Glenwood Springs’ Tibbetts taking next step in hockey career in ‘23-24 with USPHL’s Moose

BY MATT MACKINDER COLORADO HOCKEY HUB

Kale Tibbetts knew he wanted to play junior hockey next season, but he didn’t have any leads.

Then the Glenwood Springs native started talking to some hockey friends and an opportunity arose with the USPHL’s Minnesota Moose.

“A couple kids I played hockey with growing up and continued to play with all my life (TJ Wonnacott and Cooper Knott) went to the Moose last season and encouraged me to reach out to the Moose to see if I could secure a spot on the team,” Tibbetts said. “When I started taking to the coach, I knew the Moose would be a great fit for me. It’s going to be amazing to leave home and pur- sue my dream of playing hockey. It’s always exciting to see who I’m going to meet and who I’m going to play with and see who I’ll live with.

“Almost everyone I know who has played in the USPHL has moved on to have successful hockey careers in either college or moving up to Tier II. I’m very excited to see where I will go from here.”

Looking back, Tibbetts said the 2022-23 season “was very complicated for me.”

“I started out the season in New Hampshire with the Jr. Monarchs but as the season progressed, I decided to return to Glenwood to finish out my senior year and play hockey for the high school team,” said Tibbetts. “Through that change, I learned the

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Kale Tibbetts played high school hockey in his hometown of Glenwood Springs. Photo/ Paul Shepardson