California Rubber Magazine - March 2017

VOLUME 10

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FROM THE EDITOR Home stretch in hockey terms only means the best is yet to come

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Matt Mackinder

ach year, mid-March means some look forward to spring break and the seasons changing, while in hockey circles, March means state tournaments and the road to USA Hockey Youth Nationals.

That certainly holds true in California and this issue features a slew of teams that will continue to play into April at various locales across the country.

To those still playing, be safe, play the game the right way and soak everything in. Enjoy the experience and take the time to embrace the situation.

Congratulations to all the teams that have won league, state and district championships and good luck to all teams moving on to national tournaments!

The California Wave will have a new look moving forward into the 2017-18 season.

Recently, the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association formally approved the creation of the Empire Hockey Club (EHC) for next season. The Wave will continue to operate under the direction of Jeremy Mingura and the new EHC will be run by Bob Field. This will have little to no effect on Artesia families as the Wave program will continue as before.

CAHA rules allow for each club to have only two AA teams per age group.

Because the Wave already has AA teams playing out of Artesia, this rule could limit the Ontario rinks’ ability to offer AA teams to its families. With the creation of EHC, each location can now offer its families the opportunity to play on a AA team.

“Due to the large number of Ontario families currently playing, Ontario’s recruitment success, and the growth of hockey in Southern California, we believe the EHC will continue to grow in the coming years and will field even more teams in all age and skill levels,” said Mingura and Field in a joint statement. “We are excited about the future of EHC and the opportunities this split will provide to our Ontario families.”

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publisher: Brian McDonough senior editor: Matt Mackinder inline editor: Phillip Brents senior designer: Julie Wilson

ON TO NATIONALS

The Wenatchee Wild have enjoyed a tremendous season in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and Las Vegas native Brendan Harris was a major cog in the team’s success.

Harris, a Las Vegas Storm and California Titans alum headed to NCAA Division I Bemidji State University (WCHA) this coming fall, claimed the league MVP award after a 98-point regular season, the Most Sportsmanlike Player award the Brett Hull Trophy as the regular-season scoring leader. Harris compiled 23 goals and a BCHL-best 75 assists.

Staying in Wenatchee, Wild defenseman and team captain Tyler Rockwell has committed to play NCAA D-I hockey at Michigan Tech University (WCHA) beginning this fall.

A San Jose native, Rockwell left home at 14 to play prep school hockey for Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn., before skating for Wenatchee the past three seasons.

“Michigan Tech is a prestigious school where I am able to get a great education,” said Rockwell. “The coaches are passionate and excited about their program and provide world-class treatment for their players. The style of play is fast, which is very similar to the way we play here in Wenatchee. Another drawing aspect was the atmosphere around the school and how centered it was around hockey.”

A handful of SoCal players will be representing the United States this summer in Israel at the 20th Maccabi Games on the Open and Junior teams.

The event takes place July 4-18.

The Junior team includes Jacob Abene (Los Gatos), Ben Buium (Laguna Niguel) and Aydin Schwetz (Thousand Oaks).

The Open team includes Max Blitz (Chino Hills), Zachary Feldman (San Diego), Chad Goldberg (Agoura Hills), Carter Horwitz (Tustin), David Jacobson (Calabasas), Tyler Levine (Laguna Beach), Jacob Rivera (Pacific Palisades), Luke Rivera (Pacific Palisades) and Nick Rivera (Pacific Palisades).

Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

With a Pacific District championship banner to their credit after defeating the Seattle Lady Admirals in a two-game sweep, the Anaheim Lady Ducks’ 16U team is off to USA Hockey Youth Nationals in suburban Detroit from April 6-10. More postseason coverage on Page 9.

ON THE COVER Members of the San Jose Jr. Sharks, pictured back row, Logan Angilkowski (Squirt A1); middle row, from left to right, Jacob Lizé (12U AAA), Trevor Knight (18U AAA) and Parker Hathaway (16U AAA); and front row, from left to right, Madison Sayler-Tait (girls 16U AA) and Angela Hawthorne (girls 19U AA). Photo/Amanda Lizé

Santa Margarita claims third CAHA high school state title the game-winner in OT. In the title tilt, Santa Margarita earned a measure or the third time in just eight seasons, the Eagles of redemption, toppling Orange Lutheran 5-2. Orsiof Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Ranni scored twice in the first period to put the Eagles cho Santa Margarita can call themselves California ahead early. Mauthe scored twice and Bisnieks addAmateur Hockey Association (CAHA) state chamed a tally for insurance. pions.

The Eagles, founded in 2009, won back-to-back Santa Margarita captured the CAHA title on CAHA state titles in 2012 and 2013. The 2016-17 March 5 at The Rinks-Lakewood ICE, capping off season was a truly remarkable one for Santa Maranother stellar season - though the Eagles still garita, which has developed a winning culture have something to play for before their season and built a foundation for success since it was is complete. one of the first teams in the Anaheim Ducks “This one is special not just because we High School Hockey League (ADHSHL). won, but because I have watched how close During the regular season, Santa Margarita these kids have become throughout the year went 12-4 in the ADHSHL, finishing second both on and off the ice,” Santa Margarita to Orange Lutheran, which lost just one regucoach Craig Johnson said. “Every day, they lar-season game - to the Eagles in both teams’ showed up and worked hard. They put in their last regular-season contest. time in the weight room, and most days, they The Eagles outscored their opponents 82did it with a smile on their faces.

41 this season.

“We look forward to attending (USA HockSelanne led them with 12 goals, while Mauey Youth) Nationals later this month and havthe and Orsini each tallied 11. Bisnieks was ing a chance to play for a national title again. I For the first time since 2013, Santa Margarita Catholic High School secured a CAHA the team’s assists leader with 12, and Selanne allowed the team to enjoy the victory for seven high school state championship and a berth to the USA Hockey Youth Nationals event and Makowecki had 10 apiece. minutes because we still have work to do as in Cleveland, Ohio.

Blaul went 5-2 with a 2.22 goals-against we prepare.”

The Eagles opened the state tournament on average and Taylor was 7-2 with a 2.84 GAA. The national championship tournament for the March 3 with a 2-0 loss to Orange Lutheran - their “We as a team have lots of respect for Orange high school division will be held March 30-April 3 only defeat of the weekend - but responded the next Lutheran,” Johnson said. “They are a very good team in Cleveland, Ohio. Santa Margarita has made three day with a 5-1 victory over JSerra. Mauthe scored with very good players and coaches. We knew we prior trips to nationals and won a national title in two goals and added an assist and Eric Johnson would have to take care of the puck better than we 2013. had two assists. did on Friday for us to be successful against them.

The Eagles’ roster includes forwards Brian Santa Margarita skated to a 3-2 overtime vic- We received solid goaltending from Trey Taylor and Armijo, Jekabs Bisnieks, Joey Felicicchia, Nick tory against Bellarmine later that day to advance I thought we brought sandpaper to our game. The Gluck, Dylan Hernandez-Ramirez, Will How- to the championship game. Mauthe and Bisnieks Mauthe line was outstanding all weekend and espehannesian, Eric Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Jacob scored in the first period and then Mauthe netted cially in the championship game.”

By Greg Ball

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Makowecki, Nick Mauthe, John Mulvihill, Dietrich Olischefskii, Logan Orsini, Ryan Parkinson, Leevi Selanne, Jonathan Skule and Max Sullivan; defensemen Greg Bennett, Jackson Grosshans, Collin Marx, Brian Mathis, Kevin Peck and Hunter Voyles; and goalies Dennis Blaul and Trey Taylor.

Johnson is assisted by Kaelin Groon, Jesse Orsini and Kevin Skule.

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On The Rise

Jr. Sharks program bigger than ever, yet retains strong focus on overall development decisions internally at tryouts for Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget levels. We really have to focus on every area and stage of a player’s development because he number of kids playing hockey wearing San Jose Jr. Sharks sweaters was when you properly place players, that’s where the enjoyment, confidence and higher this season than it’s ever been. overall development really take off.

The Bay Area’s top youth hockey program boasted a whopping 29 teams. The “When players go through our club, age out and have an opportunity to stay Jr. Sharks had an estimated 400 kids playing travel hockey, 500 playing in-house in hockey, wherever that may be, for sure that’s a win for us. However, it’s not just and about 400 more playing high school hockey - and that’s not to mention their about the players that go to college or the pros - we want to develop the individual adult hockey program, which is the largest in the country. as much as the player, and the sport of hockey is a great tool to do just that.”

But even as they’ve ballooned in size, the Jr. Sharks haven’t taken their eye off The leaders of the Jr. Sharks also feel strongly that the success of their girls the puck in terms of achieving their goals, and it’s all about player development.

19U AA team is reflective of their approach yielding results - both in terms of win“We have lots of successes to hang out hats on,” said Jon Gustafson, the vice ning and development. president of Sharks Sports and Entertainment. “We were recently acknowledged The squad won the Pacific Districts championship on March 5 and is heading by the Positive Coaching Alliance as it relates to USA Hockey Youth Nationals April 6-10 to our leadership and impact, and that’s somein suburban Detroit. They won in dramatthing that’s pretty special to us. ic fashion, too, giving up a 4-2 lead in the “We’re blessed with great coaches, and at second period to the Alaska All Stars - who the end of the day, coaching is what makes they had lost to in the tournament’s opening your hockey club. We’ve been fortunate to game - and then getting a goal four minutes have a great core or coaches, and we have a into overtime from Evelyne Blais-Savoie to number of new ones coming in for next year send them on to nationals. that we’re very excited about. Curtis Brown, Beyond wins and losses, the team has Tyler Shaffar and Mike Janda are doing a produced players who will continue to play great job as it relates to the coaching staff.” hockey at the college level. For the first time, The foundation of the Jr. Sharks’ philosocoaches organized a trip last fall for players phy is USA Hockey’s American Development to visit colleges all over the East Coast. As a Model (ADM), a standard that was officially result of the effort, three of the team’s high put in place about five years ago, but that the school seniors have committed to play Diprogram has essentially followed for a decade vision III college hockey next season - Saror more. ah Takahashi (Wesleyan), Olivia Wilburn “The club has really embraced the ADM (SUNY Cortland) and Theresa Chickles model (age appropriate training),” said Cur(Buffalo State). Two others are weighing tis Brown, the director of the Jr. Sharks and a opportunities - Ally Stout (SUNY Canton 13-year NHL veteran. “Now that we’re starting or Morrisville State) and Emily Burke (conto see a generation of kids who have experisidering a commitment to SUNY Potsdam). enced the ADM model, the result is twofold Best of all, they’re all homegrown players - players have a higher skill set at an earlier who came up through the Jr. Sharks system. age, and kids who try hockey stay in the sport “It’s a great feeling to see the girls move because the activity and enjoyment levels are on to the next step,” said Bobby Long, the higher than in most other sports.” head coach of the Jr. Sharks’ 19U girls team.

Added Tyler Shaffar, the Jr. Sharks’ hock“I think it shows that we’re producing some ey manager: “Whereas five years ago, people pretty good hockey players and we’re able to were questioning why we were doing shared do it by keeping them in the program. They’re practices or playing cross-ice, it’s now acnot leaving like they’ve done in the past.” cepted that this is what’s best for players’ Added Brown: “They stayed home in Caldevelopment. Our coaches are getting better ifornia, which is contrary to some people’s at teaching it, too. The misconception is that thoughts on development, and now they get ADM is all station-based practice and there’s to pursue their dreams of playing hockey no teaching of hockey development or syswhile going to school. We are thankful both tems. I think we’re learning how to balance the The San Jose Jr. Sharks place a heavy emphasis on the overall development of their that they stayed and for their upcoming opplayers, both on and off the ice. Photo/Amanda Lizé two.” portunities” Like many programs, the Jr. Sharks are always searching for the right balance Gustafson said he’s pleased to see Jr. Sharks teams raising banners and bringbetween a focus on development and winning. The Jr. Sharks’ 13U AAA team won ing home trophies, but he’s primarily concerned with providing a quality hockey a state championship this season, the 19U AA girls team won a Pacific District experience to as many kids as possible, which naturally helps them develop not title, and a handful of their other teams were still playing deep into the postseason. only as athletes but as human beings.

For years, Shaffar said, the knock on the Jr. Sharks was that they developed “It seems like these days, people put an even higher price on winning, which players but didn’t win. That’s not necessarily the case anymore.

I don’t agree with,” Gustafson said. “My global perspective is really the number “Change is difficult, and the process needs to be followed,” Shaffar said. “It of kids we have playing hockey, and making sure they have a smile on their faces. takes time, and we are confident our players and families will see results. Winning It’s one of the few sports that is really a lifelong sport and people can play until is a byproduct of doing things correctly, and we are seeing this.” they’re 70 or 80.

To measure success in that department, the Jr. Sharks look at the number of “The game does so many different things for you. Certainly, everybody likes to players that continue on to play at higher levels after leaving their rinks. According win, but it’s not the be all and end all for us.” to the program’s website, the Jr. Sharks have sent 59 boys players on to junior Looking toward the future, the Jr. Sharks and their leadership have plenty to hockey, 61 to college hockey and 13 to the professional ranks. On the girls side, be excited about.

48 players have moved on to play collegiately.

“We’re not really a non-traditional market anymore,” said Brown. “But we’re still “You can’t tell people that you’re about development if you don’t graduate play- in our infancy as far as seeing kids move along. If we stay on this path with age-apers on to the next level,” Brown said. “However, the focus can’t just be on the propriate training and skill development, I’m excited to look back in 10 years and older players aging out - it has to be across the club. You want to have those tough see the list of where are they now.”

By Greg Ball

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California Rubber Hockey Magazine

Casey’s Cup charity tournament CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS set for April 1 at Anaheim ICE Golden Bears find Presidents’ Day, CAHA success, off to states T T

By Phillip Brents

he third annual Casey’s Cup – The Iceman charity tournament is scheduled for April 1 at The Rinks-Anaheim ICE. A record number of teams comprised of all ages and skill levels are expected to participate this year.

The popular tournament, played three-on-three cross-ice, is named in honor of Casey Strale, an avid roller and ice hockey player (and fan) who passed away in June 2013 at the age of 16 from a rare disease known as adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC). The tournament serves as a fundraiser for research, treatment and the improvement in the quality of life for patients with ACC and all other rare cancers.

Casey’s parents, Traci and Chris Strale, said the theme for 2017 Iceman event is “skating it forward.”

“Many of the players noted they participated in the event to ‘play for Casey’ and everything he stood for – on and off the ice,” Traci Strale explained.

“Our son was affectionately known as the ‘Game Changer,’ not for what he did on the rink, but for the positive influence he had on everyone around him and in everything he did. Casey’s Cup is our way of sustaining that legacy and making sure he keeps ‘changing’ the game.”

“Casey’s Cup is a very special event, with deep meaning to us all,” Chris Strale added. “Casey was an extraordinary young man with a passion for the sport that, in my opinion, was unmatched. He left a big hole in the Southern California hockey community. We all support Casey’s cause and love the event.”

The Strales said this year’s goal is to raise more than $38,000 in order to present a check to Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix (TGen), the event’s beneficiary, for more than $103,000 representing the initial three-year effort.

This event, which has raised $66,326 in two years, will feature live entertainment, food and product vendors, a raffle, silent auction and bake sale.

By Sophie Kaplan

he California Golden Bears Bantam AA team followed up a successful California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) regular season (18-1-0) with a tournament championship at the Arizona Hockey Union-hosted Presidents’ Day Invitational in Phoenix last month.

The Bears competed in the Bantam AAA Elite division and were more than up to the challenge, going 5-0 in tournament play.

Leading the charge was Bears co-captain J.T. Halliday, who tallied six goals and five assists over the four-day stretch. Aidan Garcia was right behind with 10 points and co-captain Eric Yagubyan chipped in with six. This triumvirate of scorers have been stalwarts for the Bears all season long as Halliday finished second in the CAHA Bantam AA The California Golden Bears claimed the Bantam AAA division with 49 regular-season Elite division championship after going 5-0 at the Presipoints, while Garcia was fourth with dents’ Day Invitational in Phoenix last month.

47 points and Yagubyan landed in fifth with 40 points.

Golden Bears head coach Peter Torsson credits the success of his team to a strong work ethic, “the fruits of hard work.”

“I am as impressed with these kids scoring as I am with my third line blocking shots and my defense taking hits to chip the puck out of the zone,” said Torsson. “Everyone is buying in to the puck being the best player on the team and using it relentlessly to gain an advantage.

“We play with a purpose and we play with passion.”

With Phoenix in the rear-view mirror, the Bears now shift focus to their biggest challenge of the year, as they prepare to make a title run at the CAHA state championship tournament the weekend of March 17 in Escondido.

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Kerdiles becomes first local product to play for Ducks

By Chris Bayee

A

s California commutes to work go, Nic Kerdiles’ on Feb. 22 wasn’t bad.

Recalled by the Anaheim Ducks the day before, Kerdiles, who grew up in Irvine, had a short drive to Anaheim for a morning skate and evening game against the Boston Bruins.

In the process, he became the first Orange County-raised player for the Ducks, who drafted him in the second round (36th overall) in 2012.

“It was really special – I used to go to Ducks games all the time growing up,” Kerdiles said. “To play at the same rink I used to go to as a kid and play in front of so many friends and family, it was a storybook day.”

The early chapters of Kerdiles’ hockey career didn’t necessary point to an NHL story. His parents, Michel and Nathalie, met in France and had his two older sisters. His mother, who was from Montreal, had a brother who played some hockey, but that was extent of hockey influences until Nic saw a neighbor play roller hockey. He tried that for a year-plus before switching to ice at Aliso Viejo Ice Palace and learning from coach Mitch Hughes. His burgeoning interest was supplemented by watching Ducks games.

“I wasn’t the best player, but I worked hard and eventually progressed,” he said.

A pivotal moment occurred when Kerdiles tried out for California’s entry into the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament in 2004.

“I was the last player picked by Louis Pacella for that Brick team,” Kerdiles said. “He ended up having a big impact on my career and would be the 8

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

No. 1 coach to thank. He put it in my head I could be pen at some point, but when it happens, it’s still a something in hockey.” bit of a shock,” he said of the call from Ducks GM Kerdiles became a mainstay on Pacella’s 1994 Bob Murray. “Injury-wise, it’s been one thing after birth year team with LA Hockey Club, and teamed another the last two years, but the Ducks were really with players such as Michael McNicholas (Univer- patient with me and got me the best help. I’ve tried sity of New Hampshire) and to make the most out of evNik Olsson (Boston Univerery game I have played.” sity).

The Ducks took note.

One of the first Califor“His game has really nians to commit to a Divibeen taken to another levsion I college while playel,” assistant coach Paul ing in California, Kerdiles MacLean told the team’s caught the attention of the official website. “He has the U.S. National Team Develability to skate. We want to opment Program and played make sure we’re giving him two seasons there before the opportunity to come up heading to the University of here to see if he can help Wisconsin (then WCHA) in us.”

2012. He spent two seaHe said none of this sons in Madison, averaging would be possible without more than a point per game, his family’s buy-in. before turning pro in 2014.

“I don’t know if I’d get Kerdiles is in his third that opportunity to play in season with Ducks’ Amerthe NHL if it wasn’t for my ican Hockey League affilparents’ support,” Kerdiles iates, first in Norfolk, now said. “Financially, they had in San Diego. Returning to to put a lot of things aside California made the path to for me to get here. My sishis NHL dream shorter, but ter had to sell a horse at one not easier.

Irvine native Nic Kerdiles made history Feb. 22 as the very first point, and she was all for it.

Kerdiles sustained a Orange County native to skate for the Anaheim Ducks. Photo// My family definitely had my concussion in September Anaheim Ducks via Getty Images back – they went to countand missed the first half of the Gulls’ season. He less games, and knowing they were there really had nine points in 10 games at the time of his recall. helped push me.

“At this level, you kind of expect a recall will hap“My family is a huge part of my success.”

Jr. Ducks, Lady Ducks clean up at Pacific Districts

By Greg Ball

T

he Anaheim Jr. Ducks and Lady Ducks represented their programs well at the Pacific District championships the last two weekends, as two teams from each program advanced to USA Hockey Youth Nationals.

18U Tier 1 The Jr. Ducks opened the tournament March 9 with a 6-3 defeat to the L.A. Jr. Kings. They bounced back with a convincing 6-0 victory over the San Jose Jr. Sharks the next day and on March 11, topped the host Alaska Oilers 6-1 to advance to the championship game. In the title tilt, they beat the Jr. Kings 3-1.

16U Tier I The Jr. Ducks also won the 16U division, opening with a 3-0 victory over the Everett Silvertips on March 9 and the next day, easing to a 7-0 victory over the Alaska Blue Devils. On March 11, they topped the Jr. Kings 3-1 and skated into the championship game later that day with a 2-0 win over the Alaska Oilers. In the championship game, the Jr. Ducks toppled the Silvertips 3-2.

“We are very proud of how hard our team worked to accomplish their goal of making it to nationals,” said Craig Johnson, the team’s co-head coach along with Alex Kim. “They came together as a team and played with urgency and passion. As a team, we look forward to getting back to work to prepare for nationals.”

The Jr. Ducks 18U and 16U teams will move on to the national tournament April 6-10 in Pittsburgh.

15U Tier I The Jr. Kings advanced to the title game in this division, but fell one win short. They opened with a 4-0 win

over the San Diego Jr. Gulls on March 9 and topped the Jr. Ducks 2-0 on March 10. They fell to the Alaska Oilers 6-1 on March 11, and dropped the championship game by the same score to the same opponent.

14U Tier I The Jr. Kings also came Bantam division. They fell to the host Alaska Oilers 5-1 in their opener March 9. They bounced back with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Jr. Ducks the next day and on March 11 advanced to the title game with a 3-1 triumph over the Jr. Gulls.

In the March 12 championship, the Jr. Kings suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Oilers.

championship next month.”

Girls 14U The Lady Ducks emerged victorious with wins over the San Jose Jr. Sharks twice, 3-0 and 4-0. In the first game, Emmerson Hayes scored twice, Elle Rutherford added a tally and Brooke Marella made 17 saves. up one victory shy in the In the title game, Emily Evans saved 15 shots and the Lady Ducks’ scoring came from Rutherford, Hayes and Seo Hyung Kwak.

“This team has grown tremendously this season in skill, team dynamics and compete level every game,” McGarrigle said. “By not allowing a single goal this championship weekend, these girls sent a powerful message that they are ready to take on USA Hockey’s The Anaheim Lady Ducks’ 14U team defeated the San Jose top-ranked teams.”

Jr. Sharks twice to advance to USA Hockey Youth Nationals.

Girls 16U The Lady Ducks captured the district title, beating Women the Seattle Lady Admirals 4-0 and 6-0. Cortney Reyes The L.A. Traffic took home the women’s division scored twice in the first win, and added two more in the championship despite losing their first two games. On championship game, while Logan Arseneau, Ivy Boric, Feb. 24, they fell to the Lady Ducks 3-2, and later that Isabella Bowman and Marissa Gebauer also scored. day, dropped a 4-2 decision to the Shockers. They reSavannah Gutierrez made six saves in the opener and sponded with a 6-1 win over the Lady Ducks on Feb. Madelyn Morgan had four in the second game.

25 and beat the Shockers by the same score later in “We are very proud of this group’s work ethic and the day. In the championship game, they edged the attention to detail, not allowing a single goal in the Shockers 3-2. championship weekend,” said Kathy McGarrigle, the The Women’s A, B and C national championships Lady Ducks’ hockey director. “Their tenacity and focus will be held April 6-9 in Rochester and Macomb, Mich., the last month of the season really helped them win and the girls Tier I nationals will be at the same rinks the Pacific and be ready for a very competitive national April 6-10.

CARubberHockey.com

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California’s Moy, Madsen give Harvard consistent punch

By Chris Bayee

Moy was one of the ringleaders of the course correction.

“It’s been interesting to follow him. I grew up playing against him, and when I came in (at Harvard), he wasn’t one of the guys who had been drafted, but he competed as hard as anyone,” Madsen said. “He got drafted in his last year of eligibility (by the Nashville Predators in 2015), which speaks a lot to his work

to play with; they make everyone around them better,” Moy said. “We’re roommates, so that makes it easier on’t be surprised to see two Californians leading with the chemistry. And when the team is doing well, it Harvard University into the Frozen Four. makes it easier to do well on an individual level.”

Senior forward Tyler Moy and junior goaltender Madsen might not have the numbers he posted Merrick Madsen have spearheaded the Crimson’s as a sophomore (2.25 goals-against average vs. 2.00 charge up the rankings, where they’ve taken up resiand .916 save percentage vs. .931), except for the dence in the top 5 since late January. That coincided most important one. He has 24 wins, six more than a with a 14-game unbeaten streak season ago. heading into the ECAC Hockey “I had the numbers and a semifinals in mid-March. good year as a sophomore, but Other than one midseason I went a couple months where I three-game slump, the Crimson had a .980 save percentage and has remained consistent. finished .930, so it wasn’t like I “It’s a credit to the depth of had a great second half,” Madsen our team – having eight seniors said. “I wanted more consistenon this team is pretty big,” said cy, and I always wanted to give Moy, a former San Diego Jr. Gull. the team a chance to win. There “The confidence you get with bewere some losses last season ing an older guy is a huge part. when I felt I let the team down.

It’s something we try to pass “This year, I’ve done a better along, just establish a consistenjob giving us a chance to win cy and expectations. And we set each night even if the numbers our goals very high – that’s driv- Nashville Predators prospect and San Diego native Acton native Merrick Madsen has proven to be a wall are down.” en us.”

Numbers or not, Madsen is Tyler Moy has been an offensive force this season for in net this season for a powerhouse Harvard squad.

Photo/Gil Talbot Madsen, a former California Harvard. Photo/Harvard Athletic Communications one of 10 semifinalists for the Heat player from Acton, also cited consistency. ethic, and came back and took more of a leadership Mike Richter Award (national) and a finalist for the Ken “We’re on a pretty good heater, and we’re doing role.”

Dryden Award (ECAC). a good job creating opportunities,” said Madsen, a Moy has shouldered a larger role in the Crimson’s “Every year, you could see humungous improve2013 Philadelphia Flyers draft pick. “In the January No. 1 offense. His 40 points, 19 goals, 21 assists, ments in his game,” Moy said. “Since he came in as a losses, we played more of a selfish game. Before that, seven power-play goals and three game-winners are sophomore, he has been a rock in net, even more so we were on a winning streak and we stopped doing career highs. He has teamed with fellow seniors Sean this year. He is somebody we can rely on. all the little things. Our game is getting to the corners, Malone (38 points) and Luke Esposito (33 points) “We have a guy who can grab some games for you working from the bottom out. The three losses cali- to form a dynamic line. when the offense struggles. At this time of year, every brated us.”

“The players I’m playing with are awesome guys goal counts.”

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California Rubber Hockey Magazine

L.A. KINGS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE

Santa Barbara captures LAKHSHL championship once again

By Greg Ball

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or the second time in the league’s two-year history, the Santa Barbara Royals are champions of the L.A. Kings High School Hockey League.

The Royals, coached by former Kings star Steve Heinze, toppled the Kern County Knights 6-2 on the afternoon of March 4 at STAPLES Center, before the NHL’s Kings took on the Vancouver Canucks later that night.

“First second, third or tenth - it doesn’t matter, any championship is special in its own way,” Heinze said.

“These players have started something great here in our community, and it is wonderful to see the excitement of our younger hockey players (most of them brand new to the sport) aspiring to be Royals. Many of our players had stated that they would not have been playing hockey if it were not for the Royals and our new rink, Ice in Paradise.

Winning back-to-back championships has given us a renewed and deeper love of hockey.”

The Santa Barbara roster includes forwards Cameron Baron, Collin Del Bonis, Harrison Del Bonis, Ben Essig, Chris Ewasiuk, Ben Fellows, Tyler Martindale, Jared McMullen and Nicholas Poire; defensemen Jack Johnson, Ayden Klock, Ryan McMullen, Shea Rousseau, Emmett Rupert and Daniel Solomon; and goalies Will Hahn and Matthew Park.

Heinze’s assistant coaches are John Ewasiuk and Brian Scullion.

In the championship game, the Royals jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead and never looked back.

Johnson and Jared McMullen scored two goals apiece, with one each coming from Ewasiuk and Poire.

Johnson totaled four assists, while Ewasiuk, Jared McMullen and Ryan McMullen each added two helpers.

Park and Hahn split time in goal, with Park registering 10 saves and Hahn four.

“This year’s team was not much different than last year’s - our captains and our core group of players and leaders stayed the same,” Heinze said. “This is a great group of young adults that got along and looked out for

With a 6-2 win over the Kern County Knights, the Santa Barbara Royals celebrated another LAKHSHL championship March 4 at STAPLES Center.

each other on and off the ice.

“Any championship team does at least one thing works hard. Defense is hard work, mixed with good goaltending, and this team had an average of less than one goal a game against. That hard work coupled with skill also had the team scoring almost seven goals a game on average.”

LAKLeague.com

The league handed out a number of year-end awards before the championship game. The Royals, who were the league’s best team from the beginning of the season to the end, naturally cleaned up. The Rob Blake Defenseman of The Year Award went to Johnson, a junior from San Marcos High School who led the league’s defensemen with 59 points (39 goals and 20 assists) in 16 games.

The Rogie Vachon Goalie of The Year Award went to Hahn, a senior from Santa Barbara High School. Hahn went 9-0, logging 456 minutes while allowing just seven goals while facing 142 shots, for a remarkable .951 save percentage.

Heinze won the Coach of the Year Award, taking home that distinction for the second straight year after leading the Royals to a 16-1 record and a second consecutive league championship.

The West Ranch Wildcats took home two awards, both given to the same player. Tristan Warr, a sophomore at West Ranch who totaled 63 points (34 goals and 29 assists) in 17 games this season, earned the Top Scorer Award as well as the Wayne Gretzky MVP Award.

The Luc Robitaille Freshmen of The Year Award went to Brandon Iles of the Valencia Vikings. A goalie from Valencia High School, he played 15 games, logging 428 minutes and facing 332 shots on goal. The Dave Taylor Leadership Award went to Felix Goldwasser of the Burbank Cougars. A junior at John Marshall High School, he posted a team-leading 18 points (13 goals and five assists) in 15 games played.

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TOYOTA SPORTS CENTER

Jr. Kings’ 04 Pee Wee team impresses in Quebec berti), and of course that’s a big part of it. We were in some tight games that could have gone either way, but the boys worked hard and everything kind of snowballed in our favor.”

The Jr. Kings opened tournament play with an 0-2 loss at the hands of then-No. 2-ranked Detroit Honeybaked at the 18,000-seat Centre Videotron before rolling off two victories in their remaining pool games: 3-2

“That was probably the best part of it,” said the coach. “You could see their confidence growing and them believing in one another, and that was great to sk anyone who’s embraced the experience and see.” they’ll tell you advancing to the championship game in any division at the famed Quebec International Pee In the quarters, L.A. doubled-up Pittsburgh Jr. PenWee Tournament is no easy task. guins Elite, 4-2, before taking down the Middlesex Members of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ 2004 Major (Massachusetts) Islanders in the semis, 1-0, in overtime team, though, can proudly and enthusiastically lay claim thanks to the game-winner off of the stick of forward to that achievement.

Evan Konyen.

The club persevered its way to the finale in the That staged the winner-take-all matchup against AAA bracket at this year’s showcase, which ran from Mid Fairfield.

Feb. 8-19, falling to the country’s No. 1-ranked team “The kids were really excited to get back to Centre Videotron to play in front of all those people, and - Connecticut’s Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers - 1-0 in the they knew they were up against the No. 1 team in the title game (the Jr. Rangers’ goal was scored shortcountry,” said Pitcher. handed with 18 seconds remaining in regulation).

“We knew it was going to be tough, but our boys Sure, a championship celebration would have competed; they competed hard and gave everything trumped all, but Jr. Kings head coach Shawn Pitchthey had and, as far as I’m concerned, you can’t ask er says the top-to-bottom, all-hands-in-the-middle effor anything more.” fort from the entire team from start to finish is what Cade Moxham, a forward on the club who resonates loudest. notched the game-winning marker in the Jr. Kings’ “You have to have a little luck (winning at Quebec) and everything pretty much has to go your way, The Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ 2004 Major team advanced to the champi- 1-0 triumph over Whitby, was awed by the Videotron but you know what? The kids showed up in the right onship game in its division at the famed Quebec International Pee Wee crowd entering the title game, but says he and his frame of mind and their confidence started to grow Tournament, which this year ran from Feb. 8-19. teammates were nothing but dialed-in on the task at every day we were there,” said Pitcher, who coached a over the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers and 1-0 over the Whitby hand.

“Once the game started, I played as hard as I could LA Selects team to an Elite AAA division championship (Ontario, Canada) Wildcats. at Quebec in 2012. “They were having success and The club continued to build some serious swagger every shift and started to forgot about how many peothey did that by making a commitment to playing the as the tournament, which in this its 58th year of oper- ple were watching,” said Moxham. “It was hard to lose game the right way. ation regularly attracts the best Pee Wee-aged teams such a close game, but I know we tried our best.”

“They competed hard and we had good goaltending from around the globe, unfolded into the quarterfinals, Continued on Page 24 (in the tandem of Nick Avakyan and Vincent Lam- according to Pitcher.

By Brian McDonough

A

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California Rubber Hockey Magazine

SAN JOSE JR. SHARKS

Jr. Sharks’ 19U AA girls punch ticket to national tournament high level.

“The girls are ecstatic to have the opportunity to n a dramatic an ending as you will find, the San Jose compete at nationals,” said Long. “There are some of Jr. Sharks’ 19U AA girls team found a way to extend these girls that have been doing this so long within the its season and in turn, received one of the best possible organization and they’ve put in so much time, effort rewards – a trip to the national championships. and work that to have the opportunity to showcase The Jr. Sharks killed off four penalties in overtime, themselves at the national level is something that’s really including a 5-on-3, before Evelyne Blaisspecial.”

Savoie scored the game-winner with under a While the Jr. Sharks make plans to minute to go in the extra period to edge Alaska make the most of the opportunity a national 5-4 to win the Pacific District tournament championship tournament provides, five March 5 and send the Jr. Sharks to Troy, seniors are already weighing their options for Mich., for the USA Hockey Youth Nationals next season. Five seniors on this year’s team tournament from April 6-10. have received offers to play college hockey “That was such an intense, back-and-forth next season, with captain Sarah Takahashi game,” said Jr. Sharks coach Amanda Long.

(Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.), “We traded goals until we went up 4-2 and Olivia Wilburn (Cortland State University, then not long after, they tied it up again. So we Cortland, N.Y.) and Chickles (Buffalo State went into the third period tied 4-4, and both University, Buffalo, N.Y.) having decided on sides had huge opportunities and weren’t their schools for next year, while Ally Stout able to capitalize. I was a little worried that the and Burke are currently deciding among pressure might begin to become a factor, but several different options. we still felt confident. We kept telling the girls “This is such a big thing for us, having that it was in their hands whether they wanted these players be able to continue playing at the to advance or not, and they came through.” next level,” said Long. “Knowing that we are After dropping the opening game of the producing these players that are going to college tournament 2-1 to Alaska, Long said the team The San Jose Jr. Sharks’ girls 19U AA team is headed to suburban Detroit for USA just does so much for all the younger players Hockey Youth Nationals after a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over Alaska to capture the within the organization. Seeing the opportunity had to rebound quickly to get back on track.

“We kind of had a slow start at the beginning and Tier II Jr. Sharks team that captured the 2011 national that they have moving forward is a big deal to us. we ended up losing that first game,” said Long. “We just championship in Anaheim.

“We want to keep players in Northern California weren’t at our best, but to our credit, we followed that Long said it’s rewarding to see so many players, within our program where they can get the opportunities up with a 4-0 win over Washington, which gave us a some of whom have been with the Jr. Sharks program to move on to the next level, and this is an example of huge confidence boost. Going into Friday, the Anaheim for over a decade, get an opportunity to play at such a how that’s happening.”

By John B. Spigott

I

Lady Ducks are obviously our in-state rivals and for us to go into that game and win it 9-2 really gave us a lot of momentum heading into the championship.”

While the bulk of the team will be making their first trip to a national championship, Long pointed out that several players – including defensemen Emily Burke and Theresa Chickles – were part of the 2011 12U

SJJrSharks.com

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PICTURE PERFECT The San Jose Jr. Sharks’ Pee Wee A team traveled to San Diego over Presidents’ Day Weekend to participate in the California State Games and came home with the gold medal.

The California Golden Bears brought home the Squirt A championship banner from the Arizona Hockey Union’s Presidents’ Day Invitational, which was held Feb. 17-20 at several Phoenix-area rinks.

The Anaheim Ice Dogs claimed the Squirt B title at the 21st Annual Wine Country Face Off in Santa Rosa on Feb. 20.

The Anaheim Ice Dogs won the battle of Anaheim and the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association’s Presidents’ Day Tournament Squirt A championship after a 3-0 win over the Anaheim Jr. Ducks.

The San Diego Jr. Gulls captured the Pee Wee B division championship of the Wildcats Hockey Club-hosted Presidents Day Open on Feb. 20.

The Bay Harbor Red Wings’ Mite Track 1 team captured the championship banner at the California State Games on Feb. 20 in San Diego.

Players from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda line up for the “Star Spangled Banner” before a recent game that was part of the team’s 14-game winning streak. Photo/Phillip Brents

The San Diego Jr. Gulls celebrated the Pee Wee AAA division championship Feb. 20 at the Los Angeles Jr. Kings-hosted Tinseltown Presidents’ Day Challenge.

The OC Hockey Club captured the Pee Wee A Reagan Division title at the Arizona Hockey Union’s Presidents’ Day Invitational, held at several Phoenix-area rinks over the Feb. 17-20 weekend.

The Bay Harbor Red Wings’ Squirt B team was crowned champions in its division at the Valencia Presidents’ Day Tournament on Feb. 20 at the Ice Station. Photo/Jenn Craig

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California Rubber Hockey Magazine

TAHOE HOCKEY ACADEMY

Tahoe Hockey Academy looks to ride momentum into Year 2

By Greg Ball

I

t’s March, and that means the majority of youth hockey teams have finished their seasons and have begun to set their sights to building for 2017-18.

Tahoe Hockey Academy (THA) is no different, and is well into its recruiting season and in search of its next high-level prospects.

“We were able to successfully recruit a great class of players for our inaugural season,” said THA head coach Michael Lewis. “To be able to sign players who participated in USA Hockey’s National Player Development Camps and played at the Tier I and II level shows that there is an overall belief and trust in our development model.”

Looking back at the results from the program’s first year, it’s safe to say that THA’s approach to training and individual development has paid off for its student athletes.

“We’re a young team, but by creating instructional yet challenging environments for our players, we were able to successfully compete against teams much older than ours,” Lewis said.

As chronicled throughout the season, Tahoe Hockey Academy is California’s first residential boarding school dedicated to hockey. While it’s natural for there to be plenty of questions surrounding a new program

of this magnitude, THA is making a name for itself both locally and nationally.

“We’ve participated in a rather aggressive schedule that put us in some high-profile showcases and tournaments throughout the U.S. and Canada,” THA president Leo Fenn said. “To be able to show well in the Bauer Invite, NAPHL Future Prospects and Western Prospects Hockey League opened a lot of eyes and doors for our program. Based on our overall play, we’ve secured an invitation to participate in the NAPHL Future Prospects Showcases for the upcoming 2017 season.”

With recruiting season now here, administrators at Tahoe Hockey Academy are emphasizing everything the school offers its student-athletes. Student life at THA resembles that of any typical high school, with some added athletic benefits.

“We practice up to two hours every day and can focus a lot of time on the individual player-development aspects of building better hockey players,” Lewis said.

“We infuse that with yoga, strength training with an NCAA staff, rehabilitation services and proper nutrition to ensure our students get the best development possible.”

The competition for the next crop of top players is well underway.

“Similar to any club or prep program out there, you’re always looking for the top candidates, and our program is no different,” Lewis said. “That being said, we’re looking for players who want the challenge to train harder and more consistently in order to showcase their development to the next level of scouts and coaches. Those are the players who will get the most out of our program.”

Plans for the offseason are also taking shape.

“Currently, we’re developing our THA Future Prospects list of those players interested in finding out more information about attending the Tahoe Hockey Academy,” THA associate coach Chris Collins said.

“We’re looking to build summer teams that will compete in some pretty high-profile showcases at the 16U and 18U divisions.”

A strong start and finish to the 2016-17 season can only mean good things are in store for those that call the Tahoe Hockey Academy home. The THA staff is eager to meet its next potential incoming class and get things in motion for the upcoming season.

“We’re constantly looking for and identifying those players who demonstrate the passion and desire to improve their games,” Fenn said. “Our goal is to scout and inform as many parents and players as we can about the benefits our program has to offer. We’re out there - whether in Escondido for the CAHA state playoffs, Globals in Las Vegas or USA Hockey Youth Nationals across the country - and we’re searching for the right individuals who embody the THA philosophy.”

TahoeHockeyAcademy.com

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ANAHEIM DUCKS

Ducks break ground, kick start new era of hockey in SoCal

By Anaheim Ducks and The Rinks Staff

H

ockey in Southern California is finally receiving the long-awaited boost it deserves.

For years, the hockey community has grown rapidly in the region. However, the amount of ice sheets has not.

“What’s limiting the participation in all of those (hockey) programs that we have is availability of ice time,” Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli said when addressing the growth of the sport. “All of our leagues are jammed from morning to night. We can’t grow any of these programs any further without additional ice capacity.”

So the Ducks did something about it.

For the first time in over 20 years, a facility will be built in the area with the sole purpose of hockey in mind. In Feb. 2016, the city of Irvine finalized a lease agreement with the Irvine Ice Foundation – a nonprofit organization set up to oversee the rink’s construction and management and backed by Henry and Susan Samueli.

Last month, in true hockey fashion, the Ducks hosted the first ceremonial puck drop for the Great Park Ice Complex at the facility’s groundbreaking ceremony. While holding a giant puck, the Samueli’s were joined on stage

by Ducks CEO Michael Schulman and Irvine City Mayor Donald P. Wagner wielding hockey “shovels” to help kick off construction of the 280,000 square-foot complex.

The sports complex will be the official practice facility of the Ducks and is set to be the biggest of its kind in California, and one of the biggest in the country, boasting four sheets of ice.

“From the moment it’s open, this is going to be an icon,” Wagner said while holding back excitement.

The $100 million complex will offer a variety of ice sports, including youth and adult hockey, figure skating, broomball, sled hockey and public skating. As a part of the NHL Green Initiative, the facility will be LEED (leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certified

The Anaheim Ducks held a groundbreaking ceremony last month in Irvine to officially christen the brand-new, state-of-the-art Great Park Ice Complex, which will open in 2018. Photo/Anaheim Ducks

and is designed to take advantage of the warm Southern California climate by using more glass windows and large outdoor space with areas for participants to warm up and areas for guests.

Inside, one rink will have a seating capacity of 2,500 spectators, making it an ideal location for big games, competitions and tournaments.

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“With that many seats, it opens up different opportunities to us,” The Rinks vice president Art Trottier said.

“And with the four new ice sheets incoming, we can also go after different major events. With that many sheets, we are already projecting to host 10 major events every single year.”

With the new facility, the Anaheim Ducks Rinks program, which includes both ice and inline facilities, will now have 11 sheets of ice for use. Additionally, with all four existing Rinks located in north Orange County, the Great Park Rinks location fills the need of a more convenient location for those who live in the southern part of the county.

Additionally, with all four existing Rinks located in north Orange County, the Great Park Rinks location fills the need of a more convenient location for those who live in the southern part of the county.

“There are very few Rinks in South County, so we needed it here,” Susan Samueli said. “With the great Ducks staff and at H & S, it was only bound to happen because everybody was dreaming and having great vision of what we can do with hockey in Orange County. So we’re thrilled.”

The new facility is expected to open in July 2018.

“Today’s good,” Wagner told the crowd. “Today’s the ice-breaking, today’s the groundbreaking, but really make sure you come back when we cut the ribbon on this absolutely fantastic facility in 2018.”

To learn more about Rinks programming and how preparations are coming along for the new facility, check out www.theRinks.com.

First season for Central Cathedral ANAHEIM JR. DUCKS Lady Ducks’ 14U and 16U AAA lends to optimism for future teams earn berths to Nationals I T

By Matt Mackinder

By Chris Bayee

wo Anaheim Lady Ducks Tier I teams – 14U and 16U – qualified for next month’s USA Hockey Youth Nationals in Michigan after sweeping opponents at the Pacific Districts, which the club hosted March 2-5.

The 14U team defeated the San Jose Jr. Sharks twice by scores of 3-0, while the 16U team defeated the Seattle Lady Admirals 6-0 and 4-0.

“We played the Sharks over Thanksgiving weekend and tied 1-1 – that shows the progress the girls have made,” 14U coach Laura Veharanta said. “We got contributions from all three lines, everyone was understanding their roles within our system.

“Everything is starting to click for them now, and a lot of girls are putting in time outside of practice, working on their skating and their shooting. A lot of people have bought in, and the same can be said for the 16s.”

For 16U coach Jennifer Friedman, a longtime teammate of Veharanta’s on the Cal Selects and later at Providence College, she said the 16s’ strength has been their adaptability.

“Coaching styles vary no matter what level you’re at,” said Friedman, like Veharanta, in her first season coaching with the Lady Ducks. “They did a good job adjusting to our style. We have a simple but effective style. We’re not looking for the pretty goal, but the scrappy ones, and keeping the pressure on the other team.

“For a lot of them, the overall way they’re seeing the game has improved greatly.”

For the 14U team, Emmerson Hayes had three goals and Elle Rutherford had two in the weekend sweep and Emily Evans and Brooke Marella each had a shutout in net.

Courtney Reyes had four goals on the weekend for the 16U squad and Logan Arseneau, Marissa Gebauer and Lily Yovetich each had a multi-point game.

“For a couple of years, there hasn’t been an opponent at Districts,” Lady Ducks director of coaches Kathy McGarrigle said. “That’s not the best way to prepare for Nationals. It’s nice to be able to compete.”

JrDucks.com

t’s been a successful first season for the San Diego Central Cathedral Jets high school team in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League (ADHSHL).

The Jets started off with a dramatic first-place victory in the Labor Day Hockey Festival in Orange County and it went from there.

Under the expert tutelage of former pro hockey player Brad Belland, who played five seasons in the 1990s with the San Diego Gulls of the old West Coast Hockey League, the Jets were able to gel early on and started their season with a perfect 3-0 record and won five of their first seven games.

After enduring a few ups and downs, the Jets finished with a respectable 8-7 record, good for fourth place in the Varsity D2 division. Led in scoring by their passionate leader and captain, Jack Radley, the Jets knocked off their crosstown rivals from La Jolla Country Day in the first round of the playoffs.

The Jets moved on to face undefeated Bosco in the semifinals and in a thrilling contest that went into San Diego Central Cathedral put together a stellar first year in the Varovertime, came up a sity D2 division of the ADHSHL during the 2016-17 season. little short. That exciting semifinal playoff game exemplified the amount of heart the Jets players exhibited all year and the work ethic of the entire team who skated without two key defensemen and still managed to give first-place Bosco their biggest challenge to date.

San Diego Central Cathedral looks forward to building on its first-year success as the Jets take the spring and summer to prepare for another amazing season in the ADHSHL for the 2017-18 season.

Five California clubs set for WSHL’s Thorne Cup Playoffs

By John B. Spigott

T

he playoff picture is set in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) and this year, all six California teams will be vying for the Thorne Cup. At the top of the Western Division, the league’s top team and the defending division champs look poised to once again make a deep run as the Long Beach Bombers will have a first-round bye and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs after finishing with the WSHL’s top record, and are looking to avenge last year’s loss in the semi-finals to the eventual champions, the Idaho Jr. Steelheads. For Long Beach coach Chris White, getting back to the postseason and winning a title has been the team’s goal right out of training camp.

“We’ve got so many returning players and so many mature guys that have played at a high level, and all these guys are here to win a championship,” said White. “From Day 1, we’ve been preaching about preparing for March and April, and we want to take something out of every game. We feel like we have the group here that can put us in the position to compete for a championship.”

Despite all the success the Bombers have had this season, they have been followed closely all year by the Valencia Flyers, who will finish among the top five teams in the WSHL, potentially setting the stage for an epic Western Division final – provided neither team gets tripped up in the WSHL’s unique threegame format in each round. In the playoffs, each series is a best-of-three with all three games in the arena of the team with the top regular season record, apart from the final, which is a best-of-five.

This format seems to play into the strengths of The Fresno Monsters will take to the road for the the third-place Ontario Avalanche, who will meet San first round in a series against the Las Vegas Storm, Diego in the first round. The Avalanche are paced a team who took four of six against the Monsters in by three of the WSHL’s finest point-getters in Filip the regular season. Led by sniper Cody Key, who Ullgren, Manuel Mancha and Filip Stensson and finished the season averaging just shy of two points enter their series with the Avs per game, it’s their own end having taken five of six from that will be a concern against San Diego in the regular seathe Storm, who finished the son. regular season with the secBut while Ontario coach ond-most goals scored in the Rob O’Rourke likes how his Western Division. club has come together, he Ultimately, in a playoff knows that potentially having format such as the one the to go through San Diego, VaWSHL employs, much is lencia, and Long Beach just left to chance. For San Dito get out of the West is goego general manager Jim ing to require the Avalanche Cavataio, who in 2014-15 firing on all cylinders. watched his 15-win team “I would say we are causneak into the playoffs and tiously optimistic,” said O’Roupset a 33-win Long Beach urke. “We are developing a team, part of what makes the little more depth and getting WSHL playoffs great is the some scoring other than our upset potential. top line. That’s what is go“Anything can happen ing to get us to the next level once you get into the postcome playoff time, so that has season,” said Cavataio. been an encouraging sign for “Players come together and us. you rely so much more on Led by leading scorer Cody Key, the Fresno Monsters “I think the pieces are in are one of six California teams that have qualified for your coaching staff at that place and now it’s a matter the WSHL Thorne Cup Playoffs, which begin March 16. point and I think that right of getting into that playoff Photo/Mark Mauno now we have the players and mode. I said at the beginning of the year that I want the coach to have success.” to win the whole thing, and I think we are capable of The Tahoe Icemen host the Vancouver Rangers in doing that.” a Northwest Division first-round series.

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Barnes golden again while investing in fellow Californian

By Chris Bayee

Barnes, who will begin her college career at NCAA Division I Boston College in the fall, also set a ot only did Cayla Barnes lead the U.S. Women’s positive tone for the team after its one speed bump in National Under-18 team to its third consecutive the tournament.

Under-18 World Championship in January, but in the “After we lost (a preliminary game) to Canada in process, she helped pave the way for another young overtime, she reminded us, ‘Fine, we’ll get them next woman from California. time.’ She didn’t want us to get down,” Petrie said.

Barnes, a 1999 birth year “She led by example the entire from Corona, achieved a rare time – she never took a shift goal, winning her third gold off. medal at the U18s, this time “I looked up to her. She’s while serving as the team’s very poised and her skill level captain. In addition, she was is so high it’s hard to believe named the tournament’s outsome of the moves she made. standing defenseman for the They were just amazing. I want second year in a row and she the confidence to do that.” was again selected Team Team USA avenged its USA’s top defenseman. only loss with a 3-1 triumph in And no wonder – Barnes the gold-medal game over its tied for the team lead with six northern neighbor and biggest points and tied for second rival. with three goals despite taking “Every gold medal means just 15 shots on goal in five a lot, each is special,” Barnes games.

Corona native Cayla Barnes captained Team USA to a said. “This one was different But Barnes brought so gold medal at the World Under-18 Championships in because I had a bigger leadmuch more to the team, said January. Photos/IIHF/Images On Ice ership role on and off the ice.

Dominique Petrie, a 2001 birth year from Los Ange- There is much more to communicate to coaches and les who plays for the Jr. Ducks’ 15U AAA boys team. players, but this group made it easy.”

Petrie, a newcomer to Team USA and its youngest Barnes, who is playing at New Hampton Prep player, said Barnes’ assists weren’t limited to the ice. School and for the East Coast Wizards this season, “It was comfortable going up to her, partially be- saw a bit of herself in Petrie. cause she’s also from California, but mostly because “Dominique played amazingly well and adjusted of how she treats everyone,” Petrie said. “I asked her to the pace quickly, which is the biggest transition,” about controlling nerves, pregame preparation. She Barnes said. “I was at this tournament when I was 15, helped me with all of that stuff.” so I know it was for her.

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“She’ll be there next year and have a bigger role each year.”

The all-around experience – in addition to winning a gold medal – is something Petrie said she’ll never forget.

“Going to a different country and playing is something I don’t get to experience much, but at the same time, you have to remain focused and have that business-trip mentality,” she said. “I was really excited (to play every game). Being able to put on that jersey re-lights the fire inside.

“Obviously, winning gold is the best part, but aside from that, the friendships I made those two weeks were the best.”

Barnes, who played both boys and girls hockey in California for the Jr. Ducks, Lady Ducks, LA Jr. Kings, Dominique Petrie California Stars and LA Selects, takes a great deal of pride in continuing – and passing on – California’s increasingly strong tradition in girls hockey.

“It is amazing to see the growth in girls from our state,” she said. “Two Californians on the national team. It’s great that is happening in both boys and girls hockey now.

“It’s a tribute to all the hard work that players and coaches are doing. And it’s awesome to see Dominique continue that legacy.”

NEVADA REPORT Las Vegas, USA Hockey host ‘Try New pro team in Reno would mean Hockey For Free’ event at LVIC progress for area youth hockey

By Matt Mackinder

By Matt Mackinder

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ack on Feb. 25, the Vegas Golden Knights and USA Hockey combined to host first-time hockey players at the Las Vegas Ice Center as part of “Try Hockey For Free” Day. The Golden Knights, six months prior to the team’s first season in the league, weren’t part of this action, of course.

The new NHL team and USA Hockey teamed up to host approximately 200 children ages 4-9, outfitted them with equipment and had them on the ice for two hours of free ice time.

“Every event that’s held, every time hockey is out in the community, it seems to blow every expectation away,” Golden Knights hockey operations assistant and onice instructor Keith Veronesi told NHL.com. “People are real fantastic. It’s been a real privilege to be part of this whole thing.

“You know, the fans and the community just continue to support everything. And you see kids at such a young age that have never been on the ice before so enthusiastic, so excited. I think it’s just only going to get better from here.”

Veronesi, originally from South Glastonbury, Conn., played NCAA Division III college hockey at Connecticut College from 2010-14 before joining the Golden Knights.

Kevin Erlenbach, USA Hockey’s director of membership development was also at the LVIC for the event and was elated at the amount of kids that took part.

Similar “Try Hockey For Free” events generally attract 30-40 kids per session in other cities, but the Las Vegas Ice Center session had more.

“These are really huge numbers,” Erlenbach said to NHL.com. “It just shows how excited and hungry people are for ice hockey, to not only watch the team, but play it and be a part of it. It’s definitely a hockey community ready to blow up.

“As someone who loves hockey, to see all these kids with smiles on their faces.

But not just the kids, but to watch the parents snap the pictures. The fact that everyone’s having fun and enjoying themselves, it’s huge.”

ecently, a 10-year agreement to bring minor league hockey to the Reno Events Center was approved by the Reno City Council.

Management of the facility would then be turned over to the Reno Puck Club.

A hockey team, most likely in the ECHJL, would then begin play in the fall 2018 and would potentially serve as an affiliate to the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.

Reno Puck Club partner Ken Lehner told www.ThisIsReno.com that the pro team would have a domino effect on the overall hockey landscape in town.

“This is not just about bringing professional hockey to Reno,” said Lehner. “This is about bringing ice to Reno and there’s a big difference because ice means youth hockey. Ice means youth tournaments. Ice means college hockey. Ice means curling. Ice means Disney.

Ice means figure skating. Ice means more hotel room nights downtown.”

Originally built in 2004, the Reno Events Center isn’t hockey-ready as it is mostly used for concerts, athletic events, conventions, meetings and the NBA D-League’s Reno Bighorns.

That said, the building sits empty about 300 days per year.

The minor pro hockey team would add approximately 40 games a season, on top of potential youth games and tournaments.

Management-wise, the Puck Club would take over in July and pay for the renovations, which are estimated to be around $5.6 million. Almost $3 million would be spent on locker rooms, $2.4 million for the ice surface and about $100,000 for elevators, according to the website report.

Once completed, the events center would have a shade under 4,800 seats and 246 suite-level seats for hockey. During non-ice events, the amount of seating would revert to 6,500.

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority will cease managing the events center this summer and will pay $500,000 per year to the Puck Club from 2017-21.

Councilman David Bobzien is excited for the partnership with the Puck Club.

“We have a facility that will be activated,” Bobzien said in the report. “We’ll have more activity downtown and we’ll generate more interest in our downtown.”

FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM Use two simple exercises to improve your speed on the ice T

oday’s hockey game is faster than ever.

Today’s young stars like Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau are so effective because of their speed. Perennial MVPs Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have an unreal ability to accelerate and beat their opponent to the puck.

Speed is determined by stride length times stride frequency and can be trained successfully.

Utilize the following to make you a faster skater.

Chris Phillips

Squat Jumps: Start with your feet shoulder width apart and pointing forward. Squat down until your legs are just above parallel to the floor and explode upward, jumping as high as you can. Upon descent, shock absorb like a spring being loaded by bending your knees and hips until your thighs are just above parallel and repeat your jump. Perform three sets of 6-12 jumps.

Split Squat Jumps: Start in a lunge position with feet shoulder width apart and toes pointing forward and your thigh just above parallel to the floor. The majority of your weight should be placed on the front leg. Explode upward, jumping as high as you can. When in the air, switch legs so that you land with the opposite leg in front of you. Shock absorb again by flexing your knees and hips and when your front thigh gets just over parallel, repeat the jump, switching legs again. Perform 3-6 jumps for each leg for a total of 6-12 jumps. Repeat for three total sets.

To increase the intensity, a kettlebell held between the legs or weight vest may be added to the squat jumps. For the split squat jumps, dumbbells can be used in both hands or add a weight vest.

Chris Phillips ATC, CSCS, is a former athletic trainer in the NHL with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Washington Capitals and currently owns Compete Sports Performance and Rehab.

CARubberHockey.com

19

Dark Past, Bright Future

San Diego teen phenom Moskal zooms to top of the AIHL national scoring chart

By Phillip Brents

I

f you’ve been following NARCh or the American Inline Hockey League (AIHL) the past couple of years, you’ve likely come across Parker Moskal’s name.

It’s usually at the top of the scoring chart.

Moskal’s hockey travels have taken him across the North American continent since first learning to skate under coach Jason Galea at the Salvation Army Joan Kroc Center in the Rolando neighborhood of San Diego.

Moskal credits hard work and dedication, along with the support of key individuals in his life while growing up, such as his best friend Jordan’s mother Amanda Walters, as the key to his success.

“Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Moskal said. “She’s been like a mom to me since I was a kid.”

Times always weren’t so good to him.

Moskal spent six months in a family homeless shelter when he was eight and lived in motels with his family until he was 14.

Hockey became his way out of darkness, his surrogate family.

“No matter what your financial situation might be, you can always get better and teams will find you,” he said.

Teams found him.

He moved to New Hampshire to play Midget ice hockey after his freshman year in high school.

He’s since enjoyed stints with the 18U AAA Colorado Rampage of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, Cheyenne Stampede and Long Beach Bombers in the Western States Hockey League, Dallas Jr. Stars in the North American Tier III Hockey League, Cochrane Crunch in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and Pikes Peak Miners 18U in the North American Prospects Hockey League.

He made the preseason roster of the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before suffering a season-ending injury.

Ice hockey’s loss proved to be roller hockey’s gain.

Moskal returned home and began roller skating

at the Skate San Diego rink in El Cajon. Moskal Moskal continues to spread his talent around by credited rink owner Joe Noris, a former NHL pro competing for several teams during breaks in the and Roller Hockey International executive, for AIHL schedule. getting him involved with inline hockey.

He was a member of the Konixx Outcasts Junior “From there, my love for the game grew,” the Platinum Division team during January’s NARCh well-traveled 19-year-old forward explained. “I was Winternationals at Huntington Beach Inline. He at the rink four days a week during the summer. I picked up points (one goal, three assists) on all put on a pair of Sprung chassis and it felt just like four Outcast goals in a 5-4 double-overtime loss to ice.” top-seeded Black Ice in the championship game.

The 6-foot-2 Moskal has been flying ever since It was the first time he had played defense in a on inline skates. major roller tournament.

He earned the Nevertheless, his Division I (24U) top prowess with the scorer award at the puck, especially his 2016 NARCh West stick-handling, made Coast Finals while the NARCh highlight playing for the San reel. NARCh president Diego Hosers.

Daryn Goodwin Prior to that, he referred to Moskal, the earned the top scorer newest face on the award in the Midget Outcast bench, as the Division at the 2016 team’s “most dynamic NARCh regional in player” in a tournament Irvine. blog entry.

He’s also played for Moskal is very proud the Hosers in a Major of the international recognition he League Roller Hockey received at the NARCh series tournament and for the Rink Rat pro Hockey, both ice and inline, has provided San Diego native Parker Winternationals, calling Moskal with a path from darkness into the light. it “a great experience.” team at State Wars.

Goodwin referred to the double-overtime thriller He made his AIHL debut with the San Diego Tron Hosers White team last season and with a as “unreal action and incredibly exciting and year of high level roller hockey experience under suspenseful.”

“It was the craziest game I’ve ever played in,” his belt, has excelled this season with the Mavin Moskal admitted. “I hit a crossbar in overtime.”

Outlaws.

Moskal’s attention returns to the AIHL for the In 20 games with the first-year Outlaws, Moskal has collected 82 points on 56 goals and 26 assists. remainder of the season. Pacific South Division The goal and point totals place him at the top of teams gather for a final regular season tournament April 14-15 at Irvine Inline. the AIHL’s Minor Tier national scoring chart.

The league championship tournament is He also tops all players in the nation with eight scheduled for May in Las Vegas. game-winning goals.

“I want to win the AIHL championship,” a very The Outlaws sport a division best 19-1 record.

Moskal has been a big reason for the team’s motivated Moskal said. “I think that’s the goal of success as he’s scored points on more than half of everyone in the league whether you’re playing on a first-place team or a last-place team.” the Outlaws’ 143 goals.

Winter Wars West draws sold-out field to HB Inline A

sold-out field of 112 teams gathered Feb. 24-26 Seventeen teams from the Golden State won at The Rinks-Huntington Beach Inline to compete division titles, while 18 others recorded second-place in the 2017 State Wars Hockey Winter Wars West finishes. tournament.

Division champions included the Labeda Jets The event, the fifth held in (6U and 8U-A), Pama Southern California, featured Cyclones 08 (8U-AA), 19 sub-divisions for awards Bulldogs Yellow (10Upresentation.

AA), HB Militia White State Wars Hockey (10U-A), Pama Cyclones 05 (12U-AA), HB Militia national director Tim Red (12U-A), L.A. McManus remains particularly Winter Hawks (14U-AA), impressed by the large number Bulldogs (14U-A), HB of Northern California teams Militia Blue (16U-AA), participating in the tournament.

Mission Raiders Green “As always, tons of Nor Cal teams come down to play The Pama Cyclones 08 team captured the 8U-AA division at (16U-A), Pama Cyclones in Winter Wars each year,” he February’s Winter Wars West tournament at Huntington Beach (18U-AA), Silicon Valley Inline. Photo/Wendy Donell Quakes (18U-A), Verbero explained. “Northern California has become a hotbed for great hockey out West and Voltage (Junior), Labeda Clippers (Senior AA), Beach each summer at State Wars, we see more and more City Spray (Senior A) and Pama Labeda Cyclones (Pama Pro Division). great talent representing Team Northern California.”

The Pro Division winners received $5,000 in prize money.

Silver medalist teams included the Bulldogs (6U and 16U-AA), Pama Cyclones Grey (8U-AA), Bulldogs White (8U-A, 10U-A and 12U-A), Silicon Valley Quakes (10UAA), AKS 05 (12U-AA), Pama Cyclones Red (14U-AA), HB Militia White (14U-A), Revision Revolution Red (16UA), Revo Black 99s (18U-AA), Mission Raiders Yellow (18U-A), KG Groove (Junior), South Coast Savage (Senior AA), Mr2 Linx (Senior A), Republic (Women’s) and Labeda Pama Cyclones (35-older).

The big winners at the event included the Pama Cyclones program with four first-place and three secondplace finishers and the Corona Bulldogs program with two first-place and five second-place finishers.

The 13th State Wars United States Roller Hockey Championship tournament is scheduled for July 26-Aug. 6 in Taylor, Mich.

- Phillip Brents

CARubberHockey.com

20

Rolling To Glory

UC Santa Barbara completes ‘magical’ season, wins Division I WCRHL title in round-robin play 4-3 in an overtime shootout to fourth-seeded Long Beach State. But the Central Coast team promptly recorded lopsided victories in elimination bracket play.

The Gauchos avenged their round-robin loss to Long Beach State with an 8-1 romp in the semifinals before topping Cal Poly by six goals in the championship game.

USCB senior Kyle Mooney termed the Gauchos’ championship campaign “truly a magical season,” but it was not without its share of drama.

“It was very nerve-racking going into regionals as the favorite to win it,” Mooney admitted. “With the best regular-season record and a very strong

season. I think this was imperative to our success through the rest of the weekend.”

The Western Collegiate Roller Hockey The Gauchos’ hard-fought 4-3 win over ASU in League (WCRHL) held its regional championship its final round-robin game served as a launching tournament March 4-5 at The Rinks-Corona Inline. pad for elimination bracket play. UC Santa Competition proved fierce and, in many cases, Barbara rallied from an early 2-0 deficit with four too close to call. unanswered goals.

UC Santa Barbara won championships in both “It was aggressive, a lot of cheap shots and Division I and Division III, while the University of penalties near the end, but we came out on top,” Arizona successfully defended its Division II title. said Mooney, who racked up 51 points in regularUC Santa Barbara sped past Cal Poly San Luis season play to finish runner-up in division scoring Obispo 7-1 in the Division I championship game. to younger brother Kevin (53 points).

However, both the Division II and Division III title Kyle Mooney said his team “was firing” on the games were decided in sudden-victory overtime. second day of competition.

In an all-Arizona finals matchup, the U of A “We got redemption on Long Beach with an Wildcats edged WCRHL newcomer Northern 8-1 victory in the semis, and then thought we Arizona University 5-4 to claim the Division II would have a tough battle against SLO in the title, while UCSB tipped West Valley College final,” Mooney said. “We had our best game of 4-3 in the Division III championship game. the season as a team, and each individual played The WCRHL’s three newly-crowned regional their absolute best. It was very clear that our champions advance to compete in the National team was going to do everything we needed to Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships April win the championship. Our goalie (Colin Menz) 5-9 in Ft. Myers, Fla. played astounding, and we had goals from four “The competition in Division I was tight, players.” though the Division I championship game was Kyle Clements, who earned Division I MVP an exception,” summed up WCRHL director and honors, collected four goals and one assist in National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association the championship game.

(NCRHA) executive director Brennan Edwards.

UC-Santa Barbara, runner-up to Arizona “In Division II, CSU Fullerton and Chico State State University in the regular-season Division earned byes to the semifinals, however, neither III standings, won the regional title with a 4-0 one could pull out a win as Arizona and NAU showing in Corona. came out to play.”

UC Santa Barbara completed a dominating 2016-17 season by capturUCSB defeated ASU 5-4 in the semifinals, The top four regular-season finishers in the ing the Division I title earlier this month at the Western Collegiate Roller while Robert Phillips’ hat trick goal proved Division I standings, plus the top six regular- Hockey League’s regional championship tournament in Corona. to be the game-winner in overtime in the season finishers in both the Division II and Division team, we knew we should win it, but it is always championship game against West Valley.

III standings, qualified to compete at this year’s unsure once you are in playoffs.

“Everyone really stepped up their game, and WCRHL regionals.

“We started the weekend off playing Cal State our team chemistry was on another level,” UCSB Teams were seeded in round-robin pools to start Long Beach, which hadn’t won a division game forward Justin Kirker explained. “Our goalie the two-day event and all teams were guaranteed all season (the Forty-Niners received four forfeit (Justin Burger) and defense came up with some berths in the single-elimination brackets. wins over the University of Nevada-Las Vegas). huge stops, and our offense was scoring goals left We came out hard and dominated the beginning and right.

Gauchos on top of the game, but late in the third period, they got “All the hard work we put in at practice UC Santa Barbara, which zipped through a power-play goal and then with 20 seconds left, definitely showed in the games against ASU and regular-season play with a Division I-best 16-1-0- they tied it up to go into overtime.

West Valley. I really couldn’t ask for a better bunch 1 record, was dealt adversity from the start.

“We ended up losing in a shootout to give Long of people to be on a team with. We aren’t just The high-powered Gauchos lost their first game Beach State its only win (on the playing court) this teammates, but also a family.”

By Phillip Brents

WCRHL teams receive 11 bids to national championships

T

he National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) has issued bids to 11 Western Collegiate Roller Hockey (WCRHL) teams for the upcoming National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships April 5-9 in Ft. Myers, Fla. Division I bids included all four participating teams from the WCRHL regionals held the previous weekend in Corona — Arizona State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara.

Division II bids included the four semifinal teams at the WCRHL regionals — Chico State, CSU Fullerton, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona.

Division III bids included ASU and UCSB, with alternates being Cal Poly SLO, University of Arizona and CSU Fullerton.

As the lone team in the Junior College Division, West Valley College advances directly to the NCRHA national championship tournament. The Vikings will be joined there by St. Charles Community College and St. Louis Community College, which also received bids.

Top notch

While the WCRHL Division II regional bracket showcased huge upsets, notably top-seeded Chico State and second-seeded CSU Fullerton both being eliminated in the semifinals, WCRHL director Brennan Edwards called Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s 1-0 overtime win over Arizona State in the Division I semifinals “probably the best game of the weekend.”

Both goaltenders spun regulation shutouts – Mitchell Myjak with 20 saves for Cal Poly and ASU’s Braxton Schulz with 19 saves.

Daniel Kumata scored the game-winner on a power play, assisted by Matt Fisher, at 2:14 of

the overtime period.

“A total chess match with a few opportunities, but mostly smart play by both sides,” Edwards critiqued.

Edwards suggested the amount of energy the Mustangs expended in the marathon win over the Sun Devils likely proved a hindrance in the championship game 90 minutes later against top-seeded UC Santa Barbara, which the Gauchos won 7-1.

“Cal Poly did not have the wheels,” Edwards said.

I n key Division II semifinal matchups, Chico State lost 5-3 to fifth-seeded Northern Arizona University, while third-seeded Arizona eliminated Fullerton 7-5.

- Phillip Brents CARubberHockey.com

21

2016-17 CALIFORNIA/NEVADA ALUMNI E-mail all additions, deletions and corrections to alumni@rubberhockey.com

CALIFORNIA

COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Beau Bennett (Gardena) – New Jersey Devils Emerson Etem (Long Beach) – Anaheim Ducks Shane Harper (Valencia) – Florida Panthers Alec Martinez (Santa Clara) – Los Angeles Kings Kevan Miller (Los Angeles) – Boston Bruins Matt Nieto (Long Beach) – Colorado Avalanche Bobby Ryan (El Segundo) – Ottawa Senators Jason Zucker – Minnesota Wild *

ATLANTIC HOCKEY Chris Buchanan (San Jose) – Bentley University Taylor Maruya (Westchester) – U.S. Military Academy Jared Pike – American International College % Blake Weyrick (Los Angeles) – Canisius College BIG TEN Will Johnson (Santa Barbara) – University of Wisconsin Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek) – Michigan State University Jake Slaker (San Diego) – University of Michigan

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Sena Acolatse (Hayward) – Springfield Thunderbirds Chase Balisy (Fullerton) – Springfield Thunderbirds Mitch Callahan (Whittier) – Grand Rapids Griffins Eric Comrie (Newport Beach) – Manitoba Moose Pheonix Copley – Hershey Bears + Chase De Leo (La Mirada) – Manitoba Moose Thatcher Demko (San Diego) – Utica Comets Adam Erne – Syracuse Crunch * Matthew Ford (West Hills) – Grand Rapids Griffins Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor) – San Antonio Rampage Nic Kerdiles (Irvine) – San Diego Gulls Kyle MacKinnon (Walnut) – San Diego Gulls Stefan Matteau – St. John’s IceCaps !

Trevor Moore (Thousand Oaks) – Toronto Marlies Gustav Olofsson – Iowa Wild !

Zach Pochiro – Bakersfield Condors % Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Brett Sterling (Los Angeles) – Chicago Wolves Matt Tennyson (Pleasanton) – Charlotte Checkers Scooter Vaughan (Placentia) – Chicago Wolves Matt White (Whittier) – Milwaukee Admirals

ECAC Max Becker (Orange) – Princeton University Arthur Brey (Yorba Linda) – St. Lawrence University Brett Gervais (Corona) – Clarkson University Sean Lawrence (Granite Bay) – Quinnipiac University Merrick Madsen (Acton) – Harvard University Alec McCrea (El Cajon) – Cornell University Tyler Moy (San Diego) – Harvard University Gavin Nieto (Yorba Linda) – Brown University

ECHL Kyle Bigos (Upland) – Idaho Steelheads Dennis Brown (Cypress) – Tulsa Oilers Matt Caito (Coto de Caza) – Toledo Walleye Taylor Crunk (San Jacinto) – Fort Wayne Komets Daniel Gentzler (Manhattan Beach) – Toledo Walleye Chase Golightly (Temecula) – Florida Everblades Garrett Haar (Huntington Beach) – Tulsa Oilers Miles Koules (Los Angeles) – Indy Fuel Dennis Kravchenko (San Clemente) – Adirondack Thunder Matt Leitner (Los Alamitos) – Manchester Monarchs Brandon Marino (Riverside) – Brampton Beast P.J. Musico (Orange) – Greenville Swamp Rabbits Max Nicastro (Thousand Oaks) – South Carolina Stingrays Darren Nowick (Long Beach) – Missouri Mavericks Sean O’Rourke (Alta Loma) – Kalamazoo Wings Troy Redmann (Brea) – Utah Grizzlies Steve Weinstein (Los Angeles) – South Carolina Stingrays

NCHC Lawton Courtnall (Westlake Village) – Western Michigan University Grant Gallo (San Diego) – University of Nebraska-Omaha Robby Jackson (Alameda) – St. Cloud State University Tyson McLellan (San Jose) – University of Denver Patrick Newell (Thousand Oaks) – St. Cloud State University Austin Ortega (Escondido) – University of Nebraska-Omaha David Radke (Orinda) – Colorado College

SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE David Gandara (Canyon Lake) – Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Josh Harris (Torrance) – Peoria Rivermen Steven Hoshaw (Vista) – Evansville Thunderbolts Mark Pustin (Northridge) – Knoxville Ice Bears Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Knoxville Ice Bears Jeff Sanders (San Jose) – Macon Mayhem Brantley Sherwood (San Anselmo) – Mississippi RiverKings John Siemer (Baldwin Park) – Macon Mayhem Matt Zenzola (San Diego) – Pensacola Ice Flyers

NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN

FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Justin Apcar-Blaszak (Valley Village) – Watertown Wolves Lester Brown (Citrus Heights) – Berlin River Drivers Daniel Chang (Woodland Hills) – Danbury Titans Darius Cole (Aurora) – Danville Dashers Branden Parkhouse (Rancho Cucamonga) – Port Huron Prowlers EUROPE Taylor Aronson (Placentia) – Russia Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Russia Robbie Earl (Los Angeles) – Sweden Ryan Hollweg (Downey) – Czech Republic Brandon Kozun (Los Angeles) – Russia Ryan Lasch (Lake Forest) – Switzerland Colin Long (Santa Ana) – Italy Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach) – Sweden Brian Salcido (Hermosa Beach) - Germany Liam Stewart (Hermosa Beach) – United Kingdom C.J. Stretch (Irvine) – Germany Mitch Wahl (Seal Beach) – Finland Casey Wellman (Brentwood) – Sweden NATIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE Kourtney Kunichka (Fullerton) – Buffalo Beauts Kaliya Johnson – Connecticut Whale $ Rachel Llanes (San Jose) – Boston Pride Elena Orlando (San Jose) – New York Riveters Jenny Scrivens (Camarillo) – New York Riveters Cherie Stewart (Lake Forest) – New York Riveters Alyssa Wohlfeiler (Saugus) – Connecticut Whale 22

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

HOCKEY EAST Collin Delia (Rancho Cucamonga) – Merrimack College Garrett Gamez (Chino Hills) – Providence College Niko Hildenbrand (Vacaville) – University of Massachusetts Michael McNicholas (Manhattan Beach) – University of New Hampshire Matt O’Donnell (Fountain Valley) – University of Vermont Andrew Oglevie (Fullerton) – University of Notre Dame Nikolas Olsson (Escondido) – Boston University Ryan Ruck (Coto de Caza) – Northeastern University Scott Savage (San Clemente) – Boston College Nolan Stevens – Northeastern University % Ryan Tait (Santa Clarita) – Providence College

WCHA Brandon Carlson (Huntington Beach) – University of Alabama-Huntsville Niko DellaMaggiore (Gilroy) – University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nate Kallen (San Diego) – Ferris State University Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach) – Northern Michigan University Chandler Madry (Bakersfield) – Minnesota State University Nicholas Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Minnesota State University Tomas Sholl (Hermosa Beach) – Bowling Green State University Shane Sooth (Canyon Country) – Northern Michigan University

CHA Hannah England (Simi Valley) – Penn State University Lillian Marchant (Tustin) – Lindenwood University Megan Whiddon (Redondo Beach) – Mercyhurst University ECAC Hana DeClerck (Menlo Park) – Brown University Keiko DeClerck (San Jose) – Princeton University Kara Drexler (Manhattan Beach) – Yale University Monica Elvin (Penryn) – Brown University Kendra Farole (Irvine) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lydia Grauer – St. Lawrence University $ Kayla Nielsen (Laguna Hills) – St. Lawrence University Erin Ozturk (Huntington Beach) – Harvard University Justine Reyes (Chino Hills) – St. Lawrence University HOCKEY EAST Bridget Baker (Los Gatos) – University of Vermont Nicole Dunbar (Coto de Caza) – University of New Hampshire Alexandra Lersch (Manhattan Beach) – University of Connecticut WCHA Leila Kilduff (San Jose) – Minnesota State University Annie Pankowski (Laguna Hills) – University of Wisconsin

Haroutiun Sarkisian (Encino) – Nichols College Evan Schmidbauer (San Diego) – Salve Regina University Stanton Turner (San Francisco) – Suffolk University ECAC WEST Cory Anderson (Bakersfield) – Manhattanville College Ben Greiner (Newport Beach) – Hobart College Sean Haltam (Medina) – Lebanon Valley College Brian Hodges (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Cameron Mack (Long Beach) – Elmira College Brenden Manquen (Rolling Hills) – Lebanon Valley College Jon Neal (Encinitas) – Hobart College Kyle Penn (Mission Viejo) – Stevenson University Jordan Watt (Riverside) – Stevenson University Chase Wilson (Riverside) – Lebanon Valley College Colin Woods (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Matt Zendejas (Upland) – Neumann University MASCAC Kyle Baker (Fresno) – Worcester State University Jake Carter (El Segundo) – Westfield State University Connor Cooley (Simi Valley) – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Khalil East (Los Angeles) – Worcester State University Drake Longaker (San Jose) – Plymouth State University Andrew McAvoy (Valencia) – Salem State University Connor McPherson (Lancaster) – Fitchburg State University Kyle Orgel (El Segundo) – Plymouth State University Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills) – Worcester State University Cody Slocum (Temecula) – Worcester State University Crissostomos Villareal (Corona) – Worcester State University MIAC Peter Barral (Berkeley) – Bethel University Tyler Gonzales (West Covina) – Hamline University Dallas Marvin (Newbury Park) – Bethel University Chris Nuth (Trabuco Canyon) – Augsburg College J.T. Paine (Rancho Santa Margarita) – St. Olaf College Kyle Rimbach (Encinitas) – St. Olaf College Steven Sherman (San Diego) – St. Olaf College Cole Souto (Yorba Linda) – St. John’s University J.T. Walters (Escondido) – Gustavus Adolphus College NCHA Anthony Annunziato (Alta Loma) – Lake Forest College Henry Berger (Claremont) – Northland College Zach Feldman (San Diego) – Lake Forest College Kyle Gonzalez (Chino Hills) – Northland College James Mathias (Ontario) – Marian University Peter Megariotis (Anaheim Hills) – College of St. Scholastica Travis Meyer (Corona) – Marian University Sean Reynolds (Anaheim) – Lawrence University Nick Trefry (Upland) – Northland College Quinton Wunder (Simi Valley) – Lake Forest College NEHC Sam Bloom (Davis) – Skidmore College Scott Cornfield (Brea) – New England College Conor Ferrera (Trabuco Canyon) – University of Southern Maine Keenan Haase (Mission Viejo) – New England College Bryan Hodges (La Palma) – University of Southern Maine Brett Kilar (Coto de Caza) – New England College David MacGregor (Azusa) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Jon Manlow (Murrieta) – New England College Bryce Nielsen (Laguna Hills) – New England College Will Platt (San Francisco) – New England College Mark Shroyer (Fresno) – Castleton State University Corey Sikich (Hermosa Beach) – Castleton State University NESCAC Nick Balboa (San Francisco) – Tufts University Kendall Culbertson (Laguna Niguel) – Bowdoin College Kai Frankville (La Jolla) – Colby College Ryan Glantz (Tarzana) – Connecticut College Chad Goldberg (Agoura Hills) – Tufts University Austin Ho (Chino Hills) – Amherst College Evan Johnson (Huntington Beach) – Williams College Marcus Mollica (Dove Canyon) – Williams College Ryan Mowery (Rancho Santa Fe) – Connecticut College Sean Ross (San Diego) – Wesleyan University Oliver Takacsi-Nagy (Los Gatos) – Tufts University Theo Tydingco (Newark) – Wesleyan University

NCAA DIVISION III – MEN

NORTHEAST-10 Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton) – Franklin Pierce University

COMMONWEALTH David Anderson (Stevenson Ranch) – Nichols College Matt Audet (Campbell) – Western New England University Stefan Brucato (Lake Elsinore) – Johnson and Wales University Adam Canepa (Santa Cruz) – University of New England Garrett Geane (Fullerton) – Wentworth Institute of Technology Carter Horwitz (Tustin) – Endicott College Joseph Kaszupski – Endicott College % Nicholas McKee (Bakersfield) – Becker College Christian Merritt (Thousand Oaks) – University of New England Luke Miller (Lancaster) – Suffolk University Cameron Randles (Santa Clarita) – Endicott College

SUNYAC Max Blitz (Chino Hills) – Fredonia State University Kevin Chilton (Oak Park) – Brockport State University Michael Freeman (Rancho Cucamonga) – Fredonia State University Paul Fregeau (Los Angeles) – Cortland State University Doc Gentzler (Manhattan Beach) – Brockport State University David Jacobson (Calabasas) – Oswego State University Luke Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Fredonia State University Zac Sikich (Oak Park) – Brockport State University T.J. Sneath (Chino) – Oswego State University Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose) – Potsdam State University

WIAC Jono Davis (La Verne) – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point David Henry (Foster City) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eric Shand (San Dimas) – University of Wisconsin-Superior D-III INDEPENDENT Devin Day (Fontana) – Post University Kyle Matsumoto (Walnut) – Canton State University Jarrett Stark (San Bernardino) – Daniel Webster College Chris Timm (Dublin) – Daniel Webster College NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN COLONIAL HOCKEY Danielle Comorre (Tujunga) – Endicott College Madison Maloney (Clovis) – Becker College Savannah Sommers (Corona) – Stevenson University Anastasia Thompson (Riverside) – Becker College ECAC WEST Bri Carroll – Buffalo State University $ Megan Crandell (Fullerton) – Plattsburgh State University Hannah Kiraly (Newport Beach) – Plattsburgh State University Eva Kristof (Pleasanton) – Cortland State University Jordan Lipson (Davis) – Plattsburgh State University Justine Silva (El Monte) – Buffalo State University Hannah Tarr (Los Angeles) – Buffalo State University Laura Thacker (San Jose) – Oswego State University MIAC Valerie Brown (San Martin) – St. Thomas University Jessica Jones (El Cajon) – St. Mary’s University Kylie Kramer – College of St. Benedict $ NCHA Jacqueline Audet (Campbell) – Lake Forest College Allie Girard (Folsom) – Lake Forest College Rachael Goodrow (Rancho Santa Margarita) – St. Norbert College Bailey Robertson (Orange) – Adrian College NEHC Alexandra Anderson (San Anselmo) – Salve Regina University Lizzie Aveson (West Covina) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Taylor Chisholm (Discovery Bay) – Salve Regina University Mackenzie Kennedy (Brea) – Plymouth State University Demi Latham (Redwood City) – New England College Brooke Maggy (Alhambra) – Plymouth State University Kateri McClellan (Rancho Palos Verde) – University of Mass.-Boston Kristi Peters (Newport Beach) – Manhattanville College Tori Polehonka (Chino) – New England College Maisie Tatum-Borich (Newport Beach) – New England College Tara Turcotte (Huntington Beach) – New England College NESCAC Candace Lu (Studio City) – Williams College Hailey Sholty (Malibu) – Wesleyan University Emily Williams (Fallbrook) – Hamilton College D-III INDEPENDENT Emilia Aguilar (Los Angeles) – Post University Sydney Conrad (Temple City) – Post University Anna Estes (Whittier) – Post University Victoria Lahey (Redwood City) – Lebanon Valley College Kalena Mueller (San Ramon) – Post University JUNIOR HOCKEY ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Sam Anzai (Los Angeles) – Drayton Valley Thunder Alec Grollman (Laguna Niguel) – Grand Prairie Storm Robert Jacobson (Calabasas) – Bonnyville Pontiacs Tyler Levine (Laguna Beach) – Brooks Bandits BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Elijiah Barriga (West Covina) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Austin Chavez (Corona) – Wenatchee Wild Devin Cooley (Los Gatos) – Wenatchee Wild Slava Demin (Cypress) – Wenatchee Wild Justin Dixson (Sunnyvale) – Chilliwack Chiefs Andre Ghantous (Glendale) – Trail Smoke Eaters Trevin Kozlowski (Santa Clarita) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Jacob Modry (El Segundo) – Wenatchee Wild Eric Pinsky (San Jose) – Wenatchee Wild Dakota Raabe (Capistrano Beach) – Wenatchee Wild Tyler Rockwell (San Jose) – Wenatchee Wild Chad Sasaki (Cypress) – Wenatchee Wild Jack Sitzman (Redondo Beach) – Trail Smoke Eaters Julian Timba (Oceanside) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Jared Turcotte (Moorpark) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Brian Williams (San Diego) – Wenatchee Wild EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Michael Adelson (Claremont) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam Bedford (Hawthorne) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Declan Curtis (Fontana) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Thomas Dyreng (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Elite)

Jason Epperly (Lakewood) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Brendan Gilligan (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) John Grealish (Bakersfield) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Elite) Nicholas Harris (Glendale) – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (Premier) Tim Huxen (Bakersfield) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Jagr Larson (Palm Springs) – East Coast Wizards (Premier) Sean Lincoln (Orange County) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Sawyer Lockleis (Stanford) – Vermont Lumberjacks (Premier) Julian Madison (Pasadena) – New York Applecore (Premier) Robby McClellan (Palos Verdes) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Ryan Miller (Manhattan Beach) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Zach Morel (Oceanside) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Elite) Tyler Nelson (Danville) – Hartford Jr. Wolfpack (Premier) Ryan Ng (Manhattan Beach) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier) Shane Noviello (Mission Viejo) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Evan Nyhus (Dove Canyon) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Ricky Pacciorini (Winters) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam Papayoanou (Valencia) – Connecticut Nighthawks (Premier) Eric Phillips (Portola Hills) – Walpole Express (Elite) Sean Plonski (San Bernardino) – Walpole Express (Premier) Brian Sanzone (Santa Monica) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Connor Schwarz (Oakdale) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Ryan Sheridan (Mission Viejo) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Felix Takacsi-Nagy (Los Gatos) – Hartford Jr. Wolfpack (Premier) Jake Takashima (Torrance) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Elite) Chad Watt (Corona) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Eric Wright (San Diego) – Walpole Express (Premier) GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Eric Bampenchow (Laguna Hills) – Bradford Rattlers Don Carter, Jr. (Antioch) – Bradford Bulls Brandon Chapin (Santa Clara) – Bradford Rattlers Steven Colombo (San Jose) – Seguin Huskies Bryan Hochberg (Woodland Hills) – Parry Sound Islanders Austin Kane (Milpitas) – Bradford Rattlers Mark Klasen (San Diego) – New Tecumseth Civics Nico Wilton (Redondo Beach) – Temiscaming Titans KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Ethan Bock (Upland) – Golden Rockets Stephen Gaughran (Lake Elsinore) – Golden Rockets Ruslan Katsnelson (West Hills) – Golden Rockets Blake Norman (Redondo Beach) – Spokane Braves Mark Pretorius (San Diego) – Spokane Braves MANITOBA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Dylan Dix (Scotts Valley) – Winkler Flyers MARITIME HOCKEY LEAGUE Ezekiel Estrada (Anaheim) – Yarmouth Mariners NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Jake Acton (Livermore) – Minnesota Magicians Nathan Burke - Aberdeen Wings % Connor Chilton (Oak Park) – Fairbanks Ice Dogs Jayson Dimizio (Goleta) – Corpus Christi IceRays Zak Galambos (Walnut Creek) – Johnstown Tomahawks Jack Gates (Oceanside) – Janesville Jets Cooper Haar (Huntington Beach) – Bismarck Bobcats Carson Kelley (Portola Valley) – Lone Star Brahmas Nick Klishko (San Diego) – Odessa Jackalopes Austin Koss (Huntington Beach) – Minot Minotauros David Marabella (Clovis) – Lone Star Brahmas Kyle Mayhew (Anaheim Hills) – Aberdeen Wings Robby McClellan (Rancho Palos Verdes) – Minot Minotauros Aaron Murray (Chino) – Northeast Generals Garrett Nieto (Yorba Linda) – Springfield Jr. Blues Ryan Orgel (El Segundo) – Wichita Falls Wildcats Jake Rosenbaum (Trabuco Canyon) – Topeka RoadRunners Evan Somoza (Simi Valley) – Johnstown Tomahawks Hunter Stanley (Camarillo) – Lone Star Brahmas Alex Stoley (Manteca) – Lone Star Brahmas Matt Wiesner (Newport Beach) – New Jersey Titans Connor Yawney (Orange) – Corpus Christi IceRays NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Tristan Ayoubi (Orange) – Syracuse Stampede Brady Boudreau (Anaheim) – New Ulm Steel Ryan Brown (South Lake Tahoe) – Billings Bulls Zach Brunelle (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Louisiana Drillers Anthony Cathcart (Northridge) – Willmar WarHawks Chase Di Bari (Ladera Ranch) – Granite City Lumberjacks Bailey Dorf (Palm Springs) – Glacier Nationals Bradley Estrada (Chino Hills) – Helena Bighorns Hayden Funk (Valley Glen) – Willmar WarHawks Daniel Goodwin (Fresno) – Euless Jr. Stars Ryan Gridley (Santa Monica) – Atlanta Capitals Nicholas Gustafson (Walnut Creek) – Point Mallard Ducks A.J. Hoyt (Yorba Linda) – Breezy Point North Stars Campbell Jackson (Hermosa Beach) – Northeast Generals Ben Kottmeier (San Francisco) – Helena Bighorns Malik Lamotte-Stokes (Westminster) – Syracuse Stampede Michael Lempiainen (Corona) – New England Stars Nick Nast (Oxnard) – Great Falls Americans Matt Newberger (South Lake Tahoe) – Billings Bulls Ryan Newman (Bakersfield) – Northeast Generals Danny O’Donnell (Ventura) – Great Falls Americans Teagan Poliseno (Valencia) – Atlanta Capitals Tristen Poliseno (Valencia) – Atlanta Capitals Kane Toriumi (Westlake Village) – Willmar WarHawks Collin Tripp (Prunedale) – Chicago Bulldogs Alex Werdmuller (Laguna Hills) – St. Louis Jr. Blues NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

Arshia Mitchell (Aliso Viejo) – Blind River Beavers Joseph Thielen (Huntington Beach) – Cochrane Crunch Riley William (Manhattan Beach) – Elliot Lake Wildcats ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE Sasha Chmelevski (Huntington Beach) – Ottawa 67’s Ivan Lodnia (Anaheim) – Erie Otters ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Rock Boynton (Lomita) – Lindsay Muskies Kyle Moore (Sunnyvale) – Burlington Cougars QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Matthew Boucher (Los Angeles) – Quebec Remparts SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Christian Bundschuh (Orange County) – Thief River Falls Norskies SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Aaron Aragon (Whittier) – Melville Millionaires Dakota Delbridge (Tracy) – Flin Flon Bombers Coby Downs (Montclair) – Battlefords North Stars Michael Maple (Fullerton) – Nipawin Hawks Brett Pickler (Villa Park) – Flin Flon Bombers Evan Plotnik (Capistrano Beach) – Melville Millionaires Nick Schultze (San Diego) – Melfort Mustangs UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Joey Cassetti (Pleasanton) – U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team Vincent de Mey (Los Angeles) – Madison Capitols Jake Durflinger (Walnut Creek) – Bloomington Thunder Cole Guttman (Los Angeles) – Dubuque Fighting Saints Jacob Hamacher (Corona) – Dubuque Fighting Saints Rory Herrman (Poway) – Green Bay Gamblers Ben Lown (Newport Coast) – Omaha Lancers Shane McMahan (Irvine) – Fargo Force Brannon McManus (Huntington Beach) – Chicago Steel Alec Mehr (Irvine) – Bloomington Thunder Jack St. Ivany (Manhattan Beach) – Sioux Falls Stampede Rourke Russell (Long Beach) - Green Bay Gamblers Eetu Selanne (Coto de Caza) – Madison Capitols Ethan Somoza (Simi Valley) – Bloomington Thunder UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Jonathan Aguilar (Pasadena) – Islanders Hockey Club (USP3 Patrick Choi – Boston Jr. Bruins (Premier) #) Pierce Bartolo (Belmont) – Atlanta Jr. Knights (Elite) Nash Berkowitz (San Jose) – Eugene Generals (USP3) Brendan Burns (San Carlos) – Islanders Hockey Club (USP3) Jordan Carrasco (San Jose) – Islanders Hockey Club (USP3) Nikolai Cherednichenko (Berkeley) – PAL Jr. Islanders (Premier) Severin Corallo (San Diego) – Tampa Bay Juniors (USP3) Ryan Cortez (Norco) - Palm Beach Hawks (Elite) Paul Daley (Bakersfield) – Forest Lake Lakers (Elite) Hayden Day (Oak Park) – Boston Jr. Bruins (USP3) Sean Dickson (Millbrae) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite) Tyler Dill (South Lake Tahoe) – Charlotte Rush (Elite) Jason Footlick (Redondo Beach) – River Falls Renegades (Elite) Andrew Frojelin (San Marcos) – Charlotte Rush (Elite) Cody Fulkerson (Los Angeles) – Florida Jr. Blades (USP3) Liam Gallant (Santa Barbara) – Atlanta Jr. Knights (Elite) John Garrity (San Francisco) – Islanders Hockey Club (Elite) Ethan Gill (Santa Clarita) – Florida Eels (USP3) Dylan Gluck (San Juan Capistrano) – Jersey Hitmen (Premier) Brooks Hatfield (Tracy) – South Shore Kings (Elite) Sam Hernandez (Fontana) – Islanders Hockey Club (USP3) Frank Horowitz (Beverly Hills) – Connecticut Jr. Rangers (Premier) Adam Hulsey (Bakersfield) – Atlanta Jr. Knights (USP3) Bryce Hunt (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Richmond Generals (Elite) Rob Ivy (Bermuda Dunes) – Richmond Generals (Elite) Austin Lechtanski (Rancho Cucamonga) – Syracuse Stars (Elite) Jeremiah Levitt (Simi Valley) – West Sound Warriors (USP3) Daniel Luyten (Chino Hills) – Atlanta Jr. Knights (Elite) Colin Markoski (Corona) – Hampton Roads Whalers (USP3) Joshua Miller (Paramount) – Kalkaska Rhinos (USP3) Brennan Newton (Santa Fe Springs) – West Sound Warriors (USP3) Sven Nilsson (Culver City) – Florida Eels (Elite) Robert Norwalk (Fremont) – Islanders Hockey Club (USP3) David Quast (Long Beach) – River Falls Renegades (Elite) Dylan Robello (Salida) – Florida Eels (USP3) Dalton Teeter (Dublin) – Bay State Breakers (Elite) Taylor Urch (Anaheim) – Richmond Generals (Elite) Tristan Waechter (Fairfield) – Bay State Breakers (Elite) Jacob Ward (Murrieta) – Hampton Roads Whalers (USP3) Nick Wardstrom (San Francisco) – Islanders Hockey Club (Elite) Michael Wiggins (Temecula) – Atlanta Jr. Knights (Elite) VANCOUVER ISLAND JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Colton Rhodes (Coachella) – Campbell River Storm WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Blake Bargar (Torrance) – Victoria Royals Jake McGrew (Orange) – Spokane Chiefs Steven Owre (Rocklin) – Medicine Hat Tigers Evan Sarthou – Tri-City Americans % Carl Stankowski – Seattle Thunderbirds # Murphy Stratton (Los Angeles) – Calgary Hitmen Keoni Texeira (Fontana) – Portland Winterhawks Brayden Watts (Bakersfield) – Vancouver Giants Evan Weinger (El Segundo) – Portland Winterhawks Kailer Yamamoto – Spokane Chiefs % Keanu Yamamoto – Spokane Chiefs % WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE

Joseph Aguirre (Los Alamitos) – Ontario Avalanche Joseph Allegrini (Valencia) – Las Vegas Storm Wolfgang Boehringer (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Domenic Bosetti (Long Beach) – Long Beach Bombers Rhett Bruckner (Huntington Beach) – Las Vegas Storm Brad Budman (Foothill Ranch) – Bellingham Blazers Sean Buffardi (Westminster) – Long Beach Bombers Evan Camba (Orange) – El Paso Rhinos Thomas Campbell (Riverside) – Ontario Avalanche Carter Dahl (Fresno) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Quinn Deshler (Torrance) – Ontario Avalanche Blake Duarte (Mission Viejo) – Ontario Avalanche Michael Dwyer (Clovis) – Fresno Monsters Morgan Diamond (Moorpark) – Arizona Hawks Michael Fary (Anaheim) – Utah Outliers Greg Figg (Valencia) – Valencia Flyers Jake Fleischman (Valencia) – Valencia Flyers Sage Fleming (Costa Mesa) – Ogden Mustangs Ryan Foster (Sacramento) – Long Beach Bombers Nicholas Gary (Palo Alto) – Fresno Monsters Tadeh Grigorian (Burbank) – Ontario Avalanche Tyler Hagen (Granada Hills) – Valencia Flyers Taylor Hiatt (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Jackson Hill (Monterey) – Ontario Avalanche Jonathan Holguin (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Riley Hummitsch (Chino Hills) – El Paso Rhinos Logan Jalynski (Riverside) – Ontario Avalanche Taylor Jolly (Saugus) – Valencia Flyers Cody Key (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Thomas King (Rancho Cucamonga) – Ontario Avalanche Garret Kingsbury (Bakersfield) – Valencia Flyers Mason Kohn (San Diego) – San Diego Sabers Jason Lee (Thousand Oaks) – Valencia Flyers Nathan Lloyd (Los Alamitos) – Arizona Hawks Gabel Longshore (Davis) – Lake Tahoe Icemen William Ma (Anaheim) – Ontario Avalanche Manny Mancha (Rosemead) – Ontario Avalanche Alexander Marbach (Stevenson Ranch) – Valencia Flyers Connor Melton (Chico) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Luis Mendoza (Newark) – Lake Tahoe Icemen John Moffatt (South Lake Tahoe) – Lake Tahoe Icemen Cole Parker (San Diego) – San Diego Sabers Andrew Pellegrino (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters Michael Perez (Fresno) – El Paso Rhinos Jonathon Pichedwatana (Lakewood) – Long Beach Bombers Connor Rickabus (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Tulsa Jr. Oilers Dylan San Agustin (Santa Clarita) – Valencia Flyers Nicholas Short (Los Angeles) – Long Beach Bombers Christopher Sohl (Riverside) – Ontario Avalanche Sam Taferner (Santa Clarita) – Valencia Flyers Braydon Thompson (Roseville) – Lake Tahoe Icemen Bryan Verna (Lake Forest) – Phoenix Knights John Wilshire (Temecula) – Arizona Hawks Aleksandr Zendejas (Mission Viejo) – El Paso Rhinos

Blake Selden (Santa Clara) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Jordan Skahill (San Dimas) – South Kent Daniel Thomas (Irvine) – Hotchkiss School Daniel Ton-That (Laguna Hills) – Tilton School Jackson Tuszynski (Valencia) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Lukas Uhler (Upland) – New Hampton School Brent Valentine (Newport Beach) – Choate Rosemary Hall Cam York (Anaheim Hills) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep Billy Zegras (San Diego) – The Berkshire School

PREP SCHOOL Alan Austria-Garcia (Redwood City) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Lucas Bafoner (Los Angeles) – Albany Academy Cayla Barnes (Corona) – New Hampton School Brandon Bedient (Stevenson Ranch) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Grady Birk (Carlsbad) – Shawnigan Lake School Noah Dahlen (Orange) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Liam Dauphinee (Newport Beach) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Jared Day (Orange) – Brooks School Zachary Dill (Tahoe) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Tanner Ensign (Tustin) – Holderness School Riley Fenn (Newport Beach) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Ryan Fischer (Anaheim Hills) – South Kent Dennis L. Y. Franklin (Oakland) – The Taft School Shane Gilbert (Newport Beach) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Jonah Gold (Rolling Hills Estates) – Groton School Niko Grollman (Mission Viejo) – The Gunnery Tyler Herr (Huntington Beach) – Culver Academy Nathan Katzaroff (Anaheim) – Milton Academy Nicholas Kent (Ladera Ranch) – Delta Hockey Academy Noah Kim (Fullerton) – Cushing Academy Indigo Kinzey (Pacifica) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Matt Kors (Los Angeles) – Shawnigan Lake School Jordan Labbe (Pasadena) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Erik Larsson (Los Altos) – Tahoe Hockey Academy 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 Roan Linvill (Berkeley) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Jack Lippis (Mission Viejo) – The Gunnery Mathias Long (Marina del Rey) – Lake Forest Academy Brandon McDonald (Los Angeles) – Vermont Academy Kyle McElhaney (Yorba Linda) – Tilton School Nolan McElhaney (Yorba Linda) – Cushing Academy Adam McGill (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Keely Moy (San Diego) – Kent School Matthew Odom (Elk Grove) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Zach Pires (Villa Park) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Steven Plante (Valencia) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Patrick Pugliese (Pasadena) – Loomis Chaffee Casey Rhodes (Huntington Beach) – Albany Academy Alexander Rogers (Anaheim) – Williston Northampton Brett Roloson (Newport Beach) – Shawnigan Lake School Ross Roloson (Newport Beach) – Shawnigan Lake School Hunter Sansbury (Lomita) – The Gunnery Chase Sechrist (Santa Rosa) – Tahoe Hockey Academy

SUNYAC Ryan Chiasson (Henderson) – Plattsburgh State University

NEVADA PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Jason Zucker (Las Vegas) – Minnesota Wild AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Zach Pochiro (Las Vegas) – Bakersfield Condors ECHL Kenny Brooks (Las Vegas) – Colorado Eagles Chris Francis (Las Vegas) – Quad City Mallards Gage Quinney (Las Vegas) – Wheeling Nailers Jacob MacDonald (Fernley) – Toledo Walleye Ross McMullan (Las Vegas) – Wheeling Nailers Cory Ward (Las Vegas) – Manchester Monarchs SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Chris Rial (Las Vegas) – Columbus Cottonmouths COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ECAC Joe Sullivan (Las Vegas) – St. Lawrence University D-I INDEPENDENT Joey Raats (Las Vegas) – Arizona State University NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN CHA Sarah Robello (Las Vegas) – Mercyhurst University NCAA DIVISION III – MEN COMMONWEALTH Joseph Kaszupski (Henderson) – Endicott College Alec Mono (Las Vegas) – Curry College NCHA Derek Sutliffe (Las Vegas) – College of St. Scholastica

D-III INDEPENDENT Tanner Todd (Henderson) – Daniel Webster College JUNIOR HOCKEY BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Brendan Harris (Las Vegas) – Wenatchee Wild GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Richard Prekop (Las Vegas) – South Muskoka Shield NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Dom Garcia (Las Vegas) – Aston Rebels NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Michael Cichy (Las Vegas) – Atlanta Capitals Kyle Truax (Las Vegas) – Gillette Wild NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Adrian Nicholas (Las Vegas) – French River Rapids QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Landon Quinney (Las Vegas) – Saint John Sea Dogs UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Spencer Poscente (Henderson) – Tri-City Icehawks (USP3) Gage Roberts (Las Vegas) – Carolina Eagles (Elite) Ethan Van Muyden (Henderson) – Tri-City Icehawks (USP3) WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Seth Bergeron (Las Vegas) – Las Vegas Storm Vito Carlo (Las Vegas) – Las Vegas Storm Brenden Fehlig (Las Vegas) – Las Vegas Storm Reed Lequerica (Reno) – Lake Tahoe Icemen Jake McKenna (Las Vegas) – Las Vegas Storm Kyle Molony (Las Vegas) – Las Vegas Storm Eric Williams (Henderson) – Ontario Avalanche

% former LA Jr. King + former California Titan * former LA Select

! former San Jose Jr. Shark # former Anaheim Jr. Duck $ former Anaheim Lady Duck

CARubberHockey.com

23

Quebec Pee Wee event a success on, off the ice for Jr. Kings Continued from Page 12 “That championship game was packed with fans and so exciting,” added forward Brando DiAntonio. “I had to forget about the crowd so I could focus on the game.”

And while the title-game defeat understandably stung, Pitcher is quick to point to the silver lining from what proved to be an exceptionally-played, hard-fought, emotional couple weeks of hockey from a gifted club based in Southern California on one of the world’s biggest stages.

“It was tough, and it was going to hurt for awhile,” said Pitcher. “But the kids gave everything we asked of them - that’s all you can do, and we can live with the outcome when they do that.

“At 12 years old, they’re going to play more hockey games throughout their lives and, hopefully, they enjoyed the experience of it all and will move forward and become better players because of it.”

“It was a bittersweet finish, but an extraordinary experience,” added team manager Wendy DiAntonio.

On top of all the extracurriculars that accompany the Quebec tourney, including sightseeing, pin-trading, snow tubing, playing pond hockey and settling in with their French-Canadian billet families, with whom the players resided during their stay, the 04s also played four “friendlies” against the Long Island Stars, Team Illinois, the Adirondack Jr. Wings and a team from the Czech Republic.

The spectacle also marked the 10th Quebec tournament coached by Igor Nikulin, who’s widely considered one of the most revered youth hockey teachers in all of California.

24

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

During his decorated coaching tenure, he’s guided two teams to Quebec championships in their respective divisions and assisted Pitcher behind the bench on the Selects’ 2012 title team.

Testing the players in an unfamiliar environment, Nikulin says, is what makes the tournament so unique.

“The fact that the kids are billeted by French-Ca-

The Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ 2004 Major team played two games at the 18,000-seat Centre Videotron at this year’s Quebec International Pee Wee Tournament, including the championship finale.

nadian families - and for California kids, placed in a different cultural environment with a lot of snow and the chance to play pond hockey - is special,” said Nikulin. “To experience cold weather and have to deal with it and not have their parents around all the time I think is good for them.”

Pitcher says Nikulin’s impact on the 04 team’s success can’t be understated.

“He started out with this group back when they

were Squirts, so he definitely has a great relationship with all these kids and their families,” said Pitcher. “He was really emotional (after the championship game), but I don’t know if there was anyone up there (in Quebec) that worked as hard as that man.

“He does a great job scouting other teams and doing all the things in the background that a lot of people don’t see and notice, and I know the kids have a lot of respect for him.”

Other members of the Jr. Kings’ 04 Pee Wee Major team include: forwards Josh Bonrouhi, Jaden Lipinski, James Mastrosimone, Luc Modry, Merril Steenari and Anthony Yu; and defensemen Sean Dolim, William Jones, Michael Karvelas, Matt Ng, Mikey Schwartz and Connor Thue.

Jaro Modry also assisted behind the bench, and Andrew Cohen is the team’s general manager.

“This team has good chemistry,” said Pitcher.

“They get along well and they’re a good group of kids.”

“It’s a special group,” Nikulin added. “These kids play with a full commitment to the game and their team and pay a lot of attention to detail.”

And in the end, while the Jr. Kings’ spirited run didn’t end with a championship, the almost-twoweek adventure, both on and off the ice, won’t soon be forgotten.

“It was the greatest hockey experience of my life,” Moxham said. “I had a lot of fun and I met lots of new people, including my billet family. And there were a lot of locals supporting the Jr. Kings - wearing Kings jerseys and cheering for us - that helped a lot.”

“It was a blast,” Brando DiAntonio added. “My billet family was awesome and it’s a trip I’ll never forget.”

NHL’s Golden Knights coming closer to selecting first coach

By Matt Mackinder

T

he Vegas Golden Knights have a great deal in place with March here: a home arena, season ticket holders, buzz around town and a full staff.

All they need now is a head coach.

The rumor mill has been churning recently as some current NHL coaches have made changes and pundits identifying American Hockey League (AHL) or even NCAA coaches that could take the reins at T-Mobile Arena for the 2017-18 season.

Vegas GM George McPhee isn’t in a hurry to name a coach. In fact, he said a coach may not be named until springtime.

“We met several months ago on this,” McPhee said in a Sirius XM radio interview recently. “We talked about what we were looking for in a coach – the personality traits and the experience and everything else and decided that there would be a short list that we could put together. That we’d want someone who’d be the right fit for the Vegas Golden Knights, short term and long term. And that we would prefer to have an experienced coach.”

McPhee obviously didn’t name names as to individuals he is interested in, but did admit to taking notice of the NHL coaching transactions over the second half of the current NHL season.

“We’re certainly mindful of things that happened here recently,” McPhee said.

“There’s some real quality coaches available, so things may change.

“We’ve had some time and try to use it wisely. We’ve talked to people along the way because you don’t get those opportunities very often when your team is up and running. When something isn’t working, you have to sometimes make changes quickly.

“That’s why we’ve tried to take our time on this. Where it goes from here, I’m not quite sure. We’ll continue to talk to people.”

Names in the rumor mill include current Utica Comets (AHL) coach Travis Green and Jack Capuano (Islanders) Gerard Gallant (Florida) and Ken Hitchcock (St. Louis), three coaches that lost their NHL jobs this season.

Jr. Sharks ready to host USA Hockey Disabled Festival

By Greg Ball

T

hrough the years, the San Jose Jr. Sharks have played host to a number of USA Hockey national championship tournaments, but none have been as impactful as the event they’re set to host next month.

For the first time, the USA Hockey Disabled Festival will be held at the Jr. Sharks’ San Jose and Fremont rinks. A total of 64 teams from across the country are scheduled to participate in the April 6-9 event, bringing approximately 780 hockey players to the Bay Area. There will be youth and adult divisions for each discipline.

“We’re very excited and honored to be involved in something like this,” said Jon Gustafson, the vice president of Sharks Sports and Entertainment.

“It’s a major event. We’ve held a number of different national events, and this is one that we’re really excited to be a part of this year.”

The USA Disabled Hockey Festival is the largest disabled hockey event of its kind, bringing together all the disabled hockey disciplines in one location deaf/hard of hearing hockey, sled hockey, special hockey, standing/amputee hockey and warrior hockey. In addition, for the third year, blind/visually impaired hockey will also be a part of the event.

The mission of the festival is to provide a fun and exciting weekend of hockey in a grand event, as well as to promote and grow disabled hockey throughout the country.

April’s event in San Jose and Fremont marks the 13th year that the festival has been held.

The Jr. Sharks and Solar4America Ice at San Jose (formerly Sharks Ice at San Jose) had to submit their application to host the event more than two

years ago, and have been eagerly anticipating the festival since being accepted as the host.

Pacific District disabled section representative Kellie Hays was instrumental in bringing the festival to San Jose and Fremont, Gustafson said.

“Kellie is a magnificent champion of this cause and has done amazing work within the Pacific District to bring programs like this to light,” said Gustafson. “She has helped grow programs like this and be an advocate for them. Her efforts are the main reason why we’ve had the opportunity to host this event.”

Aside from Hays, Gustafson said the Jr. Sharks have had plenty of their coaches, administrators and volunteers get involved to help the cause.

They’re as excited about hosting the festival as he is, Gustafson said.

The Jr. Sharks hope that any funds raised by the event will help them start a hockey program for disabled players, and that the festival will encourage community members to support the cause financially by

showcasing the benefits of disabled hockey. Those interested in donating or partnering with the Jr. Sharks on the effort can contact Gustafson at jgustafson@sharksice.com.

“One of the goals of hosting this event is to jump-start an adaptive hockey program here in the Bay Area,” Gustafson said. “Both of our rinks have ice time available for adaptive hockey, but we really want to formalize it and try to grow the program. We’re working hard to get a lot of people involved to support the cause and start a legacy program.”

Gustafson said he and his staff are thrilled to be a part of an event that allows athletes of differing abilities to play hockey, and he’s excited about the possibility of opening doors for kids locally to get involved in the sport where there may not have been opportunities before.

“This really shows how broad the scope of hockey is and can be,” Gustafson said. “I think that’s why we’re so passionate about being part of it.

It really exemplifies our mission that hockey should be for everyone.”

CARubberHockey.com

25

MATT FORD

Position: Forward, Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) Hometown: West Hills Last Amateur Team: University of Wisconsin (then WCHA) Youth Teams: Marina Cities Sharks, West Valley Wolves, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.)

California Rubber: Can you tell us about your family’s deep history in hockey in California?

Matt Ford: My grandfather was one of the first presidents of Bay Harbor. My grandpa and dad played goalie, and my dad still does twice a week into his 60s. I grew up wanting to play goalie, and I did it in roller. I wouldn’t say I excelled. It was my opportunity to change gear.

CR: Do you ever get the urge now?

MF: As I get older, I don’t want to get hurt. In high school or college when we had free days, I might do it.

CR: What is your favorite hockey memory growing up?

MF: In my first year of Pee Wees we (West Valley) won the Pacific District and went to the AA Nationals in Lakewood (in 1998). We made it to the national championship game against a team from New York and lost 2-1. Our team was pretty special. Last season, 17 years later to come back and play in California (with Bakersfield of the AHL) was just unbelievable to play in front of friends and family. My grandma who was in her mid-90s was able to come to a game.

To have extended family at games in San Diego and Ontario and see me play at home in Bakersfield, it was pretty special even if they were cheering for the Kings’ or Ducks’ farm teams.

CR: What is your favorite memory since leaving California?

MF: Winning championships in my senior year of high school at Shattuck and my sophomore year at Wisconsin are. The unique bond both teams share stands out. I don’t know if it’s we won because we were so close or we were so close because we won. It’s pretty cool how guys have stayed close. We had our 10year anniversary at Wisconsin for the 2006 team last summer. It was the first time all of us have been back together.

CR: Who have been the biggest influences on you on and off the ice?

MF: Definitely my mom (Kasey) being my biggest fan and supporting me. Growing up in California to get on the ice as much as I did it was a team effort from both of my parents. My dad (John) helped coach me. To this day, at 32 years old, I look to him when I have questions, whether it’s parenting in the middle of the night or about the hockey game. On the ice, the guys I played with at Wisconsin. I learned to play a two-way hockey game. Adam Burish was a really good leader for us. He showed a lot of us how to handle yourself, both with success and failures. The 2003 Shattuck team, playing with Sidney Crosby even though he was 15. I’ve had the opportunity to play with a lot of special hockey players, but the details in his game and his hockey IQ were at a different level even at that age. If you’ve heard the phrase ‘You can’t give a good hockey player a bad pass,’ he was the epitome of that. He could be skating full speed and catch a pass 10 feet behind him, 10 feet in front of him or 10 feet in the air.

CR: What advice would you give young hockey players?

MF: Just enjoy it, take it all in. Hockey has given me so many great things. I’ve gotten to travel around with my closest friends. I’ve supported my family. I owe so much to it. Growing up, my parents wanted me to play other sports, so I played lacrosse and Little League baseball. It’s important to play other sports. So many kids can get burned out doing hockey 24/7. In California, you have the opportunity to do so many other things.

CR: When you’re back in California, do you have a favorite meal or restaurant?

MF: Going to In-N-Out is at top of my list. The other place is a local Mexican restaurant near my parents’ house called El Pollo Amigo. That’s always a musthave when I come back home.

Photo/Mark Newman, Grand Rapids Griffins

26

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

- Compiled by Chris Bayee

Attracting the very best youth hockey programs under the bright lights of Los Angeles!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND

May 26 -29, 2017

Application Deadline: April 21, 2017

Midget Open . 2003 Elite & AAA Elite & AAA . 2005 Elite & AAA 2004 February 17-20, 2017 2006 Elite & AAA . 2007 Elite & AAA November 24 - 27, 2016 2008 Elite & AAA September 2 - 5, 2016 AAA (Half Ice) 2009 BB, B . Squirt A, BB, B . Mite Track I & II .

A, AA, Wee Pee B .

A, AA, (Cross Ice) tam AAA Ban .

2010 ol Scho Midget 18U AA/A - Midget 16U AA/A High

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

For more information, contact tournament director Brian McDonough at (612) 220-4402 or brian@jrkingshockey.com

Registration for our final tournament of the 2016-17 season is now open!

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– m a r g o r p r u o t You’ve heard abou ! t u o b a l l a e r ’ e w t now see wha