San Jose native, Jr. Sharks alum McKown signs NHL deal with Blue Jackets

Colorado College junior forward Hunter McKown has agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, beginning this season.

McKown will forego his senior season with the Tigers in inking the contract.

“I am so proud of Hunter and all he has been able to accomplish as a Tiger,” said Colorado College coach Kris Mayotte. “He has worked incredibly hard to become one of the best players in college hockey. His growth not only as a player but as a leader and as a person has been fun to be a part of. Our staff has enjoyed coaching him every day. We are thankful to his commitment of living ‘TIGER,’ and helping this program take big steps forward.

“I can’t wait to watch him as a pro help Columbus in the near future.”

McKown, who was not drafted by an NHL team and signs with Columbus as a free agent, led the Tigers this season with career highs of 21 goals and 28 points.

He ended up leading the nation with 14 power-play goals, the most by a Colorado College player in one season since Los Angeles native Brett Sterling had 17 on the man-advantage in 2005-06.

The San Jose native and Jr. Sharks product, who also led the team this year with 140 shots, recorded 55 points (36 goals, 19 assists) and seven game-winning goals in 96 career games at CC.

A 2023 honorable mention allNCHC selection, McKown assumed a leadership role on the team this season, serving as an alternate captain.

Last summer, he joined Mayotte and teammate Kaidan Mbereko on the U.S. National Junior Team that competed at the 2022 World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alberta.

“I am excited to be joining the Columbus Blue Jackets,” McKown said. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by Colorado College. I can’t thank my coaches and teammates enough for helping me get to this point.”

McKown joined the Blue Jackets for the end of the NHL’s regular season, playing in 11 games with two assists.

Jr. Kings alum, Rolling Hills native Fleece inks USHL tender with Fargo for ’23-24 season

The Fargo Force have announced that the club has signed forward Masun Fleece to a USHL tender for the 2023-24 season.

A native of Rolling Hills, Fleece has prepped at Shattuck St. Mary’s school in Faribault, Minn., the past two seasons. In the 2021-22 season, he led the SSM 14U team in scoring with 45 goals and 61 assists for 106 points in 51 games. This year as a 15-year-old, he played at the 16U level, and finished fifth on the team with 68 points on 29 goals and 39 assists in 53 games.

“We are extremely excited to have Masun sign with us,” said Fargo GM

Cary Eades. “He is a player who we have monitored his development very closely in the past 12 months as our coaching and scouting staff has seen him play live and on video a number of times. His work ethic, speed and tenacity, as well as his reputation of being a great teammate sets him apart from others as we went through the tender process. Additionally, players coming out of Shattuck are extremely well prepared, on and off the ice, and have had tremendous success as they move up the hockey ladder.”

“Our coaching staff, led by head coach Nick Oliver, has done an outstanding job of developing and mentoring young players in our organization this season. Our top rookie, Mac Swanson, has been in the top 20 in league scoring all season as a 16-year-old. Masun is a different style of player than Mac, however, but we feel his maturity, skill set and determination will allow him to be a contributor to our team next season, even though he’ll be one of, if not the youngest player on our team. We are excited to welcome Masun and the Fleece family to the Force hockey family.”

Back home, Fleece also spent time playing youth hockey with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Phoenix native, Jr. Coyotes, AHU alum Castor takes home monthly NCHC, HCA accolades

St. Cloud State senior Jaxon Castor has been named the NCHC Goaltender of the Month and the Hockey Commissioners Association CoGoaltender of the Month.

Castor took his game to another level in March, backstopping St. Cloud State to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship and an NCAA Regional Final. In his six starts last month, he posted a 4-2-0 record, while compiling a 1.67 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage, both of which ranked second in the NCHC in March. Castor racked up 147 saves this month, which were the most in the NCHC, while he was the only NCHC goalie with two shutouts in March.

Castor earned both Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team and NCAA Fargo Regional All-Tournament Team honors for his postseason efforts. He opened his postseason with a 26-save performance in Game 3 of the NCHC quarterfinals on March 12 against Minnesota Duluth, giving up only one goal in a 3-1 win that advanced SCSU to the Frozen Faceoff.

At Xcel Energy Center, Castor allowed two goals total, making 23 saves in an overtime win against North Dakota in the semifinals on March 17, before blanking Colorado College in the Frozen Faceoff championship with a 17-save showing. He recorded a second straight whitewash in the Fargo Regional semifinals, making 34 saves in a 4-0 win over No. 10 Minnesota State. Castor closed March with 26 stops and three goals allowed in a NCAA

Tournament regional final loss to No. 1 Minnesota.

Castor finished the season with a 14-8-1 record, while compiling a 2.02 GAA and a .924 save percentage with four shutouts. His 2.02 GAA was the second-best mark in a single season in SCSU program history, while his four shutouts rank third alltime at SCSU and his save percentage fifth. Nationally, Castor ranks fifth this season in GAA and eighth with his .924 save percentage.

Back home, the Phoenix native played for the Jr. Coyotes and Arizona Hockey Union.