VOLUME 10
ISSUE 3
NOVEMBER 2016
Valencia product Harper makes NHL debut with Panthers
The San Diego Ice Arena youth hockey program continues to experience growth and success thanks to a long-term commitment to making hockey fun for all, which is leading to victories, both on and off the ice
Kent, Raabe, Selanne forge ahead with NCAA decisions Storm Pee Wee squad excited for February trip to Quebec Tahoe Hockey Academy finding that ‘elusive path to success’
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FROM THE EDITOR Feeling very thankful for life, family, friends and hockey
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s we creep into late November and get set to delve into the traditional Thanksgiving feast here, I think it’s always important to be thankful for the blessings in life and yes, hockey is certainly on the list. Probably in the top half of the list. What’s most important in giving thanks is that we do this daily. Sure, Nov. 24 is when we’ll formally do it and maybe say it out loud, but life is too short to focus on the negative. When you do that, you’re taking time away from focusing on the positives life has to offer. And yes, hockey is for sure one of those positives. Being in this business for 20 seasons now, hockey gives us so many memories, so many Matt Mackinder reasons to want to go to the rink and indulge, whether as a player, parent, coach or a supporter. It can be a family affair and this Thanksgiving, those are two of the biggest reasons to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving! The Los Angeles Kings and the club’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Ontario Reign – have teamed up off the ice to announce a significant community gift. The Kings and Reign are providing to Ronald McDonald House Inland Empire $1 million to help that facility double the amount of guest rooms and create new team-themed family and children’s recreation rooms. “The Kings and the Reign are partners on and off the ice,” said Kings president of business operations Luc Robitaille. “Since the Reign began play in the AHL last season, one of our cumulative goals was to be very active in the community. We feel this is a great example of that commitment while benefitting a group, the Ronald McDonald House, that is very close to our hearts.” “Due to the sheer geographic size of the community it serves, our Ronald McDonald House has been operating at more than max capacity for years,” said Reign president Darren Abbott. “Contributing to this capital campaign will ensure that more families will have a comfortable place to call home while their children visit the hospital. We thank our fans, our community partners and the Kings for allowing us to collaborate on such a great cause.” The $1 million gift expands the House from 21 to 54 guest rooms with a grand reopening scheduled for Dec. 12, 2016. The expansion includes a Kings and Reign-themed family and children’s recreation rooms complete with new TVs, furniture and bubble hockey.
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DOING IT FOR CASEY
It’s also that time of year when NCAA college commitments come rolling in. On the girls side, a handful of standouts and alumni from the California Wave recently made their Division I college choices known – Brooke Bryant (Minnesota State University), Tanner Gates (Colgate University), Kiersten Goode (Yale University), Aubrey Pritchett (St. Cloud State University) and Samantha Smigliani (Colgate). Kudos to all these extremely talented young women! On the men’s side, one California native and one Nevada native are off to nationally-ranked Bemidji State University (WCHA) as Simi Valley’s Ethan Somoza (United States Hockey League’s Bloomington Thunder) and Henderson’s Brendan Harris (British Columbia Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild) signed their National Letter of Intent in early November and will become Beavers in the fall of 2017. “Brendan is an electric playmaker and a dynamic skater and Ethan is a hard-working forward who has a proven ability to produce,” said Eddie Olczyk, BSU’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Then Corona native Jacob Hamacher, playing with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology (Atlantic Hockey) last month. “It’s really exciting for me and my family, and it’s a huge relief now that I know that I have that figured out – I can focus on playing hockey in Dubuque,” Hamacher said. “When I went on my visit, I fell in love with the rink, the way they play hockey, their fans and their facilities.”
Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4
California Rubber Hockey Magazine
The 6U Blood Cup champion Cyclones are all smiles holding the championship trophy at the 10th annual Give Blood Play Hockey tournament last month. More on the event on Page 21. Photo/AndyArt Photography
ON THE COVER Players from the SDIA youth program gathered recently to share in some weekday camaraderie. Pictured top row, from left to right, are Seamus Radley, Jack Radley and Jake Belland – all from the Central Cathedral Jets in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League. Pictured bottom row, from left to right, are Max Rickenbrode (Mite Track 1), Lily Andreassi (Squirt B), Any-Huy Nguyen (Mite Track 1) and Benjamin Louie (Bantam A). PhotoAnh Nguyen & Val Andreassi
CALIFORNIA AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
CAHA ensuring equal opportunity for mixed-gender teams By John B. Spigott
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ven with the explosion of girls hockey in California and across the United States, not all female players are suiting up on all-female teams. The number of girls playing with boys on mixed-gender teams is shrinking, says Kathy McGarrigle, director of the Anaheim Lady Ducks and a member of the California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) board of directors. Still, McGarrigle says CAHA is committed to making sure the girls that are playing on boys teams – which is more prevalent at younger age groups and in some of the more remote areas of the state – have access to equal opportunities and facilities. “There can certainly be a little normal concern when girls are playing on boys teams,” said McGarrigle. “Things like fair access to locker rooms can be a challenge for some programs, arenas, or coaches and there still needs to be work done to make sure girls aren’t changing in the bathroom all the time.” At the younger age groups like 8U or 10U, the gender gap isn’t as wide as it is when players start to get a little older. Plus, when you factor in the distance some players are from a dedicated girls program, the decision can get a little tougher for parents trying to decide what the best fit is for a developing female hockey player. “Sometimes, logistically, you aren’t going to have access to an all-girls team if you’re living in a place like Bakersfield, for example,” said McGarrigle. “It can be
challenging to find a team within a reasonable distance, McGarrigle is concerned that some girls are missing but it can also be challenging when you’re a girl on a out at the younger levels while playing on boys teams boys team trying to navigate yourself into a positive ex- by not getting exposure to playing offensively. perience. It works fine at Mite and Squirt, but girls are “I’ve had girls that went on to play Division I hockey going to have difficulties eventually as forwards who came to me from as they get older and you’re dealing boys teams having only played as with changing in different rooms, a defenseman,” said McGarrigle. privacy, social worries – it’s not the “These players became powerful same camaraderie, and that can afcollegiate players after we changed fect everyone.” them over into forwards, and I think When girls do eventually make it’s a challenge for coaches to recognize that girls can play forward – the jump to an all-girls team at either maybe in a complimentary role if they 12U or 14U, McGarrigle said she don’t have the dynamic personality sees more defensemen than foron offense – but there is currently wards. very little development for female for“I would say 75 percent of the wards in boys hockey.” girls coming to play in our program Ultimately, McGarrigle and that have been playing boys hockey CAHA want to ensure that girls have are defensemen,” said McGarrigle. equal access to everything the sport “Is that really the right ratio? Espehas to offer, regardless of the gender cially at young ages, girls tend to be Kathy McGarrigle more attentive and coordinated with of their teammates. “We want to make sure everything is fair for the girls what the coach is telling them to do. That’s more of the temperament you see not just in hockey, but in school that play,” she said. “We want to make sure there are as well. Boys typically like to wing it more and there is dedicated facilities available so that these players can nothing wrong with that – it’s just apples and oranges – feel comfortable. Things like that – better awareness but what you end up with when you have girls are play- to meet the challenges when you have a mixed-gender ers who are obedient, team-oriented, and like to pass team and the opportunity to teach respect and camathe puck, so as soon as coaches see that, a lot of them raderie for teams that have one or several females on the team.” think they are better suited to defense.”
CAHA.com CARubberHockey.com
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Family Affair
San Diego Ice Arena Oilers have built a quality reputation, thanks to their welcoming atmosphere Belland is serving as the head coach of the high school squad in its first season. The former center was a fifth-round NHL draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks back in 1985 and played professionally through 2000, finishing his career after four seasons with the San Diego Gulls in the now-defunct West Coast Hockey League (WCHL). He said the environment and atmosphere around the rink are big reasons why he has stuck around into his ninth season with SDIA. “I just love mentoring the kids and coaching them,” Belland said. “I’ve been coaching my son ever since he started playing hockey, and I’ve loved every minute of it.” Sterling said when he looks to the future of the Oilers program, he sees the high school program being a big part of what they do. “Our goal is to have all the kids in our program look up to the high school team,” he said. “The younger kids are seeing how good the team is, and they’re wanting to be a part of it. We used to prepare kids to play Midget AAA, but we’ve shifted our focus and are now pushing them toward the high school league. “When our players compete in the high school league, that’s
By Greg Ball
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o get a glimpse into just how tight-knit the families are at the San Diego Ice Arena (SDIA), all you need to do is venture out the back door of the rink to find the massive stone barbeque area. It’s there that on nearly every weekend day, and even sometimes during the week, SDIA hockey director Craig Sterling, his fellow coaches, parents and players can be found grilling up great food and soaking in the family atmosphere that’s so cherished within the Oilers organization. Sometimes it’s a birthday party. Other times it’s a post-game meal. But the grill is always open to whoever brings the burgers, and it’s emblematic of the open arms that the program extends to all its players and families. “Craig is always throwing the most incredible Christmas parties and season-opening parties,” said Brad Belland, who has coached at SDIA since 2008. “He is so great dealing with kids and families - he’s really able to get them involved in so many different ways.” Sterling has become part of the fabric of the arena and the Oilers program in his 15 years there. The hockey director for the last 10 years, the Winnipeg native loves the game, loves teaching kids to enjoy the game and never stops selling the experience to whoever will listen. “People come in and see our rink, and we do everything we can to ‘wow’ them,” Sterling said. “We really impress them, and a lot of them end up bringing their kids back to play hockey. Once they come in the door, even if they don’t know anything about hockey, they want to be involved.” “It’s such a family environment, but there’s no politics involved. We have a lot of families with multiple siblings who play hockey on different teams, or one kid who plays hockey and another who is a figure skater.” how we’re opening doors for That family environment them to play college hockey comes from the top down, as or junior hockey.” brothers Phillip and Mark Added Belland: “To play Linssen have run the arena in a high school league is since 2000. While the builda great opportunity for the ing itself dates back 40 years, kids to extend their time playthey’ve made regular improveing hockey and hopefully, go ments throughout the years to to the next level as they get keep the facility up to modern better and better. To be part standards. Sterling, Belland of the Anaheim Ducks High and Scooter Henson form School Hockey League has the core of the Oilers’ coachbeen a tremendous honor. ing staff. We feel like this is a team that Like many other youth proSDIA could have for the next grams, Sterling and his staff 50 years - we feel very confiput a particular emphasis on dent that it’s going to be an their “try hockey for free” of- It’s no wonder the players at all levels of the San Diego Ice Arena Oilers program are all smiles. SDIA hockey director Craig Sterling awesome experience. It’s very says the organization boasts ‘such a family environment.’ Photo/Anh Nguyen/Val Andreassi ferings. They know that the exciting.” cost of equipment can be a barrier to entry for many families, especially when kids As the Oilers look down the road five, 10 or even 15 years, they envision their grow so fast that skates and pads may not last more than a season or two. The high school team being the top of their pyramid, with all the other teams funneling program is especially important, Sterling said, in a warm-weather climate like San upward. They know they can’t achieve success at the top, however, without putting Diego, where many parents of young kids may not have been exposed to hockey in the work day after day and year after year - from the learn-to-skate program to the before and aren’t quite sure what they’re getting into when they bring their young in-house teams and each level of the SCAHA teams. athletes to the rink for the first time. Sterling doesn’t plan to change any time soon, so will keep heading back to the In addition to their 11 teams playing in SDIA’s in-house program and approxi- barbeque, grilling up those team dinners and putting together the ingredients for a mately 300 adult players, the Oilers have six teams competing in Southern Califor- successful family-focused youth hockey program. nia Amateur Hockey Association (SCAHA) play this season - Squirt B, Squirt BB, “We make everyone feel like they’re a part of something, and not just on the ice,” Pee Wee BB, Pee Wee AA, Bantam A and Bantam AA. Sterling said. “Everyone works together to make the program better as a whole Probably one of the things that Sterling is most excited about is SDIA’s foray younger kids will watch the older kids play, and the older kids will work with the into high school hockey for the first time this year. SDIA’s entrant in the Anaheim really young kids to teach them the basics. Ducks High School Hockey League (ADHSHL) is named the San Diego Central “Like everybody else, we want to win banners and trophies, but that’s not the Cathedral Jets and consists of players from a number of high schools across San bottom line. The focus is for these kids to learn life lessons through hockey, learn to Diego County. Through mid-November, the Jets were 5-3 and tied for second in the love the sport and become better people because of it.” Division II standings. 6
California Rubber Hockey Magazine
Wildcats hire ex-pro Reichert to oversee private training pletely focused on, dedicated to, and obsessed with individual skill development,” Wildcats president Ben Frank said. “We were looking for someone specifically that could work with all of our coaches and athletes for our private training program, which is open to players from any association/affiliation, to further fulfill our mission of helping athletes follow their passion and achieve their dreams. “We knew we needed someone whose sole focus
sports science and principles developed by USA Hockey’s American Development Model (ADM). Players are he Wildcats Hockey Club has always put a heavy offered on-ice small group lessons, power skating lesemphasis on player development and now, the prosons, treadmill training, shooting and stickhandling traingram is adding to that focus by beefing up its private ing, goalie lessons, strength and conditioning training training offerings. and more. The program recently hired former professional playPlayers and their parents are offered a free consultaer Craig Reichert as its director of skill development tion before they commit to private training. They discuss and training facilities. Reichert started with the Wildthe players’ strengths and weaknesses, their goals and cats in September and is charged with leading the their long-term vision of their hockey careers. Reprogram’s efforts to provide comprehensive opportuichert then develops a personalized program for each nities for players to develop their skills and grow as player that includes everything they need to improve hockey players. their game. Reichert is originally from Calgary, Alberta, and “Private training offers an opportunity for kids to played nine seasons of professional hockey, includspend time with a coach in a more personal setting ing time with the NHL’s Anaheim Mighty Ducks in which they can really focus on their skill developduring the 1996-97 season after being selected in ment,” Reichert said. “They might not be able to do the third round of the 1994 NHL Draft. Since retirthat necessarily in a team practice or a game. We’ve ing in 2003, he has been involved in hockey for many tried to take a really personal approach to our trainyears, including scouting in the WHL and coaching ing.” individual skill development. He has been certified by Frank thinks he has the best possible person in the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) place to lead the Wildcats’ renewed focus on private as a personal fitness trainer for eight years. The skating treadmill is just one of the many training components of- training. When the opportunity presented itself to work for fered by the Wildcats Hockey Club and new director of skill develop“What I love about Craig is, not only has he comthe Wildcats in player development, Reichert jumped ment and training facilities Craig Reichert. peted at the highest level of hockey himself, but he at the chance. would be on developing and delivering the best pro- also has a sports science background and certification,” “The fact that I was able to work for a first-class youth grams and facilities possible to help serious players Frank said. “He is an expert on every aspect of playhockey organization and combine my passion for hock- take their games to the next level and achieve their er development, from the skating treadmill - which he ey and fitness was very exciting for me,” Reichert said. goals - whether it’s in the weight room, on the ice, on trained on as a pro player - to off-ice conditioning. Reichert works at both of the Wildcats’ rinks, in Riv- the skating treadmill or with shooting and stickhandling. “He is also extremely passionate about what he erside and Carlsbad. He offers private training himself Our goal is to deliver whatever a player needs most, so does. He loves hockey and working with young athletes while also overseeing a staff of coaches that trains Wild- that we can take them as far as their commitment level to help them achieve their potential and go on their cats players. will allow.” journey with them. He is a true professional and a great “We thought it was important to have someone comThe Wildcats’ private training program is based on communicator.” By Greg Ball
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Former Jr. Duck, Jr. King Kent decides on D-I Quinnipiac
Imoo father-son goalie combo suits up for AHL’s Reign
By Chris Bayee
By Phillip Brents
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icholas Kent wouldn’t be where he is without his time playing hockey in Southern California. “I had a great experience playing (there),” he said. “It helped build my foundation for my skills and my hockey awareness.” Kent, a 2001 birth year defenseman, recently committed to NCAA Division I power Quinnipiac University (ECAC). He played last season and this season for Delta Hockey Academy in British Columbia. “To see where he’s grown as a player is really neat,” said Anaheim Jr. Ducks director of coaches Craig Johnson. Kent, and Johnson’s son, Ryan, another 2001 defenseman, met as Mini-Mites and played together for the next seven years on the Jr. Ducks and a season on the Anaheim Wildcats. Craig Johnson and Scott Niedermayer coached the boys and Niedermayer’s son, Jackson, from early on. “I learned so much from Coach Craig and Coach Scott it would be hard to list,” Kent said. “I played for them for so long that the biggest thing that has helped me is my hockey awareness. “Coach Scott helped me a lot with my transitions from defense to offense. I try to play a style similar to what he did.” Committing to the Bobcats was a natural fit, said Kent, who played one season of Bantams for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings. “I liked Quinnipiac’s coaching staff a lot, and Rand Pecknold won (Division I) coach of the year (in 2015-16,” said Kent, who compiled 21 points in 25 games with Delta’s Bantam Prep team last season. “They play a style that fits my style with a lot of quick transitions.” Watching NHL games on television and then attending games as a young child initially captured Kent’s attention and it snowballed from there. “It was exciting to watch, so I bugged my parents to let me try it out and I fell in love with it,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t trade his experiences traveling with his teammates to tournaments for anything. “Often, we were the only California team and most of the time, we won.” 8
California Rubber Hockey Magazine
ntario Reign goaltenders Jonah and Dusty Imoo made pro hockey history on Oct. 22 as the first father-son goaltender tandem to dress for a game. Father backed up son in the American Hockey League (AHL) contest against the San Jose Barracuda due to call-ups to both Peter Budaj and Jack Campbell to the parent Los Angeles Kings. Jonah Imoo, 22, attended the Reign’s preseason development and training camp. Dusty Imoo, 46, serves as the team’s goaltender development coach. Ontario coach Mike Stothers called it an “amazing goalie situation.” The elder Imoo, who represented Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics, has been coaching since 2008, including the last two seasons in the Kings organization. It wasn’t uncommon for him to don pads for Reign practices. “I bet I was more nervous than he was,” Dusty Imoo quipped before the game, terming it a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. Both father and son signed professional tryout (PTO) contracts with Ontario. When Jonathan Quick was sidelined, Jonah Imoo signed a 25-game AHL PTO on Oct. 20. Dusty Imoo was brought on as an emergency goaltender. Jonah Imoo got the start against the Barracuda. He stopped 26 of 31 shots in his professional debut, a 5-4 overtime loss. Dusty was on the Ontario bench, ready if needed. The younger Imoo, who admitted he had been waiting for this opportunity for some time, called the game “intense” before a near-capacity crowd of 8,282 at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Dusty Imoo said both goaltenders approached the history-making moment in a “business-like” manner in order not to get too caught up emotionally. But father had to fight back tears nonetheless in watching his son make the jump to the next level. “I just wish it would’ve had a better ending for Jonah,” Stothers said. “That’s a real tough situation to come in on and you know it’s tough on him. It’s tough on his dad. He’s got a job to do as goalie coach and he can’t be partial and yet, he’s trying to root for his son. “It was kind of exciting for everyone.”
Harper never took a shift off, now takes them in the NHL By Chris Bayee
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hane Harper just kept going about his business. Undrafted, demoted, injured, through all the stops and starts, Harper kept doing what he’s always done – work hard. That dedication paid off in mid-October when the Valencia native made the Florida Panthers out of training camp. Making that achievement more impressive is Harper was 27 and starting his seventh pro season when it happened – an age when many players in this era are considered closer to the end than the beginning. “There is not a guy that’s more deserving,” said Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller, a lifelong friend of Harper’s. “This guy has worked so hard, so long. A lot of players would have gone to Europe a couple of years ago to make more money, but he kept grinding toward his dream.” Harper finds himself playing an energy role on the Panthers’ fourth line, and glad to do it. He contributes speed, skill (he had a two-goal game against Colorado on Oct. 22) and plenty of toughness despite going 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds. “I’ve never been afraid,” he said. “I’ve had fights here and there, but I’ve never looked to do that. I’ve always concentrated more on trying to put points up. Now I’m in a different role, but I’ll play wherever you want.” Harper made that transition despite what his resume indicated. He had 80 goals in his final
two seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the in a game that rarely shows mercy. Western Hockey League (WHL). He put up 22 “Sometimes, I felt like I can’t even get in the goals and 45 points in 48 ECHL games one sea- lineup in the AHL, how am I going to get called son and finished third in the American Hockey up?” he said. “Then there’s times when you feel so League (AHL) with 32 goals good in the AHL, in a groove in 2014-15 for the Chicago where you feel like if I get Wolves. called up, I could do this up Despite how long the NHL there – it goes both ways. chance took to arrive, Harper “You have to believe in didn’t doubt the day would yourself, be positive, and just come. work through it. I kept work“I got in the gym pretty seing, kept plugging away. I just riously once I was 16 and up tried to improve every year in Everett,” he said. “I used and hoped for an opportunito not be the fastest guy, ty.” but I’ve really improved my Harper thought that opspeed, which has helped me, portunity was coming last especially today with how season. fast the game is.” “Two years ago when I lit it Jack Bowkus, Harper’s up with Chicago, I wasn’t on coach with the California an NHL contract, so I really Wave and his primary sumdidn’t expect anything,” said mer instructor, said the NHL Harper. “To sign another NHL opportunity is fitting. deal with Florida last summer “It couldn’t happen to was huge. Last year, they told Valencia native Shane Harper scored his first two a nicer kid, or one with a NHL goals in the same game - a victory for the Flor- me that if I wouldn’t have gotmore impeccable work eth- ida Panthers over the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. ten a high-ankle sprain and ic,” Bowkus said. “He has 22 - and was selected the game’s first star. Photo//@ missed six weeks I would have worked so hard to get to turbuL3NT2/COTP been the first one called up. where he’s at. His confidence and self-belief has “I probably would have got my first game last been the biggest thing. He could have taken the year, but it is pretty cool to get my first game and easy way out, but he stuck with it and continued make the team out of camp. It makes it more speto believe.” cial. I feel good. That’s why I felt this was the The years of work steeled Harper’s confidence year.” CARubberHockey.com
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Giving back: Jr. Gulls thriving under Carlyle’s leadership Craig Carlyle’s position with the Jr. Gulls may not be as prominent, but that doesn’t mean he loves hockey any less or puts anything but his best effort into his coaching duties. A Winnipeg native, he was a defenseman at NCAA Division III Brockport
looked back. He later joined the Jr. Gulls as a coach with various teams, taught some private lessons and ockey is in his blood, and Craig Carlyle never assisted with adult hockey. envisioned himself doing anything else. Carlyle has built a strong network of contacts in While his dreams morphed from playing in the hockey going back to his playing days, and knows NHL to serving as a player agent and to that his role as hockey director with the Jr. coaching, the happy accident has turned out Gulls brings with it some serious responsito have benefited not only him, but the San bility. His approach is a relatively simple one, Diego Jr. Gulls organization. rooted in two basic tenets. Now in his first full season as the Jr. Gulls’ “Honesty and integrity are the two bighockey director, Carlyle - a self-described gest things for me,” Carlyle said. “The hockey people person - wakes up every morning community is a small one, and if you’re dishonlooking forward to going to the rink and feels est and lack integrity, you won’t get very far. fortunate that he’s able to make a living doing Aside from those two things, I’m a big believer something he loves. In addition to overseeing in learning through fun. Most of us aren’t gothe entire Jr. Gulls program, he coaches the ing to make it to the NHL, but if a kid can get Bantam AA and Squirt BB teams, runs learninto a great college because of hockey, or can to-skate programs and handles just about evmeet great people through the game, I want to ery other duty imaginable at Ice-Plex Escondevelop the players who have a true love for dido. the game that lasts a lifetime.” “I love San Diego and love the Jr. Gulls,” Carlyle said he and his father have always Carlyle said. “Most of the time, I’m the bigtalked hockey regularly, and even though their gest kid out on the ice. Hockey has given me jobs in the game are quite different, there are and my family everything that we have, and I elements that translate, and he is constantly thought it was a great opportunity for me to learning from his dad. Craig Carlyle is very passionate about the San Diego Jr. Gulls and this season, give back in a different capacity.” “He’s getting the finished product, and I’m Carlyle is the son of Anaheim Ducks head coaches the program’s Bantam AA and Squirt BB teams. Photo/San Diego Jr. Gulls working with kids to further their development, coach Randy Carlyle. The elder Carlyle played 18 State University (SUNYAC) from 2005-08 and af- but we talk a lot about how we treat our players,” years in the NHL before embarking on an equally ter graduation, jumped right into coaching, first with Carlyle said. “It’s different than it was when he grew successful coaching career with Winnipeg, Wash- Maksymum Hockey in upstate New York, followed up, and even than when I grew up. The game is the ington and Anaheim, where he secured his first head by two seasons in the Eastern Junior Hockey League same, regardless if it’s eight- and nine-year-olds playcoaching job in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup in (EJHL). ing or pros. I was surprised when I first started work2007. He took the reins of the Toronto Maple Leafs He relocated to San Diego in 2011 to coach ing with kids that you can really break things down, from 2012-15, and returned to the Ducks’ top job the San Diego Gulls (now the Sabers) in the West- and they’re not too complicated. Kids are sponges, earlier this year. ern States Hockey League (WSHL) and he hasn’t and it’s really fun to see them learn the game.”
By Greg Ball
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Raabe takes the fast lane to scholarship with Wolverines
NCAA D-I Northeastern emerges as the next stop for Selanne
By Chris Bayee
By Chris Bayee
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akota Raabe has put in a lot of work on his wheels in junior, so it’s fitting the next stage of his hockey career is going to take him near the Motor City. The Capistrano Beach native, a standout on the Wenatchee Wild of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) committed to the University of Michigan (Big Ten) in early November. “They’ve been watching me since I played 16U in California and they saw me in the BCHL Showcase,” Raabe said. “I went on a visit and fell in love with the campus. I’m really looking forward to it.” The Michigan campus is located in Ann Arbor, roughly 40 miles west of Detroit. Raabe (a 1997 birth year) played in California through his second Midget 16U season with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings. Prior to that, he spent a year with the California Wave and his earlier years with the LA Selects. “It was nice being able to live at home and to be able to play good hockey,” he said. “Overall, I had really good coaching.” He cited Selects coaches Jeff Turcotte and Rick Kelly, Wave coach Mike Lewis and former Jr. Kings coach Louis Pacella with preparing well him for juniors. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Raabe’s calling card is his speed, and he uses it in a variety of ways. “I want to play fast and use it as much as possible,” he said. “On the forecheck, disrupting things as much as possible, that’s my game.” He has progressed steadily during his three years at Wenatchee, going from 21 points in 39 games in 2014-15 to 40 in 57 games last season. Just 18 games into the 2016-17 season, he’d already racked up 20 points as the Wild moved to the top of their division. “Being on the ice every day has helped me so much,” Raabe said. “My shot has gotten harder and I’ve gotten faster. I’d say my hockey IQ has improved as well because I’m learning how to play the game at a faster level.” 10
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college hockey seminar in Southern California a few years ago opened Eetu Selanne’s eyes to the possibilities for his future. The seeds that were planted over that weekend yielded the former Anaheim Jr. Ducks and Los Angeles Jr. Kings player enough interest from NCAA Division I colleges that he committed to Northeastern University (Hockey East) earlier this month. “I’m super stoked,” said the late 1997 birth year, now with the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Madison Capitols. “My first coach with the Jr. Kings (Louis Pacella) was big into college hockey. An assistant from Northeastern came to one of his camps and talked to me. I didn’t have a lot of contact with them again until our USHL showcase in Pittsburgh (in September). They asked me to visit. “Everything I wanted in a school was there.” The 5-foot-10, 189-pound center has developed into a well-rounded player, two of his former California coaches say. “He really came into his own playing 18s – he started to understand how good of a player he could be,” Jr. Kings coach Jack Bowkus said. “He matured as a player, and he’s a guy who consistently does everything pretty well.” Craig Johnson coached Selanne at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. “He saw how hard his dad (Teemu) prepared for games and seasons late in his career,” Johnson said. “That motivated him to work on his own game. I noticed a big change when he took hockey more seriously. He is able to play both sides of the puck and has a solid 200-foot game.” Selanne relishes his time in California, which also included winning a USA Hockey high school national championship at Santa Margarita. “The Ducks organization was great in every aspect, and the Kings gave me an opportunity to see how I could compete against the best in the Tier 1 (Elite Hockey League),” he said. “Jack was so good to me and so supportive. And Craig helped me in so many ways.”
L.A. KINGS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE
West Ranch High pulling double duty in LAKHSHL, CAHA behind the Santa Barbara Royals. “We just need to keep practicing hard, buy into the here’s a team in the L.A. Kings High School Hockey coaches’ system and play as a team, and the wins will folLeague (LAKHSHL) that is moonlighting on the side, low,” said Watts, an alternate captain. “I feel we and while that’s adding some extra games to an already are on the right track with the way the team is busy schedule, the West Ranch Wildcats wouldn’t have playing. I think our team is doing great and we it any other way. have improved in a lot of our weak areas, which is Because they’re a Pure team - with all their players making us a much more dangerous and effeccoming from West Ranch High School in the northern tive team.” Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita - the Wildcats Vercellono, the team’s other alternate captain, are also eligible to compete in the California Amateur had an even more positive outlook on the season. Hockey Association (CAHA) high school division. The “I know for a fact that if we keep increasing our level Wildcats have played just one CAHA game so far this of play as we have been doing lately, we will not only season, but feel like they’re gaining valuable experience make it to states, but we could win it all and then go to playing against the likes of Orange Lutheran, Bellarmnationals,” he said. ine Prep, Santa Margarita, JSerra and Tahoe Hockey The players said that competing for a Pure team Academy. brings some major advantages. In addition to receiving “Being a relatively young program, we wanted tremendous support from the school’s administration, to expose our kids to an even higher caliber of play,” they have the motivation of playing to represent their West Ranch coach Chris LeCornu said. “As the Kings school - something athletes in other sports get to exleague evolves, the competition will continue to get perience, but that is still rare for high school hockey in stronger. We wanted to give the kids the chance to play The West Ranch High School team – a Pure team with all players coming California. at a high level, which will not only allow them to develop from the Santa Clarita-based school – has high aspirations this year in both “There is an enormous pride associated with wearLAKHSHL and CAHA competition. their skills, but will improve their confidence levels. ing this sweater with my high school’s logo on it,” said “We knew it would be a challenge and we may or may Chase Neelley, Michael Onda, Jackson Vercellono, Badillo. “There are very few opportunities to do this, and not be ready to play at this level, but over the next handful Tristan Warr and Josh Watts; defensemen Kenton being the first generation to do it is an honor.” of years, our goal is to be a nationals-qualifying team.” Added Vercellono: “Playing on a Pure team is unique Call, Kameron Chan, Jack McNamara, Colton Tow Justin Badillo, the team’s captain, said the Wildcats and Marian Wise; and goalies Tate Martishius and for us because, unlike other teams, we all see each other are focused on success in the Kings league, but have also Jack Titter. basically every single day of the week. We can bond off set their sights high for CAHA competition. Through early November, West Ranch owned a 5-1-1 the ice at school, which really enhances our chemistry as “Our main goal overall this year is to make states,” record in the LAKHSHL, good for second in the league a whole.”
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Badillo said. “We have been working endlessly on and off the ice, and our team and coaching staff are dedicated to making us the best we can be. We are on the right track, and we need to buy into the systems and play like the grinders that we are.” The team’s roster includes forwards Badillo, Luke Boss, Dylan Durrell, Anderson Lee,
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TOYOTA SPORTS CENTER
Jr. Kings’ 16U AAA team finding its potential 2016 United States Hockey League Draft by the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the 2015 Western f there’s one youth hockey coach who’s able to maxi- Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft by the Everett mize the potential of each of his players for the better- Silvertips, and Cox sidelined for much of the early part ment of the team, it’s Jack Bowkus. of the season with injuries, Neuroth has been leaned The head coach of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ 16U upon heavily to assume a sizable leadership role and, AAA club - he guided last year’s according to Bowkus, hasn’t disteam to a Pacific District chamappointed. pionship and a trip to the USA “I think he’s done a great job,” Hockey National Championships said the coach. “He’s a quiet, - Bowkus this season is armed mild-mannered kid who plays with with the task of molding a relatively a big heart and he’s one of the hardest-working players on our fresh group of players into another team.” winning contingent. And without a game-changing Slowly but surely, says Bowkus, player or two Bowkus has been the club is starting to find its idenable to call upon in years past, it’s tity thanks to its players beginning going to take an all-hands-on-deck to embrace their individual responapproach if this Jr. Kings team sibilities, on and off the ice. wants to get back to the districts “They’re all willing to learn and, ultimately, nationals. and eager to learn,” said Bowkus. “We have to do it by commit“They’re starting to bond together tee, we have to do it by team,” said as a team and they’re starting to push for one goal, which is most Bowkus. “And that’s where I think the challenge is - to get everybody important.” It’s been no easy task, though, Los Angeles Jr. Kings 16U AAA forward Nick to buy in and accept that and look considering the club returned only Castro is one of three players who returned to themselves in the mirror and ask, three players from last year’s team the club from last year’s Pacific District cham- ‘Am I as good as I really think I am, or should I be working harder to be in forwards Nick Castro and Hiro pionship team. the guy I think I am?’” Cox and defenseman Callahan Neuroth. One player who’s wasted little time making an imWith Castro, who was selected in Phase I of the By Brian McDonough
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pact is Sahil Panwar. A member of the Jr. Kings’ Pacific District-champion Bantam Major team a season ago, the gifted 2002-born forward totaled eight goals and an assist through 15 Tier I Elite League games this year. “He’s got a lot of potential and a lot of eyes on him every game,” said Bowkus, who also acknowledges 2001-born forwards Jacob Brockman and Conner Kemp for their swift acclimations to the 16U AAA level. “He’s a player getting a lot of interest from a lot of different people and a lot of different leagues, which is tremendous for him.” At the other end of the rink, the goaltending tandem of Mattias Sholl and Dustin Wolf, who was selected by Everett in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, has been nothing short of exceptional, according to Bowkus. “Either could be a No. 1 in our league,” he said. “They’re both very skilled goalies with bright futures ahead of them. They’re both huge parts of our team.” As is Bowkus’ support staff. Along with the tireless efforts of longtime team manager Helen Alex, assistant coaches Barry Dreger, Robbert McDonald, Chase Souto and Nick Vachon have been instrumental in helping the club develop, on and off the ice. “As far as I’m concerned, I have the best minor hockey coaching staff in the country,” said Bowkus. And the decorated coach is eager to see what his club can accomplish in the months ahead. “The entire season has made every individual on this team a better person, including myself,” said Bowkus.
SAN JOSE JR. SHARKS
Sharks varsity high schoolers take new league to SAP Center by playing a few of our games at a venue like the SAP Center, I think that’s going to be a positive.” layers in the Sharks High School Hockey League are The first game at the SAP Center took place on Nov. getting a rare opportunity to live the life of a pro. 6 – an 8-2 win for Bellarmine over Willow Glen – and Having recently dropped the puck on its inaugural Long and the league now prepare for the next SAP season, the five-team league has each of its teams game, which will take place on Dec. 8 when Bellarmine playing three games of a 10-game schedule at SAP plays Valley Christian. Center, home of both the San Jose Sharks and their “We’ve had a ton of amazing feedback for the first American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the SAP game,” said Long. “People were really Barracuda. pleased with it. But the non-SAP games – the Amanda Long, the high school hockey ones that take place at Solar4America Ice – coordinator for Solar4America Ice in San Jose have been well received, too.” (formerly known as Sharks Ice) says players With a 10-game schedule with no playoffs are going to get an experience that would only currently scheduled, Long acknowledges be rivaled by taking the ice for the Barracuda that the league is taking it cautiously in the themselves. beginning. However, she feels that the interest “We’ve worked with the Barracuda and is there for the league to go through a growth each of our teams will play either before or spurt. following a Barracuda game,” said Long. “Most of California is moving that direction “Additionally, their production crew has really as it is, so ideally, we would like to expand for helped us with doing things like running replays as many teams as we can get into the league,” on the Jumbotron, music, goal announcing, and said Long. “But it’s also important for us to player introductions. We even have head shots Players from Bellarmine and Willow Glen High Schools gather for a combined pho- ensure that we are moving at the proper pace of all the players to run alongside the stats. to on the SAP Center ice back on Nov. 6 after Bellarmine claimed an 8-2 win over – there’s no reason for us to rush and try to We want to make this experience as close as Willow Glen. put something in place that isn’t realistic for the possible to a pro game.” “We’ve had varsity leagues in the past, but they have time. Long says as part of team dues, tickets to Barracuda always been in the spring,” said Long. “Typically, once “It’s like putting the playoffs in place. It’s a great way games are included, so each school has an allotment tier and travel teams are ending, we will start a varsity to put the cap on the season and it will be implemented of tickets they can use to either go to the game or league, but with this, we’re trying to create an in-season at some point I’m sure, but there needs to be more sell to students or family members, thereby increasing varsity league. discussions on what the format would be for something exposure for both the Barracuda and the high school “I think people are starting to realize that hockey is like that as well.” league. becoming bigger and bigger and a lot of kids want to For more information, visit www.sharkshighschoolhockey. The league is made up of five schools, four of which play for their high schools. If we can help to grow that com. By John B. Spigott
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are in San Jose. Bellarmine College Prep, Archbishop Mitty High School, Valley Christian High School, and Willow Glen High School are joined by Los Gatos High School. By starting the season in October, the league marks a change in approach when it comes to high school hockey, as in the past varsity hockey leagues have run on a different schedule.
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PICTURE PERFECT The San Jose Jr. Sharks’ girls 12U team captured the Western Regional Silver Stick 12U A championship Oct. 30 with a 16-0 win over the Rocky Mountain Lady RoughRiders at the Ice Centre at the Promenade in Westminster, Colo. Photo/Scott Cattelino/Colorado Hockey Hub
The San Diego Gulls celebrate a goal in their American Hockey League season opener on Oct. 14 against the Tucson Roadrunners at the Valley View Casino Center, a game San Diego won 5-3. Photo/Phillip Brents
The Silver Creek Sportsplex in San Jose was the site Oct. 22 for a special Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League alumni game. League director Brennan Edwards (far left in the hat) joined former players from Arizona State, Cal Poly, Chico State, CSU Monterey Bay, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. Photo/WCRHL
Players from the Nevada Storm Bantam AA team spent some time together off the ice and took part in a local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk for the American Cancer Society on Oct. 30.
Coto de Caza native and Madison Capitols (USHL) forward Eetu Selanne is leaving his mark in his second USHL campaign and recently committed to NCAA Division I Northeastern University (Hockey East) Photo/USHL
West Ranch Wildcats defenseman Kameron Chan celebrates the thrill of victory with goaltender Jack Titter after a LAKHSHL game on Nov. 4 against their crosstown rival Valencia Vikings at the Ice Station Valencia. West Ranch won the game 7-2. Photo/Kim Tow
Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) veteran forward and Capistrano Beach native Dakota Raabe recently decided on the University of Michigan (Big Ten) as his NCAA Division I college destination. Photo/ Wenatchee Wild
Ontario Reign goalie Jonah Imoo was forced into action recently after call-ups to the LA Kings and had his father, Dusty, backing him up in the Oct. 22 game as an emergency goaltender against the San Jose Barracuda. Photo/Phillip Brents
After going 4-0 over Halloween weekend with two wins over Bellarmine and one each over Cherry Creek and Tahoe Hockey Academy, the Orange Lutheran high school team took to the ice in full Halloween costumes for some friendly 3-on-3 scrimmage action at The Rinks-Anaheim Ice.
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TAHOE HOCKEY ACADEMY
Tahoe Hockey Academy finding elusive ‘path to success’ By Greg Ball
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t has been more than two months since the Tahoe Hockey Academy opened its doors to its first class of student-athletes, and the progress being made on and off the ice has the administration feeling extremely optimistic. “The goal from Day 1 was to implement a program that provided an extensive athletic and academic curriculum,” Tahoe Hockey Academy president Leo Fenn said. “We want to give our players the tools and framework to succeed, but we also want to allow them to build their own path to success.” It didn't take long before the academy’s first team found itself facing some stiff competition on the ice as it headed off to Pilot Mound, Manitoba, in early September to compete in the Western Prep Hockey League (WPHL). As California’s only Division I prep league representative, Tahoe faced an uphill battle competing against highly established prep hockey programs from Colorado, Calgary and Manitoba. “You really don’t see that type of hockey in California,” THA captain Erik Larsson said. “The players and teams in the WPHL are big, fast and physical. You really have to be on top of your game in order to compete every shift, but it’s great to be in that environment because it makes you better. We’re on the ice two hours every day, and I can already tell in such a short period of time how much I’ve improved. It allowed me a chance to compete and succeed against the older players.” The school’s foundation is built not only hockey and
academics. Developing respectful and responsible young men is also a primary focus at the Northern California academy. “We want to instill the ideals of accountability, consis-
After months of planning and scheduling, the Tahoe Hockey Academy is coming together on and off the ice and will face tough competition in the WPHL and ADHSHL ranks this season.
tency and discipline in our student-athletes as they conduct their everyday lives,” associate head coach Chris Collins said. “From the way they practice, to the way they interact with their peers, staff and community, we want to build a foundation for lasting success both on and off the ice.” As with any boarding school, it can be a challenge for students to be separated from their parents for the first time. Having a program that emulates family values goes a long way in calming the fears that parents may have being so far away from their sons.
“Being able to visit Tahoe Hockey Academy for three days and witness first-hand the way the school operates speaks volumes to their professionalism and attention to detail,” said Wynette Birceki, whose son, Jack, attends THA. “You can see it on the ice, in the classroom and the way the staff interacts with the students, to know how much they care.” Added Larsson: "The program pushes you to be better. It shows in the way we train, compete and develop every day." The Tahoe Hockey Academy program consists of daily ice sessions, strength and conditioning workouts and structured academic classes. “We're designed for the dedicated student-athlete who's looking to pursue a higher level of self-improvement,” Fenn said. “That relates to their overall hockey game, individual skill, physical development and academic growth. We're not here to focus on the wins and losses, and we'll always measure our success on our ability to build better hockey players, students and young men.” While the Tahoe Hockey Academy is still in its infancy, players, coaches and staff are bullish on what the future holds. The tea, will be tested as it continues WPHL play as well as scheduled trips to the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) Showcase, Bauer World Invite and University of Notre Dame, as well as league play in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League (ADHSHL). A schedule of 60-70 games dictates a steady dose of hockey - and judging by the development of the program thus far, the boys in purple will be ready for the challenge.
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ANAHEIM DUCKS
Rinks, Ducks launch Little Ducks Hockey Initiation program By Kirstie Bender and Tanner Privia
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he year 2016 has been a very exciting year for youth hockey in North America. Earlier this year, the NHL and NHLPA announced the league-wide Learn to Play Initiative, making hockey more accessible than ever before. Children across all 30 NHL markets in the United States and Canada will be able to take part in a beginning development program to learn basic hockey skills such as skating, passing, stickhandling and shooting. In addition to the already successful Anaheim Ducks Learn to Play Hockey program powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, the Ducks announced the launch of the Little Ducks Hockey Initiation Program – creating a second avenue of entry for beginning hockey players with prior skating experience. This six-week course is designed to help develop beginner hockey players in a clinic setup where multiple mini-stations allow participants to play games and work on every skill set at each session, while having fun at the same time. “The Anaheim Ducks and The Rinks are committed to growing the sport of hockey in Southern California and the new NHL and NHLPA initiative has helped us further advance that progress,” said The Rinks marketing manager Jesse Chatfield. “The Learn to Play program is one of our primary mechanisms for growing the sport. Not only are we looking to grow the sport of hockey within our buildings, but we also have a vested interest in the entire Southern California market. With thousands of par-
ticipants coming through the Learn to Play program an- the financial burden that once plagued new hockey playnually, it was only a matter of time before the increased ers. This additional bonus will allow more families to get amount of interest from future hockey families demanded involved in the sport at younger ages instead of resorting to more inexpensive sports, like soccer or basketball. more attention. “The free gear is the really exciting part because it “The ability to give kids the chance to develop their hockey skills before going into a more advanced develop- completely eliminates any reservations a family may have about taking part,” noted The mental program or a league allows Rinks marketing coordinator them more opportunities to touch Craig Appleby. “This in turn the puck and start developallows us to show them what ing their hockey sense. The Rinks are all about – deThe more opportunities they have like that veloping new hockey players – to work and practice and making sure they have a in a structured but truly great experience with our fun environment programs in the process.” – the more comThe Little Ducks Hockey fortable and ready Initiation program will be offor they are for their first fered during the 2016-17 NHL league games.” season at of each of the four While this initiative will help betRinks ICE facilities – Anaheim ter develop the next generation of ICE, Lakewood ICE, Westminster ICE and Yorba Linda ICE hockey stars in North America, the - and partner facilities in the best part is that it makes hockey area, including KHS Ice Arena, accessible and more affordable for As part of the new Little Ducks Hockey Initiation, new families to try the sport. The Little all registered youth players will receive a free set of Icetown Carlsbad and Poway Ducks Hockey Initiation program is equipment, from the helmet on down to skates. Photo/ Ice. For information on the only $150 and includes a free set of The Rinks equipment, from the helmet to the skates and everything Little Ducks Hockey Initiation program, including times, in between. Each participant will receive the free gear dates, and locations, visit www.anaheimducks.com/litwhen they register, lowering the startup cost and avoiding tleducks.
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ANAHEIM JR. DUCKS Quebec tournament on tap for Jr. Ducks’ Pee Wee AAA squad By Chris Bayee
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lex Vasilevsky played in Quebec during his extensive pro career, but he’s never coached there. Suffice to say, he and his Jr. Ducks’ Pee Wee AAA team are excited to head to the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in February. “This will be a memorable experience for the boys,” he said. The Ukrainian-born Vasilevsky, who came to North America in 1992 after the breakup of the Soviet Union, likes what he’s seen lately from his Jr. Ducks squad. “We had a good trip to Detroit for a Tier 1 Elite League showcase and a scrimmage against Belle Tire,” he said. “We went 6-0 and that turned our season around. We played some good, top-30 teams there. “It’s carried over to some good, strong games locally.” There is more to be gained from hockey than wins and losses, particularly at this age, Vasilevsky emphasized. “For me, hockey is full of life lessons,” he said. “It helps you be a good human being, a good teammate and a good friend. That is what I focus on first.” The Jr. Ducks provide a setting conducive to learning – for both players and coaches, Vasilevsky said. “I learned from other coaches – drills, how to handle games, how to handle parents and players,” Vasilevsky said. “Craig Johnson is a great example. “We have a great group of coaches that also work with this team – Eugene Kabanets and Scott Niedermayer. Their help is huge.” The Pee Wee team’s roster includes skaters Luke Baker, Russell Bustamante, Colin Chon, Tristen Friedman, Brandon Grant, Kyle Isenberg, Sara Ito-Bagshaw, Joshua Niedermayer, Jean-Sebastien Pack, Brian Robertson, Oaken Son, Jason Stefanek, Brodrick Williams, Rocco Zimmerman and Nikita Zozulia and goalies Aidan Comeau and Dylan Silverstein.
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CHALK TALK
Hitting from behind not safe, has no place in this game H
itting from behind is a very dangerous part of our game and as coaches, I think we can do a better job of preventing this from happening. Hitting from behind can be broken into two categories. Dell Truax The first one is intentional. This hit has to be addressed by the coach immediately and the player needs to understand there is no room for this in our game. The second one is the one I want to address is the accidental one. From my experience, most of the hits from behind fall into this category and they can be corrected in practice. As coaches, we need to do a better job of teaching the players proper puck retrieval and player pursuit. Proper puck retrieval needs to be taught right from the beginning at the 8U level. Players need to understand you curl into a puck and you do not skate directly at the puck. If players are taught this skill early, keeping their skates parallel to the boards when picking up the puck, we can minimize the
chances they are hit from behind. As a player approaches the wall to pick up a puck, they need to be taught to look over their shoulder twice before getting to it. This way, they can see where the pressure is coming from and where their teammates are for support. With this awareness, they can now take a better angle into the wall and pick up the puck, keeping their skates parallel to the wall. Doing these things will help puck carrier to protect themselves and to prepare for the pressure or the hit that is coming. Along with these skills, we need to teach players not to lower their heads and make unsafe turns that expose them to the hit from behind. As coaches, I believe we need to also teach the proper way to pressure the puck and pursue the puck carrier. Players need to be taught to pressure the puck carrier from a shoulder and not from the numbers. This will put them in a better position to angle out the puck carrier and gain control of the puck. This will decrease the chances of the player hitting the puck carrier from behind. Along with proper angling, it needs to be stressed to keep their hands down and stick on the ice when engaging the opposing player. We need to stress the importance of the stick in angling and proper
body contact. The stick can be used to steer the puck carrier where you want him to go as you approach and then, they can be safely angled into the wall. By keeping the stick on the ice, we minimize chances of taking a penalty and keeps our arms down, which will make us more effective going to battle for the puck. We also need to continue to teach respect for the players and the game. There are times players will end up in a bad position and the hit from behind will happen. The player being hit needs to remember to stay upright and the player coming in from behind needs to remember to not extend arms and drive player into the boards. This player needs to be taught to keep their hands down and just pin the player against wall. If we teach all players the proper way to pick up a puck from the wall and the proper way to pressure a puck carrier, we can minimize the unintentional hit from behind. These skills need to be taught at Mite. We can’t wait to teach angling and proper puck retrieval as well as body contact against the boards. These are very important skills that are necessary for the players to advance in the game and I believe they also make the players safer and more aware when playing against the boards.
Dell Truax is the Nevada Storm’s Pee Wee AA head coach. Interested in being a Chalk Talk columnist? E-mail Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com. CARubberHockey.com
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NEVADA STORM
Quebec Pee Wee event has Storm squad amped for February By Matt Mackinder
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ost Nevada Storm teams travel out of state for highlevel games and tournaments. In February, the Storm’s Pee Wee AA team will journey more than 2,700 miles to Quebec City to participate in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, an event that has been running nearly 60 years and features Pee Wee teams from around the globe. Storm head coach Dell Truax had the honor of telling his team that their application to play in the tournament was approved and to start planning for a long plane ride come February. “They could not believe we were going when I told them,” said Truax. “They are extremely excited and they want to make an impression when we are there. My expectations in Quebec are to compete. Everyone we play will know they are in a game and will remember our compete level. We will leave there a much better team than we arrive.” The tournament, which runs Feb. 8-19, will be contested in six arenas in the area within various divisions. Eric Lacroix, a fellow Storm coach and also a Quebec native, has made it a priority each year to help the Storm Pee Wee team gain admission to the tournament. “It’s my way to give back to the community, trying to facilitate the acceptance process and all,” said Lacroix. “There is no other tourney like it in the world and it will be an invaluable experience for the kids from the valley.”
Truax said that even though the tournament is something players only get to experience once in a lifetime, preparation is key. “From the hockey side, we prepare the same way as always,” said Truax. “We are preparing now for the players to miss school. They have all written letters to their teachers and are working with them to keep up on their school work. This is a big undertaking and the players know they need to be prepared and stay ahead in
The Nevada Storm Pee Wee AA team was recently accepted to play in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament next February, a tournament that sells out arenas throughout Quebec City and the immediate area.
school. We will continue to stress this all season leading up to our trip.” The Storm Pee Wee AA team is comprised of forwards Kai Blum, Shane Dean, Dom Ditondo, Colton Flietz, Jake Fraker, Austin Moline, Joey Picciurro, John Sinagra and Cole West; defensemen
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Kevin Hanly, Dex Kichline, Matt Lackas and Tanner Parker; and goalie John Ng. Tom Lackas joins Truax on the bench. Once in Quebec, the players will live with host families (or billet families) for the duration of the tournament, and will be exposed to a new language, new foods and a new culture. This is all part of the Quebec atmosphere, according to Truax. “It will be a great experience,” he said. “They will become part of their billet families and make the most of their time there. They are very excited to meet their billets and to be playing and living in such a great hockey environment. They will be kids from the desert playing in the snow and skating outside. It doesn’t get better than that.” So far this season, Truax’s team has been “working well together.” “We are very happy with the players’ work ethic and desire to learn the game,” said Truax. “We have really improved since our first tourney over Labor Day weekend. They are ahead of where we thought they would be and are improving with every touch. They have come together as a team and they are all getting along. They have fun when they are together and that will lead to success. “What I like most about this team is their work ethic and how they have all bought into what we are doing. As a coach, it is great when players buy in and work hard. We can make great strides this season because of the attitude they bring to the rink. It’s fun to work with a group like this.”
NEVADA REPORT
Las Vegas’ NHL team named soon, first coach up in the air When will the new coach be named? “That’s hard to say,” McPhee said to Yahoo! Sports. he fans of Las Vegas’ NHL team will have something “Sometime in the spring would be the best time (to hire to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. someone), probably.” On Nov. 22, the franchise will officially unveil the Will McPhee and assistant GM Kelly McCrimteam name and logo in a ceremony at mon look to hire a coach with preToshiba Plaza, located outside T-Movious NHL experience? McPhee told bile Arena, the NHL team’s home rink. Yahoo! Sports that is certainly a viNHL commissioner Gary Bettable direction to explore, but there is man will be in attendance, along with time. Las Vegas’ NHL franchise major“In many positions, you’re better ity owner Bill Foley and Las Vegas the second time around,” McPhee general manager George McPhee. said. “We value experience. We just Foley announced back on Oct. don’t know where this is going to end 8 that the name would be either the up. If there’s a terrific up and comer, Desert Knights, Silver Knights or he’ll certainly be a candidate, but in Golden Knights, and that the colors most of the hiring we’ve done here, of the team will include gray, gold and it’s been experienced people. a red-rock hue from the Nevada land“When you’ve got time, you use scape. it.” George McPhee After the name and logo is finalTime will also be in Las Vegas’ faized and merchandise begins to fly vor when free agency starts next summer. off shelves, McPhee will then work towards finding and In early November, ESPN.com reported that the Las naming the franchise’s first head coach. Vegas organization will have a 48-hour window ahead “Obviously, we’ve talked about it,” McPhee told Ya- of the June 18-20 expansion draft to speak with and hoo! Sports. “The first 60 days was putting a scouting sign any pending unrestricted or restricted free agent staff together. We got that done, and we’re rolling out the 30 other NHL teams left unprotected for the expanour scouting software. So now it’s focusing on some sion draft. other things we have to do, like media relations and pubThe expansion draft selections will be announced lic relations and clubhouse staff. In the new year, we June 21. start focusing on coaches.” In recent weeks, the Las Vegas franchise has continBy Matt Mackinder
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ued to hire individuals for its hockey operations wing of the organization. On Oct. 17, Tom Poraszka was tabbed the club’s hockey operations analyst. Poraszka is the founder of General Fanager, where he designed and developed a web application that served as an independent compiler of the latest news and contract information for players in the NHL. The site allowed fans the ability to review current and historical contracts for all 30 NHL teams and all of their active players, and provided consolidated information on free agents and a summary of each team’s draft picks. Poraszka also developed advanced tools for salary cap analysis and team management, including the ability to customize rosters to determine their cap compliance. Then on Nov. 7, Nehme Abouzeid was named senior vice president and chief marketing officer. During the past 13 years, Abouzeid has played key roles in the evolution of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and around the world. Abouzeid will be the top marketing executive, overseeing corporate communications, advertising and media buying, multi-channel marketing strategy, analytics and merchandising, among other duties. “Nehme is a valuable and talented addition to our team,” said Las Vegas team president Kerry Bubolz. “He has an extensive knowledge of the sports industry, a wealth of experience marketing a world-class brand and, as a long-time Las Vegas resident, he knows our city and our community. This is definitely a combination that will support the long-term success of our franchise.”
FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM Tips to avoiding burnout during the grueling hockey season T
he demands placed on athletes today in any given sport has increased immensely over the last ten years and it is not uncommon for California hockey players to play on a club and high school team at the same time. This means 3-4 practices a week and 2-3 games a weekend, not to mention dryland and private lessons, which many older players are also involved with. Tournament weekends can sometimes mean eight or more Chris Phillips games in 3-4 days. Sound alarming? It should. Where is the time for school and sleep, not to mention time to just hang out with friends and be a kid? This type of busy schedule can lead to burnout during the hockey season. Burnout has been defined by sports psychologists as “physical/emotional exhaustion, sport devaluation, and reduced athletic accomplishment,” as stated by R.H. Cox in Sports Psychology: Concepts and Applications. So what can be done to limit the chance of burnout? It starts with saying “no” sometimes. This sounds crazy, right? I’m a firm believer that any athlete needs a minimum of one day of rest a week during their peak season. The younger the athlete, the more time off they need. Two important aspects of avoiding burnout is also recovery work and nutrition to improve an athlete’s health and decrease muscle soreness and fatigue. One common mistake in sports nutrition in athletes is that they do not eat between lunch and dinner even though they may have two to three hours of activity in that time period. The other nutrition mistake is not eating a quality protein source following practice. out in sports happens all too often and is preventable. Sports need to be fun for the athlete and the big picture has to be kept in mind. Prioritize training, utilize recovery techniques and occasionally just say “no, thank you” and skip a practice or clinic.
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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Gauchos find fast start in WCRHL’s competitive D-I field By Phillip Brents
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he Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League (WCRHL) faced off its 2016-17 season with its annual kick-off event Oct. 22-23 in San Jose. UC Santa Barbara, which returns its entire team from the 2015-16 season, rolled to an impressive 4-0 finish to highlight the showing among Division I teams. The Gauchos look to be a championship contender this season. “Our team came out ready to play this season,” explained UC Santa Barbara forward Kyle Mooney. “We wanted to make a statement after losing in the championship game at last season’s regionals. We are here to win it this year.” The Gauchos recorded a runner-up finish at last season’s WCRHL regional championship tournament to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. UC Santa Barbara then went on to post a 3-2 record at the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) national championship tournament in Iowa, exiting the tournament in the round of 16. The Gauchos competed in 10 playoff games between the WCRHL and NCRHA postseason tournaments in 2015-16, racking up a 5-5 record after rolling to a 7-9 record in 16 regular-season contests. UC Santa Barbara defeated Long Beach State 6-4 in the WCRHL’s regional semifinals before falling short in the Division I championship game to UNLV by a score of 8-4. At the NCRHA national championship event, the Gauchos defeated Temple, West Chester and Eastern Michigan, while dropping contests to Grand
Valley State and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Enthusiasm appears boundless this season. “We hope to bring the WCRHL Cup back to Santa Barbara for the first time since the 2012-2013 season, and have our goals set very high at nationals with (defending national champion) Neumann University as our main contender,” Mooney explained. “The Division I team this year is the first time in UCSB history that the team is 100 percent fully returning. We had a tough loss to UNLV in the
Kevin Mooney of UC Santa Barbara takes a point-blank shot on net in a Division I Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League kick-off tournament game against Central Coast rival Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Photo/John Kirker
WCRHL regional championships last season, and made a good run at nationals.” Thus far, the Gauchos have not disappointed. UC Santa Barbara started off the 2016-17 season by sweeping West Valley College (4-2), Arizona State (4-3), Long Beach State (6-5 in overtime) and Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo (6-5). Brothers Kyle and Kevin Mooney appear in fine form again this season after finishing at the top of the division scoring table last season. Kevin Mooney finished on top of the scoring chart at the season opening tournament with 16 points (nine goals, seven assists), followed by Kyle with 11 points (three goals, eight assists). Kevin Mooney led the division with three gamewinning goals and Kyle notched one game winner (coming in dramatic fashion with 16 seconds to play to tip Cal Poly). Kyle Mooney racked up 43 goals and 94 points in 29 games last season, while younger brother, Kevin, tallied 49 goals and 83 points. “Kevin and I have been able to score due to our rock-solid defensemen holding down the fort,” Kyle Mooney explained. “We have great chemistry together and love playing together. It makes it very tough for teams to match up their best players against us mainly because we are out there for so much of the game that no one has the stamina to keep up. “Our team doesn’t have the largest roster, but we are a very well-conditioned team, and we have all played with each other for a few years now, so we have a great team bond and it shows on the rink.” Returning defensemen include Jack Matthews, Kyle Clements, Trevor Rand and Andrew Vieyra. Matthews recorded 39 points in 2015-16. Clements collected eight points at the San Jose kickoff event to rank third in the division. US Santa Barbara goaltender Colin Menz posted four wins to go with a 3.75 goals-against average and a .821 save percentage.
WCRHL’s Division II championship race ripe with intrigue By Phillip Brents
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he University of Arizona and University of NevadaLas Vegas did not attend the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League’s (WCRHL) kick-off event Oct. 22-23 in San Jose, but will be participating once again this season. UNLV opened the season with appearances at regular-season events Nov 12 in Las Vegas and Nov 19-20 in Huntington Beach. Arizona will face off its season Nov 19-20 at HB Inline. Northern Arizona University, the WCRHL’s newest member, will also make its debut at the Huntington Beach event, and like Arizona, due to travel distances and scheduling requests, will play six games at each HB event and four games at January’s Queen Creek event to get in its 16 regular-season games. “We are really excited about adding a third Arizona program,” WCRHL league director Brennan Edwards said. With the addition of NAU and the return of regional champion University of Arizona, the WCRHL’s Division II championship race should be interesting to watch. For now, Chico State and CSU Fullerton have established themselves as the top Division II teams to face off the season. Fullerton finished 4-0 at the league’s opening weekend tournament, while Chico State finished 3-1 with a 4-3 loss to Fullerton. Cal Poly Pomona also finished 3-1, losing 8-5 to Chico State to set up the early division rankings. UC San Diego and UC California-Berkeley both finished 1-3, while UC Irvine went 0-4. “We will see in HB when NAU and U of A play how 20
California Rubber Hockey Magazine
this division will really stack up,” Edwards offered. Fullerton outscored its four opponents 37-7, recording lopsided victories against Sonoma State (13-1), Cal (10-2) and UC San Diego (10-1). Anthony Squirek (12 points), Kyle Alexander (11 points) and Griffin Cortes (10 points) all scored in double figures to support goaltenders Jason Silva
Chico State started the 2016-17 Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League season on a roll with a 3-1 showing at the league’s annual kick-off event in October in San Jose.
(1.00 GAA) and Ron Best (1.67 GAA). Chico State defeated UC Irvine 10-0 and UC San Diego 9-4 to round out its tournament record. “We had a great first tournament,” Chico State club president Zac Claunch said. “Fullerton was our only loss in the tournament. They are one of the best teams in the division and we only lost by one
and definitely gave it our all. Luck wasn’t on our side this time as we got into a little bit of penalty trouble in that game. “We are looking forward to another great year and are excited to keep the momentum rolling.” Claunch and teammate Cole Euell both tallied eight goals and 11 points to spearhead the team’s offense. Pomona finished with victories against UC Irvine (8-3), Cal (8-0) and UC San Diego (7-1). Ian Duffy led the Broncos with eight goals and 11 points, followed by teammates Derick Rosas (four goals, nine points) and Mitchell Palaflox (six goals, eight points). Kasia Rand compiled a 3.00 GAA and .854 save percentage in posting a 3-1 record. “We decided to go with a smaller lineup this year in Division II, including six returning players,” Pomona club president Taylor Paerels explained. “These players gelled quickly with our new skaters and helped us get off to a better start than last year. We’re doing well, but we know there are a lot more games to play.” Pomona’s Division III team, which finished 0-4, is still rounding out its game, according to Paerels. “This was the first time that most of them had skated together,” Paerels noted. “Despite their goals against (36-4), I saw their play improve over the course of the weekend. They will keep working hard in preparation for the next event in Huntington Beach.” West Valley College, the lone team in the WCRHL’s Junior College Division, got a big 6-1 win against Long Beach State at the San Jose event. Edwards said West Valley will play a combo of Division I-II teams during the season.
Back In the Day
Notable NARCh alumni have advanced to NCAA Division I, NHL ranks By Phillip Brents
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he North American Roller Hockey Championship tournament series (NARCh) will drop the puck on its 2016-17 season with a pair of upcoming events: the Nor Cal Cup Thanksgiving Weekend tournament Nov 26-27 at San Jose’s Silver Creek Sportsplex and the NARCh Winternationals Jan 13-16 at The RinksHuntington Beach. NARCh has served as a testing ground for elite roller hockey players throughout the world for more than two decades. Not surprisingly, the inline tournament series has seen many of its alumni go on to play professional ice hockey, both abroad and in particular, the NHL. NARCh president Daryn Goodwin estimates there are about 12 to 15 current NHL players with NARCh experience, and probably 25 to 30 who did at one point or another. T.J. Hensick (Colorado, St. Louis), David Booth (Florida, Vancouver, Toronto, Anaheim), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver, Anaheim) and James Wisniewski (Chicago, Anaheim, New York Islanders, Montreal, Columbus, Carolina) played on the Mission Honeybaked teams that dominated their age divisions in NARCh more than a dozen or more years ago. Booth was voted the Panthers’ MVP by the team’s fans in 2008-09, while Kesler won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games for Team USA. Hensick may be one of the most recognizable faces from NARCh. “We won it (the NARCh Finals) a couple times,” said Hensick, who has chalked up 112 NHL games to his credit over his 10-year pro career. “I mostly played roller hockey in the summer for fun. We had a good group of guys from my youth (ice hockey) team. We got together and played roller hockey. It was fun and relaxing. It was a different type of game with no offside and no icing – definitely a lot of offense. Those were good memories, good people. “A lot of guys played Division I college hockey from that group.” Following his days with Honeybaked, Hensick
played two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) before playing four seasons of NCAA Division I ice hockey at the University of Michigan (then in the CCHA, now in the Big Ten). He was drafted in the third round by the Avalanche in 2005. He appeared in 99 games with Colorado (2007-10) and 13 games with the Blues (2010-11). Hensick, 30, is now playing for the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles’ Kings’ minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). He said roller hockey helped his ice game with “a lot of offensive creativity.” “There’s not much defense in roller hockey – it’s fouron-four, wide open out there,” the Reign f o r w a r d noted. “You got to work on a lot of your offensive instincts.” Hensick scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 win over the host San Diego Gulls in Ontario’s season opener on Oct. 15.
Jake Gardiner (Toronto), Derek Stepan (New York Rangers), Beau Bennett (Pittsburgh, New Jersey), Steve Oleksy (Washington, Pittsburgh), Brandon Carlo (Boston), Jake Virtanen (Vancouver) and Dylan Strome (Arizona). Gardena’s Bennett was on the Penguins’ 2016 Stanley Cup championship team. Rocco Grimaldi, an Anaheim native who stamped his name firmly on NARCh a decade and a half ago, has logged 27 NHL games with the Panthers and is now playing with the AHL San Antonio Rampage. Los Angeles native Brett Sterling, a 2000 NARCh All-Star selection, has 30 NHL games to his credit with Atlanta, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. He won the AHL Rookie of the Year award in 2006-07 with the Chicago Wolves, for which he is still playing.
Also notable:
After being drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2010, Placentia’s Taylor Aronson is now playing with Russia’s Tolyatti Lada of the Kontinental Hockey League after stints with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Downey’s Ryan NHL roll call Hollweg is now playing Current NHL players T.J. Hensick went from NARCh to the NHL and is now playing for the On- in the Czech Republic tario Reign of the American Hockey League. Photos/NARCh & Phillip Brents with NARCh connections after playing for the New include Bobby Ryan (Anaheim, Ottawa), Brandon York Rangers, Toronto and Coyotes. Pirri (Chicago, Florida, Anaheim, New York Rangers), Torrance’s Gabe Gauthier, who powered Team Patrick Maroon (Anaheim, Edmonton), Cory Sure Grip to the Squirt Division gold medal at the Conacher (Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Buffalo, New York 1997 NARCh Finals, appeared in eight games with Islanders), Jason Zucker (Minnesota), Paul Stastny the Kings from 2006-08 during a seven-year pro (Colorado, St. Louis), Sam Gagner (Edmonton, career. He’s now the hockey director with the Nevada Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus), Joel Ward Storm youth program in Las Vegas and coach-GM (Nashville, Washington, San Jose), Dylan Larkin of the Las Vegas Storm team in the Western States (Detroit), Phil Kessel (Boston, Toronto, Pittsburgh), Hockey League (WSHL).
Give Blood Play Hockey 10th annual event sets records F
our days and almost 36 hours of hockey resulted in record-breaking numbers for this year’s 10th annual Give Blood Play Hockey charity inline hockey tournament Oct. 20-23 at The Rinks-Irvine Inline. The event collected 480 pints of donated blood and raised an estimated $140,000 in the ongoing pledge to eradicate childhood cancer. “Simply put, we blew everything out of the water,” explained recently married tournament co-founder Mary (nee Quayle) Korus. “It was the best event to date.” A total of 116 teams participated in this year’s tournament, with 25 teams earning the right to have their names inscribed on the perpetual Blood Cup as division champions. The tournament celebrated a milestone with its 2,500th donor. Funds raised brought the total donation amount in the history of the event to more than $742,000 for Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Last year’s tournament collected 418 pints of blood. Guest speakers from CHOC attended this year’s
event, as did the Anaheim Ducks’ Wild Wing mascot community blood drives will continue. The four and Power Players dance team that helped with the community blood drives that took place before this 8U, 10U and 12U skills competitions and the Top year’s tournament collected 149 pints of blood. This year’s scholarship Flight floor hockey exhibition award-winners included game. Woodbridge High School The tournament hosted a seniors Dante Gaz (Casey celebration of life dedicated Strale Who Do You Play For to GBPH ambassador Casey scholarship) and Kyle Strale Strale on Oct. 22. Friends, (Peter Clauss Bleed by Example family, players, supporters and scholarship). community members attended Each scholarship award the ceremony and lit candles in carries a value of $500. his memory. “Saying the word ‘tenth’ truly “All hockey stopped to pay blows my mind – we had no idea tribute to this young man,” Korus this would ever become what it explained. “His coaches and family spoke about him. His Give Give Blood Play Hockey tournament co-founders has,” Korus said in regard to Blood Play Hockey jersey was Julie Ruff and Mary Korus jump for joy at this year’s the continued growth of the tournament founded in 2007. framed and given to rink manager record-setting event. Photo/AndyArt Photography and lifelong GBPH supporter Eddie Limbaga to “Each person who attends Give Blood Play Hockey hang at the rink. The Rinks-Irvine Inline was Casey’s makes a difference just by participating.” favorite place.” Korus noted the campaign to host remote - 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 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) – San Jose Sharks 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 Eric Comrie (Newport Beach) – Manitoba Moose Pheonix Copley – Chicago Wolves + Chase De Leo (La Mirada) – Manitoba Moose Thatcher Demko (San Diego) – Utica Comets 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 % Troy Redmann (Brea) – Ontario Reign Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Brett Sterling (Los Angeles) – Chicago Wolves Matt Tennyson (Pleasanton) – Charlotte Checkers Scooter Vaughan (Placentia) – Chicago Wolves Matt White (Whittier) – Milwaukee Admirals 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 Chase Golightly (Temecula) – Florida Everblades Garrett Haar (Huntington Beach) – Rapid City Rush Miles Koules (Los Angeles) – Atlanta Gladiators 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 Steve Weinstein (Los Angeles) – South Carolina Stingrays SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE David Gandara (Canyon Lake) – Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Daniel Gentzler (Hermosa Beach) – Macon Mayhem 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 Lester Brown (Citrus Heights) – Berlin River Drivers Daniel Chang (Woodland Hills) – Danbury Titans Darius Cole (Aurora) – Danville Dashers 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
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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 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 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 Scott Savage (San Clemente) – Boston College 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 Shane Sooth (Canyon Country) – Northern Michigan 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 NCAA DIVISION III – MEN 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 Nicholas McKee (Bakersfield) – Becker College Christian Merritt (Thousand Oaks) – University of New England Luke Miller (Lancaster) – Suffolk University Cameron Randles (Santa Clarita) – Endicott College Haroutiun Sarkisian (Encino) – Nichols College Evan Schmidbauer (San Diego) – Salve Regina University Stanton Turner (San Francisco) – Suffolk University ECAC WEST Cory Anderson (Bakersfield) – Manhattanville College Ben Greiner (Newport Beach) – Hobart College Sean Haltam (Medina) – Lebanon Valley College Brian Hodges (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Cameron Mack (Long Beach) – Elmira College Brenden Manquen (Rolling Hills) – Lebanon Valley College Jon Neal (Encinitas) – Hobart College Jordan Watt (Riverside) – Stevenson University Chase Wilson (Riverside) – Lebanon Valley College Colin Woods (Yorba Linda) – Stevenson University Matt Zendejas (Upland) – Neumann University MASCAC Kyle Baker (Fresno) – Worcester State University Jake Carter (El Segundo) – Westfield State University Connor Cooley (Simi Valley) – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Khalil East (Los Angeles) – Worcester State University Drake Longaker (San Jose) – Plymouth State University Andrew McAvoy (Valencia) – Salem State University Connor McPherson (Lancaster) – Fitchburg State University Kyle Orgel (El Segundo) – Plymouth State University Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills) – Worcester State University Cody Slocum (Temecula) – Worcester State University Crissostomos Villareal (Corona) – Worcester State University MIAC Peter Barral (Berkeley) – Bethel University Tyler Gonzales (West Covina) – Hamline University Dallas Marvin (Newbury Park) – Bethel University Chris Nuth (Trabuco Canyon) – Augsburg College J.T. Paine (Rancho Santa Margarita) – St. Olaf College Kyle Rimbach (Encinitas) – St. Olaf College Steven Sherman (San Diego) – St. Olaf College Cole Souto (Yorba Linda) – St. John’s University J.T. Walters (Escondido) – Gustavus Adolphus College NCHA Anthony Annunziato (Alta Loma) – Lake Forest College Henry Berger (Claremont) – Northland College Zach Feldman (San Diego) – Lake Forest College Kyle Gonzalez (Chino Hills) – Northland College James Mathias (Ontario) – Marian University Peter Megariotis (Anaheim Hills) – College of St. Scholastica Travis Meyer (Corona) – Marian University Sean Reynolds (Anaheim) – Lawrence University Nick Trefry (Upland) – Northland College Quinton Wunder (Simi Valley) – Lake Forest College NEHC Sam Bloom (Davis) – Skidmore College Scott Cornfield (Brea) – New England College Conor Ferrera (Trabuco Canyon) – University of Southern Maine Keenan Haase (Mission Viejo) – New England College Bryan Hodges (La Palma) – University of Southern Maine Brett Kilar (Coto de Caza) – New England College David MacGregor (Azusa) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Jon Manlow (Murrieta) – New England College Bryce Nielsen (Laguna Hills) – New England College Will Platt (San Francisco) – New England College Mark Shroyer (Fresno) – Castleton State University Corey Sikich (Hermosa Beach) – Castleton State University NESCAC Nick Balboa (San Francisco) – Tufts University Kendall Culbertson (Laguna Niguel) – Bowdoin College Kai Frankville (La Jolla) – Colby College Ryan Glantz (Tarzana) – Connecticut College Chad Goldberg (Agoura Hills) – Tufts University Austin Ho (Chino Hills) – Amherst College Evan Johnson (Huntington Beach) – Williams College Marcus Mollica (Dove Canyon) – Williams College Ryan Mowery (Rancho Santa Fe) – Connecticut College Sean Ross (San Diego) – Wesleyan University Oliver Takacsi-Nagy (Los Gatos) – Tufts University Theo Tydingco (Newark) – Wesleyan University NORTHEAST-10 Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton) – Franklin Pierce 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 WIAC Jono Davis (La Verne) – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point David Henry (Foster City) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eric Shand (San Dimas) – University of Wisconsin-Superior D-III INDEPENDENT Devin Day (Fontana) – Post University Kyle Matsumoto (Walnut) – Canton State University Jarrett Stark (San Bernardino) – Daniel Webster College Chris Timm (Dublin) – Daniel Webster College NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN COLONIAL HOCKEY Danielle Comorre (Tujunga) – Endicott College Madison Maloney (Clovis) – Becker College Savannah Sommers (Corona) – Stevenson University Anastasia Thompson (Riverside) – Becker College ECAC WEST Bri Carroll – Buffalo State University $ Megan Crandell (Fullerton) – Plattsburgh State University Hannah Kiraly (Newport Beach) – Plattsburgh State University Eva Kristof (Pleasanton) – Cortland State University Jordan Lipson (Davis) – Plattsburgh State University Justine Silva (El Monte) – Buffalo State University Hannah Tarr (Los Angeles) – Buffalo State University Laura Thacker (San Jose) – Oswego State University MIAC Valerie Brown (San Martin) – St. Thomas University Jessica Jones (El Cajon) – St. Mary’s University Kylie Kramer – College of St. Benedict $ NCHA Jacqueline Audet (Campbell) – Lake Forest College Allie Girard (Folsom) – Lake Forest College Rachael Goodrow (Rancho Santa Margarita) – St. Norbert College Bailey Robertson (Orange) – Adrian College NEHC Alexandra Anderson (San Anselmo) – Salve Regina University Lizzie Aveson (West Covina) – University of Massachusetts-Boston Taylor Chisholm (Discovery Bay) – Salve Regina University Mackenzie Kennedy (Brea) – Plymouth State University Demi Latham (Redwood City) – New England College Brooke Maggy (Alhambra) – Plymouth State University Kateri McClellan (Rancho Palos Verde) – University of Mass.-Boston Kristi Peters (Newport Beach) – Manhattanville College Tori Polehonka (Chino) – New England College Maisie Tatum-Borich (Newport Beach) – New England College Tara Turcotte (Huntington Beach) – New England College NESCAC Candace Lu (Studio City) – Williams College Hailey Sholty (Malibu) – Wesleyan University Emily Williams (Fallbrook) – Hamilton College D-III INDEPENDENT Emilia Aguilar (Los Angeles) – Post University Sydney Conrad (Temple City) – Post University Anna Estes (Whittier) – Post University Victoria Lahey (Redwood City) – Lebanon Valley College Kalena Mueller (San Ramon) – Post University JUNIOR HOCKEY ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Sam Anzai (Los Angeles) – Drayton Valley Thunder Alec Grollman (Laguna Niguel) – Grand Prairie Storm Robert Jacobson (Calabasas) – Bonnyville Pontiacs Tyler Levine (Laguna Beach) – Brooks Bandits BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Elijiah Barriga (West Covina) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Austin Chavez (Corona) – Wenatchee Wild 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 Garrett Nieto (Yorba Linda) – Wenatchee Wild Eric Pinsky (San Jose) – Wenatchee Wild Dakota Raabe (Capistrano Beach) – Wenatchee Wild Tyler Rockwell (San Jose) – Wenatchee Wild
Chad Sasaki (Cypress) – Wenatchee Wild Jack Sitzman (Redondo Beach) – Trail Smoke Eaters Julian Timba (Oceanside) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Jared Turcotte (Moorpark) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks Brian Williams (San Diego) – Wenatchee Wild EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Michael Adelson (Claremont) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam Bedford (Hawthorne) – Boston Bandits (Premier) Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Declan Curtis (Fontana) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Thomas Dyreng (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Jason Epperly (Lakewood) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Brendan Gilligan (San Jose) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) John Grealish (Bakersfield) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Elite) Nicholas Harris (Glendale) – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (Premier) Tim Huxen (Bakersfield) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Jagr Larson (Palm Springs) – East Coast Wizards (Premier) Sean Lincoln (Orange County) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Sawyer Lockleis (Stanford) – Vermont Lumberjacks (Premier) Julian Madison (Pasadena) – New York Applecore (Premier) Robby McClellan (Palos Verdes) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Ryan Miller (Manhattan Beach) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Zach Morel (Oceanside) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Elite) Tyler Nelson (Danville) – Hartford Jr. Wolfpack (Premier) Ryan Ng (Manhattan Beach) – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier) Shane Noviello (Mission Viejo) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Evan Nyhus (Dove Canyon) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Ricky Pacciorini (Winters) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Adam Papayoanou (Valencia) – Connecticut Nighthawks (Premier) Eric Phillips (Portola Hills) – Walpole Express (Elite) Sean Plonski (San Bernardino) – Walpole Express (Premier) Brian Sanzone (Santa Monica) – Northern Cyclones (Premier) Connor Schwarz (Oakdale) – Boston Bandits (Elite) Ryan Sheridan (Mission Viejo) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Felix Takacsi-Nagy (Los Gatos) – Hartford Jr. Wolfpack (Premier) Jake Takashima (Torrance) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Elite) Chad Watt (Corona) – Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier) Eric Wright (San Diego) – Walpole Express (Premier) GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Eric Bampenchow (Laguna Hills) – Bradford Rattlers Don Carter, Jr. (Antioch) – Bradford Bulls Brandon Chapin (Santa Clara) – Bradford Rattlers Steven Colombo (San Jose) – Seguin Huskies Bryan Hochberg (Woodland Hills) – Parry Sound Islanders Austin Kane (Milpitas) – Bradford Rattlers Mark Klasen (San Diego) – New Tecumseth Civics Nico Wilton (Redondo Beach) – Temiscaming Titans KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Ethan Bock (Upland) – Golden Rockets Stephen Gaughran (Lake Elsinore) – Golden Rockets Ruslan Katsnelson (West Hills) – Golden Rockets Blake Norman (Redondo Beach) – Spokane Braves Mark Pretorius (San Diego) – Spokane Braves MANITOBA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Dylan Dix (Scotts Valley) – Winkler Flyers MARITIME HOCKEY LEAGUE Ezekiel Estrada (Anaheim) – Yarmouth Mariners NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Connor Chilton (Oak Park) – Fairbanks Ice Dogs Devin Cooley (Los Gatos) – Springfield Jr. Blues 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) – Northeast Generals 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 Jacob Acton (Livermore) – Omaha Lancers 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) – Omaha Lancers 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) 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) 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 (Elite) 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) 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) 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) – Moose Jaw Warriors Evan Weinger (El Segundo) – Portland Winterhawks Kailer Yamamoto – Spokane Chiefs % Keanu Yamamoto – Spokane Chiefs %
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 Jordan Skahill (San Dimas) – South Kent Jackson Tuszynski (Valencia) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Brent Valentine (Newport Beach) – Choate Rosemary Hall Cam York (Anaheim Hills) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep Billy Zegras (San Diego) – The Berkshire School
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 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
PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY
PREP SCHOOL Alan Austria-Garcia (Redwood City) – Tahoe Hockey 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 Shane Gilbert (Newport Beach) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Jonah Gold (Rolling Hills Estates) – Groton School Niko Grollman (Mission Viejo) – The Gunnery 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 Tae Lee (Irvine) – The Governor’s 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 Nolan McElhaney (Yorba Linda) – Cushing Academy Adam McGill (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Matthew Odom (Elk Grove) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Zach Pires (Villa Park) – Tahoe Hockey Academy Steven Plante (Valencia) – Tahoe Hockey Academy
NEVADA NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Jason Zucker (Las Vegas) – Minnesota Wild AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Zach Pochiro (Las Vegas) – Bakersfield Condors ECHL Kenny Brooks (Las Vegas) – Atlanta Gladiators 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 SUNYAC Ryan Chiasson (Henderson) – Plattsburgh State University 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 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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Bombers enjoying fast lift-off to 2016-17 WSHL campaign By John B. Spigott
T
he Long Beach Bombers entered the 2016-17 Western States Hockey League (WSHL) season with some unfinished business to take care of. So far, so good. The Bombers – who captured the Western Division crown last year before falling to the Idaho Jr. Steelheads in the Western Conference final – have exploded out of the gate to start the new WSHL campaign. Behind the most prolific offense in the league, Long Beach sits atop the division with a 15-1 record and 138 goals scored to only 28 allowed. “For us, it’s really been about our depth,” said Long Beach coach-GM Chris White. “We are getting goals from up and down our lineup. Our defensemen are scoring a ton, our third- and fourthline guys – if you can even call them that because they have been so good – are scoring as much or more than our top six. “But we’ve also been consistently good on defense and doing a good job of limiting scoring chances, and that’s something that we’ve seen consistently over the start of the season.” That said, White acknowledges that a loaded and veteran-laden Bombers squad has had the advantage of playing some teams early on that have had their struggles, including Phoenix and Fresno, who the Bombers swept to start the season, outscoring the Monsters by a combined score of 37-0. “Early on, some of the teams we have come up against just haven’t had the depth necessary to match up with us,” said White. “Unfortunately,
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California Rubber Hockey Magazine
the division isn’t as strong as it has been in years past, but we’ve also got 12 guys returning and 16 20-year-olds.” While the West still features a talented Valencia Flyers squad – the only team to hand Long Beach a loss this season – and improved teams in Ontario and San Diego, the Bombers are approaching
The Western Division-leading Long Beach Bombers are plowing through WSHL competition this season, thanks to an explosive offense led by veteran Nikita Nikitin. Photo/Mark Mauno
the regular season in a methodical way. With the experience of last year’s long playoff run still fresh in the organization’s mind coupled with the large number of veteran players on the roster, White has made it abundantly clear what the end goal is for his
club this season. “We’ve got so many returning players and so many mature guys that have played at a high level, and all these guys are here to win a championship,” said White. “From Day 1, we’ve been preaching about preparing for March and April, and we want to take something out of every game, whether it’s 16-0 or 2-1. There’s so much competition within our group that even if we are winning big, they are competing within our own roster. “We feel like we have the group here that can put us in the position to compete for a championship.” With a whopping 12 players averaging a pointper-game or greater, the collective contribution on offense has been remarkable, but leading scorer Nikita Nikitin is among the players that have stood out. After piling up 194 penalty minutes last season to go with 41 points in 45 games, the Moscow native is on the verge of surpassing last year’s point total with 39 in 16 games and is among the league leaders in scoring, while at the same time has decreased his penalty minute total to 22. “He’s a really interesting player,” said White. “He’s an incredibly tough kid, and I think last year he was maybe trying to prove that too much. This year around the league, people know that he had 200 penalty minutes last year and they know he can handle himself. But he’s so offensively talented, and he’s been so consistent, and he’s red-hot right now. The thing with him re-signing was all about winning a championship and so far, he’s doing a whole bunch of things that are going to help us all reach that goal. “And what’s really scary is that I think that he can be better than he already has been.”
Californians well represented at Shawnigan Lake School enrolling at Shawnigan. The latter two are the sons of Dwayne Roloson, whose career as an NHL goalie spanned six franchises and 17 years before he retired in 2012. The former all-star netminder now serves as an assistant coach with the Midget Varsity Black team and also coaches goalies at Shawnigan. “It’s a great program with wonderful academics,” Roloson said. “The hockey program is still in its infancy,
school atmosphere.” Shawnigan teams plays about 45-55 games ucked into the southwest corner of Canada, in per season and practice 3-4 times per week at the a spectacular wooded setting, a 100-year old school’s on-campus rink. The facilities are top notch, boarding school is making waves with its burgeoning from the playing surface to the bleachers, locker hockey program. rooms, coaches offices, training room, video room and A handful of Calfornia student-athletes are part of weight room. the renaissance, and more from the golden state may The school competes in the Canadian Sports be coming soon. School Hockey League (CSSHL), a six-year-old league Shawnigan Lake School, situated on Vancouver that has already sent more than 200 alumni on to Island, is in its fourth school year offering high-level play Junior A-level hockey or higher, including a long hockey, and the program has quickly lived up to the list of players drafted by NHL teams. Shawnigan has high standards set by the institution’s academic won the boys varsity division banner since joining offerings. the league and they are aiming for their third one “We started with one team, and now we have this year. four boys teams and a girls team, so we’ve grown Of course, Shawnigan is not just a hockey factory. quickly,” said Kevin Cooper, the director of hockey The school is celebrating its centennial this year, and head coach, as well as an admissions associate and has offered hockey since the 1970s. Though at Shawnigan. “The attraction for students from its British founders placed a heavy emphasis on its California and all over the world, really, is the nationally acclaimed rugby and rowing programs, the high-level academic atmosphere combined with quality of the remaining athletics offerings is highly the excellent hockey and the very good boarding competitive. Set on 380 rural acres, the school has experience, which isn’t very common in the West.” approximately 500 boys and girls enrolled and has Shawnigan currently has five players from an average class size of just 15. Twenty advanced California competing on its teams. Matt Kors, a placement courses are offered and the school senior on the Midget Varsity Gold team, played for The Midget Prep team at the Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver boasts a 100 percent rate of its students moving on Island celebrates a recent victory in Canadian Sports School Hockey the L.A. Jr. Kings before heading north of the border. League play over the Okanagan Hockey Academy. Photo/Taehoon Kim to college. Tyler Leibl is a junior on the Midget Prep team Cooper, a Toronto native, moved to Shawnigan who previously played for the San Diego Jr. Gulls, and but is really moving in the right direction. Kevin is doing in 2012 to advance the hockey program. Grady Birk, a junior on the Midget Varsity Black team, some great things with the varsity program here. “A lot of families from California send their kids also came from the Jr. Gulls program. Brett Roloson, “My wife and I felt like the academic and athletic to boarding schools in the East,” Cooper explained. a sophomore on the Midget Varsity Black squad, and environment here was perfect for our kids. It’s very “Why not send them up north to a school that’s Ross Roloson, an eighth grader on the Bantam structured, from the time they get up in the morning a little closer that is just as elite as those Eastern Prep team, skated for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks before until they go to bed at night. It’s an excellent prep schools?” By Greg Ball
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CARubberHockey.com
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EMERSON ETEM
Position: Forward, San Diego Gulls (AHL) Hometown: Long Beach Last amateur team: Medicine Hat Tigers (Western Hockey League) Youth teams: Huntington Beach Sun Devils, Long Beach Jr. Ice Dogs, LA Hockey Club
E
merson Etem has been playing the transition the past few months. In the midst of training camp in Vancouver, he and wife, Danette, welcomed their first child, son Laulo, on Sept. 30. Less than two weeks, later the Canucks waived him, but he was immediately reclaimed by the Anaheim Ducks, who drafted him 29th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. After a few games in Anaheim, he was sent to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League. California Rubber: What is your favorite hockey memory growing up? Emerson Etem: When I played with Jason Zucker and Matt Nieto, we bought this fart spray. We went around the rink playing pranks and spraying it all over the place. When our coach, Sandy Gasseau, came in for a pre-ice meeting and smelled the room, he wasn’t too happy. He skated us for an hour straight doing line drills. It was a lesson learned but it was funny at the same time. We’d also bring our skateboards to the rink and after practice we’d skateboard for close to a half hour outside. Just to be with boys, have fun on the ice and hang out after was awesome. I appreciate that my dad and the other parents stayed and let us have fun. That’s stuff you can’t take back. CR: Which coach influenced you the most? EE: Sandy Gasseau always cared and helped my family and all of the kids’ families. He would do things like give us extra ice time. He made sure I could achieve my dreams. He’s a big one to thank. He knew when to push us and when to back off, and that was the best part about him. CR: What advice would you give young hockey players? EE: I was a huge scorer in juniors and it’s not always translatable. It depends on the situation you’re brought into. If it is a deep team and you’re young, you might be put in situations at the start you’re not used to. A lot of the goals you’re scoring now don’t really translate. A lot of the goals are scored at the net and it’s about getting traffic in front. Finishing your checks, doing those little things – the earlier on they learn those, the better off they’ll be at higher levels. CR: What are essential items to take on a road trip? EE: My iPad. I’m an artist, so I bring my sketchpad and a pencil and pen. Clothes and a suit and that’s pretty much it. I like to doodle a little bit. My brother (Martin) is a full-time artist. We both have the knack for it. I like politically motivated stuff, current events. I like to make it into a cartoon. CR: Have you ever drawn a cartoon about any of your teammates? EE: No, I don’t think I have. It would be funny if I went down the roster and drew a couple of the boys. CR: When you’re back in California, do you have a favorite meal or restaurant? EE: Definitely Mexican food. There is nothing else like it. I like a place called La Taqueria in Lakewood and Long Beach. Their California burrito is my favorite. It’s got fries in it and it’s pretty epic. CR: What is the most challenging aspect of playing pro hockey? EE: You’re held to a standard where maybe you can’t show off who you really are sometimes; in interviews, you have to hold back. For a guy like me who’s really opinionated, you have to adjust some of the comments or sometimes you can’t speak your mind, which is unfortunate.
Photo/Bruce Bennett
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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
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND May 26 -29, 2017
Midget Open . 2003 Elite & AAA February 17-20, 2017 2004 Elite & AAA . 2005 Elite & AAA & AAA . 2007 Elite & AAA Application Deadline: January 20, 2017 2006 Elite2008 Elite & AAA November 24 - 27, 2016 2009 Mite Track I (Half Ice) . & II 2010 Mite Track II (Half Ice) . Wee AA, A, BB, B . Squirt A, BB, B Mite Track I
September 2 - 5, 2016 . Bantam AA, A, B Pee . Midget 18U AA/A - Midget 16U AA/A High School
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