California Rubber Magazine - May 2017

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VOLUME 10

ISSUE 9

MAY 2017

Formerly Wildcats Hockey Club, the rebranded Ontario Jr. Reign will have the support of the AHL’s Reign while remaining true to its core values of player development, dedicated coaches and enjoyment of the game JR. SHARKS BRING BACK ALUM RICHARDSON TO COACH CLUB’S 18U AAA TEAM IN ‘17-18

SEVERAL PLAYERS WITH CALIFORNIA TIES EXPECTED TO BECOME NHL PROPERTY

ALL-CALIFORNIA JUNIOR TEAM FEATURES STELLAR SLATE OF HOMEGROWN TALENT

TAHOE HOCKEY ACADEMY SET TO MAKE ENCORE IMPACT IN YEAR 2 OF SCHOOL Attracting the very best youth hockey programs under the bright lights of Los Angeles 2017-18

JrReign.com

Tournament Series

TinseltownHockeyTournaments.com



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FROM THE EDITOR Wrapping up the season, but hockey seems to never stop

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h yes, the month of May. Just a few leagues and teams are left playing and before you know it, the rinks are empty, the ice is gone and the kids are out of school. Summertime is a glorious time of the year and gives us all a chance to kick back and unwind from the grueling grind of hockey season (yes, magazine editors go through the grind, too!). That said, there really is no offseason any more, what with summer showcases and tryout camps, junior hockey drafts, college commitments and next month’s NHL Draft in Chicago. I just want to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone we here at California Rubber Magazine work with throughout the course of the season that Matt Mackinder makes our jobs easier and even more enjoyable. To thank everyone by name would be a separate column, but you know who you are for that, stick taps for everyone! Be safe and we’ll see you in July! The California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) announced in late April that its Board of Directors appointed a special Tier Committee to assess the Tier II (AA) division in hopes of “improving competitiveness and address ongoing concerns of our membership.” Based on their recent proposal, the Board voted in favor of the below changes to Tier II for the 2017-18 season. All teams that wish to declare 12U, 14U or 16U Tier II must attend the CAHA Labor Day Jamboree in San Jose from Sept. 1-4, 2017. Teams may also be required to participate in two weeks of local pre-season games. Following evaluations teams will be placed accordingly as follows: 1. Placed in top flight of division 2. Placed in bottom flight of division 3. Removed from the Tier II division (dropped to ‘A’) All teams shall play each team within their respective flight during CAHA mandated weekends. At the conclusion of the regular season, the first-place team in the top flight will automatically advance to state championships. Playdowns will include the second- through eighth-place teams in the top flight. The top team in the bottom flight will have a chance to compete for the final playdown spot. All Tier II teams must meet the feeder and PDR requirements as previously set forth by the CAHA Board. These changes do not include the 18U division. Congratulations to the six players from the California Wave 19U team that took third at last month’s USA Hockey Youth Nationals in suburban Detroit who will be moving on to play college hockey next season. Tanner Gates and Samantha Smigliani will play Division I for Colgate University (ECAC Hockey), Christina Kao for Yale University (ECAC), Brooke Bryant at Minnesota State University (WCHA), Aubrey Pritchett at St. Cloud State University (WCHA) and Devin Gilman at NCAA D-III Elmira College (ECAC West). Well done, ladies! Congrats to the four California natives - Hunter Stanley (Camarillo, Titans), David Marabella (Clovis), Carson Kelley (Portola Valley, Jr. Sharks) and Alex Stoley (Manteca) - that won the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup with the Lone Star Brahmas on May 14. Well done, boys! Mission Viejo native Joe Cook has been named the head coach of the 2017 U.S. National Inline Team that will compete at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Inline Hockey World Championship from June 25-July 1 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Cook previously led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship in Dresden, Germany. Team USA opens play against Slovakia on Sunday, June 25. Gotta love this quote from new LA Kings head coach John Stevens from his press conference last month: “We know there is a lot of work to be done, but we’re willing to get the work boots on and start climbing the mountain.”

Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

California Rubber Magazine is published by: Good Sport Media, Inc., P.O. Box 918 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, 10 times a year, once monthly September through May and once in the summer. Postmaster: send address changes to: P.O. Box 918 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

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

GOOD AS GOLD

Skittles came out ahead of the competition and captured the Bantam Platinum Division championship at April’s NARCh Irvine regional tournament. Check out more inline coverage in this issue starting on Page 25. Photo/NARCh

ON THE COVER Players from the Ontario Jr. Reign youth program pose with Ontario Reign AHL forward Paul Bissonnette, bringing the two Reign organizations together. Pictured, from left to right, are Joshua Herrera (8U Mite Red), Bissonnette and Xander Tucker (10U BB), with JaeLynn Lorang (8U Mite White) in the front. Photo/Jessica Harsen


California could be looking at a bumper NHL draft crop By Chris Bayee

shooting. He’s yet to put it all together on a consistent basis.” f the projections and rankings are correct, the 2017 The 5-foot-10, 182-pound right wing had 24 goals in NHL Draft could be the most prolific yet for California a third-line role for the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) hockey players. Erie Otters during the regular season. It’s not out of the question “His role has been limitthat half a dozen prospects ed because he’s on a loaded with ties to the state could be team, but 24 goals stands out. selected June 23-24 in ChiThe question is what he does cago. The previous high in when he is the man? He is a any draft was five, which has very good talent.” occurred three times, most reSt. Ivany, a former Select cently in 2013. and LA Jr. King, checks in at The group includes three No. 125 in the final CSS rankmembers of the LA Selects’ ings. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound2012 Quebec International er played well in his first seaPee-Wee Hockey Tournason with Sioux Falls of the ment champions – forwards United States Hockey League Ivan Lodnia and Brannon (USHL). A rival coach praised McManus and defenseman the Yale University (ECAC Jack St. Ivany – all 1999 Hockey) commit’s well-roundbirth years. ed game, particularly his hockLodnia, who played for the ey sense, and said it’s unusual Selects as well as for his father for a 17-year-old of any sort, Konstantin at KHS Ice Arena much less a defenseman, to until 2012, is the highest rated play as well as a rookie as St. Californian, 36th among North Ivany did. American skaters in the final McManus, like St. Ivany, NHL Central Scouting Service Former LA Selects and current Erie Otters standout Ivan won’t turn 18 until after the (CSS) rankings. He’s also one Lodnia is a potential second-round selection in next draft, but he is in his second of the youngest players in the month’s NHL Draft in Chicago. Photo/CHL Images USHL season. The 5-10, draft pool – he turns 18 on Aug. 31. 179-pounder (ranked 191st) was traded to Clark Cup “He has unbelievable skills,” said an NHL scout, finalist Chicago last fall and had 22 goals and 44 points speaking on the condition of anonymity. “You can tell through the conference finals. he’s well coached in power skating, stickhandling and Forward Sasha Chmelevski, who also played for

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Konstantin Lodnia as well as for the Selects and the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, is rated 43rd. The 6-foot, 190-pounder played this past season with Ottawa in the OHL, getting 47 points (23 goals). “He is a lot like Lodnia – very good skills, understanding of the game and vision and his release is quick and accurate,” the scout said. “I’m not sure he’s willing to play in the tough areas yet, but if you give him space, he can score.” Center Patrick Khodorenko checks in at 106th, and the late ’98 birth year had 18 points during his first NCAA season at Michigan State University (Big Ten). The 6-foot, 207-pounder played for the Oakland Bears, Santa Clara Blackhawks, San Jose Jr. Sharks and KHS as well as the LA Selects. He played two seasons for the U.S. National Team Development program. “His hockey sense and vision are very good but he’s an awkward skater,” the scout said. “I’m waiting for him to emerge. He was clearly their best player, but his production wasn’t good. He had no supporting cast. I like him, but I worry about his production. “All of these guys you mentioned will get drafted.” Two players who played Midget hockey for the Jr. Kings also are ranked. Center-left wing Kailer Yamamoto of the Spokane Chiefs is ranked 17th, and center Josh Wilkins of Providence College (Hockey East) is 160th. The 5-8, 173-pound Yamamoto is a late ’98 who was one of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) most prolific scorers, piling up 99 points (42 goals) in 65 games. He has 237 points (87 goals) in 202 WHL games. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Wilkins (a ’97) made a strong first impression in Division I hockey, putting up 31 points (13 goals) in 39 games for an NCAA tournament team. CARubberHockey.com

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Reign Maker

Wildcats have new identity as the Jr. Reign, develop mutually beneficial relationship with AHL’s Reign decided to partner up and get the Jr. Reign rolling,” Fraser said. “Ben holds himself and his program to a high standard of quality. That’s very important to o say that the confluence of events that led to the Wildcats youth hockey us - we want to make sure we’re growing hockey in an appropriate and responprogram becoming the Jr. Reign this spring was meant to be seems like a sible manner.” gross understatement. The Jr. Reign recently brought three young players and their families to CitiThe Wildcats had been on a steady rise since Ben Frank took over as presi- zens Business Bank Arena for a photo shoot prior to the official announcement. dent six years ago, having established themselves as one of the Inland Empire’s The group got to tour the building, visit the locker rooms and meet Reign forpremier programs at their Riverside rink while also adding teams in the San Di- ward Paul Bissonnette. ego County city of Carlsbad. Meanwhile, just up the 60 freeway, minor-league Frank said that’s just the beginning of what Jr. Reign families can expect as hockey got a big boost locally when an American Hockey League (AHL) team the new relationship continues to allow for unique and special experiences in from Manchester, N.H., relocated last fall and became the Ontario Reign as the game of hockey. While many of the partnership details are still being ironed part of the league’s California expansion. out, in addition to sharing a name with the AHL team, Frank’s program could It seemed the two were destined to intersect, and this spring, that dream get to enjoy pre- and post-game skates with the Reign, recognition during intercame to fruition, when on April 19, the Wildcats announced that in partnership missions, ice time for practices and tournaments at the arena and many other with the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings (the Reign’s parent club) and benefits for players and their families. the Hope Reigns Foundation, they were re-branding themselves the Jr. Reign Beyond that, the Reign will help their youth program grow by providing reand entering into a relationship with the Reign that would benefit both parties. sources and marketing opportunities. “This is a really exciting time for us, for our families and for Southern Califor“They’ve made it very clear that they want to be a nia hockey - all the way from our rink in Riverside down through the Temecula contributing part of the hockey community - they area and to our rink in Carlsbad,” don’t just Frank said. want to be “From when I took over six at the top, but years ago, to have progressed to want to be an where we are now being aligned active particiwith an NHL and AHL team, we’re pant,” Frank said. just really proud. We have come a “I can’t say enough long way in that time, and none of about their long-term this could have happened without vision. We believe that hockthe efforts of our staff, volunteers ey is the greatest sport in the and families.” world and that kids will love it The change has been univerif they get to experience it in the sally praised. right ways, and they know getting “The Wildcats’ leadership and kids involved will eventually procommitment to positive youth duce hockey fans.” sport experiences and long-term For the Reign, they’ll get addathlete development is in perfect ed exposure when the Jr. Reign alignment with our mission of travel throughout Southern Calgrowing the game,” Kings presiifornia and a direct line to famident of minor league affiliates and lies who are passionate about Reign president Darren Abbott hockey or are primed to become said. “We are looking forward to big hockey fans. Fraser said that working with their staff and seeAbbott, new Kings president Luc ing what the Jr. Reign can accomRobitaille, Kings director of plish in the years to come.” hockey development Chris CrotThe program remained under ty and Jamie Coleman from the the Wildcats name through a seHope Reigns Foundation were all ries of spring tournaments, and The rebranded Jr. Reign will have the support of the AHL’s Ontario Reign as the former Wildcats enter their first instrumental in establishing the will officially transition to its new season under the new moniker in 2017-18. Photo/Jessica Harsen relationship with the Jr. Reign. name in time for AAA tryouts in late May and AA and A/B tryouts in June. New Frank said the opportunity to become associated with AHL and NHL teams black and silver uniforms will be ordered soon, and the Jr. Reign’s website has wasn’t something he could have dreamed of when he took over the Wildcats already launched at www.JrReign.com. and began rebuilding the program from the bottom up. He credited many key Steve Fraser, the senior director of business operations and finance for the members of his staff for their tireless work in that process. Paul Esdale and AHL’s Reign, said the team has taken a number of strategic steps during the Tomas Kapusta have coached and served in many other roles since the beginlast two years to establish a foothold in the Inland Empire after its cross-country ning, while Frank’s wife, Joyce, and Jen Geringer have handled operations and move. Once the front office felt it had put in place the mechanisms to build a fan all the behind-the-scenes work since the program was born. Bryce Karlman base and forge strong business partnerships, they began to look at ways they (the Carlsbad program director), Craig Reichert (the director of skill developcould connect with the community and support the growth of hockey locally. ment and training facilities) and Emery Drend (an age-group manager) have “Being able to have a Jr. Reign program was one of the first things that came come on board in recent years to help the program continue its momentum. to mind,” Fraser said. “We have a close affiliation with the L.A. Kings, and we “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done, and I congratulated our entire wanted to mimic some of the things that they’ve done with youth hockey. We staff and our members in the letter I sent out to them announcing the relationdecided to identify a program that could become the Jr. Reign, and luckily there ship,” Frank said. “Additionally, the Jr. Kings were very supportive of the change, were a few teams locally that were interested.” as were SCAHA and CAHA. Being a USA Hockey Model Association and a Frank had worked with the Reign to bring groups of players and families to Positive Coaching Alliance partner were big factors. They take their brand very games, and initiated a discussion with them about furthering their relationship. seriously and want to be sure it will be represented well. Matt, Alex and Irina Once the discussion began, things progressed quickly, and it wasn’t long be- Dunaev, the rink owners, have also been very supportive of this decision and fore the two sides started to hammer out an official agreement. in the vision of growing the game in our communities, and we are grateful for “We got to know Ben, and were really impressed with his program, so we that.” By Greg Ball

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York learned lessons well, will carry them to U.S. NTDP By Chris Bayee

including fellow 2001s Ryan Johnson and Nicholas Kent, as well as 2000 birth year Slava Demin, have been invited to the NTDP’s evaluation camp over the past two years. “He’s a player you’re very happy for because he’s such a good kid and he comes from such a great family,” said Johnson, who is the Jr. Ducks’ di-

team, he played for its high school team as a sophomore and generated 48 points in 54 games despite hen Cam York was a little boy, he watched being one of the youngest players on the squad. countless Anaheim Ducks games at Honda York said working with Niedermayer and JohnCenter and on television, and he was always drawn son day after day growing up prepared him for this to Scott Niedermayer. stage of his hockey career. York was in good company. The Hall of Fame de“Scott would give you tips every day that were fenseman had a rare combination of skating, skill just eye openers,” York said. “I’m sure they and hockey intelligence, and he was a key cog on weren’t a big deal to him, but they really helped four Stanley Cup champions, including the Ducks me. in 2007. “I worked with Craig on stickhandling and As the 2001 birth year began to play hockshooting for years, and that helped those areas of ey, Niedermayer and Craig Johnson, another my game. Both stressed keeping the game fun.” longtime NHL player, were his coaches for the York committed to Boston College (Hockey Anaheim Jr. Ducks and the California Firstars. East) this past season after weighing a handful of Their tutelage helped lay a foundation for York Division I offers. to excel in the game to the point he was selected “Not only is the campus really nice, but Jerry for the U.S. National Team Development Program York and his staff are top notch,” Cam York said. (NTDP) in April. “It felt like the right place for me.” “Both of them were huge for my development,” However, York will spend the next two seaYork said. sons in Plymouth, Mich., at the NTDP honing his York is the first Californian since Patrick game further. He got a taste of what he’s in store Khodorenko in 2014 to be selected to the for at the evaluation camp in March. NTDP and the 31st player with ties to the state to “The pace was crazy high,” York said. “The be picked for the 20-year-old flagship program of biggest adjustment was the pace of the game. USA Hockey. “Everyone there is pretty good friends, so it’s The NTDP picks what it deems to be the top Cam York played for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks and California Firstars as a youth not like stepping into a situation full of new faces. and is off to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2017-18. 23 players from a given birth year for its two-year And the fact that Ryan (Johnson) and Nick (Kent) program. It will afford York the opportunity to com- rector of coaches. “He’s got everything to his game. and I played on the same team and have gone up pete in several international competitions for Team He can play offense, he defends well and he shoots through the ranks together helped a lot, too.” USA and play a schedule against Junior A and col- the puck really hard.” Rather than focus on the open doors for his fulege teams, all while going through a comprehenYork’s game has played been on display during ture, York is taking a pragmatic approach to what he sive training program. the past two seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep calls a “pretty crazy year.” York also is the first longtime Jr. Ducks player school in Minnesota. After 69 points (18 goals) in “I’m focused on what’s going on right now, not to make the NTDP. A handful of other Jr. Ducks, 60 games as a freshman on Shattuck’s Bantam the things coming up,” he said.

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Ex-Lady Duck Pankowski makes U.S. Women’s Olympic team By Chris Bayee

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hat if there hadn’t been the opportunity to play girls hockey in California for Annie Pankow-

ski? Her athleticism, intelligence and work ethic no doubt would have opened doors in other sports, but once she got a taste of hockey, she was hooked. And the sport will take the longtime Anaheim Lady Duck all the way to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Pankowski learned on May 5 that she was selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team, which will begin training together this summer in suburban Tampa, Fla., and participate in various competitions during the build-up to the Games. She becomes the first Lady Ducks player to make a U.S. Olympic team and only the third Californian ever – Hall of Famer Angela Ruggeiro and Chanda Gunn are the others. “It’s crazy to think about where we started,” Pankowski said. “The Lady Ducks played a huge role in me sticking with hockey. It was cool to play a sport it seemed like nobody else played. “The Lady Ducks gave me the opportunity to see there was more to hockey than just playing in California as a kid.” Pankowski knows the Team USA drill well, having represented America in numerous international competitions before, including World Championships the past two years (winning gold and silver) and in 2013, but this is different. Upon finding out during a meeting with Team USA coaches that she’d made the Olympic team, Pankowski called her parents, Rich and Diane, back in California at 4:30 a.m. to tell them the good news. 8

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“My dad was ready for the call, I told him (the night zmaier Memorial Award for the second season in a before) my meeting was at 7:30 a.m. (Eastern time),” row. She was second in Division I in goals (25) and Pankowski said. “He and my mom both woke up in sixth in points (55). about a half second when I told them the news. I was “It’s super for the Lady Ducks and for California crying, my mom was crying and my dad was crying.” hockey in general,” Lady Ducks director of coaches The news reverberatKathy McGarrigle said. ed through the California “Watching a kid grow up hockey scene, and it could from seven or eight all the serve as another driver of way through, it’s amazing. growth in youth hockey, She’s one of those kids particularly girls hockey. who you see it in early, but “As a club, we’re very we never know what someexcited,” said Art Trottier, one’s going to do with their president of the Anaheim potential. Amateur Hockey Associ“Annie was so focused, ation, the parent organishe was so humble. She zation of the Lady Ducks kept working, and she had and Jr. Ducks. “It’s a big that ability to make othboost for the program. This er teammates around her is why we do what we do. succeed. She has the size And it couldn’t happen to (5-foot-9), the hand-eye a nicer person or a nicer coordination, the athletifamily. cism, the drive.” “Annie is a great repreAlong the way, Pansentative of the club and its kowski contributed to Former Anaheim Lady Ducks standout Annie Pankowski is a twovalues, like character, dedi- time California Rubber Magazine NCAA Women’s Player of the the Lady Ducks winning cation and hard work.” a host of medals at USA Year. Photo/Wisconsin Athletics Pankowski, 22, recently completed her junior year Hockey Youth Nationals tournaments. In 2007, she at the University of Wisconsin (WCHA), helping the helped the Lady Ducks capture a Tier I gold medal at Badgers reach the NCAA championship game. She 12U, one year after a bronze. She also was a part of will defer her senior year of college until the fall of bronze-medal-winning teams at 14U in 2008-09 and 2018. 16U in 2010. The Badgers’ loss will be Team USA’s gain. PanShe’ll have another opportunity to add to her colkowski was a Second-Team All-American, First-Team lection come next February. four. Furry had a teamAll-WCHA pick and a top 10 finalist for the Patty Ka- high three goals.


ONTARIO JR. REIGN

Jr. Reign’s Frank starting Riverside high school program By Greg Ball

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f there’s any question about the continued growth in popularity of high school hockey, doubters need look no further than the teams recently added in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Starting next season, another team will be brought into the fold, as Ontario Jr. Reign president Ben Frank will work with the Carnegie Schools Riverside to start an ice hockey program for the first time in the school’s 60-year history. “The athletic director reached out to me and the folks at Riverside Ice Town,” Frank said. “We talked about the growth of hockey in the area and creating opportunities for kids. The support and resources that they plan to put toward the high school hockey program was really exciting to me, and really fit within the values of what we’re trying to do at the youth levels. I thought it was a no-brainer to get involved.” Frank has been hired as the school’s hockey director, a role he plans to fulfill while continuing his position as the president of the newly named Jr. Reign (formerly the Wildcats Hockey Club). Carnegie Schools Riverside will ice its first team for the 2017-18 season, and the Wolverines will play in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League, with their practices and games will be held at Riverside Ice Town and in Anaheim. More information about the team can be found

at www.CarnegieHockey.com. When Frank was presented with the opportunity and had time to hear what the school’s plans were for the future, he felt confident he’d be working with like-minded people who truly believed in the value of athletics and doing things the right way. “They’re growing really quickly, and they really believe in the student-athlete and that sports are a big part of the high school experience,” Frank said. “They’ve brought on new coaches for football, basketball and baseball, and have had a tremendous amount of success building the athletic program in the last year. “They want to do the same thing with hockey.” Carnegie Schools Riverside won’t be a “pure” team - one that formulates its roster only from students who attend the same school - to start. The team will be able to have players from the Riverside, Beaumont Moreno Valley, Nuview Union, Perris, Romoland, San Jacinto and Val Verde school districts. Like with many other schools in the Ducks and Kings high school leagues, Frank said his goal is to eventually develop the program into a pure team. The school plans to start with both varsity and junior varsity teams. Coaches have yet been named. The school was founded as Riverside Chris-

tian in 1958 and was recently renamed Carnegie Schools Riverside. It has sister schools in Whittier and Sherman Oaks. The Riverside campus has an enrollment of approximately 700 students in elementary school, middle school and high school, with about 10 percent of those students coming from 26 different countries around the world. Carnegie Schools Riverside features a student to teacher ratio of 20:1, and the high school offers 18 advanced placement courses. Since its founding nearly 60 years ago, it has had countless students accepted into the country’s most prestigious universities, from Stanford and USC to M.I.T., Cornell, Rice and all the University of California campuses. The Wolverines will one of the few schools representing the Inland Empire in the Ducks league, though the league has teams in Chino, Corona-Norco and Palm Springs. The region has a massive population of nearly five million people, but doesn’t offer as many opportunities to play hockey as cities in surrounding Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Frank sees plenty of room for growth there. “With the AHL’s Ontario Reign having established solid roots there, and with the growth of hockey in California, it’s an area with tremendous growth potential for hockey,” Frank said.

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Kapusta new owner, takes reins of WSHL’s San Diego Sabers the WSHL being sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), it will allow him to bring over players from Europe to skate in the league. “Being part of the AAU allows us to have up to 14 imports, which differs from USA Hockey-sanctioned leagues that only allow 2-4 imports per

By Matt Mackinder

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omas Kapusta has spent a lifetime in hockey and wants to pass on his knowledge and understanding of the game to those in the junior hockey world. Earlier this offseason, Kapusta purchased the San Diego Sabers, a Tier II team that plays in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). He’ll also serve as the general manager and assistant coach of the team moving ahead into the 2017-18 season when the team will again call the Ice-Plex in Escondido its home rink. Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers back in 1984, Kapusta played 20 years of professional hockey and also represented the Czech Republic at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. He has team,” explained Kapusta. “The fact coached youth hockey for the last 14 that the WSHL allows teams to have years and will serve as the Ontario so many imports adds to the strength Jr. Reign’s 18U AAA head coach and depth of the WSHL.” next season. Kapusta also earned his Kapusta wants to give an opporteaching credential from CSULB. tunity to as many local junior-aged Tomas Kapusta “I have devoted my entire life to players as possible as there are plenhockey,” Kapusta said. “This latest opportunity to grow ty of players who are looking for opportunities to play lojunior hockey continues that passion. After my profes- cally and still pursue their college dreams. sional playing days, I began to coach youth hockey, but When it comes to on- and off-ice training, Kapusta my dream is far from over. expects the Sabers to be one of the best conditioned in “The San Diego Sabers are committed to the per- the league. sonal growth and hockey development of players, as well “Sabers players will experience an intense on-ice as the promotion of hockey in the surrounding San Diego hour-long practice four times a week from Monday community.” through Thursday, which is preceded by an off-ice workStarting with the 2017-18 season, Kapusta said his out at the rink facility, and succeeded by a gym workout at intention is to build and promote the Sabers. He said with the 24K CrossFit training facility,” said Kapusta. “The team 10

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

will play 1-3 times a week, with the home games taking place on either on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and our away games can also be played on Thursdays. This setup will allow players to attend high school, local colleges or night schools.” At the end of the day, Kapusta said development for college hockey and an overall positive experience is the top priority for the Sabers players. “Our intention is to build a very competitive program for years to come, and provide an educational opportunity to junior players all over the world who can´t make right away the top junior leagues in the USA and Canada, such as the USHL, BCHL, WHL, NAHL, or who simply want to have a life-changing educational experience of learning a new language and culture,” Kapusta said. “While playing in the WSHL, players will have a chance to develop into Division I and Division III college-caliber players while playing near their home and/or gaining a unique, international experience at one of the most attractive communities in California. “While giving this extraordinary opportunity, players will be able to mature physically and mentally into players who will be able to compete not only at various colleges in the United States and Canada, but may receive additional opportunities playing in with various international teams and leagues. We believe that the Sabers cost is very affordable and reflects its unique opportunity while providing the best service and experience in an attractive San Diego area known for its beaches, parks, and warm climate.” There will a one-day tryout for the Sabers on Sunday, June 18, at 9 a.m. and 1:45 p.m in Escondido. For more information, contact Kapusta at tomas@jrreign.com.


L.A. KINGS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE

East County’s Polon bucks odds, earns LAKHSHL scholarship By Greg Ball

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obert Polon had been playing hockey nearly his entire life when his time on the ice abruptly ended after his eighth-grade season due to a series of concussions. He had skated for the L.A. Jr. Kings, L.A. Hockey and California Golden Bears growing up, but with the risks of serious and permanent damage mounting with each injury, he and his family decided the smart move was to hang up his skates for a while. Before the start of the 2016-17 school year, he decided to give hockey another go, and made the varsity squad of the East County Outlaws as a defenseman - only to see his season end after 15 games because of a broken leg. So when he applied for the L.A. Kings High School Hockey League scholarship this spring, it was only natural that the senior at William Howard Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley would focus on those injuries and how he hoped to pursue a career in medicine so he could one day help others in his situation. “I want to be able to help kids who are injured playing sports,” Polon said. “I had a lot of injuries in hockey growing up, and I feel like this is a good way to give back to the community that has given so much to me throughout my life.” The award was started during the league’s inaugural season last year, and its purpose is to reward a deserving senior from any of the league’s 10 teams

for outstanding academic achievement. “Each year, we award a senior who has excelled throughout their time in high school with a $2,000 scholarship to be used at whatever college they plan on attending,” said Emma Tani, the leagues and rinks coordinator in the L.A. Kings’ Hockey Development division. “We had a number of outstanding ap-

Robert Polon has had his fair share of hockey-related injuries, but that hasn’t steered him off the ice. He played the 2016-17 season for the LAKHSHL’s East County Outlaws.

plications this year, but Robert’s really stood above all the rest.” Polon plans to attend UC Davis starting this fall and will major in Biological Sciences. He has achieved an unweighted 3.6 grade-point average, though it’s closer to 4.1 when weighted to factor in the many advanced placement classes he has taken

LAKLeague.com

throughout his four years at Taft. He said he has recovered from the broken leg and is able to skate again, and he’ll consider playing on the club hockey team at Davis. After college, he hopes to play in adult leagues and be involved in hockey as long as he can. Tani said the written portion of Polon’s application and his altruism in wanting to become part of the medical community to help others like him were what caught the eye of the committee of league staffers going over all the applicants. “His essay really stood out to us,” Tani said. “We saw a lot of potential in him, and there was a lot of support for him when our department sat down to discuss the top candidates, so we’re really pleased to be able to award him this scholarship.” Polon learned he had been selected to receive the scholarship shortly after the season ended. “I put a lot of time and effort into the application, so I wasn’t surprised, but I definitely feel honored to have received the award,” Polon said. “I was pretty ecstatic, because my hard work has paid off, and hockey is going to help me give back.” The scholarship isn’t a huge one in terms of college tuition dollars offset, but it’s an important part of what the Kings’ high school league is doing to recognize its players who excel in the classroom. “It’s a small incentive and a good way to emphasize that we value academic success as well as athletic success,” Tani said. “That’s an important part of who we are as a league.”

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TOYOTA SPORTS CENTER

Souto’s role expands within Jr. Kings program By Brian McDonough

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t wasn’t too long ago when Chase Souto was racing up and down the wing as a member of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings. These days, he’s proving himself as a vital coaching and administrative cog within the program. Recently appointed the Jr. Kings’ assistant general manager of hockey operations, Souto will work alongside Nick Vachon - the club’s general manager of hockey operations - in an effort to advance and enhance the organization’s overall player development structure. “Since I stopped playing, I’ve really been focusing on learning the ins and outs of what it takes to become the general manager of a hockey team at a high level,” said Souto. “I love coaching, but that’s my ultimate goal and, to be in this position working with Nick is obviously a great opportunity; I’m really excited.” In the newly created role, Souto will also oversee all of the club’s player- and coach-related disciplinary issues, as well as serve as the organization’s SafeSport coordinator. Helping architect and showcase a worthy and healthy product on the ice at all levels is also paramount. “I want to see us developing our A and AA kids and moving them up to the levels they want to be, and along the way making sure all of our kids are having fun with the game,” said Souto. “I want to make sure our kids enjoy coming to the rink and are excited to work hard and get better as

hockey players and also as people; developing quality, teaching and learning is through the roof, and he’s wellprofessional people is something hockey does teach, liked and respected by our kids, their families and our and this environment we’ve created at (El Segundo’s) coaches.” Toyota Sports Center (the Jr. Kings’ home facility) defi“He’s going to help me and hopefully I can help him and help the club,” Souto said of nitely gives them a chance to do Vachon. “He’s very personable and that.” his professional side is second to A Yorba Linda native, Souto benone; when he needs to get stuff gan his youth hockey career with done, he does, and I really like that. the California Wave before play“We feed off of each other; all ing a year at the Bantam AAA and of our coaches do and I think that’s Midget AAA levels under the direcreally cool. With the elite coachtion of head coach Jack Bowkus, who today serves as the Jr. Kings’ ing staff we have, a lot of ideas are 16U AAA head coach. thrown around and it’s really good stuff.” At 16 years old, Souto headed And Souto is nothing but ennorth to Canada where he played couraged with the beefed-up refour seasons for the Western Hocksources and support the Jr. Kings ey League’s Kamloops Blazers from are providing in an effort to set 2010-14 before returning to Souththe club apart from a development ern California to begin his coaching Chase Souto, who played for the Los Angecareer. les Jr. Kings, was recently named the club’s standpoint. “That’s one thing I’m really exitNow in his third year behind assistant general manager of hockey operaed about,” said Souto. “I think the the Jr. Kings bench, the 22-year- tions. PhotoJeff Berting Photography old Souto will also serve as an assistant coach on the club has really taken on a new look and feel when it club’s Midget 18U AAA, 16U AAA and Pee Wee Major comes to moving all of our kids in the right direction, AAA 05 teams this coming season. from our Mite teams all the way up to our Midget AAA Vachon couldn’t be happier to have Souto at his teams. side as the Jr. Kings continue to elevate their player and “I think we have great leadership, I think we have a coaching development model, on and off the ice. great coaching staff, and now being overseen by the “This position is right up Chase’s alley,” said (NHL’s Los Angeles) Kings, I think that’s going to bring Vachon. “He’s a former Jr. King, his enthusiasm for both us to a new level which is really special.”

ToyotaSportsCenter.com

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SAN JOSE JR. SHARKS

Jr. Sharks bring back alum Richardson to coach 18U team Aberdeen Wings), with his track record and what he’s been able to do, I think absolutely you pick up things ike Richardson played for the San Jose Jr. from them that help shape who you are as a coach,” Sharks organization back when it was known as Richardson said. “Al Bloomer, who I was with in the Blades. Billings for a while, was a great mentor and a great Now some 20 years later, he’s back to coach person to pick from a hockey mind. Just being around the Jr. Sharks’ 18U AAA team and wants to do more good people, I think over time, especially when you’re than just be behind the bench during games and run a young guy coming up, you really get sucked in to practices multiple times a week. other people that give and realize what you like and Richardson said the process of rejoining the what you don’t.” association happened pretty quickly once the 2016In San Jose, Richardson credited Derek Eisler 17 season came to a close. with helping him get his foot in the coaching door. “I’ve been fortunate to be from here and to Now looking forward to the 2017-18 season with have coached here a number of years ago,” said the 18U club, Richardson has an idea of how he Richardson. “I’ve been able to stay in touch with wants his squad to look come September. the organization and I think the biggest thing that “Over time, you kind of develop your own sense drew me back was the people. With guys like Tyler of how you think the game should be played,” said Shaffar, Mike Janda, Curtis Brown and Robert Richardson. “I want to play a north game and what Savoie, that’s a pretty good group of hockey guys. I mean by that is I want to have a strong, attacking “We just started talking kind of casually a few hockey team. I like guys who can make plays and who weeks back when I learned the position was going want to possess the puck. We want to play in the to be open and I was asked if I would be interested blue paint and we want to play in the middle of the and I was. There was like five or six of us that just sat rink all night long. That’s the way I like the game to be down in a room for seven or eight hours and talked played and with that said, we will play a responsible, about the organization, the goods and stuff that we two-way game as well.” want to improve on and we all share the same kind of Aside from wins and losses, which are a byproduct goals, which is to develop our players and help them Mike Richardson grew up playing and then coaching for the San Jose Jr. of players developing and buying in to systems, advance and of course, try to win some games here.” Sharks before moving on to junior hockey. He’s now back in town and will Richardson wants more from the Jr. Sharks overall. Richardson participated in the student coaching be behind the bench for the organization’s 18U AAA team for the 2017-18 “Once we get our team set, the biggest thing is program that used to be part of the Jr. Sharks and season. creating that culture,” Richardson said. “Throughout played all of his youth hockey in town. Once his playing knowledgeable coaches, including Scott Langer in the summer, it’s about getting ready for September, career ended, he started coaching for the Jr. Sharks Topeka, was a huge benefit to his coaching career. getting ready for camp in August, getting ready for all in 2006. He has also coached junior hockey with the “I think Scott Langer (now with the NAHL’s of that.” By Matt Mackinder

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Billings Bulls (North American 3 Hockey League), Lake Tahoe Blue (Western States Hockey League) and Topeka RoadRunners (North American Hockey League), in addition to the Atlanta Fire AAA organization. He said working for and working with many

SJJrSharks.com

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TAHOE HOCKEY ACADEMY

Coming off solid first year, THA ready for second season By Greg Ball

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he snow has melted in the Sierra Nevadas, and it appears that things have started to heat up within the Tahoe Hockey Academy (THA) program as well. The month of May traditionally marks the start of AAA tryouts and the tryout season for CAHA and SCAHA teams. With Tahoe Hockey Academy being a non-traditional market, its program faces certain challenges not found with any other program in the state. Being the first full-time residential academic program dedicated to hockey in California has put the Tahoe organization in a different position when it comes to students looking for a unique opportunity. “We knew from Day 1 that it was not going to be easy building our program within a state that is so entrenched in a club-oriented environment,” THA Leo Fenn said. “The goal all along has been to offer an alternative to players who are interested in more time on the ice, more time spent in school and more room for overall development of their hockey game.” With Tahoe Hockey Academy having a full season under its belt, it would appear the program’s model is providing benefits for its student-athletes. “Our program isn’t designed for the masses,” said THA athletic director and head coach Michael Lewis. “We’re on the ice and in the weight room every day, and that’s designed more for the player looking to prepare himself for the higher levels of hockey once he’s done playing Midgets.”

Those benefits seem to be enticing to many players inA more detailed look at what the academy has to offer in comparison to other hockey programs in the state re- side and outside the state, as Tahoe continues to commit flects a different approach to achieving a player’s personal new student-athletes for the 2017-18 season. “We’re a new program and in being unfamiliar to goals. “I grew up in the Southern California youth hockey the masses, we understand it’s going to take time to be scene, and there’s no question that THA was something viewed as a viable option,” Lewis said. “I’ve been coachthat the hockey community here needed,” THA associ- ing travel hockey for the past 20 years, and have seen my players advance on to juate coach Chris Collins said. niors, NCAA institutions and “I saw so many of my friends the professional ranks. There’s leave the state to pursue obviously nothing wrong with hockey based on the fact that their clubs couldn’t provide the the traditional way of developthings needed for development ing players, as it continues to and advancement.” work for many players locally - I During the month of May, just have to wonder how many when parents and players deadditional players we can move cide their home for the upcomon to the next level with the ing season, the Tahoe Hockey more advanced and specialAcademy continues to be a ized hockey curriculum that we topic of discussion for those Players at the Tahoe Hockey Academy found success on offer at THA.” who are looking for an alterna- and off the ice during the school’s inaugural season of A more detailed look into 2016-17. Photo/Joe Naber this specialized program tive to the norm. “I’ve seen it from all sides of the table when it comes to shows that Tahoe Hockey Academy’s search is designed Southern California hockey,” said Fenn. “I’ve raised three for players who are focused on individual progress and sons playing hockey in SCAHA and CAHA, been a coach development. “In the end, it’s going to be a player’s own personal with different programs and witnessed the many hours spent on the freeways and away from the classrooms. development that’s going to get him noticed help him Our program is designed to eliminate the negatives as- advance,” Fenn said. “From start to finish, we’re able to sociated with travel hockey while providing huge benefits refine, construct and produce a more well-rounded player because our model offers more.” to a player’s growth as a young man and athlete.”

TahoeHockeyAcademy.com

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june 26 - 30, 2017 | 8 AM - 2 PM East West Ice Palace | Artesia, CA

Group 1 Ages 7 - 10 | Group 2 ages 11 - 14

Coaches include:

camp features: . . . . . . . .

. . . .

Brett Beebe | USHL, NCAA D-1, 3 Years Pro Troy Bodie | 10 Years Pro, 150+ NHL Games PJ Musico | BHC Goalie Coach, Current ECHL Pro, NCAA D-1 Goalie Daniel “Gudger” Gentzler | BHC Head Instructor, ECHL, BCHL, NCAA D-1 player

Camp Jersey 2 Daily Ice Sessions Professional Dryland Training On/Off Ice Testing Team Building Games Informative Classroom Sessions Off-Ice Shooting/Stickhandling NHL Guest Players Appearances

Register at: www.beebehockeycamp.com

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ANAHEIM DUCKS

The Rinks’ free Street Hockey Showcase coming up in June By Tanner Privia

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hen the Anaheim Ducks and the Irvine Ice Foundation announced the approval of the new Great Park Ice Complex set to open in the summer of 2018, South Orange County knew it needed to get ready for hockey. With the addition of four new ice sheets, the largest ice facility in the United States will not only provide current hockey players more rink time, it will also open up opportunities for new hockey players to get on the ice and start playing themselves. However, for most of these future hockey players, their excitement cannot wait until then. The closest hockey facility, The Rinks-Irvine Inline, has seen a dramatic increase in their Inline Learn to Play registrations, creating a long wait list as more and more families look to get their children into the sport and get a head start before the new ice complex comes to town. To capitalize on the huge wave of new participants, The Rinks-Irvine Inline is introducing the new Youth Street Hockey League as another introduction point for hockey players. Often played with just a hockey stick, an orange ball, and maybe a trash can (that acts as a net), street hockey is commonly played on the streets of California. The minimal gear required makes it just as popular as other sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball in neighborhoods. However, this popularity does not always translate to

more children playing in organized leagues, especially for players from low-income families. While playing in a street hockey league introduces kids to some of the basic rules of hockey, it also gives them an opportunity to play hockey in an organized setting as part of a team without the investment that ice and inline hockey require.

Inline hockey is gaining steam in California and The Rinks is making it affordable for all children who show interest to take part. Photo/The Rinks

Meanwhile, both the Ducks and The Rinks are still making it even easier on families who are interested by hosting a free Street Hockey Showcase day on Saturday, June 24. The event will feature a street hockey clinic, public skating and raffles, all while providing many players their first experience at a Rinks facility for free. They will also provide

AnaheimDucks.com

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each player the required helmet, gloves, and stick that kids needed to play and even provide shin guards for those that would like to wear them. “Street hockey already is a great way to start playing the sport of hockey at a low investment cost allowing parents to make the choice to play ice or inline hockey much easier,” said The Rinks marketing associate Craig Appleby. “At the end of last season at The Rinks-Huntington Beach Inline, we had a large number of our street hockey kids decide to continue to play hockey and participate in one of our inline hockey or ice hockey Learn to Play sessions. A few of them have even continued into in-house hockey leagues. We hope that this pattern also translates to the South Orange County market and we have similar results, with a number of kids continuing on into other programs.” The league, starting Saturday, July 8, will be played 5-on- 5 plus goalies and will utilize the sport court hockey rinks at the mostly outdoor Irvine Inline location. Players will be split into two leagues according to age, with players under the age of eight battling in the Mighty Mites division, while the older kids will be competing in the main division. Both division champions will be determined after an eightweek season that consists of games and clinic style practices, all occurring on Saturdays. The Rinks’ staff of expert coaches will be available to help develop the kids along the way. For more information on the Great Park Ice Complex or introductive hockey programming, including the Anaheim Ducks Youth Learn to Play or the Youth Street Hockey League, visit www.therinks.com.


ANAHEIM JR. DUCKS Jr. Ducks’ 16U star Johnson makes history in USHL Draft By Chris Bayee

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naheim Jr. Ducks 16U AAA defenseman Ryan Johnson found himself in uncharted territory during the first week of May. The 2001 birth year was selected third overall in Phase I of the United States Hockey League (USHL) Draft, by the Sioux Falls Stampede, making him the highest drafted Californian in Phase I of the junior league’s draft. “It’s really exciting,” said Johnson, who will attempt to make the Stampede this summer. “It was a surprise they picked me. Some other teams farther down in the draft had contacted me. It’s a great franchise and I’m looking forward to going there.” Johnson had 28 points in 36 games in the Tier I Elite Hockey League and added seven points in 11 CAHA games. He helped his Jr. Ducks team and Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s varsity team reach the USA Hockey Youth Nationals this past season. He was one of four players with ties to the Jr. Ducks picked by USHL teams. Fellow 16U defenseman Drake Usher was selected in the Phase II portion of the draft (players born in 2000 or earlier) by the Youngstown Phantoms in the 18th round (284th overall). Two former Jr. Ducks also were picked. Nick Kent went in the second round in Phase I to Green Bay (24th), while Brett Roloson (2000) was taken by Dubuque in the 20th round (320th) in Phase II. “It’s huge for the program,” said Jr. Ducks director of player personnel Alex Kim, who along with Craig Johnson, Ryan’s dad, coached the 16U AAA team. “Ryan’s a really good hockey player who has put in a lot of hard work, as have Drake Usher and Brett Roloson.” In 2011, Trevor Moore was selected No. 8 overall – the previous highest a Californian had been drafted. Former Jr. Duck Max Becker went five spots later and Andrew Oglevie was 14th.

JrDucks.com

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Californians take next step, chosen in USHL, WHL drafts By Matt Mackinder

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he first week of May means the start of new journeys for many young hockey players with the two phases of the United States Hockey League (USHL) Draft and the Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft. The two USHL drafts were conducted online May 1-2, while the WHL draft was held in Calgary, Alberta, on May 4. Several players with California ties were selected during Phase I of the USHL Draft. Phase I this year was for 2001 birth year players only. In the first round (third overall), defenseman Ryan Johnson (Irvine native, Anaheim Jr. Ducks 16U AAA) was picked up by the Sioux Falls Stampede. With the pick, Johnson became the highest-drafted player from California in the USHL Draft (more on Johnson on Page 17). The Green Bay Gamblers used their second-round pick (24th overall) on defenseman Nick Kent (Ladera Ranch native, Jr. Ducks, LA Jr. Kings alum). Kent, who will attend and play his NCAA Division I hockey at Quinnipiac University (ECAC Hockey) in Hamden, Conn., following his prep and junior careers, recently completed his second season patrolling the blue line at British Columbia’s Delta Hockey Academy. Then in the eighth round (117th overall), the Madison Capitols selected Jr. Kings graduate and forward Kristof Papp. Last season, Papp skated for Detroit Honey-

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baked. Green Bay went back to California in the 10th round (152nnd overall) in taking forward and Marina del Rey native Brendan Brisson, another Jr. Kings alum. Brisson played this past season at the prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Faribault, Minn. More players with California ties were chosen during Phase II of the USHL Draft. Phase II this year was for any player born between 1997 and 2001. Pleasanton native and San Jose Jr. Sharks alum

Joseph Cassetti went to the Waterloo Black Hawks in the fourth round (63rd overall). Cassetti, a forward, played the past two seasons for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich., and is committed to Boston College. In the 14th round (215th overall), the Omaha Lancers chose San Diego native and forward Joshua Groll. Last season, Groll played for the San Diego Jr. Gulls

15U AAA team. The Youngstown Phantoms chose Upland native and Jr. Ducks 16U AAA defenseman Drake Usher in the 18th round (284th overall). Newport Beach native and Shawnigan Lake School forward Brett Roloson (also a former Jr. Duck) then was drafted in the 20th round (320th overall) by the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Shawnigan Lake School is located in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia. Rounding out the California picks in Phase II was defenseman Mason Kohn, who went to the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 23rd round (367th overall). During the 2016-17 season, the Del Mar product played junior hockey for the San Diego Sabers in the Western States Hockey League. Kohn played youth hockey for the Jr. Kings and Jr. Gulls. The USHL is widely considered North America’s premier junior league when it comes to developing players for NCAA Division I hockey. It also regularly produces top NHL draft picks. Then in the Major Junior WHL draft, two California natives and one Las Vegas product were drafted. Las Vegas native and forward Erik Atchison was the fifth-round choice (94th overall) of the Spokane Chiefs. Atchison played the 2016-17 campaign with the Arizona Bobcats 14U AAA team. Forward Tristan Rand, who skated for the Jr. Ducks 14U AAA squad last season, was tabbed in the eighth round (166th overall) to the Tri-City Americans. Samuel Deckhut, a forward who played for the Jr. Gulls 14U AAA team this past year, was selected in the 12th round (263rd overall) by the Medicine Hat Tigers.


USA Hockey National Development Camp Selections Congratulations to the California and Nevada players that have been selected to the USA Hockey National Player Development Camps later this summer in Amherst, N.Y. Camp dates are noted at the start of each birth year’s list. All players took part in the Pacific District Player Development Camp in San Jose from May 4-7, 2017. Select 15 (2002) – July 15-19, 2017

Select 16 (2001) – July 7-13, 2017

Select 17 (2000) – June 24-30, 2017

FORWARDS Tyler Badame Samuel Deckhut Justin Nakagawa Thomas Stift

FORWARDS Barak Braslavski Brendan Brisson Joshua Groll Connor Kemp

FORWARDS Easton Easterson Zachary McClenehan (Nevada) Ethan Stibich Jackson Wozniak

DEFENSEMEN Troy Kirk Jeffrey Lee Bryan McLachlan Kobe Pane

DEFENSEMEN Jack Blake Jerett Overland (Nevada)

DEFENSEMEN Stanislav Demin Lucas Gallagher Noah Lee Drake Usher

GOALTENDER Tyler Shea

GOALTENDER Hunter Garvey

** Note that 2000 birth year defensemen Ryan Johnson, Nicholas Kent and Cameron York were invited to the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) Evaluation Camp in March and therefore, received direct invitations to the 2017 USA Hockey National Player Development Camp. ** CARubberHockey.com

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PICTURE PERFECT Gerard Gallant (middle) was named the first-ever head coach of the NHL’s expansion Vegas Golden Knights, which will begin play in 2017-18, and introduced at a press conference at T-Mobile Arena on April 13. Gallant is flanked by team owner Bill Foley (left) and GM George McPhee (right). Photo/Vegas Golden Knights

The LA Jr. Kings 2009 team took home the top prize in its division and claimed the championship banner at this year’s Chi-Town Shuffle in the Windy City back on April 23.

Oxnard native and California Titans graduate Nick Nast, who played the 2016-17 season with the North American 3 Hockey League’s Great Falls Americans and also in the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament in February, has committed to NCAA D-III St. Mary’s University for the 2017-18 season. Pho-

San Diego native and San Diego Jr. Gulls 15U AAA forward Josh Groll was tabbed by the Omaha Lancers in the 14th round (215th overall) of Phase II of the United States Hockey League Draft on May 2. Photo/USHL

to/NAHL

Ventura native and California Titans graduate Danny O’Donnell, who played the 2016-17 season with the North American 3 Hockey League’s Great Falls Americans and also in the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament in February, has committed to NCAA D-III Aurora University for the 2017-18 season. Photo/NAHL

Anaheim Jr. Ducks 16U AAA standout Ryan Johnson was selected third overall – the highest draft position for any California-born player – by the Sioux Falls Stampede in Phase I of the United States Hockey League Draft on May 1. Photo/Total Sports Imaging

The California Wave 19U girls team took third place at last month’s USA Hockey Youth Nationals in suburban Detroit and to boot, have six players from that team moving on to play NCAA Division I and Division III college hockey in the fall.

Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Steel led the Western Hockey League in scoring during the 2016-17 season with 131 points with the Regina Pats and was awarded the league’s Player of the Year honor with the Four Brothers Memorial Trophy earlier this month at the WHL awards ceremony. Photo/WHL

The LA Kings and Beyond The Bell came together for the third annual Los Angeles Unified School District joint street hockey tournament on April 25. A total of 220 young hockey players from 22 different schools met at 28th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles to celebrate their newfound hockey skills. Photo/LA Kings

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2016-17 ALL-CALIFORNIA/NEVADA Junior Team

Home/Clubs: Yorba Linda/Jr. Ducks, Jr. Kings

Game On: Thrived after trade to Wenatchee, going 7-3 with 2.45 GAA

Game On: Lake State commit finished with 9-5 mark and 2.59 GAA

SLAVA DEMIN

ZAK GALAMBOS

Game On: Began year in NAHL, moved to USHL and finished with 24 total points

Game On: Wild’s captain and Michigan Tech commit had career-high 31 points

Game On: Smooth skating Miami commit was plus-15 on a non-playoff team

JACK ST. IVANY

KEONI TEXEIRA

Team (league)/Yr.: Green Bay (USHL)/98 Home/Clubs: Long Beach/Jr. Ducks, Jr. Kings

FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD DEFENSE

Team (league)/Yr.: Sioux Falls (USHL)/99 Home/Clubs: Manhattan Beach/LAHC, Jr. Kings

DEFENSE

ROURKE RUSSELL

Team (league)/Yr.: Wenatchee (BCHL)/96 Home/Club: San Jose/Jr. Sharks

Team (league)/Yr.: Portland (WHL)/97 Home/Clubs: Fontana/LAHC, Jr. Kings

Game On: Yale commit and NHL draft prospect was a regular contributor as rookie

Game On: Alternate captain and pro prospect had career-high 46 points, 12 goals

SASHA CHMELEVSKI

JAKE DURFLINGER

Team (league)/Yr.: Ottawa (OHL)/99

Photo/RJF Productions

STEVEN OWRE, C, MEDICINE HAT (WHL)

Steven Owre stayed healthy this season, and the 1996 birth year from Rocklin showed the Western Hockey League exactly what he was capable of in his fifth, and final, season in the league. The Medicine Hat center put up a career-high 98 points in 82 regular-season and playoff games. His 88 regular-season points were 14th most in the WHL. Add in career bests in game-winning goals (six) and plus-minus (+18), and it’s clear Owre developed an all-around game that should make him an attractive free agent for professional hockey. Our player of the year began his youth hockey career with the Capital City Thunder, Oakland Bears and Santa Clara Blackhawks before continuing it with the LA Selects and then moving on to Arizona and Chicago.

COLE GUTTMAN

Team (league)/Yr.: Bloomington (USHL)/97 Home/Clubs: Walnut Creek/Berkeley, Jr. Sharks

Team (league)/Yr.: Dubuque (USHL)/99

Home/Clubs: Huntington Beach/KHS, LAHC, Jr. Ducks Game On: Highly ranked NHL draft prospect scored 23 goals among his 47 points

Game On: Denver commit and Thunder captain thrived in any situation, hit career high in points

Game On: St. Cloud State commit was an impact rookie with 28 goals, 57 points

JACOB HAMACHER

BRENDAN HARRIS

IVAN LODNIA

Team (league)/Yr.: Dubuque (USHL)/97 Home/Clubs: Corona/LAHC, Wildcats, Titans

Team (league)/Yr.: Wenatchee (BCHL)/96 Home/Clubs: Henderson, Nev./ Storm, Titans

Home/Clubs: Los Angeles/LAHC, Jr. Kings

Team (league)/Yr.: Erie (OHL)/99 Home/Clubs: Anaheim/KHS, LA Hockey

Game On: Fleet RIT commit put up 43 points after making jump to USHL

Game On: Bemidji State commit erupted for league-best 98 points, 3 SHG, 3 GWG

Game On: Elite NHL draft prospect rang up 26 goals, 58 points; was plus-21

SHANE McMAHAN

BRANNON McMANUS

DAKOTA RAABE

Team (league)/Yr.: Fargo (USHL)/96

Home/Clubs: Irvine/Jr. Ducks, OCHC, Jr. Kings Game On: Minnesota State commit a do-it-all captain – 6 of 18 goals were GWG

ETHAN SOMOZA

Teams (league)/Yr.: Omaha, Chicago (USHL)/99 Home/Clubs: Newport Beach/LAHC, Jr. Kings

Team (league)/Yr.: Wenatchee (BCHL)/97

Game On: Minnesota commit and NHL prospect had 22 goals, 44 points entering USHL final

Game On: Speedy Michigan commit had career bests of 67 points, 27 goals

EVAN WEINGER

BRIAN WILLIAMS

Home/Clubs: Simi Valley/LAHC, Titans

Team (league)/Yr.: Portland (WHL)/97 Home/Clubs: El Segundo/LAHC, Jr. Kings

Game On: Bemidji State commit regained goal-scoring touch (14) in second USHL season

Game On: Doubled his goal total to 20 and raised his point total by 50 percent

Team (league)/Yr.: Bloomington (USHL)/96

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Home/Club: Walnut Creek/Jr. Sharks

DEFENSE

TYLER ROCKWELL

Teams (leagues)/Yr.: J’town (NAHL), Omaha (USHL)/97

FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD DEFENSE

Game On: Denver commit was impact player as rookie, finishing with 32 points

DEFENSE

Team (league)/Yr.: Wenatchee (BCHL)/00 Home/Clubs: Cypress/Jr. Ducks, KHS

GOALIE

Teams (leagues)/Yr.: Spr. (NAHL), Wen. (BCHL)/98

FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD

Teams (leagues)/Yr.: Wen. (BCHL), Spr. (NAHL)/97

Home/Club: Los Gatos/Jr. Sharks

GOALIE

GARRETT NIETO

DEFENSE

DEVIN COOLEY

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

California Rubber Magazine is proud to announce its third annual All-California/Nevada Junior Team for 2016-17 season. The list was compiled by senior writer Chris Bayee with significant input from coaches and scouts. It weighs such factors as statistics, team success, level of competition and sustained excellence. Stats are through May 8, 2017.

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

Home/Clubs: Capo Beach/LAHC, Wave, Jr. Kings

Team (league)/Yr.: Wenatchee (BCHL)/96 Home/Clubs: San Diego/Jr. Gulls, LAHC

Game On: Colorado College commit had career bests of 62 points, 22 goals


NEVADA REPORT Las Vegas native Garcia makes College hockey quartet coming D-I choice, pegs Sun Devils to play Las Vegas in Jan. 2018 By Matt Mackinder

By Matt Mackinder

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ast summer, Dom Garcia verbally committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Air Force starting with the 2017-18 season. After another season with the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Aston Rebels this season, Garcia decided to look at other options and recently changed his commitment to Arizona State University. Garcia will enter as a freshman this coming fall. “Dom wears the ‘C’ for his team in Aston and is the ultimate leader and culture builder,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “The energy he plays with and brings to the room every day is contagious and he will have a major impact on helping us build our program.” The Sun Devils are currently an independent team, but will be part of a D-I conference in the next two years. A Las Vegas native, the 20-year-old Garcia had posted 14 goals among 47 points through 53 games with the Rebels during the 2016-17 NAHL regular-season campaign. He added a plus-33 plus-minus rating and 102 penalty minutes. “These past couple of months have been quite a journey,” said Garcia. “I can’t thank my family, teammates, coaches and everyone who has supported me in deciding. Arizona State had what I was looking for and has big plans for the future, just as I do. I cannot wait to become a part of that tradition.” This season, Garcia played in the 2017 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, where he had four points (all assists) in two games. Last year, Garcia was the Rebels’ inaugural recipient of the team’s Most Improved Player and Hardest Working Player awards. Aston coach Joe Coombs is ecstatic to follow Garcia as he enters the college game. “I am extremely happy for Dom,” said Coombs. “He is a good, quality, creditable person who has an incredible work ethic. He is a natural leader. I know he will do well in life no matter what he does. I am very glad that I have had the opportunity to coach him.”

ollege hockey will ring in the New Year in Las Vegas come 2018. The inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational will take place next Jan. 5-6 at T-Mobile Arena and the four-team tournament will feature Arizona State University, Boston College, Michigan Tech University and Northern Michigan University. “We are thrilled to host the Ice Vegas Invitational next January in what will be the first Division I college hockey games played in T-Mobile Arena,” said arena GM Dan Quinn. “Having the opportunity to be the home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights starting this fall, along with being the site for this collegiate hockey tournament, makes T-Mobile Arena the premier destination for sports fans worldwide.” The four teams in the field have a combined nine NCAA Division I national championships. Boston College leads the pack with five national titles. “We are always thrilled to showcase our program in new and exciting parts of the country against some of the top talent across the nation,” said BC coach Jerry York. “We are honored to be a part of this tournament and excited to get there.” “We are very much looking forward to exposing the growing Vegas hockey market to NCAA Division I hockey,” added Arizona State coach Greg Powers. “Being the only Division I program in the Southwest, it is important for us to try and gain as much exposure in this region as possible.” Three-time national champion Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan (1991 national champion) will set aside their in-state rivalry to take part in the first-time event. “This tournament will give Las Vegas and the surrounding areas an exciting look at college hockey,” noted NMU coach Grant Potulny. “It’s great to be able to help grow college hockey out West with tournaments like this,” added Michigan Tech AD Suzanne Sanregret. “We were fortunate to play in the Arizona State tournament a couple years ago and our alumni really came out to support the Huskies.”

FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM Sports performance training not just for improving performance W

hen we think of sports performance training, we think of getting faster, jumping higher and getting stronger so we can be better at our sport. Though it is true, what can be forgotten is that we also train to prepare for the demands of the upcoming season. A solid sports performance program will address these needs by looking at the special demands of each sport, common injuries and include the little things that will help keep athletes healthy throughout the season. Chris Phillips Let’s be honest – squatting heavy weights, flipping tires and parachute sprints look really cool compared to hip mobility exercises and three-pound shoulder stabilization exercises, but these are just as important. Sports have turned into a tough business and a “what have you done for me lately” culture, even at a young age. Missing a couple of weeks for an injury gives a teammate a chance to shine and take your spot. This isn’t to say you should play through injuries or at all costs, but that proper preparation can help you get where you want to be. So how do we address these issues to prepare for an injury-free season? The program needs to look at general mobility and flexibility of all joints. Any limitations should be addressed throughout the program and be continued during the season. Common injuries in the sport need to be identified and addressed as well. For example, groin and hip flexor injuries in hockey are typically common. An injury prevention program for each injury should be included and continued during the season. Some examples of hip flexibility exercises include spidermans and inch worms and shoulder stability exercises can include prone dumbbell retractions and side-lying shoulder external rotations. Goals involved in a sports performance program should be laid out prior to starting that address weaknesses, areas of improvement, injury history, specific needs of the sports being played and common injuries and how to prevent them.

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

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12U BB San Francisco Sabercats

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California Rubber Hockey Magazine


Californians lead Lindenwood to national inline success By Phillip Brents

leading scorer, ranked third with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists). Escarcega tallied 22 points (14 goals, eight assists) to lead Lindenwood in playoff scoring and Gauthier picked up 16 points (10 goals, six assists) to rank second. Lindenwood’s Division III team finished 6-0 in Florida, including round-robin victories against Farmingdale State, Michigan State and Grand Valley State — all re-

Novak led the team with 22 regular-season goals, including eight power-play goals, while Marquiss topped he Lindenwood University inline hockey program the team with four shorthanded goals. has become synonymous with success, and with “These guys know how to get it done during crunch good reason. time and we’ve shown it all year long,” Gauthier said. By virtue of their 3-1 victory against FarmingdaRobinson posted a 10-3 regular-season record with le State at April’s National Collegiate Roller Hockey a 1.92 goals-against average and .883 save percentChampionships in Ft. Myers, Fla., the Lions claimed age. He was undefeated in the playoffs with a 1.37 their seventh consecutive Division III national champiGAA and .929 save percentage. onship title. Gauthier termed it an “awesome” feeling to play Lindenwood also picked up a runner-up finish behind such a stalwart presence in the net. in the Division I finals following a 5-4 setback to “We have so much confidence knowing he is Farmingdale State. back there in net for us, and we know that if we make Once again, the Lions’ Division III title was braced a mistake that he will come through with a huge save by a large California presence on the rink. Nine playto bail us out,” Gauthier noted. ers hailing from the Golden State helped make this Robinson stopped all 14 shots he faced in a 16-0 season another golden one for the Missouri school. first-round elimination playoff game against CSU FulIt’s a winning environment that’s hard to beat anylerton and made 25 saves in 7-4 semifinal win over where, hence the draw from the West Coast. CaliGrand Valley State. fornians have made the Missouri school their second Robinson turned aside 16 of 17 shots (.941 home. save percentage) in the Lions’ championship game “It’s been a great three years for me with three victory. Gauthier notched what proved to be the rings,” explained Lindenwood senior forward Jon game-winner in the final, while Escarcega and Novak Gauthier, one of four players from the San Diego each scored goals. region on the team. “I can’t thank the coaches, fans Nine players on Lindenwood University’s 2017 Division III national champiEscarcega (four goals) and Visico (three goals) and my teammates enough for making me a better onship collegiate inline hockey team hail from California. Photo/Bob Gauthier led the Lindenwood offense in the semifinal win. player. gional champions or finalists. Lindenwood fired on all cylinders in the opening “I’ve loved playing the West Coast game with my Defensemen Thompson Teague and Mark Bir- elimination game against CSU Fullerton as Escarcega California brothers. What a group of guysI’m honored chall, both from Escondido, join Gauthier and Escarce- (four goals, one assist), Visico (three goals) and Novak to have played for the Lions in this elite program.” ga from San Diego County on the team. (one goal, three assists) swept the three stars of the Gauthier led the Lions in regular season scoring The Lions’ potent group from Northern California in- game selection in that order. with 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists). Escondido na- cludes forwards Marquiss and Chris Visio, both from The championship game ended on a highly emotiontive Jake Escarcega followed Gauthier with 37 points San Jose, forward Daniel Higa from Saratoga and al note with 12 penalties called in the final 24 seconds (seven goals, 30 assists) to rank second on the team, defenseman Jason Novak and goaltender Charles of the game. However, the ending remained perfect for while San Jose’s Spencer Marquiss, last season’s Robinson from Chico. the Lions with yet another national championship.

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Made of Mooney

Road to the collegiate nationals all began with a bet for San Clemente native hockey, and throughout my career, we have never beaten Lindenwood, Bethel or Neumann – all NCRHA powerhouses. For our team to go out to Florida and beat all three of those teams in one week was quite an accomplishment. We got a lot of attention around the rinks in Florida and many players and parents came up to us to congratulate us on our miraculous wins.

“I believe and hope that this season will definitely put UCSB on the map for students looking to play yle Mooney’s roller hockey career began Division I roller hockey in college. Since 1994 when innocently enough in San Clemente when he was UCSB roller hockey was founded, UCSB has never six years old at a rink that no longer exists. made it past the Elite Eight at nationals, so it is pretty “I began playing at the Wayne Gretzky Roller special to be a part of a history-making team.” Hockey Center (now owned by the NHL Anaheim The 2016-17 season proved special for the Ducks as The Rinks-Irvine Inline) when I was Mooney family. Younger brother Kevin led eight,” he explained. WCRHL Division I teams in regular season “I began in a rec league and owe (former scoring with 27 goals and 53 points; Kyle Anaheim Bullfrog pro) Joe Cook all the credit Mooney was right behind with 18 goals and to getting me into travel hockey. He made me 51 points. a bet that if I could keep a puck spinning for John Mooney, Kyle and Kevin’s father, 60 seconds he would give me an M1 Mission has coached the Gauchos for the past three hockey stick prior to its release to the public. seasons. I spent all day for a week straight practicing “My brother and I have always been and earned the stick.” very close, but being three years apart, we Mooney found high-level roller hockey to didn’t always get to play on the same team,” his liking. He played in his first NARCh Finals Kyle Mooney explained. “One of the best in the 8U Atom Division. It wasn’t until he was days of my life was when Kevin sent me his an adult, however, that he finally scored a acceptance letter to UCSB. My senior year at pair of NARCh titles in Junior Platinum and UCSB was his freshman year, and although I Division I in 2015. knew he was good and would help our team, It was worth the wait. I had no idea he would battle me to lead the This past April, he helped spearhead league in scoring his first year. UC Santa Barbara to a Final Four “We had a really good season, but fell appearance in the National Collegiate Roller short at both regionals and nationals. I Hockey Association’s (NCRHA) national knew that we had much more potential, so championship tournament in Ft. Myers, Fla. I decided to take some extra classes and The reigning Western Collegiate Roller stay another year at UCSB to play another Hockey League (WCRHL) Division I season at UCSB with him. Sure enough, we champion Gauchos picked up some prime had the best season we could’ve asked for. kills in Florida, including pool-round victories “We both were neck-and-neck leading against Lindenwood University (this year’s the league in points, and I hate to admit that national champion runners-up) and Bethel John Mooney, Kyle Mooney and Kevin Mooney (from left to right) pose with the Western he actually finished with two more points University (2012 national champions). UC Collegiate Roller Hockey League’s Division I championship trophy. Photo/WCRHL than me. We won the regional championship, Santa Barbara also eliminated Neumann University, “It means a lot that our players came to UCSB for which was our goal from Day 1, and we made our best two-time defending national champions, in the academics, as it is the highest academically-ranked push possible to the Final Four at nationals. It has been quarterfinals. university nationwide to compete in the NCRHA, and a dream come true to play and compete at such a high “Overall, we had a great season and a great time to be able to beat teams like Lindenwood and Bethel level with him. at nationals,” Mooney said. “Our ultimate goal was a that offer scholarships for roller hockey is really a “Kevin is a natural-born goal-scorer and has the national title, but we believe that we did everything we dream come true for us. I couldn’t be more proud of silkiest mitts in the league and I am more of a grinding could and ultimately made it much farther than a lot of my teammates to battle the way we did, win a regional puck dominant playmaker. It is, of course, a bummer people expected. championship, and make it to the Final Four at the that my college hockey career has come to an end, but “This is my fifth and final year playing UCSB roller national championships. if I could go back, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

By Phillip Brents

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Irvine regional sets stage for NARCh West Coast Finals

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he NARCh caravan made its annual stop in Irvine over the weekend of April 27-30. The four-day, 251-team extravaganza helped set the stage for June’s NARCh West Coast Finals in the Bay Area. NARCh’s summer championship season faces off June 16-25 with the West Coast Finals at San Jose’s Silver Creek Sportsplex and concludes with the East Coast Finals July 13-23 in suburban Toronto, Ont., Canada. Time is ticking down. The final NARCh regional tournament is slated June 2-4 at the Escondido Sports Center in northern San Diego County. It’s likely only the NARCh Finals will be able to top the recent Irvine event. Championship trophies were handed out in 20 sub-divisions ranging from Cub (6U) through men’s adult divisions. “It was an awesome tournament,” NARCh president Daryn Goodwin acknowledged. “It’s always the best regional qualifier of the year, and this year was no exception. Teams came from as far as the 26

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

Cayman Islands to play, plus Colorado and Oregon, many from Arizona and Northern California, and individual players from all over the East Coast and as

The CCM Bulldogs Blue were all smiles after capturing the 16U-AA Division championship at December’s AAU Winter Nationals tournament at The Rinks-Corona Inline. Photo/NARCh

far as Brazil came to join teams to play.” Southern California power Pama Cyclones set the tone with eight division championships: Cub, Atom

Gold, Atom Silver, Mite Platinum, Mite Silver, Squirt Platinum, Pee Wee Silver and Junior. Also scoring division titles were the High Rollers (Mite Gold), Notion (Squirt Gold), San Diego Rockets (Squirt Silver), Revision Vanquish (Pee Wee Platinum), Winterhawks (Pee Wee Gold), Skittles (Bantam Platinum), Raiders Yellow (Bantam Gold), Raiders Green (Bantam Silver), Revision Revolution (Midget Platinum), KG Groove (Midget Gold), Konixx Outcasts (Men’s) and Lynx Rooks (Men’s Silver). Jaxon Cover (Atom Division) of the Cayman Islands led all division high scorers with 18 goals and 19 points, while the Cyclones’ Aidan Yi (Mite Division) paced Californians with 12 goals and 17 points. James Roberts of the Revision Vanquish (Pee Wee Division) recorded a perfect 1.000 save percentage to pace division top goaltender awardwinners. - Phillip Brents


Northern Exposure

American Inline Hockey League playoffs experience best of the North together both on and off the rink,” Hartshorn added. “Coming off two losses in NCRHA and the AIHL finals last year has pushed us to make a change this year. The recent success for West Valley College in Florida has put pressure and given us extra incentive to carry that over into Vegas for the AIHL finals. Nonetheless, I’m excited to wheel with the boys and see what we are capable of.” The Pac North Minor Tier 1 playoffs included the top three regular season finishers. In a preliminary-round playoff, the Jawz Blue team eliminated the Jawz Gold team by scores of 7-3 and 8-6.

Mark McCreary led the Jawz Gold team with seven points (four goals, three assists) in the two games, while he American Inline Hockey League (AIHL) will hold it Daren Johnson chipped in with five points (one goal, 2017 national championship tournament May 19-21 four assists). Dexter Hammy played both teams in goal, at the Las Vegas Roller Hockey Center. recording a 7.50 GAA and .625 save percentage. Qualified teams will compete for national The Pac North Minor Tier 2 playoffs paired the championships in the Elite, Minor Tier 1 and Minor Tier bottom two teams in the regular-season standings: 2 divisions. Marina (5-12-1) and Sonora (4-12-2). Pacific North Division teams gathered April 14-15 The Mantas defeated Sonora by scores of 2-0 and at the Dry Ice Roller Hockey Arena in East Oakland to 3-0 in a two-game playoff sweep. determine their national qualifiers. Scott Runge, Jordan Strohmayer, Andrew Dix, The Revision Revolution swept the East Bay Jawz Andrew Frost and Ryan Oliver each scored single Blue two games to none in their bestgoals in the two games and goaltender of-three playoff series to advance to the Bobby Palma (0.00 GAA, 1.00 save Minor Tier 1 national championships, percentage) recorded both shutout while the Marina Mantas swept Sonora victories. in two games to earn a berth in the Strohmayer led Marina in regular Minor Tier 2 division. season scoring with 13 goals and 25 The Revolution, the top regularpoints in 18 games, while Dix (10 goals, season finisher in the five-team Pacific six assists) and Frost (seven goals, nine Division loop, eliminated the Jawz by assists) each followed with 16 points. scores of 4-1 and 6-2. Palma posted a 4-12-1 record, Danny Salazar and Chistian 4.29 GAA, two shutouts and .803 Acosta each collected four points in save percentage in 17 regular-season the two games to lead the Revolution games. in scoring, while goaltender Antonio Tyler Kruenegel led Sonora in Venezio posted a 1.50 goals-against regular-season scoring with 24 points average and .906 save percentage. (13 goals, 11 assists), followed by Nic Six players on the Revolution Robinson with 21 points (nine goals, 12 roster – Thomas Hartshorn, Danny assists). Dylan Standers (2-7-0 record, Salazar, Jarrit Baker, Matt Swanson, 6.33 GAA) and Sienna Weeks (2-5-2, James McGaughy and Tyler Gulan The Revision Revolution defense backs up goaltender Antonio Venezio in a competitive playoff game 6.72 GAA) split time in the Sonora net -- will be out to win a second national against the East Bay Jawz Blue. Photo/ Ed Salazar with nine game appearances each. championship this spring after helping West Valley The Revolution finished regular season play with a Standers posted a 2.50 GAA and .875 save College claim the Junior College Division title at April’s runway 14-3-1 record ahead of the second-place Jawz percentage in the two playoff games. National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships in Ft. Blue team (9-8-1) and third place Jawz Gold team (5Christian Acosta (15 goals, 18 assists) and Gulan Myers, Fla. 11-2). (13 goals, 20 assists) led the Revoltion in regular-season “Playing with the same core group of guys has made Ryan Daubenmire led the Jawz Blue team in scoring each with 33 points, followed by Hartshorn with it much easier to set ourselves up for some exciting playoff scoring with eight points on three goals and five 22 goals and 31 points. playoff hockey,” Salazar explained. “Everyone skates for assists in the four games, while Rishi Patel (five goals, Venezio appeared in all 18 regular-season games each other and understands the job they are there to two assists) and George Gordeniz (three goals, four with a 14-3-1 record, one shutout, a 2.21 GAA and a do. It’s rare you are part of a team that enjoys being assists) each followed with seven points. .872 save percentage. around each other so much on and off the rink. We’re Peter Simonsen (3.50 GAA, .889 save Duabenmire paced the Jawz Blue team with 19 lucky to be able to jam with some talented players on percentage) and Jason Longbine (6.00 GAA, .765 goals and 35 points during regular-season play, while both teams.” save percentage) each posted 1-1 records in the McCreary topped the Jawz Gold team with 16 goals “I believe being a part of Revo has helped us grow playoffs while splitting time in the net. and 38 points. By Phillip Brents

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Outlaws, Moskal dominate SoCal AIHL Minor Tier 1 division

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he Mavin Outlaws turned in quite a regular- Vegas. season performance by topping the Pacific Moskal, 19, said he is very fortunate to be a part South Minor Division standings with a whopping of a team as good as the Outlaws. 23-1-0 record. “Our successful regular Outlaws forward Parker season was a product of Moskal turned in quite hard work and dedication a surreal individual from everyone on our performance by leading team,” he said. “I’m very all American Inline excited for what the Hockey League (AIHL) playoffs have in store. Minor Division scorers in “My league scoring the nation in both goals title would not have been (64) and points (97). possible without the rest The season isn’t over of my team. It was a team for this inline hockey effort and each and every juggernaut. The Outlaws one of them know that.” will represent the The Mavin Outlaws are on their way to the American Inline Moskal led the division in the Minor Tier Hockey League Minor Tier 1 national championships in Las Outlaws with nine gameVegas later this month. 1 playoffs at the AIHL winning goals and two national championship tournament May 19-21 in Las shorthanded goals. He figured in 55 percent of the

team’s 176 goals. Yet he was only one cog in a powerhouse team. Ryan Doyle collected 33 goals and 24 assists to rank second on the team with 57 points. Morgan Capps contributed 18 goals and 20 assists to rank third with 38 points, followed by Billy Metcalf with 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points and Cory Lewis with seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points. Doug Irwin went 18-1-0 between the pipes with a 2.47 goals-against average and .853 save percentage, while Casey Peterson was 5-0-0 with a 2.80 GAA and a .811 save percentage. The Outlaws punched their ticket to the AIHL nationals by sweeping their two playoff series at the AIHL regionals May 6-7 in Irvine. The Outlaws capped the tournament with a dominating 11-2 victory over the OC Rocket Flex Blue squad in the finals. - Phillip Brents CARubberHockey.com

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

CALIFORNIA

Cherie Stewart (Lake Forest) – New York Riveters Alyssa Wohlfeiler (Saugus) – Connecticut Whale

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Beau Bennett (Gardena) – New Jersey Devils Eric Comrie (Newport Beach) – Winnipeg Jets Emerson Etem (Long Beach) – Anaheim Ducks Shane Harper (Valencia) – Florida Panthers Alec Martinez (Santa Clara) – Los Angeles Kings Kevan Miller (Los Angeles) – Boston Bruins Matt Nieto (Long Beach) – Colorado Avalanche Bobby Ryan (El Segundo) – Ottawa Senators Jason Zucker – Minnesota Wild * AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Sena Acolatse (Hayward) – Springfield Thunderbirds Chase Balisy (Fullerton) – Springfield Thunderbirds Mitch Callahan (Whittier) – Grand Rapids Griffins Pheonix Copley – Hershey Bears + Chase De Leo (La Mirada) – Manitoba Moose Thatcher Demko (San Diego) – Utica Comets Adam Erne – Syracuse Crunch * Matthew Ford (West Hills) – Grand Rapids Griffins Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor) – San Antonio Rampage Nic Kerdiles (Irvine) – San Diego Gulls Kyle MacKinnon (Walnut) – San Diego Gulls Stefan Matteau – St. John’s IceCaps ! Trevor Moore (Thousand Oaks) – Toronto Marlies Gustav Olofsson – Iowa Wild ! Zach Pochiro – Bakersfield Condors % Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Scott Savage (San Clemente) – Cleveland Monsters Brett Sterling (Los Angeles) – Chicago Wolves Matt Tennyson (Pleasanton) – Charlotte Checkers Scooter Vaughan (Placentia) – Chicago Wolves Matt White (Whittier) – Milwaukee Admirals ECHL Kyle Bigos (Upland) – Idaho Steelheads Dennis Brown (Cypress) – Tulsa Oilers Matt Caito (Coto de Caza) – Toledo Walleye Taylor Crunk (San Jacinto) – Fort Wayne Komets Daniel Gentzler (Manhattan Beach) – Toledo Walleye Chase Golightly (Temecula) – Florida Everblades Garrett Haar (Huntington Beach) – Utah Grizzlies Miles Koules (Los Angeles) – Indy Fuel Dennis Kravchenko (San Clemente) – Adirondack Thunder Matt Leitner (Los Alamitos) – Manchester Monarchs Brandon Marino (Riverside) – Brampton Beast P.J. Musico (Orange) – Greenville Swamp Rabbits Max Nicastro (Thousand Oaks) – South Carolina Stingrays Darren Nowick (Long Beach) – Missouri Mavericks Sean O’Rourke (Alta Loma) – Kalamazoo Wings Troy Redmann (Brea) – Utah Grizzlies Shane Sooth (Canyon Country) – Quad City Mallards Steve Weinstein (Los Angeles) – South Carolina Stingrays SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE David Gandara (Canyon Lake) – Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Josh Harris (Torrance) – Peoria Rivermen Steven Hoshaw (Vista) – Evansville Thunderbolts Mark Pustin (Northridge) – Knoxville Ice Bears Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Knoxville Ice Bears Jeff Sanders (San Jose) – Macon Mayhem Brantley Sherwood (San Anselmo) – Mississippi RiverKings John Siemer (Baldwin Park) – Macon Mayhem Matt Zenzola (San Diego) – Pensacola Ice Flyers FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Justin Apcar-Blaszak (Valley Village) – Watertown Wolves Lester Brown (Citrus Heights) – Berlin River Drivers Daniel Chang (Woodland Hills) – Danbury Titans Darius Cole (Aurora) – Danville Dashers Branden Parkhouse (Rancho Cucamonga) – Port Huron Prowlers EUROPE Taylor Aronson (Placentia) – Russia Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Russia Robbie Earl (Los Angeles) – Sweden Ryan Hollweg (Downey) – Czech Republic Brandon Kozun (Los Angeles) – Russia Ryan Lasch (Lake Forest) – Switzerland Colin Long (Santa Ana) – Italy Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach) – Sweden Brian Salcido (Hermosa Beach) - Germany Liam Stewart (Hermosa Beach) – United Kingdom C.J. Stretch (Irvine) – Germany Mitch Wahl (Seal Beach) – Finland Casey Wellman (Brentwood) – Sweden NATIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE Kourtney Kunichka (Fullerton) – Buffalo Beauts Kaliya Johnson – Connecticut Whale $ Rachel Llanes (San Jose) – Boston Pride Elena Orlando (San Jose) – New York Riveters Jenny Scrivens (Camarillo) – New York Riveters 28

California Rubber Hockey Magazine

COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ATLANTIC HOCKEY Chris Buchanan (San Jose) – Bentley University Taylor Maruya (Westchester) – U.S. Military Academy Jared Pike – American International College % Blake Weyrick (Los Angeles) – Canisius College BIG TEN Will Johnson (Santa Barbara) – University of Wisconsin Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek) – Michigan State University Jake Slaker (San Diego) – University of Michigan ECAC Max Becker (Orange) – Princeton University Arthur Brey (Yorba Linda) – St. Lawrence University Brett Gervais (Corona) – Clarkson University Sean Lawrence (Granite Bay) – Quinnipiac University Merrick Madsen (Acton) – Harvard University Alec McCrea (El Cajon) – Cornell University Tyler Moy (San Diego) – Harvard University Gavin Nieto (Yorba Linda) – Brown University HOCKEY EAST Collin Delia (Rancho Cucamonga) – Merrimack College Garrett Gamez (Chino Hills) – Providence College Niko Hildenbrand (Vacaville) – University of Massachusetts Michael McNicholas (Manhattan Beach) – University of New Hampshire Matt O’Donnell (Fountain Valley) – University of Vermont Andrew Oglevie (Fullerton) – University of Notre Dame Nikolas Olsson (Escondido) – Boston University Ryan Ruck (Coto de Caza) – Northeastern University Nolan Stevens – Northeastern University % Ryan Tait (Santa Clarita) – Providence College NCHC Lawton Courtnall (Westlake Village) – Western Michigan University Grant Gallo (San Diego) – University of Nebraska-Omaha Robby Jackson (Alameda) – St. Cloud State University Tyson McLellan (San Jose) – University of Denver Patrick Newell (Thousand Oaks) – St. Cloud State University Austin Ortega (Escondido) – University of Nebraska-Omaha David Radke (Orinda) – Colorado College WCHA Brandon Carlson (Huntington Beach) – University of Alabama-Huntsville Niko DellaMaggiore (Gilroy) – University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nate Kallen (San Diego) – Ferris State University Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach) – Northern Michigan University Chandler Madry (Bakersfield) – Minnesota State University Nicholas Rivera (Pacific Palisades) – Minnesota State University Tomas Sholl (Hermosa Beach) – Bowling Green State University NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN CHA Hannah England (Simi Valley) – Penn State University Lillian Marchant (Tustin) – Lindenwood University Megan Whiddon (Redondo Beach) – Mercyhurst University ECAC Hana DeClerck (Menlo Park) – Brown University Keiko DeClerck (San Jose) – Princeton University Kara Drexler (Manhattan Beach) – Yale University Monica Elvin (Penryn) – Brown University Kendra Farole (Irvine) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lydia Grauer – St. Lawrence University $ Kayla Nielsen (Laguna Hills) – St. Lawrence University Erin Ozturk (Huntington Beach) – Harvard University Justine Reyes (Chino Hills) – St. Lawrence University HOCKEY EAST Bridget Baker (Los Gatos) – University of Vermont Nicole Dunbar (Coto de Caza) – University of New Hampshire Alexandra Lersch (Manhattan Beach) – University of Connecticut WCHA Leila Kilduff (San Jose) – Minnesota State University Annie Pankowski (Laguna Hills) – University of Wisconsin

Cameron Randles (Santa Clarita) – Endicott College Haroutiun Sarkisian (Encino) – Nichols College Evan Schmidbauer (San Diego) – Salve Regina University Stanton Turner (San Francisco) – Suffolk University

WIAC Jono Davis (La Verne) – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point David Henry (Foster City) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eric Shand (San Dimas) – University of Wisconsin-Superior

ECAC WEST Cory Anderson (Bakersfield) – Manhattanville College Ben Greiner (Newport Beach) – Hobart College Sean Haltam (Medina) – Lebanon Valley College Brian Hodges (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Cameron Mack (Long Beach) – Elmira College Brenden Manquen (Rolling Hills) – Lebanon Valley College Jon Neal (Encinitas) – Hobart College Kyle Penn (Mission Viejo) – Stevenson University Jordan Watt (Riverside) – Stevenson University Chase Wilson (Riverside) – Lebanon Valley College Colin Woods (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Matt Zendejas (Upland) – Neumann University

D-III INDEPENDENT Devin Day (Fontana) – Post University Kyle Matsumoto (Walnut) – Canton State University Jarrett Stark (San Bernardino) – Daniel Webster College Chris Timm (Dublin) – Daniel Webster College

MASCAC Kyle Baker (Fresno) – Worcester State University Jake Carter (El Segundo) – Westfield State University Connor Cooley (Simi Valley) – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Khalil East (Los Angeles) – Worcester State University Drake Longaker (San Jose) – Plymouth State University Andrew McAvoy (Valencia) – Salem State University Connor McPherson (Lancaster) – Fitchburg State University Kyle Orgel (El Segundo) – Plymouth State University Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills) – Worcester State University Cody Slocum (Temecula) – Worcester State University Crissostomos Villareal (Corona) – Worcester State University

ECAC WEST Bri Carroll – Buffalo State University $ Megan Crandell (Fullerton) – Plattsburgh State University Eva Kristof (Pleasanton) – Cortland State University Jordan Lipson (Davis) – Plattsburgh State University Justine Silva (El Monte) – Buffalo State University Hannah Tarr (Los Angeles) – Buffalo State University Laura Thacker (San Jose) – Oswego State University

MIAC Peter Barral (Berkeley) – Bethel University Tyler Gonzales (West Covina) – Hamline University Dallas Marvin (Newbury Park) – Bethel University Chris Nuth (Trabuco Canyon) – Augsburg College J.T. Paine (Rancho Santa Margarita) – St. Olaf College Kyle Rimbach (Encinitas) – St. Olaf College Steven Sherman (San Diego) – St. Olaf College Cole Souto (Yorba Linda) – St. John’s University J.T. Walters (Escondido) – Gustavus Adolphus College NCHA Anthony Annunziato (Alta Loma) – Lake Forest College Henry Berger (Claremont) – Northland College Zach Feldman (San Diego) – Lake Forest College Kyle Gonzalez (Chino Hills) – Northland College James Mathias (Ontario) – Marian University Peter Megariotis (Anaheim Hills) – College of St. Scholastica Travis Meyer (Corona) – Marian University Sean Reynolds (Anaheim) – Lawrence University Liam Stirtzinger (Simi Valley) – Aurora University Nick Trefry (Upland) – Northland College Quinton Wunder (Simi Valley) – Lake Forest College NEHC Sam Bloom (Davis) – Skidmore College Scott Cornfield (Brea) – New England College Conor Ferrera (Trabuco Canyon) – University of Southern Maine Keenan Haase (Mission Viejo) – New England College Bryan Hodges (La Palma) – University of Southern Maine Brett Kilar (Coto de Caza) – New England College David MacGregor (Azusa) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Jon Manlow (Murrieta) – New England College Bryce Nielsen (Laguna Hills) – New England College Will Platt (San Francisco) – New England College Mark Shroyer (Fresno) – Castleton State University Corey Sikich (Hermosa Beach) – Castleton State University NESCAC Nick Balboa (San Francisco) – Tufts University Kendall Culbertson (Laguna Niguel) – Bowdoin College Kai Frankville (La Jolla) – Colby College Ryan Glantz (Tarzana) – Connecticut College Chad Goldberg (Agoura Hills) – Tufts University Austin Ho (Chino Hills) – Amherst College Evan Johnson (Huntington Beach) – Williams College Marcus Mollica (Dove Canyon) – Williams College Ryan Mowery (Rancho Santa Fe) – Connecticut College Sean Ross (San Diego) – Wesleyan University Oliver Takacsi-Nagy (Los Gatos) – Tufts University Theo Tydingco (Newark) – Wesleyan University

NCAA DIVISION III – MEN

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

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

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

NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN COLONIAL HOCKEY Danielle Comorre (Tujunga) – Endicott College Madison Maloney (Clovis) – Becker College Savannah Sommers (Corona) – Stevenson University Anastasia Thompson (Riverside) – Becker College

MIAC Valerie Brown (San Martin) – St. Thomas University Jessica Jones (El Cajon) – St. Mary’s University Kylie Kramer – College of St. Benedict $ NCHA Jacqueline Audet (Campbell) – Lake Forest College Allie Girard (Folsom) – Lake Forest College Rachael Goodrow (Rancho Santa Margarita) – St. Norbert College Bailey Robertson (Orange) – Adrian College NEHC Alexandra Anderson (San Anselmo) – Salve Regina University Lizzie Aveson (West Covina) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Taylor Chisholm (Discovery Bay) – Salve Regina University Mackenzie Kennedy (Brea) – Plymouth State University Demi Latham (Redwood City) – New England College Brooke Maggy (Alhambra) – Plymouth State University Kateri McClellan (Rancho Palos Verde) – University of Mass.-Boston Kristi Peters (Newport Beach) – Manhattanville College Tori Polehonka (Chino) – New England College Maisie Tatum-Borich (Newport Beach) – New England College Tara Turcotte (Huntington Beach) – New England College NESCAC Candace Lu (Studio City) – Williams College Hailey Sholty (Malibu) – Wesleyan University Emily Williams (Fallbrook) – Hamilton College D-III INDEPENDENT Emilia Aguilar (Los Angeles) – Post University Sydney Conrad (Temple City) – Post University Anna Estes (Whittier) – Post University Victoria Lahey (Redwood City) – Lebanon Valley College Kalena Mueller (San Ramon) – Post University JUNIOR HOCKEY ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Sam Anzai (Los Angeles) – Drayton Valley Thunder Alec Grollman (Laguna Niguel) – Grand Prairie Storm Robert Jacobson (Calabasas) – Bonnyville Pontiacs Tyler Levine (Laguna Beach) – Brooks Bandits BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Elijiah Barriga (West Covina) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Austin Chavez (Corona) – Wenatchee Wild Devin Cooley (Los Gatos) – Wenatchee Wild Slava Demin (Cypress) – Wenatchee Wild Justin Dixson (Sunnyvale) – Chilliwack Chiefs Andre Ghantous (Glendale) – Trail Smoke Eaters Trevin Kozlowski (Santa Clarita) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Jacob Modry (El Segundo) – Wenatchee Wild Eric Pinsky (San Jose) – Wenatchee Wild Dakota Raabe (Capistrano Beach) – Wenatchee Wild Tyler Rockwell (San Jose) – Wenatchee Wild Chad Sasaki (Cypress) – Wenatchee Wild Jack Sitzman (Redondo Beach) – Trail Smoke Eaters Julian Timba (Oceanside) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Jared Turcotte (Moorpark) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Brian Williams (San Diego) – Wenatchee Wild EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Michael Adelson (Claremont) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam Bedford (Hawthorne) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Declan Curtis (Fontana) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Thomas Dyreng (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Jason Epperly (Lakewood) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier)


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

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

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

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

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

SUNYAC Ryan Chiasson (Henderson) – Plattsburgh State University

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

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

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

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

CARubberHockey.com

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SEAN O’ROURKE

Position: Defenseman, Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) Hometown: Alta Loma Last Amateur Team: Ferris State University (WCHA) Youth Teams: Riverside Jets, Ontario Senators, California Wave, LA Selects California Rubber: How did the transition to your first full season of pro hockey go? Sean O’Rourke: The overall schedule was much tougher with all the travel. You’re playing a lot more games, so there’s not as much time between games to prepare. You have times when you come off a bus after a seven-hour drive and then have to play and then turn around and bus right back. It’s a little more of grind. CR: What is your favorite hockey memory growing up in California? SOR: Winning Nationals at Bantam AAA (in 2006 with the LA Selects). That was pretty cool. That was the last real birth year team I played on. We knocked off some big teams along the way. CR: What is your favorite memory in the game since leaving California? SOR: There are a lot of them. In juniors, we won the Robertson Cup (with Fairbanks of the North American Hockey League) in 2011. At Ferris State, my sophomore and senior seasons were both really good years. Both years we won the conference and went to the final eight in the NCAA tournament. I’ve been fortunate to play with some good guys. CR: Do you have a favorite road trip? SOR: Playing at (the University of) Michigan was pretty fun. You got treated well and it was a really fun place to play. It was a very hostile environment for opposing players, but we thrived on that. CR: How many of your teammates in California had dads who had played hockey? (Rob O’Rourke is a longtime coach in California, currently for the Tier II junior Ontario Avalanche of the Western States Hockey League.) SOR: I don’t think a ton of them did, especially in the Inland Empire. In Orange County, you’d come across some from time to time. CR: Given your dad’s experience as a player and a coach, how much of an influence has he had on your hockey career? SOR: My dad’s always been my biggest influence and a shoulder to lean on. He’s always the first guy I call. He doesn’t critique me; he’s just someone I can call and bend his ear. It’s been like that for the last 10 years. CR: Did you have a favorite player growing up? SOR: There’s a lot of guys I looked up to. I loved watching (former Los Angeles Kings defenseman) Rob Blake. I just watched hockey. Even to this day, I don’t have a favorite hockey player. I just love to watch games. CR: What is your favorite meal or restaurant when you’re back home in California? SOR: There’s not really one place. I just eat a lot more steaks when I’m home. When I’m away, I don’t seem to have the opportunity to have as many. There is a lot more variety of food out here, so I try to experience that as much as I can. CR: Are you particular about any of your gear? SOR: Not so much. I always get dressed left to right, but that’s it. You can’t control things, so I don’t want to get distracted before a game. You could say I’m a very non-superstitious person. CR: Who is the funniest teammate you’ve ever had? SOR: There have been a few through the years. One of my LA Selects teammates, Jason Nash, was this kid from the San Fernando Valley who always made me laugh. He played some junior hockey in the North American League, too. CR: What is one piece of advice you have for younger players? SOR: Just have fun. This game, especially in California, there’s so much pressure to be successful and go play somewhere. Enjoy what you’re doing. Make it a labor of love. Don’t make it something that’s not fun. Remember, it is just a game. I feel like in California, sometimes people lose sight of that. You’re never going to be successful if you’re not having fun. Photo/John Gilroy Photography

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California Rubber Hockey Magazine

- Compiled by Chris Bayee


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

LABOR DAY WEEKEND September 1 - 4, 2017

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND November 23- 26, 2017

PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND February 16-19, 2018

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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND May 25 -28, 2018

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