Colorado Rubber Magazine - January 2017 by Rubber Hockey Magazines

VOLUME 6

ISSUE 5

JANUARY 2017

When it came to crunch time, Highlands Ranch native Troy Terry came through in the clutch as the United States captured the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, led by Terry’s shootout heroics in the final two games COLORADO CUP CROWNS NINE CHAMPIONS AT NEW YEAR’S WEEKEND TOURNAMENT

CAHA TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO BACKGROUND CHECKS, HIRES

CSAHA SLED HOCKEY PROGRAM OPENING DOORS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS YOUTH, ADULTS

COLORADO SPRINGS’ PATTERSON HOPING TO END NCAA D-I CAREER ON A HIGH NOTE

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Krivo School of Hockey Elite

SPRING 2017 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Bantam Spring Development Program Birth Year: 2003

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FROM THE EDITOR Past the halfway point, but so much more hockey to go this year

know, it’s hard to believe that we are going into late January wondering where time has gone. It’s the second half of the season and this is always the time of year when things get interesting and the intensity level shifts into “ludicrous speed,” if I can borrow a phrase from the 1987 classic “Spaceballs.” Just check out the action from the recent Colorado Cup, Slapshot and Grizz Cup tournaments – some high-quality youth talent on display there and plenty of names to keep tabs on in the future in both Colorado and Utah! If your New Year’s resolutions included seeing the Matt Mackinder growth of hockey continue out in Colorado, you’re in luck. So many good things happening not only in the Denver and Colorado Springs area, but even up North in the Fort Collins area and in the ski towns. Take it all in, folks – this is a very special time in Colorado and Utah when it comes to all levels of hockey. The game is definitely trending skyward with no signs of hitting a plateau. When USA Hockey announced the roster for the 2017 U.S. Women’s National University Team that will compete at the 2017 Winter World University Games in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from Jan. 28-Feb. 8, two Colorado connections stood out – University of Colorado forwards Kathleen Ash (Lakewood) and Leah MacArthur (Boulder). The complete roster is composed of players who compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. “I think Leah and Kathleen are a great inspiration to girls in the Colorado youth organizations as they prove that even girls from Colorado can wear the red, white and blue as they represent our country,” said CU coach Jamie Hazelton. On the men’s side, CU players Matthew Anders (Boulder) and Alex Temby (Littleton) will represent Team USA in Kazakhstan.

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READY, SLED, GO

This summer, Colorado Thunderbirds graduate and Englewood native Cal Foote could be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft in Chicago. Andrew Marshall, a contributor to HockeyNow.ca, has been impressed with the Kelowna Rockets (Western Hockey League) defenseman the past two seasons. “Foote raised many eyebrows in his underage season (2015-16) not only for his defensive play, but his offensive skills as well by posting 36 points in 71 games,” Marshall said. “A great skater in both directions, he is quick on his edges and his East-to-West skating gives him the chance to cover the ice effectively. Foote has a hard slap shot from the point and keeps it low, which leaves rebounds for his forwards to clean up. He will only get better as he begins to fill his already huge frame (6-foot-4, 210 pounds).” Some sad news out of Utah as Holladay native Taylor Hagen, a former two-time state high school champion and captain at Skyline, passed away Jan. 6 at the age of 23. “Above all, his absolute passion was hockey,” read his obituary. Taylor is survived by his parents, siblings, grandparents and nieces. Godspeed, Taylor. Back on Jan. 8, Tony Salazar of Metro State University-Denver's ACHA Division II team suffered a massive heart attack at just 18 years old while playing in his first hockey game for Metro State. Salazar has been stabilized at the University of Colorado Hospital. One artery was 100 percent blocked and he has several blood clots around his heart. Unfortunately, the right side of his heart is no longer functional and he will most likely need a heart transplant. Doctors have installed a heart pump to filter out carbon dioxide and add oxygen, but it cannot sustain him. His heart is currently working at only 18 percent capacity. In 2016, Tony helped lead Ralston Valley to the Colorado High School Frozen Four. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Salazar family with expenses - www.gofundme.com/tony-salazars-recovery. Pulling for you, Tony!

Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

The Colorado Springs Tigers organization boasts a rapidly-growing sled hockey association that features both a youth team (pictured) and an adult team. More on this unique program on Page 15Photo/YSPN

ON THE COVER Highlands Ranch native Troy Terry, a Littleton Hawks and Colorado Thunderbirds graduate currently in his sophomore year at the University of Denver, was a shootout hero as the United States captured the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship on Jan. 5 over archrival Canada. Photos/DU Athletics, IIHF/Images On Ice

COLORADO AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

CAHA taking every precaution to keep youth hockey safe By Steve Stein

he Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) is doing everything it can to keep people who shouldn't be around children away from rinks and locker rooms filled with young hockey players. Coaches and team managers listed on rosters must undergo a free background screening and complete SafeSport training produced by the United States Olympic Committee before they can participate in any team activity. If either or both requirements aren't completed, they are red-lined on their team's roster. A change made this year to have CAHA registrars Susan Cardasis and Anda Craven do the heavy lifting of making sure coaches and team managers complete their screening and SafeSport requirements has produced dramatic results. But CAHA can't do it all. It needs associations to be proactive in preventing child abuse by insuring that their volunteers undergo an inexpensive ($6-10) background screening and complete SafeSport training, which is provided free to everyone registered with USA Hockey. The volunteers could be locker room monitors or drivers at tournaments. "CAHA can't check everyone," Craven said. "Each association should understand that having everyone undergo a background screening and take SafeSport training protects the association. "Plus, if something bad happens, it becomes not

just an association issue, but a hockey issue. It impacts every association in the state." Starting Sept. 1, team managers must be listed on rosters. That's not the case this season, but the numbers of coaches and managers who have fulfilled background screening and SafeSport requirements are still impressive. During the 2015-16 season, there were 680 teams with 1,690 coaches, 367 managers and 291 volunteers on rosters. That added up to 2,348 potential background screenings "although that was only people registered with USA Hockey, so there were probably many volunteers who didn't register," Cardasis said. There were 1,894 screenings in 2015-16. That means 490, or 19 percent, did not undergo a screening and were declared inactive. So far this year, there are 560 teams. Cardasis expects the number of teams to grow by at least 50 through the addition of high school and spring teams. There are 1,442 coaches, 345 managers and 381 volunteers on rosters, for a total of 2,168 individuals. Total screenings are 2,111, a difference of just 57, or only two percent. Cardasis reviewed 362 of her 2016-17 teams for compliance and she found there were 15 coaches or managers without a background screening, 10 coaches or managers who hadn't taken SafeSport training and six coaches or managers who did not have a background screening or SafeSport training. Craven took a look at 150 of her 2016-17 teams.

When rosters were submitted this fall, 78 of 332 coaches did not have a background screening and 61 did not have SafeSport training. Those numbers now are 11 without a background screening and nine without SafeSport training. Of the 43 team managers when rosters were submitted, 14 did not have a background screening and 10 did not have SafeSport training. Those numbers now are six without a background screening and four without SafeSport training. Michelle Peterson is CAHA's SafeSport coordinator. She's an expert in child sexual abuse in sports who testifies in court and does forensic interviews with victims. She's also a mother whose hockey-playing son had a coach who was convicted of child sexual exploitation. "CAHA is way ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting children," she said. That includes having a SafeSport coordinator in each association. Craven urges those who have questions or concerns about background screenings or SafeSport to contact their association's SafeSport coordinator or president. Peterson said there's a good reason why CAHA requires a background screening and SafeSport training. "Not every child abuser has been arrested and some have been known to have more than 150 victims before they were caught," she said. "Having to do a background screening and SafeSport training may convince an offender not to get involved in youth hockey."

CAHA.co CORubberHockey.com

American Dream

Colorado native Troy Terry helps the U.S. World Junior team win gold on Canadian soil at the World Juniors with ties to Colorado. The others were former Littleton defenseman Caleb Jones, who was a mainstay on the Team USA blue line, and head coach he funny thing about Troy Terry scoring shootout goal after shootout goal in the Bob Motzko, who spent the 1993-94 season as an associate head coach under 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is he rarely scores them in prac- Frank Serratore at DU. tice – according to his University of Denver teammates anyway. Serratore, now Air Force’s coach, said Team USA’s victory could be considered Yet score he did – three times in a shootout to lift Team USA to a 4-3 victory among the top highlights ever for USA Hockey. against Russia in the semifinals on Jan. 4, and then he was the only one of 10 shoot“This could easily be framed as a top-5 event, for sure a top-10 event, in USA ers to put the puck in the net during a shootout against Canada for a 5-4 victory Hockey history,” he said. “You’ve got ’60-’80-’96, the first time that we won World that gave the Americans their fourth gold medal, and first in four years, in the top Juniors (2004). To win it up there, to beat Canada twice, to beat Russia twice – it’s Under-20 event in the world. top-10 for sure, possibly top-5 in all of USA Hockey history, in my opinion.” “I was watching the semifinals there in Montreal when they played Russia,” said Team USA’s ascent began last summer when USA Hockey gathered the 42 of DU teammate Henrik Borgstrom, who played for defending champion Finland. the top eligible players at its National Team Development Program (NTDP) site in “When he had those three shootout goals, I was like, ‘Oh my god, Troy.’ It was fanPlymouth, Mich. tastic. “From Day 1, you “Our entire (DU) team was tweeting about. We were all real happy for him. Then could sense there he did it again. was a camaraderie “The odd thing is he never scores those in practice. That between-the-pads thing, with that group of it doesn’t work on our goalies and then he decides to pull that move out in the World players,” Miller said. Juniors. It shows he has great character and he isn’t afraid of anything.” “When we convened Terry, a sophomore for the Pioneers and Highlands Ranch native, maintained a in Buffalo (before the normal pulse before, during and after the tournament. tournament), it was “Troy has a confidence about him that he can do that in any situation because he’s an easy group to done it most of his life,” said Team USA assistant coach Steve Miller, a longtime DU coach. They bought assistant and associate head coach and currently the director of hockey for the Air in, they played for Force Academy. “He doesn’t each other and we have to talk about it because had a great support he feels like he’s done it. He’s staff. They helped not built that way. His mom guys get ready and and dad (Susan and Chuck) limit the distractions.” are such great people and That closeness raised him the right way. He’s extended to the coaching staff. Motzko and Miller were all about the team.” on former DU coach George Gwozdecky’s staff at MiIndeed, upon his return to ami in the early 1990s, and Motzko was a groomsman at the Pioneers’ lineup on Jan. 7, Miller’s wedding. Miller coached with fellow Team USA Terry was more at ease talking assistant Kris Mayotte at Providence College in 2014about being back in Colorado 15, when the Friars won the NCAA championship, and he with his teammates than the has known and coached against Grant Potulny, another impact his post-regulation assistant, for years. exploits had on the hockey “There was great camaraderie on the staff,” Miller addworld. DU honored him with a ed. “We got together every day about how we could make video tribute during a first-pethis team better.” riod break against Arizona Many of Team USA’s players, including Terry and State that night. Jones, played together with the NTDP, and that and hav“That was pretty special ing to repeatedly come back from deficits steeled the just to see how much supAmericans for the final three games, each of which were port I had back here for over one-goal affairs. here for what happened over “There was a lot of adversity we had to deal with there," said Terry, a fifth-round during the tournament,” Terry said. “Battling back, stuff draft choice (148th overall) we had to deal with that brought us closer together as a of the Anaheim Ducks in the team. A lot of us played together before, so we knew each 2015 NHL Draft. other already.” “It was really amazing. I Jones, who like Terry was playing in his first World Juget a lot of attention for the niors, emerged as an every-situation force for the Amershootouts but (Team USA) icans. A 2016 draft selection by the Edmonton Oilers played such a good team (fourth round, 117th overall), Jones has been a point-pergame in both of those.” game player for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western As fun as the World Ju- Troy Terry grew up playing for the Littleton Hawks and Colorado Thunderbirds and is current- Hockey League this season after ringing up 57 points in niors were for Terry, there is ly a sophomore at the University of Denver. The Highlands Ranch native recently won gold 76 games a season ago. with the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal. no place like home. “He was able to play against any type of player,” Miller Photos/DU Athletics "These guys (at DU) are said. “He can play those heavy minutes. He’s an elite demy best friends,” Terry said. “I was obviously staying in the moment of there, but as fender and he makes really good puck decisions. By the end of the tournament, he soon as we won that game, I was looking forward to getting back with these guys. was playing as well as anybody. There's nothing like putting on a Pioneers jersey and playing with these guys.” “It was a great tournament for another guy who started his hockey career in ColThe euphoria of returning to his college team soon was supplanted by what one orado.” would expect from hockey teammates. The Americans swept their four preliminary round games by a combined 18-5 "They were really happy for me,” Terry said. “It was pretty cool. Everyone was margin, with only a 3-2 win over Russia and a 3-1 triumph over Canada close. The screaming and hugging me and I’ve been getting razzed about it a little bit." quarterfinals brought Switzerland, which pushed the Americans to the limit in a 3-2 Terry, who played youth hockey for the Littleton Hawks and Colorado Thunder- victory. The Swiss overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie it early in the third period before birds, Miller and Borgstrom, a freshman at DU who was a first-round pick (23rd overall) of the Florida Panthers in last June’s NHL Draft, were three of the five participants Continued on Page 14

By Chris Bayee

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

ASPEN JUNIOR HOCKEY Figuring out the difference between goals, expectations By Shaun Hathaway

n the early 1970’s while dreaming of playing for the Finnish team Jokerit, Jari Kurri was collecting NHL cards with dreams of stardom. Over a decade later, my best friend and I regularly teamed up in his cul-de-sac as the most dynamic duo in NHL history – he was No. 99 (Wayne Gretzky) and I was Kurri. We were dreamers playing street hockey as members of the Edmonton Oilers – those dreams created an unwavering passion for the game, which helped shape lifetime goals. Dreams are the fuel to ignite passion, and passion is the foundation for setting goals, not expectations. According to Dr. Jim Taylor, an internationally-recognized authority in sports and parenting psychology, goals are possible accomplishments that may or may not be achieved. Expectations are assumptions of achievement. John Sullivan, the founder and CEO of Changing the Game Project, defines two types of goals. Process goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Forward moving goals are hard to measure, at times not very specific, and are rarely timely, but are crucial to energize children and allow them to dream big. Without process goals, forward moving goals are rarely achieved. Parents and coaches must understand the cyclical relationship between dreams, passion and goals, and separate these concepts from expectations. The expectation of success by parents removes forward moving goals and dreams from the equation, adds a tremendous burden on children, and can have a detrimental effect on both confidence and passion. Parents MUST separate their dreams from their child’s. These parental dreams often lead to false or unrealistic expectations that usually have negative or fatal consequences for youth sport participants. To instill passion and help teach the importance of goals, we must encourage kids to dream big. A recent video produced by Scotiabank for the 2017 World Cup of Hockey titled “Hockey Dreams” (search YouTube) is a wonderful promotion of this philosophy.

AspenJuniorHockey.com

CORubberHockey.com

PICTURE PERFECT Colorado College won its first in-season tournament since 2005 by capturing the Florida College Hockey Classic on Dec. 29 with an overtime win over Cornell University at Germain Arena in Estero, Fla. Photo/Colorado College Athletics

The Krivo School of Hockey Elite 2005 team needed double overtime to capture the Battle On The Beach division title New Year’s Weekend in Tampa, Fla.

The Littleton Hawks bagged the Squirt A championship at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

telino/Colorado Hockey Hub

The Littleton Hawks won the Squirt B championship at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/

The Colorado Springs Tigers claimed the Pee Wee A title at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area.

Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

The Littleton Hawks brought home the Bantam B championship at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

The Utah Golden Eagles secured the Bantam AA championship at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

The Greeley Bears captured the Squirt C championship at Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

The Glenwood Grizzlies picked up the Bantam A title at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekend at numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/Scott Cat-

The Hyland Hills Jags captured the Midget Minor AA championship at the Colorado Cup, which was showcased New Year’s Weekendat numerous rinks in the Colorado Springs area. Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub

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Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

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COLORADO RAMPAGE

Rampage grad Patterson putting in the work at D-I Niagara By Steve Stein

very youth hockey organization wants a guy like Kevin Patterson to be an alumnus. Patterson has represented the Colorado Rampage with distinction since the Colorado Springs native captained the 18U AAA Rampage team from 2009-11. Now a senior assistant captain at Niagara University, Patterson is playing defense and forward for the Purple Eagles. "I take pride in doing my job to the best of my ability," Patterson said. Niagara was just 3-16-3 as of Jan. 15, but Patterson isn't complaining because he's playing NCAA Division I hockey. "You can't ask for more than that," he said. "Niagara fulfilled my dream. I grew up watching Colorado College and Air Force play. That's when I decided I wanted to play Division I hockey." Patterson played in 27 games for Niagara as a freshman, picking up six assists. He got into 29 games as a sophomore, compiling five goals and six assists. He had three goals and four assists in 33 games as a junior, when he also was an assistant captain. He has also made the most of his academic life at Niagara, a Catholic university located in Lewiston, N.Y., near Buffalo. Patterson earned a bachelor's degree in finance in only three years, graduating in Aug. 2016 with a 3.93 grade-point average. He was named the Atlantic Hockey Conference's Student-Athlete of the Year in

his freshman and sophomore seasons. He now has a American Hockey League for two seasons after his time perfect 4.0 GPA as he pursues a master’s degree in with the Rampage, totaling eight goals and 23 assists finance. in 101 games and serving as an assistant captain in the That said, Patterson isn't thinking about hanging up 2012-13 season, before heading to Niagara. his skates and heading into the world of finance just yet. "Coach Sherman preached process," Patterson "I want to play professional hockey," he said. "I'll think said. "Process means always being better today than about stepping away from hockey after I've exhausted the previous day. That mindset has been huge for me. all my options to play as a pro. Getting Coach Sherman cares about you as a an education is a very important part of hockey player and as a person. He's a playing college hockey, of course. I'm big reason why I've gotten to this point happy I'll have that to fall back on after I in my hockey career." give up hockey." Patterson returns to Colorado Patterson's grandfather, Harley Springs each summer and participates Patterson, was a forward at Colorado in the Rampage's summer camp. College from 1954-58 and a member of Sherman described Patterson as the Tigers' 1957 NCAA championship being all about effort, character, attitude team. and commitment during his days with "My grandfather still wears his NCAA the Rampage. championship ring," Kevin Patterson "And he was always grateful and appreciated his opportunities," he said. said. "That inspires me every day." "Kevin is a leader. A special leader. Bad knees ended Harley Patterson's hockey playing days, his grandson said, Colorado Springs native and Col- I can see him being the general managbut he had a successful career as a orado Rampage product Kevin er of an NHL team someday. He'll be a Patterson has fulfilled a dream salesman for a cabinet company and the past four years by playing success in whatever he does the rest of is now in his 80s and lives in Colorado college hockey at Buffalo-area his life because he does things the right Niagara University. Photo/Niagara way all the time." Springs. Sherman is certain Patterson will Kevin Patterson said playing for the Athletic Communications Rampage and coach Andrew Sherman prepared him play professional hockey. "Kevin is tough; he'll fight for a spot," Sherman said. well for the next steps in his hockey career. He played for the Topeka RoadRunners of the North "He's a hard-nosed player that every team can use."

CORampage.com CORubberHockey.com

Rocky Mountain Uncertainty

After a season-long struggle, will the Avalanche look to wheel and deal before trade deadline? By Mike Chambers

Landeskog is a left wing and considered a marketable power forward, a valuable NHL commodity. He’s in his prime, and moving him could fetch a prized young defenseman prospect and more – such as a high pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. “Whether my name is floating around or not, I’m still approaching the game the same way,” Landeskog said. “And that is to spread energy, be a good teammate, work hard and try to get better every day. Me being in trade rumors, that’s nothing I can control.” He also repeated something he has said many times of late: “I want to be an Avalanche, to stay an Avalanche and be in Denver for a long, long time.”

abriel Landeskog has generally been the Colorado Avalanche’s poster boy since Sept. 4, 2012, when he was named the NHL’s then-youngest-ever captain after winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s Rookie of the Year. He was 19 at the time, but certainly mature beyond his years. Today, at 24, Landeskog is trying to lead the NHL’s worst team while trying to avoid the significant trade rumors that has his name at the top of the list. Colorado general manager Joe Sakic told the Denver Post that everyone not named Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen or Tyson Jost could be moved, and a complete rebuild would almost certainly include new leadership. But for now, Landeskog said he will continue to try to lead the Avs into a healthy direction and possibly avoid a major overhaul. “It’s the best job in the world; it’s Landeskog is signed through Gabriel Landeskog not hard at all (to come to the rink),” 2020-21, with a $5.57 million anLandeskog said. “But obviously, it’s a business built nual cap hit. If he is traded, Landeskog will be missed off results and if you’re not getting results, you’re not by his teammates. doing your job right. We’re excited to come to the “He’s a great captain,” Avs goalie Calvin Pickrink every day because you have to. If you’re not ex- ard said. “I’ve been here for parts of three years now, cited to come to the rink, it’s hard to get better. It’s and he’s awesome. He’s always happy, positive with like any job, you go through tough times, but have to everyone and he goes out and leads by example. fight your way through it.” That’s been no different this year.”

Said Landeskog: “I take a lot of pride in what I do and the way I lead this team. Obviously, you look at the results and it’s not nearly good enough. I understand management has to do what they have to do, but I’m coming to work trying to do my job to the best of my abilities. At this point, it’s all you can do.” Losing breeds friction between teammates and Landeskog couldn’t prevent MacKinnon from chastising a teammate during a 3-2 loss to Nashville at the Pepsi Center on Jan. 14. Reacting, firstyear Avs coach Jared Bednar appeared to bark at MacKinnon and then benched him for three or four shifts in the second period. Bednar didn’t go into details of the exchange, but said “our culture is very important, to act and communicate the right way.” “It’s important to me, whether we’re 20 games above .500 or 20 games below. The way we come to practice to compete against each other, what comes out of our mouths, how we address each other and how we’re going to dig in and fight for one another in games and being good teammates. You have to have that in order to win.” Landeskog echoed those points. “We all know what the standings look like at this point, but we just have to focus on the way we play and how we prepare ourselves and the way we try to change the culture in this room,” he said.

Utah’s Bradford, Tall represent Pierro-Zabotel keeping NHL dreams alive with ECHL’s Eagles Grizzlies at ECHL All-Star Classic By Matt Mackinder

By Matt Mackinder

or Casey Pierro-Zabotel, winning an ECHL Kelly Cup title last season with the Allen Americans has only made him hungrier to do the same this year with the Colorado Ea-

gles. A former NHL draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins (third round in 2007) and British Columbia Hockey League MVP, Pierro-Zabotel signed with the Eagles in the offseason and hasn’t looked back. “I think I’ve had a really good start to the season, been playing good and getting points, and I think our team has come together as a team really well,” said Pierro-Zabotel, a 28-year-old out of Kamloops, B.C. “I chose to sign with the Eagles because I’ve heard nothing but good things from other players who have played here and every time I’ve played against them, it's been my favorite place to play (at the Budweiser Events Center).” Ironically, Pierro-Zabotel skated in the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game in 2013 at the Budweiser Events Center. “Casey is not only a terrific centerman that can win critical faceoffs, but he also plays as a true power forward, creating scoring chances by working hard in front of the net,” said Eagles GM Chris Stewart. This season, Pierro-Zabotel has been satisfied with the way it has progressed thus far. “My role has been to be a two-way forward that is responsible in all areas and to be a leader on this team since I have been playing pro for eight years,” explained Pierro-Zabotel. “I am very happy with my role on this team and I try to help out as much as I can. We have been very successful by playing a fast, up-pace game that is physical.” Pierro-Zabotel has also seen a handful of stints in the American Hockey League and is not letting his ultimate goal of playing in the NHL elude him. “This year has been very good for me so far and my NHL dream is always in my mind,” Pierro-Zabotel said. “I try to stay very positive towards that dream at all times.” 10

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

he Utah Grizzlies pulled double duty in a sense at this year’s edition of the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic. On Jan. 18 at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, N.Y., Grizzlies forward Erik Bradford donned the jersey for the ECHL All-Stars and took the ice, while Grizzlies equipment manager Ryan Tall worked behind the bench. The 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic featured the host Adirondack Thunder taking on the ECHL All-Stars in a non-traditional format featuring 5-on-5, 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 play, as well as a skills competition that included a puck relay, hardest shot and fastest skater) to highlight the talents of both teams. Utah coach-GM Tim Branham was excited to see Bradford named to the AllStar squad. “It is a privilege to be able to play in an All-Star game,” said Branham. “Erik has done extremely well since joining our team and he deserves this opportunity.” Bradford, a 22-year-old native of Orangeville, Ont., posted three goals and 17 assists for 20 points in the 19 games since being acquired from the Toledo Walleye on Nov. 14 and is also the Grizzlies’ leading scorer since joining the team. He recorded just two points in five games with Toledo, but did spend three games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies in 2014-15, netting his first pro goal that spring after finishing his Ontario Hockey League career with the Owen Sound Attack. Tall, a Utah native, is in his first full season as the team’s equipment manager. The 21-year-old was named the team’s interim equipment manager in March of 2016 after joining the team as an equipment assistant for the 2014-2015 season and quickly became an integral member of the team’s hockey operations staff. He is currently finishing his degree in business marketing at Weber State University after graduating from Viewmont High School in Bountiful. “Ryan has done an outstanding job for our organization,” said Branham. “He is a true professional and well deserving of this accomplishment.”

TAHOE HOCKEY ACADEMY

Tahoe Hockey Academy: What a difference a year makes By Greg Ball

he beginning of a new year is a time when most people make resolutions to improve in the year ahead while reflecting on what they have achieved in the previous 12 months. The staff at the Tahoe Hockey Academy (THA), although off to a great start in its inaugural season and school year, is hard at work putting together plans for its 2017 recruiting class. “Our goal right now is to continue establishing an awareness about our brand and also introduce ourselves to student-athletes who could benefit from what Tahoe Hockey Academy has to offer,” THA president Leo Fenn said. “At this point last year, we were nothing more than an idea, a concept of what could be. To see where we are now is a testament to the hard work and support of our staff, parents and players.” Unlike most club teams or even high school teams in California, Tahoe Hockey Academy is a full-time resident academy that focuses on both academics and athletics. “I grew up playing hockey in Southern California, and up until this past year there were zero options for a California player to attend a resident hockey prep school locally,” associate coach Chris Collins said. “To be a part of the Tahoe Hockey Academy, where we provide the daily development and instruction needed to advance our players’ games, shows just how far hockey has grown over the last 10 years.” With that growth comes additional expectations.

Tahoe Hockey Academy is paving the way as the first school of its kind in the state. “We want to evolve and continue to find the best ways to help our student-athletes advance,” Fenn said. “We want to make sure that 2017 is better than the year before it, so we can continue to provide the best experience possible for our students.” If past achievements are any indication of what the

Players at the Tahoe Hockey Academy are not only excelling on the ice in the program’s inaugural season, but progress on the academic side is also a positive for THA. Photo/Joe Naber

future holds for the staff in Tahoe, then 2017 is already shaping up to be a promising season. “We have some unfinished business so far from the 2016 season with the WPHL Championships this month, the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League playoffs and various tournaments, so we’re focused on

preparing our teams to compete,” Collins said. “We also understand that it’s the relationships we establish, and the communications we set up with potential prospects, that will allow us to continue to build our program. We’ve performed well in our league as well as the showcases we’ve attended, so that’s a great way to show potential prospects what Tahoe Hockey Academy can offer.” As the staff turns its attention to the class of 2017, THA has a busy schedule ahead. “The model works - we’re a development-first type of program that offers our athletes up to 10 hours of ice each week while providing a dedicated academic environment,” Fenn said. “The program isn’t for everyone, as it does take a dedicated and self-driven student-athlete to succeed, but the proof is in our improvement on the ice as well as in the classroom, as each of our players have increased their overall GPA since Day 1.” The early part of 2017 will see THA off to Colorado, the University of Notre Dame and many points in between. Then it’s summer camps, prospect tournaments and showcases while the staff hits the trail looking for the right players for the program. “It’s an exciting time of year to meet new prospects and parents to discuss the possibilities for 2017,” Fenn said. “In the end, we’re hockey people, but we’re also parents who understand the rigors of travel hockey and the social dynamics of being in high school.” With one foot in the present and another in the future, THA continues to make positive strides in establishing itself locally and nationally.

TahoeHockeyAcademy.com

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Ritt of Passage

Now a prominent piece in the Denver lineup, Ritt finding his role as Pioneers’ senior responsible in all three zones,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said. “He understands what Denver hockey is and his details of what makes him successful adds. He’s relished that and grown into the type of player that I trust.” He’s also the type Montgomery can count on to inject energy into the game when he taps Ritt on the shoulder. “I don’t get the minutes that a lot of guys do – I

to earn it. If I was going to get into the lineup, I had to earn it.” van Ritt’s summer vacaDU junior Rudy Junda he said there is little secret tion wasn’t much of a vacato why his former RoughRiders Midget teammate is tion – he worked two jobs and so effective. went to the gym every day. “He knows what he needs to do, and he’s very Yet that routine was transformational for the Unigood about not letting emotion or other things disversity of Denver senior, who finds himself as a fixture tract him,” Junda said. “That’s why he’s consistent. in the Pioneers’ lineup for the first time in his four He can break things down and keep them simple.” seasons. A bit of inward focus in an outward-focused “I did have a different summer – I had an internsport has made a difference for Ritt. ship and was working a hockey camp,” Ritt said. “You can get caught seeing all these other guys “My summer was really structured.” on the team who have all these amazing skills you He awoke at 4:45 a.m. to work at a camp in feel like you can do or should be doing because Littleton with Pioneers alumni Kyle Ostrow and you’re at this level,” he said. “You end up getting Paul Phillips. After that, he’d head to DU to do in trouble because you can’t do it as well as them. his summer weightlifting program. Then it was “That’s been the theme of my year, looking indowntown for an internship with Johnson Financial ternally, focusing on my strengths and minimizing Group. The finance major would be in the firm’s the risks based on the game I can play and finding office until at least 5 p.m. a way to be effective.” “Just being in that routine, I had to be really disAnother measure of his effectiveness is the enciplined,” Ritt said. “I felt like when I came into the couragement he offers. year, I was already in a mode where I was work“He shows a lot of kindness and is a really good ing really hard. And I had more time once I got to person,” Junda said. “He’s a good voice of reason school. I could shift my habits into preparing for for me, very level-headed and super humorous. hockey and it’s helping a lot.” “It’s helpful for me to see him get his chance Not only has that development benefited the Senior Evan Ritt came into the 2016-17 season prepared to make his senior to play.” Lakewood native, who played his youth hockey for season at DU a memorable one and so far, increased ice time has been a Added Montgomery: “He’s got leadership skills, major benefit to the Lakewood native. Photo/DU Athletics Arvada and then the Rocky Mountain RoughRidthere’s no question about it. We’ve always felt he ers, but it has helped a Pioneers team that has sat might sit on the bench five minutes if there is a spe- had them, he just didn’t play enough to maybe have at or near the top of the NCAA Division I polls all cial teams battle,” Ritt said. “I might have a little more the confidence to do it. Now that he is a mainstay in season. jump. I was always an undersized kid, but I was pretty the lineup, he does have that confidence. “Evan wins faceoffs at a high level (his 56 per- good as hitter. “I think he knows he’s a Division I player that helps cent success rate is second on the team) and he’s “Monty’s system is a meritocracy, you really have an elite college hockey team win every night.” By Chris Bayee

Confidence proving to be the guiding light for CC’s Hansen

Falcons’ offensive force Haak ‘just goes about his business’

By Chris Bayee

he children’s book “The Little Engine That Could” has nothing on Colorado College’s Matt Hansen. The senior knows he can, and he’s proved it by emerging as a value component on the Tigers’ best line this season, teaming with top scorers Mason Bergh and Luc Gerdes. “His compete level has gone up in all three zones,” CC coach Mike Haviland said. “He’s an unbelievable skater with good skills and now he’s competing every shift, playing with the urgency he needs to have, and we’ve reaped the benefits.” As one of just three seniors who play regularly for the Tigers, Hansen said the key to his emergence is no different than the rest of the squad’s. “With how young we are, a lot of it is confidence,” the economics major said. “It’s a big thing for me. When I know the coaches believe in me, it helps me relax. “When I haven’t had success, it’s usually because I’m overthinking things. But when I’ve had confidence – usually late in the season the last few years – it’s usually been too little, too late.” Instead, he and his linemates have teamed up for 19 points in CC’s first five games out of the holiday break, a stretch in which the Tigers went 3-1-1, and had 34 points of the team’s 121 overall (nearly 30 percent). “It’s a very good line – they complement each other well,” Haviland said. “All three can make plays. In Matt’s case, he’s using his speed to separate from guys and get openings to shoot and he has a tremendous shot. “Everyone can do something well and it becomes a question of where do I fit? You become a better player and the team becomes better – Matt’s realized that.” Hansen and his linemates want to keep their second-half momentum on track, and he knows one way it can. “A lot of it is confidence,” he said. “You play one good game and it tends to roll to the next. We know we can’t get complacent.” 12

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

yle Haak’s grasp of chemistry is as impressive as his command of physics. The Air Force center, a physics major and nuclear weapons and strategy minor, has one of the highest grade-point averages of any sophomore at the Academy. Through 22 games, he also was the Falcons’ scoring leader with 20 points, one more than he had all of last season. In the process, Haak has developed a notable chemistry with junior wing Jordan Himley, and it all started with the most important meal of the day. “We actually had breakfast together every single morning the first semester,” Haak said. “We started to play together in late October and have really performed well and produced on the ice. “Communicating every day and being on the same page has led to solid production for both of us.” In their first 16 games together, Himley scored nine goals and Haak had 16 points, including 11 assists. Himley said his center isn’t doing anything new. “He’s just playing his normal game; he’s really smart,” Himley said. “I don’t know if it’s a new season and he’s got more jump, more spark, but I think he’s just playing the same way he did last year, and things are just clicking for us right now. “He knows how to make those tape-to-tape passes, whether it’s the easy ones, the five-foot ones or the ones where he can find me back door.” Haak is also more than just a setup guy, however. He’s become an every-situation force for the Falcons. “He’s like a defensive defenseman; the more you see him, the more you like him,” Air Force head coach Frank Serratore said. “He’s really smart and does a lot of things well – he’s got a good shot, he can make a play. His greatest strength as a player is he doesn’t have a big weakness. “He just goes about his business and he plays in every situation for us.”

Colorado Cup crowns nine tournament champions By Matt Mackinder

he calendar year of 2016 ended and the 2017 calendar year opened with solid action for the annual Colorado Cup tournament held at several rinks in and around Colorado Springs. A total of nine champions were celebrated at the event over New Year's Weekend. The Squirt division crowned a trio of champions as the Littleton Hawks (Squirt A and Squirt B) and Greeley Bears (Squirt C) came home with some hardware. Littleton’s Squirt A team used four different goal scorers to lift the Hawks to a 4-0 win over the Colorado Springs Tigers. Noah Stull racked up three assists and Ben Rakowski added two helpers to back Alexander Torres’ six-save shutout in net. In the Squirt B final, the Hawks scored the first three goals of the game and never looked back in a 5-1 win over the Arizona Hockey Union Knights. Connor Wagner went for a goal and an assist and Johnny Crawford popped two goals and added two assists for Littleton, while Jacob Harris made 12 saves for the win between the pipes. The Greeley Squirt B Gold squad scored the first three goals of the game, including two in the first minute, to lift the Bears to the Squirt C championship. Littleton's Jeremy Barnard scored to close the gap to 3-1 just moments before the end of the first, but Greeley scored the last four goals of the game - three in the second period, one in the third – for the 7-1 victory. Blake Chapman had two goals and an assist and Eian Swaro posted a goal and an assist to lead the Bears’ offense. Quinton Barton finished with 13 saves for the win in goal. In the Pee Wee A final, the host Tigers downed Lit-

tleton 5-4 in a game that had five lead changes and four ties. Ryan King’s second goal of the game with just over four minutes remaining in the game propelled the Tigers to the thrilling win. Just after Littleton took the lead back at 4-3 to start the third, Colorado Springs' Jake Geronazzo, who finished with a goal and an assist, tied it 4-4, setting up the championship clincher by King. Ben Schriefer and Benjamin Ballantine each had a goal and an assist for the Hawks. In goal, Spencer Lemkuhl made 11 saves for Colorado Springs, while Hunter Farrer stopped 25 for Littleton. The Arizona Hockey Union won the Pee Wee B championship with a 5-0 shutout victory over the Tigers. Jackson Binazeski notched the hat trick for the Knights, while Colin Leeds had a goal and an assist and Parker Probst stopped all 16 shots in net. Lane Seabolt and Jackson Theiler shared time in the Colorado Springs crease. The Glenwood Springs Grizzlies claimed the Bantam A championship over the Desert Youth Hockey As-

sociation Jr. Sun Devils with a 7-1 win on the strength of a four-goal second period and two goals from Dane Whiston. Owen Mangeot tacked on two assists and Sean Mooney added three assists as goalie Daelan Renzi made 20 saves. Littleton potted the first three goals of the game and took a 3-0 lead late into the third period, but the Hawks turned aside a late rally by the Lincoln Jr. Stars to secure the Bantam B crown. After Lincoln scored in the last two minutes of the game, Littleton goaltender Nicholas Novodvorskiy shut the door and the Hawks held on for the 3-2 win. The Utah Golden Eagles’ Bantam AA team jumped out to a 3-0 lead and doubled up the Evolution Elite Hockey Academy 4-2 to claim the Bantam AA title. Jace Gamble scored twice for Evolution and Tyler Phillips and Dax Purser scored two each for Utah. Porter Johnson made 24 saves for the Golden Eagles. In the Midget Minor AA final, the Hyland Hills Jaguars’ Justus Aragon scored twice in a 3-1 win over Colorado Springs. Hyland Hills goaltender Breyton Laskey put together a 21-save outing between the pipes. CORubberHockey.com

Golden U.S. World Junior team fueled by Colorado ties Continued from Page 6 Jordan Greenway scored the winning goal. Terry had an assist on Team USA’s first goal, one of his seven points in the tournament. “Troy came in as a top-six forward but he accepted a fourth-line role,” said Dave Starman, a CBS Sports Network analyst who called the World Juniors for NHL Network’s U.S. telecasts. “He still played on the power play and the penalty kill. He accepted the fact the top two lines were the top two lines. “I saw him play the same way he does at DU – great puck control and retrieval, played to his line and supported his center. He was a glue guy. Even if he hadn’t done what he did in the shootouts, he still would have had a good tournament.” In the semifinal, the U.S. twice rallied from one-goal deficits before taking a 3-2 lead on Colin White’s second goal of the game late in the second period. Russia tied it in the third. Terry and Jeremy Bracco scored in the initial five-round shootout, which finished tied. Terry got the call on the next two tries and buried both of them, giving the U.S. a berth in the gold-medal game and making Terry the darling of the social media and hockey worlds. “After I scored the first one, it helped my confidence,” Terry said. “Where it came back to where (Motzko) could use the same guy, I think he was going to put me and then Bracco again. Bracco scored, too. “After I scored the second one, you could kind of see it that I felt pretty confident I could score, so (Motzko) told me to finish it off. It was definitely one of the most nerve-wracking things I ever had to do, but it’s something I’ll remember forever.”

Miller was confident Terry could deliver because he’d seen him do it as a youth and repeatedly in breakaway contests during World Junior practices. “(Against Russia in Round 6) we were down by a goal and Bobby knows how good Troy is offensively with his stick and that he can score goals, and that was

Team USA assistant coach Steve Miller, currently the director of hockey at the Air Force Academy and a former coach at DU, proudly displays his gold medal from the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. Photo/Chris Bayee

the next guy up on the bench he wanted to go with,” Miller said. “It’s kind of crazy how that all came together. Then he scores and the next guy up is Bracco. Troy

came down and made it look easy. Didn’t look tense. Then the thought is put him back out there again. “There was no stress in any part of him coming down – he did it three different ways.” Team USA faced its stiffest test against the Canadians, who not only had a huge home-ice advantage but also twice built two-goal leads only to see the Americans make up those deficits. Tyler Parsons made 46 saves and stopped all five shootout attempts by Canada. Terry scored the only shootout goal the U.S. would need for a heart-stopping 5-4 victory and some precious metal. “He went back to the go-to for the one against Canada,” Miller said. “It matched that one against Russia, coming down that side and snapping it five-hole. It was funny in his interview after the game against Canada when he said, ‘I was thinking about changing it up, but then I saw that area and I couldn’t pass it up.’ That was funny. He was definitely thinking and seeing the game at a different level than most of us.” The added benefit for Colorado hockey fans is the World Junior hero is still playing here. Terry returned to DU’s lineup and put up a career-high, five-point game against Arizona State. “I bet there were 1,500 more fans here (Jan. 7) to see Troy Terry honored,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said. “It’s great for our program and great for hockey in this region. I think there’s going to be a lot of kids not only in Colorado, but in bordering states that want to play hockey and be Pioneers because of Troy Terry.” Added Miller: “If you read this as a Hollywood script, you wouldn’t believe it. But I think as time unfolds going forward, we’ll start to look back and start to remember little things that happened with this journey.”

UTAH REPORT Salt Lake City native Solomon Former Jr. Grizzlies now captains secures NCAA D-I commitment of T-Birds, Rampage teams By Matt Mackinder

By Matt Mackinder

yan Solomon grew up in Salt Lake City and ventured away from home to further his hockey career. Those journeys will continue next season in Boston as the 20-year-old will play NCAA Division I hockey at Northeastern University (Hockey East). “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend and play hockey at such a prestigious school like Northeastern,” said Solomon. “I fell in love with the culture of the campus and the city, and I cannot picture a better fit for the next four years. I would like to thank all my family, friends and organizations who have helped make my dreams come true. I would like to express a special thank you to coach (Joe) Coombs and the Aston Rebels.” Solomon is currently in his second full season with the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Rebels. He began his junior hockey career in 2014-15 with the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians and at home with the Western States Hockey League’s Salt Lake City Moose (now Utah Outliers). For most of the 2016-17 season, Solomon has been at or near the top of the NAHL’s top plus-minus rating, a stat he has led the Rebels in, as well as all of the NAHL’s defensemen. Prior to junior hockey, Solomon played two seasons of 16U AAA hockey with the Pikes Peak Miners of the North American Prospects Hockey League and one year of 18U AAA puck with the Ohio Blue Jackets. Coombs, who has guided Solomon the past two seasons in Aston, a town in Southwestern Pennsylvania located about 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia and two hours from New York City, is elated to see Solomon advance his career. “I couldn’t be happier for Ryan,” added Coombs. “His junior hockey career started slowly. When he came to the Rebels, he worked extremely hard on and off the ice. He bought into our system and he has flourished ever since. He is the epitome of an Aston Rebel. This commitment is well deserved. “Northeastern is getting a fine hockey player, but an even better person.” 14

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

ost players skating for the top AAA programs in Colorado are homegrown talents. But for three teams’ captains this season, those honors belong to a trio of former Utah Jr. Grizzlies players. Forwards Mason Mannek (Herriman native, captain for Colorado Thunderbirds’ 16U team) and Jake Jensen (Salt Lake City, Colorado Rampage 15U) and defenseman Reed Dolph (Park City, Thunderbirds’ 15U) played on the same Jr. Grizzlies’ Pee Wee AA team four seasons ago under coach Brandon Mannek. “I wouldn't say that I'm shocked that all three are captains,” said Mannek. “However, I would say that I am very happy for them that their teammates and coaches feel they are worthy of being leaders for their respective teams. “We have always been fortunate in Utah to have teams where all of the players are very close to one another. I believe that is because there are a lot of players with the same mentality as Reed, Jake and Mason.” Mannek added that he still keeps tabs on the talented trio. “I have had the pleasure of watching all three of them play while in Colorado and they have all greatly improved,” Mannek said. “They have always been talented players, but while playing for some of the top organizations in Colorado, they are learning to play the game at a high speed and play against some of the top teams in the United States and Canada.” Mannek also noted that he sees more talent coming out of Utah as numbers continue to flourish. “I think it is good for Utah hockey to see that these three are captains for their respective teams as it is always good to see your teammates be successful for the teams they move on to, but they are just a small group of the many players from Utah that could and most likely will end up in the same situation,” said Mannek. “I have always felt that Utah hockey players as a whole have been some of the hardest working players and great teammates I have had the pleasure of coaching.”

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROUGHRIDERS COLORADO SPRINGS AMATEUR HOCKEY RoughRiders taste home cooking Tigers’ sled hockey program shares important life lessons as 13Us take NAHL FPT crown By Chris Bayee

By Matt Mackinder

here was no place like home for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders’ 13U AAA team during the North American Hockey League’s Future Prospects Tournament (FPT) from Jan. 13-16. Playing most of their games at the Sport Stable in Superior, the 13Us ran the table, going 6-0 over the weekend. “This is really these guys’ first year playing Tier I hockey and it took until about Christmastime for them to fully comprehend what we were asking them to do,” 13U coach Greg Vanover said. “That started to show this weekend.” The RoughRiders defeated the Arizona Bobcats for a second time over the weekend, 2-1, to take the division championship at the FPT. Slade Streeter and Zane Pickel (power play) scored first-period goals, and Miguel Tanner stopped 24 shots. The Roughriders had previously edged the Golden State Elite Eagles 1-0 in the semifinals by following a similar formula. Nicholas Yard scored a first-period goal and Tanner posted an eight-save shutout. “We like to be aggressive offensively while trying to be responsible defensively,” Vanover said. “In the semifinals and championship, they did a really good job defensively.” After an opening 4-2 victory over the San Diego Jr. Gulls, the RoughRiders edged the Evolution Elite Hockey Academy 6-5 and posted three-goal victories over the Bobcats (5-2) and Golden State (7-4). “Austin Jorde played both games on the first day, and he stole one of those games for us,” Vanover said. “Both goalies had a good weekend. We challenged them a lot at practice (before the tournament), and they both responded well.” Pickel led the team with 10 points and seven goals in six games. Sean Wilson added eight points (five goals) and Hogan Boyle had six points. Tanner allowed a total of four goals in his four starts and had a .917 save percentage. That the tournament triumph came at their home rink was icing on the cake. “The facility is a game-changer,” Vanover said. “The energy there is outstanding.”

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he Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association is unique. As the only association in Colorado to provide all levels of hockey, including adaptive hockey, the Tigers youth and adult sled hockey teams have practice every weekend and a game every fourth weekend at Sertich Ice Rink. Most Saturday afternoons, you will find the players strapping on their pads and pulling on their hockey jerseys in the locker room, excited banter going back and forth as they wait for head coach Chuck Gruber to arrive for the pre-practice or pre-game chalk talk. Once on the ice, the sled team follows the American Development Model, where all of the athletes, both youth and adult, thrive in the environment. “Our program provides for an athletic experience to athletes that are too often forgotten,” Gruber said. “Sled hockey is a very challenging sport and it requires every bit of physical and cognitive level that you see in its stand-up counterpart. Once they get into the sled, it is a whole new experience. Our players also learn the importance of sportsmanship and friendships. “For many of our athletes, this is one of the very few social events they have during the week. It is great having this program to encourage everyone to break out of their shells.” Heidi O’Neil, whose 13-year-old son, Jack, plays for the Tigers, is impressed with what she has seen in the two years he has been involved. “Jack is a multi-sport athlete and in his other sport (swimming), he trains and competes with able-bodied kids,” explained O’Neil. “The great thing about sled hockey is all the kids have a disability. They ‘get’ each other and understand one another's lives. It's not like they sit around and talk about being disabled – there's no need to. There's just an overall understanding and acceptance of who one another is.”

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

COLORADO

Colin Staub (Colorado Springs) – University of Denver Troy Terry (Denver) – University of Denver

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Brandon Carlo (Colorado Springs) – Boston Bruins Seth Jones – Columbus Blue Jackets & Trevor Lewis – Los Angeles Kings @ Gustav Olofsson – Minnesota Wild # Nick Shore (Denver) – Los Angeles Kings Jaccob Slavin (Erie) – Carolina Hurricanes AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Darik Angeli (Lakewood) – Tulsa Oilers Richard Bachman – Utica Comets & Mat Clark (Lakewood) – San Antonio Rampage Josiah Didier (Littleton) – St. John’s IceCaps Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs) – Bridgeport Sound Tigers Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs) – Bridgeport Sound Tigers Dominic Turgeon (Cherry Hills Village) – Grand Rapids Griffins ECHL Grant Arnold (Centennial) – Quad City Mallards Austin Block (Denver) – Orlando Solar Bears Daniel Doremus (Aspen) – Manchester Monarchs Ryan Massa (Littleton) – Orlando Solar Bears Sean O’Rourke – Kalamazoo Wings * Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood) – Alaska Aces Luke Salazar (Thornton) – Colorado Eagles Colton Saucerman (Colorado Springs) – South Carolina Stingrays Michael Sdao (Niwot) – Colorado Eagles Quentin Shore (Denver) – Manchester Monarchs Sean Zimmerman (Denver) – Colorado Eagles SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Kyle Brodie (Northglenn) – Columbus Cottonmouths Cody Dion (Colorado Springs) – Peoria Rivermen Phil Tesoriero (Boulder) – Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE A.J. Tesoriero (Boulder) – Danville Dashers Daniel Turgeon (Centennial) – Danville Dashers EUROPE Collin Bowman (Littleton) – Austria Drayson Bowman (Littleton) – Germany Drew Shore (Denver) – Switzerland Mike Testwuide (Vail) – South Korea COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ATLANTIC HOCKEY Dylan Abood (Centennial) – U.S. Air Force Academy Jackson Barliant – Sacred Heart University @ Sammy Bernard (Lafayette) – Sacred Heart University Alec Butcher – Sacred Heart University @ Jason Cotton – Sacred Heart University # Adam Durkee (Nederland) – Sacred Heart University Evan Feno (Morrison) – U.S. Air Force Academy Sean Giles (Colorado Springs) – Robert Morris University Tyler Ledford (Colorado Springs) – U.S. Air Force Academy Ian Mansfield (Lakewood) – U.S. Military Academy Kevin Patterson (Colorado Springs) – Niagara University Tyler Pham (Fort Collins) – U.S. Military Academy Logan Smith (Littleton) – College of the Holy Cross ECAC Jared Fiegl (Parker) – Cornell University Will Graber (Longmont) – Dartmouth College Kyle Hayton (Denver) – St. Lawrence University Sam Rappaport (Aspen) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Dean Shatzer (Castle Rock) – Dartmouth College Austin Shaw (Denver) – Princeton University Brendan Smith (Centennial) – Cornell University Landon Smith (Greenwood Village) – Quinnipiac University Cam Strong - Dartmouth College * HOCKEY EAST Kris Carlson – Providence College # Matias Cleland (Longmont) – University of New Hampshire Hayden Hawkey (Parker) – Providence College Garrett Metcalf – University of Massachusetts-Lowell * Cale Morris (Larkspur) – University of Notre Dame Rob Nichols – University of Connecticut # Jacob Townsend (Highlands Ranch) – University of Mass.-Lowell NCHC Evan Cowley (Arvada) – University of Denver Mikey Eyssimont (Littleton) – St. Cloud State University Andrew Farny (Steamboat Springs) – Colorado College Dylan Gambrell – University of Denver # Nick Halloran – Colorado College * Brad Hawkinson (Aurora) – University of Denver Christian Heil (Westminster) – Colorado College Rudy Junda (Denver) – University of Denver Evan McCarthy (Castle Rock) – Miami University Scott Moldenhauer – Western Michigan University # Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha # Austin Ortega – University of Nebraska-Omaha # Evan Ritt (Lakewood) – University of Denver Derek Shatzer (Highlands Ranch) – Colorado College

WCHA Evan Anderson (Littleton) – Michigan Tech University Dan Billett (Highlands Ranch) – Bemidji State University Cole Huggins (Centennial) – Minnesota State University Nick Kossoff – Lake Superior State University # Matt Meier (Highlands Ranch) – Bowling Green State University Tyler Poulsen (Arvada) – University of Alabama-Huntsville NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN ECAC Brooke Ahbe (Centennial) – Dartmouth College Nikki Friesen – Harvard University % Ali Peper (Arvada) – Harvard University Ava Reynolds (Aurora) – Union College Val Turgeon (Denver) – Harvard University HOCKEY EAST Ariana Buxman (Glenwood Springs) – Providence College Katie Shannahan (Colorado Springs) – Boston University Kyra Smith (Littleton) – University of New Hampshire

NEHC Kat Armstrong (Boulder) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs) – Norwich University Kristen Embrey (Highlands Ranch) – University of Mass.-Boston Tatum Gietl (Littleton) – University of New England Emily Harris (Littleton) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Taryn Harris (Morrison) – Manhattanville College Maura Kieft (Littleton) – St. Anselm College Sydney Linnick (Highlands Ranch) – Plymouth State University Lanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins) – Franklin Pierce University Julie Matthias (Thornton) – College of the Holy Cross Caley Mueller (Littleton) – St. Anselm College Kelsey Roy (Fort Collins) – Plymouth State University Lizzy Saxer (Colorado Springs) – University of Massa.-Boston Taylor Shrode (Craig) – Plymouth State University Kayla Trujillo (Pueblo) – Franklin Pierce University Jensen Wurm (Arvada) – Nichols College NESCAC Kylie Davis (Superior) – Hamilton College Caroline Godfrey (Aspen) – Bowdoin College Jamie Meroz – Hamilton College % Hannah Oganeku (Castle Pines) – Trinity College JUNIOR HOCKEY

NCAA DIVISION III – MEN COMMONWEALTH Pippen Weisbeck (Golden) – Endicott College ECAC WEST Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs) – Utica College Oliver Janzen (Denver) – Nazareth College MASCAC Quinn Wold (Aurora) – Fitchburg State University MIAC Reid Brown (Superior) – Gustavus Adolphus College Ryan Cagnoni (Arvada) – Augsburg College Jake Hebda (Firestone) – St. Mary’s University Dylan Meier (Highlands Ranch) – Augsburg College Trevor Stewart (Highlands Ranch) – Augsburg College Chris Wilhite (Colorado Springs) – St. Mary’s University NCHA Justin Gregory (Franktown) – Lawrence University Reed Gregory (Franktown) – Lawrence University Josh Racek (Colorado Springs) – Northland College Alex Sanchez (Crested Butte) – Aurora University Zach Simpson (Parker) – Milwaukee School of Engineering Jerad Tafoya (Highlands Ranch) – Milwaukee School of Engineering Brett Wagner (Centennial) – Milwaukee School of Engineering NEHC Kyle Arenson (Fort Collins) – New England College Colin Biebel (Roxborough Park) – St. Michael’s College Michael Washington (Denver) – University of Southern Maine NESCAC Mark Knowlton (Colorado Springs) – Trinity College Sage Marshall (Telluride) – Wesleyan University NORTHEAST-10 William Bailey (Highlands Ranch) – Stonehill College SUNYAC Ryan Bochert (Denver) – Morrisville State University Philip Middleton (Vail) – Plattsburgh State University Jimmy Morgan (Highlands Ranch) – Fredonia State University Max Ross (Arvada) – Fredonia State University Nate Werhane – Buffalo State University ^ Jared Young (Pueblo West) – Morrisville State University

ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Nolan Carothers (Castle Rock) – Lloydminster Bobcats Demetrius Kambeitz (Parker) – Okotoks Oilers Nicholas Leeseberg (Parker) – Fort McMurray Oil Barons BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Scott Allan (Thornton) – West Kelowna Warriors Alex Bates (Highlands Ranch) – Wenatchee Wild Ty Pochipinski (Colorado Springs) – Cowichan Valley Capitals Jackson Ross (Denver) – Surrey Eagles A.J. Vanderbeck (Monument) – Wenatchee Wild CANADIAN PREMIER JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Avery Albert (Arvada) – Seaforth Generals EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Holden Biebel (Denver) – Walpole Express (Premier) Blake Bosick (Highlands Ranch) – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (Premier) Blake Bride (Broomfield) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Premier) Tanner Broschat (Castle Pines) – Vermont Lumberjacks (Premier) Noah Cunniff (Colorado Springs) – Walpole Express (Elite) Keegan Davis (Superior) – Connecticut Oilers (Premier) Eli Hernandez (Parker) – New England Wolves (Premier) Tyler Hinchcliffe (Boulder) – Connecticut Nighthawks (Premier) Sylas Kalyan (Lyons) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier) Michael Karas (Parker) – Vermont Lumberjacks (Elite) Nicholas Kukuris (Littleton) – Connecticut Oilers (Premier) Jacob Morgan (Littleton) – New England Wolves (Premier) Joe Morgan (Highlands Ranch) – New England Wolves (Premier) Brady Nelson (Arvada) – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (Premier) Ben Roberts (Centennial) – Vermont Lumberjacks (Premier) Jackson Shanley (Vail) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Casey Shannahan (Boulder) – Connecticut Nighthawks (Premier) Kirk Underwood (Littleton) – Connecticut Nighthawks (Premier) Jacob Weatherly (Castle Rock) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier) Austin Wheatly (Castle Rock) – New York Applecore (Premier) Carter Yang (Littleton) – Boston Bandits (Premier) GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Calvin Gosser (Denver) – Bradford Bulls Justin Simon (Hot Springs) – Almaguin Spartans Aidan Westbrook (Aurora) – Parry Sound Islanders GREATER ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Tyler Hawk (Colorado Springs) – Fort Erie Meteors

WIAC Jono Davis – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point *

KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Brennan Conner (Castle Rock) – Grand Forks Border Bruins Donny Nordstrom (Denver) – Kelowna Chiefs Anders Saarela (Denver) – Princeton Posse

D-III INDEPENDENT John Drummond (Littleton) – Post University Dylan Kaufman (Larkspur) – Post University

MANITOBA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Sean O'Leary (Windsor) – Steinbach Pistons Stephon Perreault (Greenwood Village) – Swan Valley Stampeders

NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE James Crossman (Denver) – Minnesota Wilderness Brendan Doyle (Colorado Springs) – Topeka RoadRunners David Fessenden (Denver) – Northeast Generals Trystan Isenhour (Loveland) – Aberdeen Wings Matt Nehls (Boulder) – Amarillo Bulls Kevin Ness (Broomfield) – Bismarck Bobcats Nicholas Ness (Broomfield) – Bismarck Bobcats Jared Resseguie (Arvada) – Bismarck Bobcats Matthew Thielemann (Highlands Ranch) – Kenai River Brown Bears Alex Truscott – Amarillo Bulls *

COLONIAL HOCKEY Julia Johnson (Littleton) – Becker College Madison Maloney – Becker College % ECAC WEST Emily Coope – Utica College % Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch) – University of Mass.-Boston Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch) – Utica College Natasha Steinle (Morrison) – Buffalo State University Nicole Watson (Highlands Ranch) – Potsdam State University MIAC Margeaux Cohen (Aspen) – St. Olaf College Drue Engleman (Denver) – St. Olaf College Jessica Jones – St. Mary’s University % Jena Kosley (Colorado Springs) – Hamline University Kacee Medved (Littleton) – College of St. Benedict NCHA Sara Martin (Durango) – Finlandia University

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Michael Ballard (Loveland) – Louisiana Drillers Cade Boreing (Littleton) – Gillette Wild Bryce Dirscherl (Highlands Ranch) – Missoula Jr. Bruins Andrew Garcia (Thornton) – Texas Jr. Brahmas Sam Gartner (Denver) – Point Mallard Ducks Jeremy Hamerquist (Woodland Park) – Toledo Cherokee Andrew Hanson (Loveland) – Gillette Wild Austin Knoebel (Arvada) – Euless Jr. Stars Dillon Lindholm (Westminster) – Glacier Nationals John Meakins (Colorado Springs) – Point Mallard Ducks

Liam Miller (Durango) – Bozeman Icedogs Connor Moore (Colorado Springs) – Gillette Wild Tyler Myers (Thornton) – Texas Jr. Brahmas Josh Perez (Parker) – St. Louis Jr. Blues Cody Pisciola (Broomfield) – Point Mallard Ducks Dylan Plsek (Denver) – Jersey Shore Wildcats

Bronson Sudberry (Denver) – Superior RoughRiders Andre Talarico (Broomfield) – Las Vegas Storm John Tower (Fort Collins) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Dylan Van Leuwen-Hall (Boulder) – Superior RoughRiders Tim Van Tuinen (Longmont) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Cade Warner (Windsor) – Colorado Jr. Eagles

SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Garrett Graham (Pueblo) – Dryden GM Ice Dogs Cameron Jones (Colorado Springs) – Thief River Falls Norskies Austin Storm (Colorado Springs) – Thief River Falls Norskies

PREP SCHOOL Nate Clurman (Boulder) - Culver Academy Jordan Finney (Boulder) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Noah Prokop (Highlands Ranch) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Zack Savarise (Golden) – Tahoe Hockey Academy

SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Zach Goberis (Arvada) – Estevan Bruins UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Colby Bukes (Littleton) – Muskegon Lumberjacks Bryce DeFazio (Colorado Springs) – Waterloo Black Hawks C.J. Dodero (Highlands Ranch) – Sioux City Musketeers Jack Doremus (Aspen) – Sioux Falls Stampede Anea Ferrario – Sioux City Musketeers # Bo Hanson – Muskegon Lumberjacks * Brian Hawkinson (Aurora) – Tri-City Storm Garrett Klee (Morrison) – Waterloo Black Hawks Phillip Knies – Sioux City Musketeers # Zack LaRocque (Arvada) – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Ben Lown – Omaha Lancers # Keegan Mantaro (Monument) – Sioux City Musketeers Austin Park (Highlands Ranch) – Omaha Lancers Dayton Rasmussen – Tri-City Storm # Baker Shore (Denver) – Chicago Steel Josiah Slavin (Erie) – Tri-City Storm Jeremy Swayman – Sioux Falls Stampede @ Bryan Yoon (Parker) – Tri-City Storm UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Colton Crabtree (Brighton) – Florida Eels (Elite) Gabe Eccher (Longmont) – Seattle Ravens (USP3) A.J. Giordano (Westminster) – Florida Eels (USP3) Blake Hoffman (Centennial) – Florida Eels (Elite) Keegan Lewis (Louisville) – Palm Beach Hawks (Elite) Gavin Medina (Lakewood) – Florida Eels (USP3) J.P. Nolette (Colorado Springs) – Syracuse Stars (Premier) Tyler Seltenreich (Littleton) – Syracuse Stars (Premier) Kyle Smith (Broomfield) – Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings (Elite) Ethan Solat (Centennial) – Syracuse Stars (Premier) Jeremy Solat (Centennial) – Syracuse Stars (Premier) Cam Spicer (Erie) – Islanders Hockey Club (Premier) Charles Stewart (Littleton) – Forest Lake Lakers (Elite) Daniel Stoneberg (Crested Butte) – Islanders Hockey Club (USP3) Nick Vitale (Denver) – Carolina Eagles (USP3) Travis Volmert (Parker) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite) VANCOUVER ISLAND JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Brandon Fushimi (Thornton) – Saanich Braves Branden Tangney (Denver) – Westshore Wolves WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Scott Eansor (Englewood) – Seattle Thunderbirds Cal Foote (Englewood) – Kelowna Rockets Nolan Foote (Englewood) – Kelowna Rockets Max Gerlach – Medicine Hat Tigers # Jake Gricius (Colorado Springs) – Portland Winterhawks Caleb Jones – Portland Winterhawks & Brian King (Golden) – Everett Silvertips Bryan Lockner (Windsor) – Regina Pats Quinn Martin – Red Deer Rebels # Alex Overhardt (Cherry Hills Village) – Portland Winterhawks WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Hampus Akesson (Erie) – Superior RoughRiders Danny Armstrong (Littleton) – Butte Cobras Jensen Baehr (Evergreen) – Lake Tahoe Icemen Paden Clark (Loveland) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Dakota Coleman (Aurora) – Arizona Hawks Nick Davidson (Fort Collins) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Cooper Davis (Castle Rock) – San Diego Sabers Sean DeKramer (Aurora) – Superior RoughRiders Isaac Diasabeygunawardena (Boulder) – Phoenix Knights Davis Dryden (Denver) – Arizona Hawks Reiker Edstrom (Fairplay) – Arizona Hawks Jacob Felser (Castle Rock) – San Diego Sabers Trent Fleming (Broomfield) – Superior RoughRiders Cameron Gardner (Longmont) – Superior RoughRiders Zachery Hargis (Highlands Ranch) – Las Vegas Storm Ryan Heck (Aurora) – Superior RoughRiders Trent Hines (Fort Collins) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Matt Jung (Aurora) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Mark MacDonald (Greeley) – Bellingham Blazers Cameron Madrid (Fort Collins) – Seattle Totems Damon Maruska (Elizabeth) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Vincent Mastrandrea (Frederick) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Duncan McIntosh (Denver) – Superior RoughRiders Alex Meisner (Arvada) – Superior RoughRiders Jack Nevicosi (Breckenridge) – Springfield Express C.J. Nitchen (Pueblo) – Superior RoughRiders Ben Novy (Lafayette) – Superior RoughRiders Cody Oakes (Aurora) – Superior RoughRiders Ashton Opperman (Littleton) – Superior RoughRiders Mattijs Ossorio (Lafayette) – Superior RoughRiders Reilly Quinn (Parker) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Colby Schaeffer (Brighton) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Austin Shea (Thornton) – Ogden Mustangs Jordon Stone (Parker) – Utah Outliers

UTAH PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Trevor Lewis (Salt Lake City) – Los Angeles Kings AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Richard Bachman (Salt Lake City) – Utica Comets COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ATLANTIC HOCKEY Jared Pike (Sandy) – American International College Nash Worden (Kaysville) – U.S. Military Academy HOCKEY EAST Garrett Metcalf (Salt Lake City) – University of Mass.-Lowell NCHC Nick Halloran (Draper) – Colorado College WCHA Daniel Brickley (Sandy) – Minnesota State University NCAA DIVISION III – MEN ECAC WEST Jordan Haskell (Stansbury Park) – Hobart College NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN DIVISION III INDEPENDENT Samantha Griswold (Park City) – Post University JUNIOR HOCKEY ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Angus Scott (Salt Lake City) – Camrose Kodiaks GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Cameron Arsenault (Layton) – Seguin Huskies NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Ryan Solomon (Salt Lake City) – Aston Rebels Alex Truscott (Draper) – Amarillo Bulls NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Landon Anderson (Murray) – Gillette Wild Lindros Beard (Copperton) – Glacier Nationals Colby Birch (Vernal) – Missoula Jr. Bruins Robbie Brennan (Sandy) – Gillette Wild Chayo Goodwin (Hyrum) – Billings Bulls Kody Goodwin (Hyrum) – Billings Bulls Dallas Paxton (Sandy) – Gillette Wild Cody Thomson (South Jordan) – Helena Bighorns Dustin Truex – Great Falls Americans = Spencer Vockel (Layton) – Glacier Nationals Riggs Zeidler (Centerville) – Glacier Nationals SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Logan Jackson (Riverdale) – Thief River Falls Norskies Sheamus Stoyle (Herriman) – Minnesota Iron Rangers UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Anea Ferrario (Ogden) – Sioux City Musketeers UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Brett Armstrong (Sugar House) – Alpena Flyers (USP3) Ben McCleery (West Valley City) – Alpena Flyers (USP3) Julian Miranda (Salt Lake City) – Charlotte Rush (USP3) Kory Palmer (Salt Lake City) – Eugene Generals (USP3) WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Trace Farr (Springville) – Utah Outliers Brayden Mannek (Salt Lake City) – Colorado Jr. Eagles Matt Psaras (Salt Lake City) – Lake Tahoe Icemen Andrew Pyper (Salt Lake City) - Utah Outliers Alex Randazzo (Eden) – Ogden Mustangs Austin Tautfest (North Ogden) – Utah Outliers

* former Colorado Rampage & former Littleton Hawk @ former Pikes Peak Miner # former Colorado Thunderbird

% former Colorado Select ^ former Rocky Mountain RoughRider = former West Coast Renegade $ Former Utah Jr. Grizzly

Mainland Tournament features unique Canada-USA Showcase By Greg Ball

he concept went over so well last year that tournament organizers couldn’t possibly not bring it back, and they decided to one-up themselves in 2017 by expanding it to a second division this year. The Canada vs. USA Showcase was the highlight of last year’s Mainland Tournament, and it is expected to be even more of a draw this year. “It was fantastic last year - the teams loved it, and the kids thought it was amazing,” said Chris Herie, the tournament director now in his seventh year running the Mainland Tournament, which celebrates its 23rd year this spring. “They really loved representing their countries in the championship game.” The concept started with the Pee Wee Major level last year, and will also include the Pee Wee Minor division this year. The winning team from the Canadian pool and the winning team from the American pool in those two divisions will square off Sunday in a pair of games that make up the Canada vs. USA Showcase. Best of all, teams will be outfitted in their country’s jerseys, pants shells and socks, and players will take home the entire kit at the end of the tournament. Herie said the showcase was a big motivating factor for players and teams last year, and he’ll consider adding more divisions to the showcase in future years. “We do it right – we announce the players’ names over the public-address system, play the national anthems and all that stuff,” Herie said. “I think this will be the niche that makes our tournament unique going

forward.” The Mainland Tournament will be held April 7-9 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Coaches can register their teams at www.MainlandHockey.com, and Herie emphasized that while all divisions are still open, they will fill up fast. There are divisions for Novice Minor (2009 birth year), Novice Major (2008), Atom Minor (2007), Atom Major (2006), Pee Wee Minor (2005), Pee Wee Major (2004), Bantam Minor (2003), Bantam Major (2002) and Midget (1999-2001). Herie said he expects to

goes home with a tournament gift that’s a keepsake of their trip to Vancouver. Every team is guaranteed at least four games, and with so many divisions, a majority of the teams will be playing for something on Sunday. The tournament will be hosted by Planet Ice Delta, and some games may be played at the Richmond Ice Center. Herie said the easy part of his job is getting Canadian teams to register. It’s a little harder to get U.S. teams to travel to Vancouver, but he makes a big push every year in Colorado and Utah, partly because they’re close geographically, but also because there is so much good youth hockey being played in those states. “We usually have a good contingent of teams from Seattle and other parts of Washington,” Herie said. “The makeup of our tournament is usually about 80 percent Canadian and 20 percent U.S. I’m hoping that by creating this showcase event, we’re giving U.S. teams a little extra motivation to want to come north of the border and play in our event. The have between 50 and Nine divisions highlight the 23rd annual Mainland Tourna- chance to represent their country a premier showcase event this April that takes place and be outfitted in their country’s 60 teams registered in ment, in Vancouver, British Columbia. gear is something that I think will attract more teams. the nine divisions. One of the things that players, coaches and parents “One of the programs that played in the tournament like so much about the Mainland Tournament is how for the first time in 2016 - Compete Hockey out of Spowell the staff treats its visitors. In addition to champi- kane, Wash. - brought two teams last year and have deonship trophies for each division, there are first-place cided to bring seven this season. Their team made it to medallions and runner-up medallions, and every player the showcase, and their players were just ecstatic.”

CHALK TALK

Passionate parents, coaches need to stay within reason I

have always been told as an official that you should always have your officiating gear close by or at least in your car – you never know when you show up at the rink that you may be asked to officiate. I currently work Kristopher Schoech part time at the local rink, so I know there are times that officials will not show or the scheduler receives the wrong information in regards to the game times. My supervisor does not allow us to officiate and work at the same time, regardless of the circumstances. This is called double dipping and I totally agree with him and therefore, I usually do not bring my officiating gear to work. That stated, the Silver Stick tournament is one of the biggest in Colorado and on the first day recently, no officials showed up. The scheduler and the rink miscommunicated. I called my supervisor, told him the situation and got his approval to work this one game.

This was a Squirt B game, so all I had to do now was find some used officiating equipment. Although I could not find any official referee equipment I did find a pair of rental skates, a used helmet, rink monitor jacket and a whistle. No shin or elbow pads and wearing jeans. Old school, just as we did when we played “shinny” in grade school with one referee. I stepped out on the ice and communicated to both coaches the situation. I know they looked at me with uneasy skepticism, but it was better than starting the game late or not having the game at all. There was a full crowd and within a few minutes of the game, I could tell this was going to be a very intense game. For the first time in my career, I could actually hear the spectators as they cheered/yelled at their respective teams. A couple of minutes in, I called my first penalty for body checking and the cheering/yelling was now directed towards me – comments such as “Who is this clown?” and other comments that cannot be printed. I probably called 4-5 obvious penalties in the first five minutes and now the coaches started in on me. “Hey ref, there is no delayed off-sides and you need to call it both ways, moron.”

OK, he was right, I forgot there’s no delayed off-sides, but name calling is not appropriate at this level. Finally, after the period was over, I went over to the coaches and told them, “Hey, look, I am the Zamboni driver and this game would not be taking place right now unless I got on the ice, so back off on the comments and coach your kids.” After that, we no longer had any problems and we finished a hard-fought game between two very competitive teams. I have officiated over 500 collegiate and professional hockey games in my career and this experience shed some light on what it is like to referee at the grassroots level. I forgot that there are parents out there who are extremely passionate about their son’s and daughter’s game of hockey – maybe more so than their kids’ passion of the game. There are coaches out there that may have forgotten that the game of hockey is supposed to be fun. Trying to teach a trap or a 1-3-1 power play may not be relevant at the Squirt B level. I also learned that the pressure of refereeing a Squirt B game may be more difficult than it looks. Finally, I learned that there is a reason why you may or may not want to keep your officiating gear close by.

Kristopher Schoech is a working official and scheduler/supervisor for the Colorado Ice Hockey Referee Association and currently works for the National Hockey League as a video goal judge for the Colorado Avalanche. Interested in being a Chalk Talk columnist? E-mail Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com. 17

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

LANDON SMITH Position: Forward, Quinnipiac University (ECAC Hockey)

Hometown: Greenwood Village Last Amateur Team: Salmon Arm Silverbacks (British Columbia Hockey League) Youth Teams: Littleton Hawks, Colorado Thunderbirds Colorado Rubber: What was your favorite hockey memory growing up? Landon Smith: When I was really young, my family would go up to Keystone Lake. I was skating before I could walk. Waking up at 5 a.m. and going to skate on the lake, it was fantastic. CR: What is your favorite memory in the game since leaving Colorado? LS: There’s been so many for so many different reasons. I really enjoyed playing in a different country in Salmon Arm, British Columbia (for junior hockey) – hands down one of the nicest places I’ve ever lived. The people were very genuine, the hockey was very pure. Going to the Frozen Four last year was an unforgettable experience, too. CR: Who have been the biggest influences on you on and off the ice? LS: It definitely starts with my dad (Thompson) on the ice. When I was a young kid, he ran a camp for me and my buddies called Mallards Hockey Club. That’s when I learned to love hockey and that’s what sustained me through all these years. Off the ice, my family and friends. I have a great core group in Colorado and elsewhere. I know I have about 100 people I could call if I need encouragement. CR: Did your parents have any background in the game? LS: My dad just fell in love with the game. When I was born, he bought me a pair of skates and hung them above my crib. And I don’t know anyone as competitive as my mom (who has played in various leagues for years). She’s a firecracker and she loves the game. We’ll be in the driveway and shoot pucks and she’ll ask me question after question. CR: What advice would you give young hockey players? LS: I hope to have my own hockey camp this summer because a big part of hockey is giving back; it’s one of the most special parts of the game. I’d tell them, “Love the game.” There is so much technical advice I could give and so much I could teach, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to love the game and love what you do to become successful at it. CR: Other than hockey, do you have a favorite sport to play? LS: I played lacrosse up until high school. Hockey got so competitive that I couldn’t really play anything else. I’m also an avid fly fisherman. CR: Are there are any pieces of gear you’re particular about? LS: I’m pretty particular about my stick. I can tell when something’s off, whether it’s the wrong curve or it’s damaged. The NCAA is pretty good about getting us what we need. CR: What are essential items to take on a bus trip? LS: Definitely a pillow. We have trips that range up to 10 hours. Recovery clothes are huge. They’re almost like spandex pants and shirts that eliminate swelling. CR: When you’re back in Colorado, do you have a favorite meal or restaurant? LS: Big City Burrito. It’s a mom and pop shop. Their breakfast burritos are hands down the best I’ve ever had. CR: Did you have a favorite player growing up? LS: Definitely Joe Sakic, which is a pretty normal answer for kids my age from Colorado. CR: What is the most challenging aspect of playing college hockey? LS: I think the hardest thing for me to get used to was the time management. You’re playing some of the best hockey in the world arguably. You have to balance that with school, family and social life. It just seems like you’re going, going, going. Photo/Quinnipiac Athletics 18

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine

- Compiled by Chris Bayee

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

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

PRESIDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DAY WEEKEND February 17-20, 2017

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND May 26 -29, 2017

Application Deadline: April 21, 2017

Midget Open . 2003 Elite & AAA 2004 Elite & AAA . 2005 Elite & AAA 2006 Elite & AAA . 2007 Elite & AAA November 24 - 27, 2016 2008 Elite & AAA September 2 - 5, 2016 . II & I k Mite Track I (Cross Ice) Trac 2009 Mite . B BB, A, rt Squi . Pee Wee AA, A, BB, B B . A, AA, tam Ban . ol Scho High AA/A 2010 Mite Track II (Cross Ice) Midget 18U AA/A - Midget 16U

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!

Tinseltownhockeytournaments.com

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If you are interested in hockey in Colorado, you will find everything you are looking for including association and team information, statistics, standings, latest news and more.

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