL playoff races seniors at Marina High School. Green had collected seven goals and eight points in four games while Dunton had posted a 3-1-1 record with a 3.54 goals-against average and one shutout. “A.J. controls the game for us on our back end, playing defense, quarterbacking our offense, and coming up with big, timely goals,” Maxwell enumerated. “He’s one of the best players in the entire league. “As our goalie, Vincent can keep us in every game, no matter how many shots he takes. He’s experienced and as solid as they come and has saved our tails many times.” Maxwell hopes the team can keep improving over
By Phillip Brents
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ranked in a tie for fifth in the scoring table with 19 points each. Pacifica’s Matt Cornish (18 points) and Mission Viejo’s Ben Wallace and Mater Dei’s Nick Andruss (both with 17 points) rounded out the league’s top 10 scoring leaders. Pacifica’s Bradley Henke led all netminders at the break with six wins while Woodbridge’s Corey Hickson had posted five wins. The Beckman I duo of Max Dei Rossi (3-0-0) and Danny Tasigeorgos (3-0-0) were undefeated between the pipes. Dei Rossi boasted a standout 1.00 GAA while Tasigeorgos had posted a 2.00 GAA. Four goaltenders – Dei Rossi, Dunton, Villa Park’s James Pritchett and Norco’s Miles Gurrola -- each had posted shutouts.
he Anaheim Ducks Inline Scholastic Hockey League (ADISL) will conclude its 2018-19 fall/ winter season with championship playoffs in February. Teams rolled into the semester break on Dec. 16. “The first half of the season seemed to go well,” ADISL coordinator John Paerels said. “We’re starting to see who the top teams are in both divisions and where the splits for playoffs will probably be for both divisions. But several teams are still on the bubble in both divisions.” Beckman High School, a public school in Irvine with an enrollment of more than 3,000 students from grades nine through 12, is fielding two teams in the ADISL’s fall/winter season. Beckman I topped the Division 1 Junior High Division standings at the break with a 6-0The ADISL’s Junior High 0 record and 44-9 goal-differential Division wrapped up its fall season while Beckman II resided in second playoffs Dec. 14 at The Rinksplace in the division with a 4-2-0 Irvine Inline. Seven of the eight record. teams participated, culminating in Huntington Beach (3-1-1) and championship games in two tiers. Mission Viejo (3-2-1) were tied “Unfortunately, almost the entire for third place in the Division 1 roster of Rancho San Joaquin is on standings with seven standings the same AAA ice team and due points each. Santiago (2-3-1), to an event in Boston (the same Edison I (1-2-1-1) and Norco (1weekend), they had to miss the 6-0) rounded out the division playoffs, so we had to shift things standings. around a bit,” Paerels said. “We still Pacifica and Woodbridge were had some good games, but wish we tied for first place in the Division 2 had a few more teams to balance standings with 6-1-0 records. things out.” Pacifica High School ranked in a tie for first place in the Anaheim Ducks Inline Scholastic Hockey League’s El Toro (4-2-0-1), Irvine (3-2-0), Division 2 standings at the semester break. Photo/ADISL Rancho Santa Margarita (9-2Villa Park (3-4-0), Laguna Hills (3-2-0), Crossroads the balance of the season. 0-1), Sowers Black (9-3-0), Jeffrey Trail (7-5-0) and Christian (3-5-0), Edison II (2-6-0), Mater Dei (2-6-0) “Team goals are to play and work hard together, Lakeside I (4-7-0-1) comprised the regular-season and Cypress (1-6-0) followed in the division standings. learn how to be the best teammate possible, and make Tier 1 standings. sure your role is to make everyone around you better,” The Tier 2 regular-season standings featured the Rolling along he said. Irvine Combo (5-7-0) on top, followed by Lakeside The Huntington Beach Oilers are a combo team II (5-6-0), Rancho San Joaquin (5-5-0) and Sowers with primarily Huntington Beach ice players and Top individuals White (2-9-0). student-athletes from nearby Marina and Fountain Woodbridge’s Charlie Kennedy topped scoring In the finals, Sowers Black defeated Lakeside I by Valley High Schools. With 11 rostered players, from leaders at the semester break with 19 goals and a score of 7-3 to win the Tier 1 championship while all ages and skill levels, head coach Dan Maxwell 28 points. Mater Dei’s Adam Saba ranked second Irvine Combo defeated Lakeside II 11-2 to win the Tier said the team is doing quite well “by just working hard, with 19 goals and 23 points, followed by Brayden 2 title. concentrating on defense by getting in the other team’s Fleming of Beckman I and Laguna Hills’ Keegan Nathan Gilbert and Charlie Crossett each way and making our opponent play uncomfortable.” Mooney with 20 points each. scored two goals to lead Sowers Black to the Tier Outstanding players on the Oilers include skater Villa Park’s Cory Mater, Mater Dei’s Noah 1 title while Irvine Combo rode Logan Herpin’s hat A.J. Green and goaltender Vincent Dunton, both Lachance and Mission Viejo’s Tucker Abel all trick to victory.
ADISL awards first student-athlete honors for ’18-19
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he Anaheim Ducks Inline Scholastic Hockey League (ADISL) recognizes a Student-Athlete of the Month from one of its member teams for exemplary work beyond just excelling on the playing court. This season’s award-winners have been particularly deserving. Twin brothers Chris and Sean Jansky of Villa Park High School earned recognition as the ADISL’s High School Student-Athletes for November. The senior twins have played both inline and ice hockey for Villa Park for the past four years, logging more than 90 games and about 60 points for each player on the Spartans’ inline team. Both boys have served as captain and assistant captain for their teams and both are outstanding students. Sean was recently recognized for having the highest grade-point average (4.84) on the inline team. He is hoping to study biomedical engineering at MIT, 20
California Rubber Hockey Magazine
UCLA or Stanford. earned recognition as the ADISL Student-Athlete of the The twins have been involved in the National League Month for December. A seventh grader at Beacon Park of Young Men, a service organization for mothers School, Stanger fills the utility role on the Roadrunners and sons, for several years. They team in the Junior High Division. decided to continue the Lacing Relied heavily to fill holes, most It Up For Mom charity fundraising recently on defense, Stanger still campaign started by former chipped in with nine goals and teammate Alex Nichols with a two assists on offense. goal to find a cure for metastatic According to his coaches, breast cancer. Stanger’s hockey IQ has During the month of October, strengthened significantly, and the boys sold pink skate laces for he continues to improve his $10 per pair, with all proceeds individual and team skills with donated to Metavivor.org. Not only The Jansky twins, Chris and Sean, of Villa each game and practice. He was did the boys meet their fundraising Park High School were named ADISL Stu- a key contributor to his team’s goal of $7,000, but they exceeded dent-Athletes of the Month for November. success this season. Photo/ADISL it by $786. Vaughn Stanger of Rancho Santa Margarita - Phillip Brents
AAU Winter Nationals face off 2018-19 season in Corona By Phillip Brents
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total of 40 teams competed at the 2018 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Winter Nationals held Dec. 1516 at The Rinks-Corona Inline. The event, which served as a qualifier for July’s AAU Junior Olympic Games tournament in Hawaii, featured awards in 12 championship sub-divisions. “The event had some great divisions and really close games, from our 6U all the way up to our 18U division,” tournament director Ben Barrett said. “It was great to see so many 6U and 8U teams at the event. “The sport continues to grow and not just in numbers. The skill of some of these young kids is amazing to watch and see where they will go with hockey. “It was a great event to finish off 2018 and we are excited to get 2019 kicked off.” The host Bulldogs program, which features nine teams from 6U to 18U for the 2018-19 season, had a great showing at December’s tournament. Five teams advanced to division finals, with three teams winning gold medals and two teams finishing with silver medals. “The teams really played great at this year’s event,” Barrett said. “Our program continues to grow each season and we are extremely excited to see these teams grow even more into the 2019 season.” Top dogs Bulldogs teams captured gold medals in 6U Tier 1, 10U-AA and 18U-A and silver medals in 8U-A and 8U-AA. Division champions also included OC Marvel (6U Tier 2, 8U-A and 8U-AA), HB Militia White (10U-A), Honey Badgers (12U-A), California Kings (12U-AA), Temecula Warriors (14U), Velocity (16U-AA) and Sour Skittles
(18U-AA). Runner-up teams also included the HB Militia (6U Tier 1), Labeda Jets (6U Tier 2, 10U-AA), Temecula Warriors (10U-A, 12U-AA), AKS 06 (12U-A), Mission Renegades (14U), High Rollers (16U-AA) and Raiders HC (18U-A, 18U-AA).
Grayson Bell and Cyrus Kettmeier (10U-A), David Ricci of the Bulldogs Blue (10U-AA), Anna Hurtado of the Honey Badgers (12U-A), Temecula’s Grant Erling and Samantha Reyes (12U-AA) and Bradley Henke of the HB Militia (16U-AA).
Winter Wars West Top individuals State Wars Hockey’s annual Winter Wars West Keilani Sievers of the HB Militia (8U-AA) led all tournament is scheduled for Feb 22-24 at The Rinksdivision high scorers in the tournament with 16 goals and Huntington Beach Inline. The event features 6U through 18 points. Rex Elizalde of 35-and-older age divisions. the Slurpees (12U-AA) ranked State Wars will hold runner-up with nine goals and its 15th anniversary United 15 points. States roller hockey Other division high scorers championships July 23-Aug included Ben Welham of 5 at the SportsONE Parkview the Bulldogs White (8U-A), Icehouse in Fort Wayne, Ind. Kaleb Sanders of the HB The facility, which doubles Militia White (10U-A), Connor as the practice facility for the Laube of the Bulldogs Blue ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets, (10U-AA), Steven Anderson houses three NHL-sized rinks of the Honey Badgers (12Uunder the same roof, is fully A), Temecula’s Dillon Bilek air conditioned, has an onSouthern California’s Saddleback College celebrated its return (14U), Matt Cornish of the to active playing status by winning the Junior College Division site pro shop and features Raiders HC OG (16U-AA) national champion title at April’s National Collegiate Roller Hock- a full-service sports bar and and Blake Tallas of Sour ey Association national championship tournament in Fargo, N.D. restaurant. Skittles (18U-AA). “As State Wars continues to grow – we had 346 Temecula’s Trevor Fife (14U) recorded a .921 save teams in 2018 – we are reaching more and more teams percentage to lead all division top goaltender award- from around the world,” State Wars national director Tim winners. Andy Barsamian of Sour Skittles (18U-AA) McManus said. “We already have teams competing at State ranked runner-up with a .913 save percentage. Wars from other countries such as Canada, Colombia, Other division top goaltender award-winners included Brazil, Korea, United Kingdom, France, Argentina and Hunter Valentine of the OC Marvel Red (8U-A), Tara Sweden. We are excited that we will have even more new Milhorn of the HB Militia (8U-AA), the OC duo of countries competing in Fort Wayne this summer.”
Holiday homecoming links past to present for Godinez By Phillip Brents
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he Hilltop High School roller hockey team had a surprise guest for its Dec. 14 CIF-Metro Conference game against the San Ysidro Cougars: Lancer alum and former head coach George Godinez. Godinez was on winter break from Saddleback College, where he serves as club president of the school’s inline hockey team that competes in the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League (WCRHL). Both the Gauchos and Lancers have something in common – they are creating ripples of excitement in the scholastic inline hockey community. Saddleback College won a national championship in the Junior College Division at last year’s National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships in Fargo, N.D. The Lancers rolled into the 2018-19 winter break with an undefeated 6-0 record in CIF-Metro Conference play. Godinez suited up for Hilltop High School in Chula Vista four years from 2009-13 while earning all-league honors. He later coached his alma mater before moving to Orange County following the 2016-17 season and subsequently enrolling at Saddleback College. “It was great seeing the team grow from their freshmen year to now and seeing how roller hockey continues to grow in the community,” Godinez noted on his return to his hometown. Godinez, who started playing inline hockey at age five, grew up playing travel roller hockey. Many of the friends he made along the journey are now playing for Saddleback. “The chemistry started right away – we all played against each other growing up,” Godinez said. “The
majority of us play in the NARCh Pro Division, about three quarters of the team. We’re constantly getting great competition and that helps prepare for the college teams.” Saddleback sported a 6-1-0-1 record entering the semester break. The Gauchos have designs on defending their national championship at April’s NCRHA finals in Rochester, N.Y. The Gauchos have already proven they can compete
Current Hilltop High School players (pictured from left) Justin Sanchez, Isaiah Macias, Kristin Lambertson and Trevor Fune pose with former head coach George Godinez (center), now the club president of the Saddleback College inline hockey team. Photo/Phillip Brents
with the top teams in the nation after dropping a 9-6 non-conference matchup to Lindenwood University at a WCRHL inter-regional tournament in November in Huntington Beach. Lindenwood finished runner-up in last year’s Division I national championship game. “We gave them a good game – it was a crazy game,” Godinez recounted. “For the second semester, we want to stay focused on our goal. We’d like to be able to re-
peat and defend our title. I think we have a good chance.” Crossover event The WCRHL and SD Inline Hockey are teaming up to create some exposure between San Diego youth and high school players and college teams when the WCRHL hosts a regular-season event Jan. 26 at the Escondido Sports Center. “There have been a good number of players from the greater San Diego area in the WCRHL for many years,” WCRHL director Brennan Edwards explained. “UC San Diego had a team for many years, as well as San Diego State, University of San Diego and Grossmont College.” The crossover event will showcase youth, high school and college teams. SD Inline Hockey youth games will take place starting at 9 a.m. WCRHL Division III conference play between Cal Poly Pomona, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and UCLA will begin at 11a.m. The inaugural SD Inline Hockey High School All Star Game will be featured at 1 p.m. The high school all-star game will include two teams each comprised of eight players and a goaltender. With eight teams in the league, each team will have the opportunity to have at least one player represented, according to SD Inline Hockey director Daryn Goodwin. The cost is $25 to participate, and each player will be able to keep their all-star jersey. “Many players and families aren’t familiar with the opportunities to play college roller hockey, so this is a great opportunity to also come check out some college action and find out more about the college opportunities that exist,” Goodwin said. CARubberHockey.com
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2018-19 CALIFORNIA/NEVADA ALUMNI E-mail all additions, deletions and corrections to alumni@rubberhockey.com
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Pheonix Copley – Washington Capitals + Collin Delia (Rancho Cucamonga) – Chicago Blackhawks Thatcher Demko (San Diego) – Vancouver Canucks Adam Erne – Tampa Bay Lightning * Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor) – Nashville Predators Alec Martinez (Santa Clara) – Los Angeles Kings Kevan Miller (Los Angeles) – Boston Bruins Matt Nieto (Long Beach) – Colorado Avalanche Brooks Orpik (San Francisco) – Washington Capitals Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego) – Pittsburgh Penguins Bobby Ryan (El Segundo) – Ottawa Senators Kailer Yamamoto – Edmonton Oilers % Jason Zucker – Minnesota Wild * AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Chase Balisy (Fullerton) – Belleville Senators Mitch Callahan (Whittier) – Bakersfield Condors Eric Comrie (Newport Beach) – Manitoba Moose Chase De Leo (La Mirada) – San Diego Gulls Emerson Etem (Long Beach) – Ontario Reign Matthew Ford (West Hills) – Grand Rapids Griffins Nic Kerdiles (Irvine) – Manitoba Moose Stefan Matteau – Chicago Wolves ! Trevor Moore (Thousand Oaks) – Toronto Marlies Tyler Moy (San Diego) – Milwaukee Admirals Andrew Oglevie (Fullerton) – Rochester Americans Gustav Olofsson – Laval Rocket ! Nolan Stevens – San Antonio Rampage % Matt Tennyson (Pleasanton) – Rochester Americans Evan Weinger (Los Angeles) – San Jose Barracuda ECHL Taylor Crunk (San Jacinto) – Fort Wayne Komets Chase Golightly (Temecula) – Brampton Beast Dennis Kravchenko (Laguna Niguel) – Adirondack Thunder Merrick Madsen (Acton) – Norfolk Admirals Brandon Marino (Riverside) – Brampton Beast Nikolas Olsson (Escondido) – Adirondack Thunder Zach Pochiro – Allen Americans % Matt Robertson (Rohnert Park) – Kansas City Mavericks Scott Savage (San Clemente) – Maine Mariners Tomas Sholl (Hermosa Beach) – Idaho Steelheads Keoni Texeira (Fontana) – Wichita Thunder Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose) – Greenville Swamp Rabbits Justin Woods – Jacksonville IceMen + SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Stefan Brucato (Riverside) – Knoxville Ice Bears Paul Fregeau (Sylmar) – Fayetteville Marksmen Josh Harris (Torrance) – Birmingham Bulls Mitchell Mueller (Bakersfield) – Quad City Storm Brantley Sherwood (San Anselmo) – Pensacola Ice Flyers John Siemer (Baldwin Park) – Macon Mayhem Zac Sikich (Oak Park) – Knoxville Ice Bears FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Daniel Chang (Woodland Hills) – Port Huron Prowlers Josh Colten (Los Angeles) – Port Huron Prowlers Matt Graham (Rancho Cucamonga) – Port Huron Prowlers Taylor Love (Mission Viejo) – Carolina Thunderbirds Sean Reynolds (Covina) – Elmira Enforcers Jacob Walters (San Diego) – Carolina Thunderbirds OVERSEAS Sena Acolatse (Hayward) – Germany Taylor Aronson (Placentia) – Germany Beau Bennett (Gardena) – Belarus Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita) - Russia Matt Caito (Coto de Caza) – Austria Robbie Earl (Los Angeles) – Switzerland Shane Harper (Valencia) – Sweden Cory Kane (Irvine) – Russia Miles Koules (Los Angeles) – Finland Brandon Kozun (Los Angeles) – Russia Ryan Lasch (Lake Forest) – Sweden Colin Long (Santa Ana) – Italy Tyler Moy (La Jolla) – Switzerland Darren Nowick (Long Beach) - Sweden Austin Ortega (Escondido) – Sweden Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach) – Sweden Liam Stewart – United Kingdom % * C.J. Stretch (Irvine) – Austria Mitch Wahl (Seal Beach) – Austria Casey Wellman (Brentwood) – Switzerland Matt White (Whittier) – Germany NATIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE Kaliya Johnson – Boston Pride $ Kelly Nash (Bonita) – Metropolitan Riveters Elena Orlando (Chico) – Connecticut Whale Brooke White-Lancette (Berkeley) – Minnesota WhitecapsCANADIAN 22
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CANADIAN WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE Lizzie Aveson (West Covina) – Worcester Blades Chelsea Goldberg (Agoura Hills) – Worcester Blades Rachel Llanes (San Jose) – Shenzen KRS Vanke Rays COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ATLANTIC HOCKEY Elijiah Barriga (West Covina) – American International College Jake Hamacher (Corona) – Rochester Institute of Technology Trevin Kozlowski (Valencia) – Army West Point Tayor Maruya (Westchester) – Army West Point Jared Pike – American International College % Evan Plotnik (Capistrano Beach) – American International College Blake Weyrick (Los Angeles) – Canisius College BIG TEN Nathan Burke – University of Minnesota % Will Johnson (Santa Barbara) – University of Wisconsin Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek) – Michigan State University Brannon McManus (Newport Beach) – University of Minnesota Dakota Raabe (Capistrano Beach) – University of Michigan Jake Slaker (San Diego) – University of Michigan ECAC HOCKEY Arthur Brey (Yorba Linda) – St. Lawrence University Alec McCrea (El Cajon) – Cornell University Alec Mehr (Los Angeles) – Brown University Sam Morton (Benicia) – Union College Gavin Nieto (Yorba Linda) – Brown University Jack St. Ivany (Manhattan Beach) – Yale University HOCKEY EAST Niko Hildenbrand (Vacaville) – University of Massachusetts Matt O’Donnell (Fountain Valley) – University of Vermont Ryan Ruck (Coto de Caza) – Northeastern University Eetu Selanne (Coto de Caza) – Northeastern University Ryan Tait (Santa Clarita) – Providence College Josh Wilkins – Providence College % NCHC Devin Cooley (Los Gatos) – University of Denver Lawton Courtnall (Westlake Village) – Western Michigan University Slava Demin (Cypress) – University of Denver Jake Durflinger (Walnut Creek) – University of Denver Jack Gates (Oceanside) – Colorado College Cole Guttman (Los Angeles) – University of Denver Robby Jackson (Alameda) – St. Cloud State University Ben Lown (Newport Coast) – Miami University Kyle Mayhew (Anaheim Hills) – University of Denver Tyson McLellan (San Jose) – University of Denver Erik Middendorf – Colorado College % Patrick Newell (Thousand Oaks) – St. Cloud State University Ryan Orgel (Los Angeles) – University of Denver Jake Rosenbaum (Trabuco Canyon) – University of Minnesota Duluth Rourke Russell (Long Beach) – Miami University Ryan Siroky (Manhattan Beach) – Miami University Brian Williams (San Diego) – Colorado College WCHA Vincent de Mey (Los Angeles) – Northern Michigan University Niko DellaMaggiore (Gilroy) – University of Alaska-Fairbanks Zak Galambos (Walnut Creek) – Minnesota State University Brendan Harris – Bemidji State University + Nate Kallen (San Diego) – Ferris State University Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach) – Northern Michigan University Shane McMahan (Irvine) – Minnesota State University Nicholas Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Minnesota State University Tyler Rockwell (San Jose) – Michigan Tech University Ethan Somoza (Simi Valley) – Bemidji State University NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN CHA Lillian Marchant (Tustin) – Lindenwood University Leah Marino (South Lake Tahoe) – Robert Morris University Baylee Trani (Huntington Beach) – Rochester Institute of Technology ECAC HOCKEY Katherine Beaumier – Clarkson University $ Bailey Bennett (Gardena) – Colgate University Keiko DeClerck (San Jose) – Princeton University Kendra Farole (Irvine) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Tanner Gates (Oceanside) – Colgate University Lydia Grauer – St. Lawrence University $ Bella Kang (Los Gatos) – Cornell University Vivian Lu (Studio City) – Brown University Keely Moy (San Diego) – Harvard University Kayla Nielsen (Laguna Hills) – St. Lawrence University Dominique Petrie (Hermosa Beach) – Harvard University Justine Reyes (Chino Hills) – St. Lawrence University Tia Stoddard (La Mesa) – Clarkson University HOCKEY EAST Cayla Barnes (Eastvale) – Boston College Nicole Dunbar (Coto de Caza) – University of New Hampshire Joo Hyung (Las Crescenta) – Boston University
NEWHA Anna Estes (Whittier) – Post University Gabby Monaco (La Verne) – St. Anselm College Kalena Mueller (San Ramon) – Post University Frankie Sanchez (Lake Elsinore) – Sacred Heart University WCHA Lauren Boyle (Los Gatos) – Ohio State University Brooke Bryant (Linden) – Minnesota State University Tatum Coats (Lakewood) – St. Cloud State University Leila Kilduff (San Jose) – Minnesota State University Annie Pankowski (Laguna Hills) – University of Wisconsin NCAA DIVISION II – MEN NORTHEAST-10 Khalil East (Los Angeles) – Assumption College Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton) – Franklin Pierce University D-II INDEPENDENT Niko Grollman (Laguna Niguel) – Post University NCAA DIVISION III – MEN CCC Aaron Aragon (Whittier) – University of New England Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point) – Salve Regina University Adam Canepa (Santa Cruz) – University of New England Justin Dixson (Sunnyvale) – University of New England Tyler Forest (Simi Valley) – Becker College Cody Foster (Saugus) – Becker College Carter Horwitz (Tustin) – Endicott College Evan Nyhus (Dove Canyon) – Nichols College Evan Schmidbauer (San Diego) – Salve Regina University Joseph Thielen (Huntington Beach) – Curry College
SUNYAC Max Blitz (Chino Hills) – Fredonia State University Mike Freeman (Rancho Cucamonga) – Fredonia State University Doc Gentzler (Manhattan Beach) – Brockport State University Jasper Korican-Barlay (Oakland) – Fredonia State University Sean Lincoln (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Brockport State University Luke Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Fredonia State University UCHC Cory Anderson (Bakersfield) – Manhattanville College Sean Dickson (Millbrae) – Utica College Tyler Dill (South Lake Tahoe) – Utica College Andrew Frojelin (San Jose) – Nazareth College Brian Hodges (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Aaron Murray (Chino) – Stevenson University T.J. Sneath (Chino) – Lebanon Valley College Felix Takacsi-Nagy (Los Gatos) – Lebanon Valley College Chad Watt (Riverside) – Stevenson University Colin Woods (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University D-III INDEPENDENT Alec Grollman (Laguna Niguel) – Bryn Athyn College William Ma (Anaheim) – Canton State University Jack Sitzman (Redondo Beach) – Anna Maria College NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN COLONIAL HOCKEY Lexie Anderson (San Francisco) – Salve Regina University Taylor Chisholm (Discovery Bay) – Salve Regina University Madison Maloney (Clovis) – Becker College Cameron Payne (Rancho Cucamonga) – Becker College Ally Stout (Stockton) – Canton State University Anastasia Thompson (Riverside) – Becker College Jensen Wurm (Arvada) – Nichols College
MASCAC Connor Cooley (Simi Valley) – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Drake Longaker (San Jose) – Plymouth State University Cameron Mack (Long Beach) – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Connor McPherson (Lancaster) – Fitchburg State University Kyle Orgel (Los Angeles) – Plymouth State University Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills) – Worcester State Univeersity Nicholas Short (Los Angeles) – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
MIAC Valerie Brown (San Martin) – St. Thomas University Jessica Jones (El Cajon) – St. Mary’s University
MIAC Don Carter (Antioch) – Hamline University Carter Dahl (Fresno) – St. Mary’s University Chase Di Bari (Ladera Ranch) – Bethel University Nick Klishko (San Diego) – Gustavus Adolphus College Chandler Madry (Bakersfield) – Augsburg College Dallas Marvin (Newbury Park) – Bethel University Nick Nast (Oxnard) – St. Mary’s University Kyle Rimbach (Encinitas) – St. Olaf College Cole Souto (Yorba Linda) – St. John’s University Alex Stoley (Manteca) – Concordia University (Minn.)
NEHC Sierra Donahue (San Jose) – Suffolk University Mackenzie Kennedy (Brea) – Plymouth State University Brooke Maggy (Alhambra) – Plymouth State University Cortney Reyes (Chino Hills) – New England College Kiley Searles (San Jose) – Suffolk University Maisie Tatum-Borich (Newport Beach) – New England College Morgan Tefft (Redwood City) – Norwich University Tara Turcotte (Huntington Beach) – New England College
NCHA Andrew Behsid (Los Angeles) – Lake Forest College Rock Boynton (Lomita) – Milwaukee School of Engineering Connor Chilton (Oak Park) – Aurora University Lonnie Clary (Riverside) – Marian University Tanner Dalton (Bakersfield) – Milwaukee School of Engineering Dakota Delbridge (Tracy) – Concordia University (Wis.) Zach Feldman (San Diego) – Lake Forest College Kyle Gonzalez (Chino Hills) – Northland College David Marabella (Clovis) – Milwaukee School of Engineering James Mathias (Ontario) – Marian University Connor Melton (Chico) – Northland College Danny O’Donnell (Ventura) – Aurora University Liam Stirtzinger (Simi Valley) – Aurora University Chris Timm (Dublin) – Trine University Nick Trefry (Upland) – Northland College Taylor Urch (Anaheim) – Lawrence University Quinton Wunder (Simi Valley) – Lake Forest College NEHC Coby Downs (Montclair) – Norwich University Conor Ferrera (Trabuco Canyon) – Southern Maine University John Garrity (Dublin) – Suffolk University Keenan Haase (Mission Viejo) – New England College David MacGregor (Azusa) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Ryan Ng (Manhattan Beach) – Castleton State University Adam Papayoanou (Valencia) – Southern Maine University Will Platt (San Francisco) – New England College Mark Shroyer (Fresno) – Castleton State University Corey Sikich (Hermosa Beach) – Castleton State University Nick Wardstrom (Discovery Bay) – Suffolk University Matt Wiesner (Newport Beach) – Babson College Eric Wright (Poway) – Suffolk University NESCAC Jake Camel (Palos Verdes) – Hamilton College Evan Johnson (Huntington Beach) – Williams College Tyler Levine (Laguna Beach) – Wesleyan University Marcus Mollica (Dove Canyon) – Williams College Sean Ross (San Diego) – Wesleyan University Nick Schultze (San Diego) – Tufts University
NCHA Abby Kolek (San Marcos) – Finlandia University Julieana Tarantino (San Diego) – Lake Forest College Jordyn Tomaszewski (Daly City) – Aurora University
NESCAC Michelle Behshid (Saugus) – Bowdoin College Colleen Castro (Redwood City) – Wesleyan University Kai-Lilly Karpman (Playa del Rey) – Trinity College Danielle Marquez (Long Beach) – Bowdoin College Alicia Nickolenko (Encinitas) – Wesleyan University Cierra San Roman (Orange) – Colby College Sarah Takahashi (Pleasanton) – Wesleyan University Kiara Vazquez (La Quinta) – Middlebury College Emily Williams (Fallbrook) – Hamilton College NEWHL Emily Burke (San Jose) – Potsdam State University Angelina Cruzal (Campbell) – Buffalo State University Lindsay Reyes (Chino Hills) – Cortland State University Samantha White (Oceanside) – Potsdam State University Olivia Wilburn (Stockton) – Cortland State University UCHC Mary Deyell (Glendale) – King’s College Devyn Gilman (Yorba Linda) – Elmira College Savannah Gutierrez (Huntington Beach) – Utica College Bella Hanson – Elmira College $ Victoria Lahey (Fairfield) – Lebanon Valley College Ashley Marchant (Orange County) – Chatham University Amy Templeman (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Lebanon Valley College Tristen Tolan – Elmira College $ CANADIAN UNIVERSITY Keanu Yamamoto – McGill University % JUNIOR HOCKEY ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Tyler Browning (Huntington Beach) – Drayton Valley Thunder Stewart Pond (San Diego) – Lloydminster Bobcats Jackson Wozniak (Cypress) – Grand Prairie Storm BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Brian Adams (San Ramon) – Wenatchee Wild Blake Bargar (Torrance) – Wenatchee Wild Ryan Fischer (Anaheim Hills) – Victoria Grizzlies P.J. Fletcher (Dana Point) – Wenatchee Wild Andre Ghantous (Glendale) – Penticton Vees
Jacob Modry (El Segundo) – Wenatchee Wild Landon Pavlisin (Orange) – Nanaimo Clippers Brett Roloson (Newport Beach) – Merritt Centennials Henri Schreifels (Agoura Hills) – Victoria Grizzlies Chad Sasaki (Cypress) – Wenatchee Wild Paul Selleck (Laguna Hills) – Cowichan Valley Capitals Murphy Stratton (Los Angeles) – Wenatchee Wild Drake Usher (Upland) – Wenatchee Wild Ryan Wilson (San Diego) – Wenatchee Wild CENTRAL CANADA HOCKEY LEAGUE Jesse Lycan (San Diego) – Navan Grads Lucas Yovetich (Beverly Hills) – Hawkesbury Hawks CANADIAN PREMIER JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Dante Petrini (Bakersfield) - Scarborough Wexford Raiders EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Jonathan Aguilar (Pasadena) – Valley Jr. Warriors Quinn Baker (Santa Monica) – Philadelphia Little Flyers Hayden Dalton (Bakersfield) – New York Applecore Isaac Espinosa (Roseville) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Brad Estrada (Chino Hills) – Valley Jr. Warriors Ethan Gill (Santa Clarita) – Connecticut Chiefs (Premier) John Grealish (Bakersfield) – Boston Jr. Rangers Jake Humble (San Ramon) – North Carolina Golden Bears Christian Kazoleas (Irvine) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Wiggle Kerbrat (Laguna Niguel) – New Hampshire Avalanche Cole Madzey (Alamo) – Connecticut Chiefs Dakota Pitts (Rancho Cucamonga) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Bryan Verna (Lake Forest) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights Justin Vickers (Orange County) – New Jersey 87’s GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Nareg Balian (Tustin) – Niagara-on-the-Lake Nationals Austin Kane (Milpitas) – Bradford Rattlers Luis Mendoza (Newark) – Tottenham Steam KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Logan Berggren (Cypress) – Creston Valley Thunder Cats MANITOBA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Jakob Besnilian (Whittier) – Swan Valley Stampeders Michael Boutoussov (Dana Point) – Neepawa Natives Parker Brakebill (Yorba Linda) – Virden Oil Capitals Greg Lee (Aliso Viejo) – Waywayseecappo Wolverines Zach Pires (Orange) – Neepawa Natives NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Sam Anzai (Los Angeles) – Jamestown Rebels Brandon Bergado (San Jose) – Maryland Black Bears Daniel Chladek (Anaheim) – Bismarck Bobcats Jared Christy (Cypress) – Odessa Jackalopes Andrew DeCarlo (Huntington Beach) – Lone Star Brahmas Josh Fricks (Laguna Niguel) – Odessa Jackalopes Joseph Harguindeguy (La Habra) – Minot Minotauros Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch) – Aberdeen Wings Noah Kim (Fullerton) – Austin Bruins Mason Kohn (San Diego) – Corpus Christi IceRays Austin Koss (Huntington Beach) – Janesville Jets Daylon Mannon (Fresno) – Maryland Black Bears Garrett Nieto (Yorba Linda) – Janesville Jets Luc Salem (Los Angeles) – Maryland Black Bears Mattias Sholl (Hermosa Beach) – Fairbanks Ice Dogs Connor Smith (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Topeka Pilots Jake Sujishi (Lake Forest) – Maryland Black Bears Julian Timba (Oceanside) – Bismarck Bobcats Lukas Uhler (Upland) – Jamestown Rebels Matt Vernon (San Jose) – Aberdeen Wings Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach) – Austin Bruins NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Ian Acuna (Glendora) – Peoria Mustangs Chance Anderson (Poway) – Peoria Mustangs Riley Anderson (Malibu) – Missoula Jr. Bruins Trevor Arsenault (Huntington Beach) – New England Stars Tyler Blanchard (San Jose) – Texas Brahmas Nick Castro (Redondo Beach) – Yellowstone Quake Nolan Conrad (Corona) – Gillette Wild Jack Cooper (Santa Cruz) – Texas Brahmas McKenna Cooper (Thousand Oaks) – Atlanta Capitals Ryan Cortez (Norco) – Long Beach Sharks Trent Cowden (Simi Valley) – Great Falls Americans Luc Cross (Anaheim) – Helena Bighorns Dylan Davenport – Milwaukee Power % Mason Evans (Danville) – Milwaukee Power Cherokee Fox (Perris) – Oswego Stampede Ryan Gridley (Santa Monica) – Long Beach Sharks Kellen Ireland (Turlock) – Texas Brahmas Wayne Jones (Simi Valley) – Atlanta Capitals Brad Larson (San Diego) – Peoria Mustangs Michael Lempiainen (Corona) – New England Stars Tyler Nelson (Pleasanton) – New Ulm Steel Hunter Norris (Mission Viejo) – New England Stars Jake Pisarcik (Oak Park) – Atlanta Capitals Jack Radley (San Diego) – Peoria Mustangs Luke Richesin (Clovis) – Great Falls Americans Alexander Rogers (Anaheim) – Helena Bighorns Connor Rollo (Camarillo) – Willmar WarHawks Enzo Rolon (Huntington Beach) – Yellowstone Quake Bryce Runyan (Riverside) – Texas Brahmas Nate Simpson (Claremont) – Great Falls Americans Jared Slay (Ventura) – College Station Spirit
James Spaargaren (San Diego) – New Ulm Steel Riley Stern (Simi Valley) – Atlanta Capitals Stanislav Struthers (Shadow Hills) – Louisiana Drillers Jake Sumner (Alta Loma) – Willmar WarHawks Nick Torres (Long Beach) – Great Falls Americans Nick Vardon (Long Beach) – Maine Wild ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE Sasha Chmelevski (Huntington Beach) – Ottawa 67’s Ivan Lodnia (Anaheim) – Niagara IceDogs Sahil Panwar (Cerritos) – London Knights Jason Robertson (Arcadia) – Kingston Frontenacs Nick Robertson (Arcadia) – Peterborough Petes ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Nick Kent (Ladera Ranch) – Buffalo Jr. Sabres SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Ryan Gil (Huntington Beach) – Battlefords North Stars Patrick Pugliese (Pasadena) – Nipawin Hawks Wyatt Wong (Glendale) – Melville Millionaires SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Mason McIntosh (Los Angeles) – Thief River Falls Norskies Carson Murison (Half Moon Bay) – Dryden GM Ice Dogs UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Joe Cassetti (Pleasanton) – Waterloo Black Hawks Josh Groll (San Diego) – Chicago Steel Cooper Haar (Huntington Beach) – Dubuque Fighting Saints Rory Herrman (Poway) – Green Bay Gamblers Ryan Johnson (Irvine) – Sioux Falls Stampede Jonathan Panisa (Irvine) – Central Illinois Flying Aces Dylan Peterson (Roseville) – U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team Ryan Savage (Scottsdale) – Omaha Lancers Kaelan Taylor (Oceanside) – Dubuque Fighting Saints Ethan Wolthers (Valencia) – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Cam York (Anaheim Hills) – U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Matthew Ayers (Calabasas) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Elite) Guillaume Bose (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Luke Bowman (Los Gatos) – Islanders Hockey Club (Elite) Matthew Brown (Los Angeles) – Connecticut Jr. Rangers (Premier) Anthony Capraro (Hacienda Heights) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Dean Carden (Costa Mesa) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Jack Carter (San Diego) – Islanders Hockey Club (Elite) Kenny Cavers (San Jose) – Connecticut Jr. Rangers (Premier) Halen Cookston (Santa Clarita) – Philadelphia Hockey Club (Premier) Takato Cox (Redondo Beach) – Connecticut Jr. Rangers (NCDC) Cole Demchuk (Murrieta) – Islanders Hockey Club (Elite) Dante DiNapoli (Moss Beach) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Raymond Fleming (Palo Alto) – Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings (Premier) Luc Fox (Valencia) – Charlotte Rush (Elite) James Gagan (Mission Viejo) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Donovan Garcia (San Jose) – Islanders Hockey Club (Premier) Weston Goodman (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Mason Hackel (San Jose) – Philadelphia Hockey Club (Premier) Anthony Hagiu (Riverside) – New York Aviators (Elite) Hunter Hansen (Vacaville) – Minnesota Blue Ox (Premier) Dylan Hernandez-Ramirez (Costa Mesa) – Islanders Hockey Club (Elite) Timothy Kovacevic (Huntington Beach) – New York Aviators (Premier) Jordan Labbe (Pasadena) – Jersey Hitmen (Premier) Georg Landro (Riverside) – Potomac Patriots (Premier) Ryan Lanpheer (San Diego) – Atlanta Jr. Kings (Premier) Erik Larson (San Jose) – Boston Bandits (NCDC) Justin Lebouef (Canyon Country) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Jason Lee (Thousand Oaks) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Cullen MacNicoll (El Segundo) – New York Aviators (Elite) Collin Madrid (Los Angeles) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier) Cam Manory (Simi Valley) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Connor Matthews (Redondo Beach) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam Mazurowski (Modesto) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam McGill (Santa Margarita) – Boston Bandits (Premier) John Moffat (South Lake Tahoe) – Hartford Jr. Wolfpack (Premier) Collin Moore (Orange County) – Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings (Premier) Josh Morrison (San Diego) – Minnesota Moose (Premier) Ryan Newman (Bakersfield) – Charlotte Rush (Premier) Bryan Pan (Fremont) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Elite) Simon Perkic (Riverside) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Nicolas Privitera (Sun Valley) – Rochester Monarchs (Premier) Ismael Ralsten (Huntington Beach) – Islanders Hockey Club (NCDC) Casey Rhodes (Huntington Beach) – Jersey Hitmen (NCDC) Mitch Rickert (Santa Rosa) – New Jersey Rockets (NCDC) Hunter Rogers (Simi Valley) – Philadelphia Hockey Club (Premier) James Sandberg (Thousand Oaks) – Jersey Hitmen (Elite) Brendan Schulte (Fullerton) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Phillip Shemyakin (Mission Viejo) – Charlotte Rush (Premier) Ryan Sheridan (Orange County) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Jered Stevenson (Stockton) – Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings (Premier) Mischa Subotin (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Spencer Taylor (Venice) – Richmond Generals (Elite) VANCOUVER ISLAND JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Grady Birk (Carlsbad) – Victoria Cougars WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Hunter Campbell – Calgary Hitmen % Jake McGrew (Orange) – Spokane Chiefs Luke Ormsby – Moose Jaw Warriors % Carl Stankowski (Laguna Hills) – Calgary Hitmen Brayden Watts (Bakersfield) – Vancouver Giants Dustin Wolf (Tustin) – Everett Silvertips
WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Joseph Aguirre (West Covina) – Ontario Avalanche Tristan Baker (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Ethan Bock (Los Angeles) – Ontario Avalanche Dominic Bosetti (Long Beach) – Long Beach Bombers Ryan Brown (South Lake Tahoe) – Steamboat Wranglers Christian Bundschuh (Newport Coast) – Utah Outliers Christopher Cantillo (Covina) – Ontario Avalanche Gabe Cognac (Orange County) – Fresno Monsters Riley Cryan (Carlsbad) – San Diego Sabers Declan Curtis (Fontana) – Ontario Avalanche Lucas Demsar (South Lake Tahoe) – Valencia Flyers Quinn Deshler (Torrance) – Ontario Avalanche Sean Devaney (San Diego) – San Diego Sabers Cole Diamond (Hesperia) – Seattle Totems Dylan Dix (Scotts Valley) – Utah Outliers Connor Duffy (Orange County) – Ontario Avalanche Eric Easterson (Canyon Country) – Valencia Flyers Matthew Genter (Midway City) – Long Beach Bombers Shane Gilbert (Huntington Beach) – Ogden Mustangs Michael Gomez (Visalia) – Fresno Monsters David Grindstaff (Sacramento) – San Diego Sabers Samuel Hernandez (Fontana) – Ontario Avalanche Taylor Hiatt (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Jonathan Holguin (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Hayden Hoyt (Yorba Linda) – Ontario Avalanche Max Kamper (Aliso Viejo) – El Paso Rhinos Mason Kaprelyan (Yorba Linda) – Long Beach Bombers Samuel Kapusta (Irvine) – San Diego Sabers Jacob Mabaquaio (San Diego) – Bellingham Blazers Christopher Maghakian (Santa Clarita) – West Sound Admirals Tate Martishius (Valencia) – Valencia Flyers Cameron Maycock (Claremont) – Ontario Avalanche John McNamara (Valencia) – Valencia Flyers Alex Neverve (San Jose) – Ogden Mustangs Nicklas Oda (Yorba Linda) – Steamboat Wranglers Michael Onda (Saugus) – Valencia Flyers Ethan Racz (Carlsbad) – Ogden Mustangs Adam Rousselo (Santa Clarita) – West Sound Admirals Brett Ruiz (Rancho Cucamonga) – Ontario Avalanche Emmett Rupert (Santa Barbara) – Fresno Monsters Dylan San Agustin (Santa Clarita) – Valencia Flyers Joel Short (Long Beach) – Long Beach Bombers Todd Thompson, Jr. (San Jose) – Dallas Snipers Jarrett Townsend (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Valencia Flyers Tanner Turcotte (Huntington Beach) – Ontario Avalanche Jeremy Van Dyke (Corona) – Ontario Avalanche Jack Walsh (Oceanside) – Utah Outliers Tristan Warr (Valencia) – Valencia Flyers
Ellis O’Dowd (Santa Barbara) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Zane Parker (Hawthorne) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Luke Peterson (Moorpark) – The Gunnery John Pratt (Laguna Niguel) – Berkshire School Jayden Price (Coto de Caza) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Quinn Proctor (South Lake Tahoe) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Alexander Rogers (Anaheim) – Williston Northampton Ross Roloson (Newport Beach) – Shawnigan Lake School Hunter Sansbury (Lomita) – The Gunnery Chase Sechrist (Santa Rosa) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Andrey Shemaykin (South Lake Tahoe) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Jordan Skahill (San Dimas) – South Kent Steven Soos (Pasadena) – The Winchendon School Daniel Thomas (Irvine) – Hotchkiss School Simon Thue (San Jose) – Millbrook School Daniel Ton-That (Laguna Hills) – Tilton School Lukas Uhler (Upland) – New Hampton School Brent Valentine (Newport Beach) – Choate Rosemary Hall Bradley Wang (Arcadia) – Choate Rosemary Hall Ryan Wilson (San Diego) – Milton Academy Eric Yagubyan (Glendale) – Tilton School Billy Zegras (San Diego) – The Berkshire School
PREP SCHOOL Max Abramson (Pacific Palisades) – Kent School Chris Alexander (Valencia) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s John Alexander (Valencia) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Leon Biller (Valencia) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Jordan Bonner (Huntington Beach) – Albany Academy Alexander Boyko (Rocklin) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Brendan Brisson (Manhattan Beach) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Miles Brodey (Pasadena) – The Lawrenceville School Noah Dahlen (Orange) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Jared Day (Orange) – Brooks School Cameron Dunnigan (Bakersfield) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Corey Eaton (San Marcos) – Tilton School Tanner Ensign (Tustin) – Holderness School Nikko Escobar (Ventura) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Dennis L. Y. Franklin (Oakland) – The Taft School Ezra Gale (Pomona) – Hoosac School Aidan Garcia (Burbank) – The Groton School Michael Gilerman (Encino) – Proctor Academy Jonah Gold (Rolling Hills Estates) – The Groton School Jacob Gunderson (Valencia) – Lakeville South J.T. Halliday (Valencia) – St. Paul’s Tyler Herr (Huntington Beach) – Culver Academy Pablo Honda (Bishop) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Lily Humphrey (Huntington Beach) – New Hampton School Grant Kaplan (Sherman Oaks) – Brooks School Leo Kaplan (Sherman Oaks) – Brooks School Huston Karpman (Manhattan Beach) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Nathan Katzaroff (Anaheim) – Milton Academy Jaxon Kennedy (South Lake Tahoe) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Tyler Kitchen (Bakersfield) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Matt Kors (Los Angeles) – Shawnigan Lake School Alexander Krause (Calabasas) – Loomis Chaffee Ty Krivtsov (Valencia) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Tristan Lam (Arcadia) – Bishop’s College School Nicholas Lee (Los Angeles) – Salisbury School Noah Lee (Los Angeles) – Salisbury School Tae Lee (Irvine) – The Governor’s Academy Koby Leeman (Napa) – Culver Academy Tyler Leibl (Del Mar) – Shawnigan Lake School Cobi Lennex (Valencia) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Mathias Long (Marina del Rey) – Lake Forest Academy Brett MacNicoll (El Segundo) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Brandon McDonald (Los Angeles) – Vermont Academy Kyle McElhaney (Yorba Linda) – Tilton School Nolan McElhaney (Yorba Linda) – Cushing Academy Seth McKenna (Moorpark) – Tilton School Tyler McNeil (Santa Clarita) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Ryan Meaney (Santa Clarita) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Nathan Moffat (Lake Tahoe) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Zach Mojarro (Bishop) – The Gunnery Brian Morse (Fresno) – The Gunnery Jacob Nordorf (Gardena) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy
COLLEGE HOCKEY
NEVADA PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Jason Zucker (Las Vegas) – Minnesota Wild AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Gage Quinney (Las Vegas) – Chicago Wolves ECHL Chris Francis (Las Vegas) – Tulsa Oilers Zach Pochiro (Las Vegas) – Allen Americans Joey Raats (Las Vegas) – Utah Grizzlies Joe Sullivan (Las Vegas) – Manchester Monarchs Cory Ward (Las Vegas) – Manchester Monarchs SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Derek Sutliffe (Las Vegas) – Macon Mayhem OVERSEAS Bryce Reddick (Las Vegas) – United Kingdom CANADIAN WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE Megan Myers (Las Vegas) – Worcester Bladess
NCAA DIVISION I – MEN WCHA Brendan Harris (Henderson) – Bemidji State University D-I INDEPENDENT Dominic Garcia (Las Vegas) – Arizona State University NCAA DIVISION III – MEN NESCAC Brenden Russ (Las Vegas) – Connecticut College JUNIOR HOCKEY GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Nathan Skala (Las Vegas) – Northumberland Stars MARITIME HOCKEY LEAGUE Landon Quinney (Las Vegas) – Valley Wildcats NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Vito Carlo (Las Vegas) – Atlanta Capitals Dylan Davenport – Milwaukee Power @ Caleb Day (Las Vegas) – Gillette Wild Brenden Fehlig (Las Vegas) – College Station Spirit Bryce Gould (Las Vegas) – Butte Cobras Gunner Moore (Las Vegas) – Atlanta Capitals Danny Ramos (Las Vegas) – Gillette Wild Gabriel Testa (Las Vegas) – Long Beach Sharks SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Steven Avalone (Las Vegas) – Kindersley Klippers UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Ty Gartzke (Las Vegas) – Decatur Blaze (Premier) Deric Prier (Las Vegas) – Florida Jr. Blades (Elite) Gage Roberts (Las Vegas) – Carolina Eagles (Premier) Cameron Sylvester (Las Vegas) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite) Ethan Van Muyden (Henderson) – Boston Bandits (Elite) WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Erik Atchison (Las Vegas) – Spokane Chiefs WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Cody Printzen (Las Vegas) – Fresno Monsters Anthony Rodriguez (Henderson) – Long Beach Bombers % former Los Angeles Jr. King + former California Titan * former LA Select
! former San Jose Jr. Shark $ former Anaheim Lady Duck @ former Nevada Storm
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UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE
California quintet getting job done for USPHL’s Cyclones By Joshua Boyd/USPHL.com
C
yclones, tornadoes and other storms are well known for taking things from their foundations and moving them somewhere new and unexpected. The Northern Cyclones hockey team does the same, but with hockey players and with much more fortunate outcomes than their meteorological namesake. The Cyclones team in the USPHL Premier division has moved five players from their California foundations and they are now playing huge roles for one of the 51-team league’s best teams, operating out of Hudson, N.H. Brendan Schulte was the first of these Cyclones to make the move east, joining the Cyclones’ 18U program in 2016. The ‘98 Fullerton native was a star player for Servite High School in Anaheim. Schulte has scored 12 goals and 35 points in 28 games for this year’s USPHL Premier Cyclones team. “I heard about all the college commitments coming through the USPHL, and you just want to go and play there,” said Schulte. Schulte has been with the USPHL Premier team for two seasons now, scoring 29 points in 35 games in 2017-18. He gives all the credit to Premier coach Bill Weiand for developing his game to the point that he is getting a lot of NCAA attention. Just ahead of Schulte in the scoring ranks is a second-year Cyclone, Guillaume Bose, who spent both of the last two years with the organization’s Premier
squad. Bose has 13 goals and 39 points in 28 games for the Cyclones. He is a ‘98-born San Jose native. “I found myself out here for NCDC [the USPHL’s top, tuition-free junior division] tryouts, and I met Coach Weiand, and stayed around,” said Bose, a former San Jose Jr. Sharks standout. “I had heard that the Cyclones were very good about placing players in college around
The Northern Cyclones’ USPHL team’s California contingent is comprised of (left to right) Anthony Capraro (Hacienda Heights), Guillaume Bose (San Jose), Weston Goodman (San Jose), Mischa Subotin (San Jose) and Brendan Schulte (Fullerton). Photo/ Stephen Spencer/Action Photography
the East Coast. I love this program. All the coaches and facilities are great.” The Cyclones’ development model took Bose from a player early in 2017-18 that didn’t see a lot of playing time, to the leading scorer and team captain here at the midpoint of 2018-19.
“I definitely feel like I’ve developed a lot,” said Bose, who reached out to his former Sharks 12U and 14U teammate Mischa Subotin (‘98/San Jose) to bring him on board with the Cyclones. Subotin has 11 goals and 15 points in 27 games for the Cyclones. “We switch our lines up a lot here, but Guillaume and I have played on a line together a bit,” Subotin said. “It’s a lot of fun. “I think it’s great to have all these college looks. So many Division III and Division I colleges are here, so we have the opportunity to get looked at consistently.” Anthony Capraro, a ‘99 from Hacienda Heights, is another second-year Cyclone. He came up to Premier this year full-time after a full season last year in the USPHL Elite – the player development platform for most Premier and NCDC programs. “I’m from L.A., and I had a family friend whose son had played for the Cyclones’ Elite team. I got in touch with Bill, he made me an offer, and this was the best option,” said Capraro, who has two assists in 19 Premier games. “I’m trying to keep my composure with how fast the game is.” Weston Goodman is a ‘98 who grew up in L.A., but now lives in San Jose. “I love these [California] guys and it’s a really good time,” said Goodman, a forward with two goals and five points in 23 games. “This summer, I talked with Coach Weiand and we developed a good rapport.”
USPHL.com
TPHA specializing in developing players for next level Continued from Page 15 move on if he wanted to advance his hockey career. A 16-year-old junior who plays goalie for Tahoe’s prep team, he has been playing the sport since he was six years old and has lofty aspirations. Dunnigan said at the end of last year he came to the realization that the time on the road associated with travel hockey became too much. He learned about Tahoe Prep during a summer camp. “I knew I was good enough to play at the higher level, but I didn’t want to drive three hours just to practice,” he said. “I thought it would be cool to move away but still be not that far from home, and at Tahoe Prep I could play out of my comfort zone. My first game, I was extremely nervous. The speed and pace of the game was impressive, but after that first game I settled in. I’ve been getting a lot more shots and that’s good.” That comfort level shows in Dunnigan’s .916 save percentage in the eight games he has played with the prep team this season. He’s hoping the improvement he is making will help him further his hockey career. Dunnigan said he is happy with the exposure he is getting playing for Tahoe and the help from the coaches to make it to the next level. “My end goal is to be pro, but not everyone can make it, so right now I’m focused on making it to a Division I college,” he said. 24
California Rubber Hockey Magazine
Austin Chesworth A 17-year-old senior left-winger playing on the academy’s prep team, Chesworth is off to a strong start. In 16 games, he has tallied six goals and nine assists. An Arizona native (Gilbert), he played for the DYHA Jr. Sun Devils before making the transition to Tahoe this season. Even though he sometimes misses the Arizona warmth, Chesworth said living away from home for the first time has been good. “I haven’t really been homesick at all, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Chesworth. “All the guys are great. We’re like one big family.” Chesworth’s mother, Renee, said letting her son leave home a year early to pursue his passion was hard, but she knew it was the right choice. “Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy pitched the whole package, and they have delivered,” she said. “From the academic support to the hockey development, they truly care about these boys. Just seeing Austin’s skill level and his improvement, the finesse and the speed, it’s been so much fun to watch, and he’s happy. It’s quite the life experience. He’s getting to do what he loves every day, and that’s what we wish for our children - for them to get the chance to work at what they love.” Austin Chesworth said not only is the level of play different but so is the team atmosphere. “The game is faster and the skill level is higher, but everyone on my team is going 100 percent, and our coaches are the best I’ve ever had,” Chesworth said. “I
also love working out with the trainers. That aspect has been great.” Tyler Pierce Spending his first year with TPHA after moving from Arvada, Colo., and the Hyland Hills Jaguars AA team, Pierce is thriving. The 16-year-old sophomore left wing has been a significant contributor to the prep team. The academic support, weight training, time on the ice, and personal development model offered at Tahoe Prep were all strong selling points for him. “My biggest goal is to play Division I college hockey and keep moving up the ranks as high as I can go,” Pierce said. “That requires a strong grade-point average as well as hockey skills. I feel that now, with the support I’m getting, I can keep moving up the ranks.” Beyond the improvement that can be measured on the ice and in the training center, the academy has also given Pierce some noticeable maturity lessons. “The dorms are super nice and really comfortable, and the resident assistants are awesome,” he said. “Living away from home, it’s helped me a ton. I did things at home before, but now I realize that I need to take responsibility and do my job – pick up after myself, wash my clothes.” Pierce said he is settling into this next level of hockey as well. “The speed, the size, the passing and hitting were all up a level,” he explained. “It’s been a different environment. You know you have to perform. The Tahoe coaches all have something to bring, our practices are so skilled, and it’s about each player’s personal development. I can see the hard work paying off.”
– m a r g o r p r u o t u You’ve heard abo ! t u o b a l l a e r ’ e w t a now see wh
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EVAN WEINGER
Position: Forward, San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Hometown: El Segundo Youth Teams: LA Jr. Kings, LA Selects Last Amateur Team: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) California Rubber: How nice has it been to start your professional career in California? Evan Weinger: It’s been really nice. This is actually the first year I’ve lived on my own, so that’s a little different, but I am enjoying the pro hockey lifestyle. CR: Has there been anything about your transition to pro hockey that has surprised you? EW: Nothing really. I play a pretty simple game. If anything, the guys in the AHL are bigger, stronger and have better sticks. CR: Do you have a favorite road destination yet? EW: Probably San Diego. We don’t really play that many teams. I think this season, we only play 12 of the AHL teams. We don’t really travel all that much. CR: When you travel by bus, what are the essentials for that trip? EW: I like to stop by Subway and get a 12-inch sandwich. As long as I have a phone charger and headphones, I’m good. Stockton and Bakersfield are day trips. CR: Who are some of your biggest hockey influences? EW: Obviously, my parents. They pushed me to keep playing the sport when I was a kid. My old coaches, Jack Bowkus and Jeff Turcotte, helped me out a lot. They especially helped me with my skills and the mental aspects of the game. CR: Did you have a favorite team and player growing up? EW: It was the Kings and Anze Kopitar. I liked watching him play. I train with Dustin Brown in the summer. There’s a lot of players on their team I like to look up to. And of course, Connor McDavid. His speed is unbelievable. CR: Has Dustin ever given you any pointers? EW: All of us who train together have a healthy competition. He hasn’t said much other than make sure you have strong knees and shoulders. CR: Are you particular about any of your gear? EW: Probably my skates. I need to have them nice and sharp every time I go on the ice. I don’t like changing them out because I hate breaking in new ones. I don’t like changing my gloves that much. CR: Do you have a favorite hockey memory? EW: Probably the Quebec Pee Wee tournament. All of the activities the team did outside of the games were a blast – all the tobogganing, going to snow parks. Plus playing in Le Colisee at such young age in front of all of those people was pretty memorable. I’m still close friends with many of my LA Hockey teammates from that – Keoni Texeira, Ty Comrie, Ben Baker, Aaron Aragon, Joe Thielen. We all played together since Pee Wees. CR: If you weren’t playing hockey, what would you do? EW: I’d probably be in school. I’m starting to pick up golf so maybe I’d try out for a golf team. CR: If you could live anywhere, where would that be? EW: I’m really enjoying it up here in the Bay Area. I don’t know if I could do another Manitoba winter. It was way too cold for me. CR: Have you gotten a taste of the NorCal-SoCal rivalry? EW: When I do player appearances and people ask where I’m from, I’ll always say L.A. I expect them not to like me, but everyone has been great, and several people have said it’s cool that I’m from California and playing in San Jose. CR: Do you have a favorite part of Northern California? EW:: When my family comes up, we like to go to San Francisco a lot. I’m happy it doesn’t snow here. Photo/San Jose Barracuda
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California Rubber Hockey Magazine
- Compiled by Chris Bayee
www.WSHL.org