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VOLUME 5 ISSUE 10 SUMMER 2016

LONGTIME YOUTH COACHHOLMSTROM RETURNS TO TIGERS

OUTLIERS PREPPING FOR YEAR 2IN UTAH YOUTH HOCKEY RANKS

AVALANCHE DRAFT FOR THEFUTURE, NAB HIGH-END PROSPECTS

RMJHL MAKING MOVES TO READYFOR SECOND JUNIOR SEASON

After a stellar rookie season at NCAA Division I St. Cloud State University, Littleton native Mikey Eyssimont

caught the eyes of NHL scouts and was selected by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo

CORubberHockey.com 3

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• SQ (U10A, U10B, U10C): Skills & Drills - September 6, 2016 | SQ Tryouts - October 1, 2016

• U8s (2008-2010): Skills & Drills - October 1, 2016 |Teams formation takes place – October 30, 2016

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CHSAA Information MeetingJuly 16, 2016 | Family Sports Center

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine4

In each of his first three seasons at the University of Den-ver, Jim Montgomery has guided the Pioneers to the

NCAA tournament.The school is banking on more success as Montgom-

ery was recently inked to a contract extension through the 2020-21 season.

“My family and I are thrilled to be staying here in central Colorado for the foreseeable future and my staff and I are excited to continue our quest to bring an eighth national title to Denver,” said Montgomery. “We truly feel that both the present and the future are incredibly bright for the Pio-neers and that the program is set up well for immediate and long-term success.”

After finishing the 2015-16 season with a record of 25-10-6, DU advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2005.

Montgomery has amassed a record of 69-40-14 at DU since being named the eighth coach in program history on April 15, 2013.

Littleton native Ryan Massa, who recently re-upped with the ECHL’s Orlando So-lar Bears for the 2016-17 season, is also carving out a niche as a goaltending coach in Omaha, Neb., where the youth hockey scene is growing.

Massa helped the University of Nebraska-Omaha reach the Frozen Four in 2015.“It’s a small business right now, but I’m working to grow it in years to come,” Massa

said. “There’s such a need for quality goaltending instruction. I saw a good opportunity to get involved and UNO has been very supportive.”

More information is at www.MassaGoaltending.com.

On the Utah side of things, Salt Lake City native and two-time Stanley Cup cham-pion Trevor Lewis and the Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension.

The 29-year-old Lewis appeared in a career-high 75 regular-season games last season with the Kings. He registered 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) and was selected as the Kings Unsung Hero (voted by the players) for the fifth consecutive year.

Lewis has appeared in 424 regular-season games with the Kings, posting 89 points, including 35 goals.

A half dozen players with connections to Colorado were selected in the annual North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft, which was conducted on June 7.

Forward Josiah Slavin (Erie, Colorado Thunderbirds 18U AAA) was chosen in the third round (67th overall) by the Minot Minotauros, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders’ 18U AAA goalie Zach LaRocque (Arvada) went to the Odessa Jackalopes in the fifth round (106th overall) and the Minnesota Magicians tabbed Colorado Rampage 16U AAA defenseman Bryce DeFazio (Colorado Springs) in the 14th round (319th overall).

In addition, the Bismarck Bobcats nabbed three with Colorado ties – Broomfield brothers and forwards from the RoughRiders, Nick Ness (fourth round, 93rd overall) and Kevin Ness (sixth round, 141st overall), and Rampage 18U AAA forward Luke Millen (11th round, 261st overall).

In its second year of operation, the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RM-JHL) will begin the 2016-17 season with new team ownership in Breckenridge.

The primary owner is Janesville Jets (NAHL) coach-GM Joe Dibble and joining him as a member of the Breckenridge ownership group is Janesville assistant coach Kyle Forte.

The team played as the Breckenridge Bucks in 2015-16.“(Dibble) brings a wealth of junior hockey experience to our league, and a direct

connection to NAHL markets is invaluable,” said RMJHL commissioner Mike Gem-peler.

“Adding such a highly qualified ownership group in Summit County is a tremendous achievement for our league,” added RMJHL president Shaun Hathaway. “Coupled with the recent expansion in Steamboat (where the team will be called the Wranglers), having another first-class operation in Breckenridge only strengthens our ski town and Front Range rivalries, and once again significantly raises the bar for the entire league.”

Playing out of the Stephen C. West Arena in downtown Breckenridge, the new team will turn to the community to decide a name and mascot.

Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com

Matt Mackinder

Mikey Eyssimont, who just completed a stellar freshman sea-son at St. Cloud State University (NCHC), was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round (142nd overall) at the 2016 NHL Draft on June 25 in Buffalo, N.Y. In early July, the Colorado Thunderbirds graduate participated in the Kings’ development camp at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, Calif. Photo/Tony Panzica/ActionPhotos.net

publisher: Brian McDonoughsenior editor: Matt Mackindersenior designer: Julie Wilson

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STEPPING DOWN

Longtime Colorado Eagles head coach Chris Stewart is step-ping away from the bench, but isn’t leaving the organization. He’ll be placing more emphasis on his behind-the-scenes du-ties with the ECHL club. More on Page 10 Photo/Standout Imagery

FROM THE EDITOR

ON THE COVER

Denver hockey on right path,rewards ‘Monty’ with extension

CORubberHockey.com 5

By Steve Stein

Making youth hockey the best experience possible for everyone involved is the goal of the Colorado

Amateur Hockey Association's (CAHA) second annual summer meeting.

The meeting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat-urday, Aug. 6, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, home of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. There is no admission charge, parking will be free and lunch and refreshments will be available. Registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 5.

About 190 attended last year's inaugural meeting, also at the Pepsi Center. As many as 300 are expected to flock to this year's gathering.

CAHA board member Greg Johnson is the meet-ing organizer. He said the purpose of the meeting is for youth hockey coaches, hockey directors and parents of players to learn about best practices and hear from experts on topics like communication, motivating young athletes and developing those athletes' on- and off-ice skills.

"We hope attendees get first-hand messages on how to grow youth hockey, support young athletes and enhance the experience," Johnson said. "We also hope they learn from the focus groups that delve into the diverse elements of our hockey community."

Growing the game, Hockey 101, adaptive hockey, officiating, high school, recreation and junior hockey, USA Hockey's American Development Model and SafeSport program, registration, insurance and bully-

ing are among the focus group topics that will be cov-ered in Denver.

"The diversity of the focus groups is designed to give positive information for the ongoing development and functional areas of Colorado hockey and provide resources that will assist hockey associations in hav-

ing positive outcomes in the coming season," Johnson said.

CAHA is bringing in Eric Eisendrath from the Positive Coaching Alliance and Reed Maltbie from Changing the Game, national organizations dedicated to making youth sports a healthy experience.

"They have slightly different messages of how to ac-complish this goal, but both start at the core of parents and coaching," Johnson said.

The Positive Coaching Alliance promotes encour-aging athletes with positive reinforcement, which helps them listen to coaches and make necessary correc-tions. With a combination of truthful, specific praise and constructive criticism, the PCA believes athletic performance improves and so do the chances that kids stick with sports longer and learn the valuable life les-sons sports teaches.

Changing the Game wants youth sports to be re-turned to youths, to put "play" back into "play ball." It says it strives to give the most influential adults in chil-dren's lives -- their parents and coaches -- information and resources to make sports a healthy, positive and rewarding experience for players and their families.

Players from the Boston Pride women's profession-al hockey team will be at the meeting to lead discus-sions about girls hockey and a representative from the Avalanche will speak about the club's efforts to grow youth hockey.

The Pride, one of four charter members of the Na-tional Women's Hockey League (NWHL), which was founded in 2015, won the league's inaugural Isobel Cup earlier this year.

A pre-meeting reception for hockey directors, presenters and media will be at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Brooklyn's, across the street from the Pepsi Cen-ter.

CAHA ready to tackle pertinent topics at summer meeting

CAHA.co

At CAHA’s annual summer meeting in Denver next month, Pos-itive Coaching Alliance member Eric Eisendrath will speak to those in attendance on positive reinforcement and how sports contributes to important life lessons.

COLORADO AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine6

By Chris Bayee

Confidence as much as anything played a role in two Coloradoans hearing their names called on Day 2 of June’s NHL Draft in

Buffalo, N.Y.Forward and Littleton native Mikey Eyssimont

rediscovered his during the second half of his fresh-man season at St. Cloud State University and went on a second-half scoring binge for the highly-ranked Huskies. The Los Angeles Kings took note and add-ed him in the fifth round (142nd overall) on June 25.

Defenseman Nate Clurman, a Boulder native, further grew his during his first three seasons at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind. The Colora-do Avalanche took note and picked him in the sixth round (161st overall).

Per research on hockeydb.com, Clurman is only the second player from the state the Avs have ever drafted. Left wing J.D. Corbin of Littleton was tak-en in the eighth round (249th overall) in 2004 after his freshman season at the University of Denver.

Eyssimont, a 1996 birth year, was picked in his third – and final – year of eligibility, while Clurman (a ‘98) went in his first.

“It’s funny, but the Kings met with me my first few draft years, so I had talked to them quite a bit,” Eyssimont said. “This year, they picked me after not talking to me. I’m glad it happened.”

One reason it happened was Eyssimont’s sec-ond-half emergence on a senior-laden St. Cloud team that won the NCHC postseason champion-ship. The 6-foot-2, 192-pounder scored 29 points in 23 games after the holiday break, after getting just four in the first half, for NCAA Division I’s sec-ond-highest scoring team.

“In the first half he was snake bit, (but) he had chances,” St. Cloud State coach Bob Motzko said. “He never panicked.

“The biggest factor (in his turnaround) was his confidence. Once a goal scorer sees ‘I can do it,’ then you get what we saw in the second half. Young guys who have his skill level often see struggles. They all have to go through trials and frustrating moments to get to this point.

Five of Eyssimont’s 14 goals came in the Hus-kies’ final three games – the NCHC semifinal and final and an NCAA tournament game.

“The adjustment was tough in the first half,” Eyssimont said. “The second half, I made more of the opportunities I was given. I stayed positive and didn’t get frustrated.”

Keeping things on the lighter side has nev-er been an issue with Eyssimont, a big-time roller hockey player who began playing on ice with the Foothills Flyers before spending one season with the Littleton Hawks and four with the Colorado Thunderbirds.

“Mikey has a fun personality and he’s a serious student,” St. Cloud assistant coach Mike Gib-bons said. “He’s a bit of a Colorado free spirit, a bit of a character. He’s popular around campus and his teammates like him.”

Eyssimont, however, discovered humor has its limits during the four years (13U to 16U) he played for the T-Birds.

“Angelo Ricci runs a tight ship, but he doesn’t ruin the fun,” Eyssimont said. “As much as I learned about hockey, I learned just as much about how to act like a pro.

“I could be a trouble maker at times. Not anything horrible, but I like to joke around. He sat me down and talked to me about how that wouldn’t fly at higher levels. It humbled me, but it helped me mature.”

In addition to Ricci, Eyssimont counts his first ice coach, Dave Fromm, and Jesse Davis as oth-er strong influences, as well as his parents, George and Nancy.

“Jesse was one of the only United States Hock-ey League coaches who showed any interest in me,” Eyssimont said of the then-Fargo Force assis-tant coach.

Clurman, who played for the Boulder Hock-ey Club and Rocky Mountain RoughRiders be-fore heading to Culver, developed his confidence through a pattern of stepping out.

“When I went to Culver, I was nervous at first,” he said. “There were a lot of new things and I had to learn more about time management. A military school gives you tactics that transfer well to hock-ey.”

Clurman moved into more of a leadership role as a junior, when he had 16 points and was plus-22 while helping Culver to the USA Hockey 18U national championship game.

Leadership is nothing new for Clurman, said Matt Huckins, who coached him for two seasons on the RoughRiders’ 14U AAA team.

“He was a captain for me at 14, and his team-mates could not have respected him more,” Huck-ins said. “He was always positive. He knew when to pick a guy up, and he knew when to pull someone aside. That’s not easy for anyone to do, but imagine doing that at 14.

“It wasn’t easy for him when he played up his first year for me. He took on a large role playing with ‘97s, and he made plays for us.”

While Eyssimont’s calling card is his scoring touch, the 6-2, 198-pound Clurman boasts elite skating.

“I started young when my dad would take me skating outdoors in Vail, and I took power skating lessons,” Clurman said. “I think that has to be your biggest base skill. Some of it’s natural, but I still work with a skating coach. I learned new things this summer, and even at the (Avalanche’s) devel-opment camp, we worked on power skating every morning.”

Huckins has spent two decades coaching hock-ey, and he believes Clurman will play the game a long time.

“He’s going to be a great hockey player, a clas-sic late bloomer,” Huckins said. “His character will move him up before his skill because he gets it. Nate put himself in this situation.

“I’ve never seen a kid so low-key about getting drafted by an NHL team. What is he doing after he gets picked? He’s out doing edge work and work-ing on his skating. He reminds me of a 32-year-old NHL veteran.”

Getting picked by the team near where he grew up was icing on the cake.

“I wasn’t sure which team, but this seems like the best situation,” said Clurman, who called Huck-ins, Derek Robinson, Chris Lawson and Neil Runbeck “huge influences” in addition to his par-ents, Andrew and Claire. “I’m super psyched. All

year, Colorado was one of the teams I talked to.“In the end, I’m glad it worked out.”

Mikey Eyssimont had a strong freshman season at St. Cloud State Uni-versity that turned into the Littleton native being selected by the Los An-geles Kings in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft back on June 25. Photo/Brace Hemmelgarn

One Step CloserEyssimont, Clurman add to growing list of Colorado natives turning into bona fide NHL prospects

Boulder native and Culver Military Academy product Nate Clurman was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the sixth round of the NHL Draft last month in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo//Jan Garrison/Culver Academy

CORubberHockey.com 7

By Matt Mackinder

Sure, the Krivo School of Hockey Elite focuses on one primary sport throughout the year.But as has become the norm in recent years, see-

ing hockey players indulge in other sports is also a philosophy Krivo School director Andrei Krivokra-sov preaches to his players.

“It’s important for hockey players or any athlete to play other sports,” said Krivokrasov. “When playing oth-er sports, you may pick up hand-eye coordination, quick footwork, or low-er- and upper-body strength. These things all help to have a better over-all hockey player.”

In addition to Krivokrasov, players and parents from the Krivo School are in complete agreement with the notion that playing other sports is a benefit.

“Our son developed great con-fidence playing under Coach An-drei at an early age,” said Jean Blomberg, whose son, Patrick, plays on Krivo’s 12U team. “When he first tried to play baseball, he surprised even himself with his nerves of steel while pitching and at bat. Coach Andrei has always been supportive when we have sports

conflicts both during the hockey season and during the offseason.”

The fact that Krivokrasov sees the qualities a multi-sport athlete gains as an individual that they bring to hockey is a situation not many coaches agree with as

some can demand players stick to hockey 24/7.

“When I moved to the United States, I played tennis, soccer, and hockey in prep school and then tennis and hockey in college,” said Krivokrasov. “It’s important for par-ents and players to be involved in other sports because the message is the same – it’s all about the team, working together to achieve the same goal.”

Jim and Kim Allen, whose son, Caleb, is another Krivo 12U player, said with Caleb playing lacrosse, it’s a win-win from both ends.

“One of the hardest things about playing goalie in hockey is the toll it takes on the goalies' hips, knees and

back,” explained the Allen parents. “Our son's leg and core development from his lacrosse play helps to keep

his legs strong for his hockey play and limber and agile as well for both sports. Hockey skating and butterfly up and down and side to sides help to support the running

and dodging used in lacrosse. And vice versa.“His passion and desire to play hard are driven by the

unique friends, coaches and cities he experiences with each sport. He doesn't live and breathe with the same kids, fields, rinks or coaches. One of the unseen benefits is that our son has been able to fearlessly try sports out-side of his huge love of hockey.”

Another 12U parent, Shawn Blackwood, said the positives her son, Harrison, experiences playing more than one sport is phenomenal.

“Mentally playing individual sports, such as golf and tennis, greatly benefits the player as the player learns how to face adversity, how to dig deep, and even learns how to come back when they are down in a match,” Black-wood said. “This all fosters mental toughness, which can be a huge factor in rallying a team should they face the same scenario in a hockey game. Andrei believes that playing other sports not only makes a player embrace a competitive spirit, but it also allows a player to contin-ue to develop an overall fitness, which in turn promotes the development of a successful hockey player even that much more.”

Noah Fekete, a player on the Krivo 12U team, said Krivokrasov fosters an environment for his elite players to participate in other sports, which is rare.

“I love to play hockey and it's my favorite, but I love to play other sports,” Fekete said. “I also like to play la-crosse, soccer and tennis, and playing these help my skills in hockey. I get to meet new kids and have lots of fun competing in those sports, too.”

Popular Krivo School promoting the multi-sport athlete

Patrick Blomberg excels on the ice with the Krivo School of Hockey Elite organization, but also stars on the baseball field and has im-proved his skills in both sports in recent times.

KrivoSchoolofHockey.com

KRIVO SCHOOL OF HOCKEY ELITE

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine8

Hockey DirectorAdam Bartholomay Phone (818) 264-9167wcradam@gmail.com

18U Tier I Head CoachKevin McClelland

kevinmac2499@gmail.com

18U Tier I Assistant CoachesAdam Bartholomay

Rich Teecerkteece@gmail.com

16U Tier I Head CoachAdam Bartholomay

16U Tier I Assistant CoachesKevin McClelland

Rich Teece

14U Tier I Head CoachJon Solomon

hattrick08@gmail.com

14U Tier I Assistant CoachBryce Mannek

13U Head CoachSean Wilmert

swilmert@comcast.net

Strength & Conditioning CoachTyler Dabrowski

Tdabrowski@usspeedskating.org

Power Skating CoachMariko Rollins

@WCRHockey /WCRTierI

www.westcoastrenegades.com

CORubberHockey.com 9

By Chris Bayee

The band isn’t exactly getting back together, but several members might have similar tour schedules some day.Forwards Mikey Eyssimont and Dylan Gambrell

joined their former Colorado Thunderbirds linemate Dom-inic Turgeon as NHL draft picks when they heard their names called by teams on June 25.

The Los Angeles Kings selected Eyssimont, who is heading into his sophomore season at St. Cloud State, in the fifth round (142nd overall). Their Pacific Division neighbors to the north, the San Jose Sharks, picked Gam-brell, a sophomore-to-be at Denver, in the second round (60th overall).

Turgeon, who centered Eyssimont and Gambrell on the Thunderbirds’ 2011-12 16U AAA team, was a third-round pick (63rd overall) of the Detroit Red Wings in 2014.

That 2011-12 team also included future NHL picks in defenseman Brandon Carlo (2015 second round by Boston), goaltender Hayden Hawkey (2014 sixth round by Montreal) and forward Fredrik Olofsson (fourth round in 2014 by Chicago).

“Playing for the T-Birds was one of the best years of my life,” Gambrell said. “Being able to play with Mikey and Dom was awesome, and now that all three of us are draft-ed, it’s a testament to the organization.”

“(Eyssimont and Gambrell) have always shown great promise and they never got discouraged when their names weren’t called in previous drafts,” said Thunderbirds direc-

tor of hockey operations Angelo Ricci. “They just kept on doing what they always do, and this is listen, put in the work and try to become better each and every day.

“I am proud of Dylan and Mikey’s accomplishments, but more importantly what kind of human beings they have grown into. Their respective NHL clubs are fortunate to have each of them in their system. They will continue to get better and better.”

Eyssimont and Gambrell made strong first impres-sions for their respective NCHC schools, helping them reach the NCAA tournament.

“He put pressure on himself, but he came back and from that point on he was one of our better players,” said St. Cloud assis-tant coach Mike Gibbons. “He knows where the front of the net is and how to put it in the back of the net. He has great instincts and like a lot of natural goal scor-ers, he’s streaky.”

The 6-foot, 192-pound Eys-simont, a Littleton native, scored 29 points in 23 games after the holiday break for the sec-ond-highest scoring team in NCAA Division I. He scored three goals in two games as St. Cloud won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff then popped two more in an NCAA tour-nament game.

“He drives the net well and is a score-first player, but he has great vision, so you have to play the pass, too, or he’ll hurt you that way,” Gambrell said of Eyssimont. “And he’s a 200-foot guy, so you have to be aware of where he is at all times.”

The 5-11, 180-pound Gambrell had a solid start for DU, picking up 12 points before the break. Gambrell then scored 35 points from New Year’s Day on, including a 13-game point streak.

He finished with 17 goals and 47 points, the third most by a freshman in Division I and the second most on DU.

“After he got passed over twice (in the draft), I’m really happy for him,” Eyssimont said. “Some people might think play-ing on that Pacific Rim Line (with Danton Heinen and Trevor Moore) inflated his stats, but he has always made players around him better.

“He’s great to play with, but he’s hard to like when you’re playing against him because he’s so competitive.”

Eyssimont also became the third member of his line from the 2012-13 T-Birds 16U team to be drafted, joining Olofsson and DU’s Troy Terry (fifth round in 2015 by Anaheim).

COLORADO THUNDERBIRDSThunderbirds continue to produce NHL-caliber prospects

TBirdHockey.com

By Steve Stein

Andrew Sherman got a very nice surprise last month.The owner of the Colorado Sports Center learned

his facility will receive 25 sets of new hockey equipment from the National Hockey League Players Association's (NHLPA) Goals & Dreams fund.

"To be honest, I kind of forgot we sent in an application," he said.

The application was filled out more than a year earlier and was carefully considered, along with other applications, by Goals & Dreams staff. Better late than never, an email from the NHLPA informing Colorado Sports Center about the equipment donation was sent June 1.

The $15,000 worth of equipment -- $600 per set -- hadn't arrived at Colorado Sports Center by early July. When it does get to the twin-rink facility in Monument, it will be used for Colorado Sports Center's extensive entry-level hockey programs for youths.

Shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, gloves, pants, stakes, sticks, helmet/cages, garters/jocks, jills, neck protec-tors, socks, jerseys and bags were ordered from the NHLPA.

An NHLPA banner will hang in the arena to acknowledge the donation.

Al Pedersen, who played eight seasons (1986-1994) in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers and Minnesota North Stars, is Colorado Sports Center's general manager and architect of the facility's persistent push to grow the game. He's thrilled about the new -- and free -- equipment that's on its way.

"We can't thank the NHLPA enough for the donation to help our families," he said. "The NHLPA has given us a great opportunity to increase our initiatives to grow youth hockey."

Pedersen's programs for new players include the Little Rookies, 8U Mites, recreation leagues and adult hockey. Lit-tle Rookies offers a free introduction to hockey for the young-est of new players and an additional two levels of develop-ment before they graduate to Colorado Sports Center's 8U recreation program.

"Al, or Coach Al as he's known around here, has an infec-

tious love for hockey and he passes that on to hundreds of new players, ages 3 to adult, every year," Sherman said. "It's great to have the NHLPA support our programs."

Colorado Sports Center has participated in USA Hock-ey's Try Hockey for Free Day and Hockey Day in America programs for several years.

It led the nation in February in the number of new players who participated in the Try Hockey for Free Day, beating fa-cilities in larger areas.

It also partners with the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL club's Mile High Mites program, creates hockey opportuni-ties for area YMCA camps and school physical education classes, makes good use of equipment donations from Les Franklin of the Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth, and works with 4KidzSport, a national organization that wants to "Help Put Kids in the Game."

The NHLPA launched the Goals & Dreams fund in 1999 to give players in the union a chance to give back to the game they love.

Since then, sets of hockey equipment have been donat-ed to 70,000 children in 34 countries and funds have been used to renovate and build hockey arenas world-wide.

More than $23 million in equipment and money has been donated to grassroots hockey, making it the largest program of its kind in the world.

As for the Colorado Sports Center donation, "the players are pleased to help give more youth in the area an opportu-nity to play hockey with this donation of equipment through the NHLPA Goals & Dreams' program," said Devin Smith, NHLPA Goals & Dreams chairman.

Matthew Langen, manager of community relations for Goals & Dreams, praised Colorado Sports Center's efforts to enrich the lives of area children.

"Giving children a chance to play hockey is not only im-portant to build strong bodies, but also build strong minds," he said.

The Colorado Sports Center, located in Monument, will see an uptick on youth hockey equipment for the 2016-17 season, thanks to a re-cent award from the NHLPA.

CORampage.com

COLORADO RAMPAGERampage benefits from NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams initiative

Colorado Thunderbirds graduate Dylan Gambrell had a sensational freshman season at the University of Denver in 2015-16 and is now property of the San Jose Sharks. Photo/DU Athletics

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine10

By Matt Mackinder

Tyson Jost dreamed of the moment for 16 years – get-

ting drafted by an NHL team.The dream turned into reality June 24 at the First

Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y., when the Colorado Avalanche selected the University of North Dako-ta-bound forward 10th overall.

“I'm still so excited,” Jost said. “It's something that you can't really explain. It's something that I've dreamed about ever since I was two years old, so having that come true, it's pretty special, and I'm so glad I got to share it with my family, especially my mom.

“I'm going to remember it for a long time. My mom is so special to me. She's a single mom and she raised me all by herself, and to share that mo-ment with her up in the stands there is something I'll never forget and just giving her a hug, it was pretty special. It was kind of my thanks back to her just for all the hard work and sacrifice she gave me and my sister.”

Jost played the past two seasons with the Pent-icton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). A native of St. Alberta, Alberta, Jost was named Hockey Canada’s Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) National Player of the Year, as well as the CJHL and BCHL MVP, after amassing 42 goals and 104 points in 48 games last season. He led the BCHL in assists (62) and points per game (2.17) and added another six goals and 14 points in 11 playoff games.

Jost also captained Team Canada at the 2016

World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., where he set a new Canadian scoring record with a tournament-leading 15 points in seven games and was named the Top Forward.

“He’s just a great hockey player,” Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said. “He does everything well. He skates, he’s got great vision, he plays a great 200-foot game.

He’s always been a leader. He does everything you can ask for from a hockey player.”

Being on stage with Sakic and Avalanche coach Patrick Roy at the draft proceedings was a surreal experience for Jost.

“It's such a prestigious program,” said Jost. “One guy that really stands out, Joe Sakic, being able to

meet him there, it's pretty special. They're such a great program, and it's a team I always watch, so I'm so happy and excited to get things going.”

Playing in the BCHL was a decision that has ob-viously paid supreme dividends for Jost.

“I mean, you have so much exposure to schools like North Dakota and Boston University and Denver

and Penticton does such a great job at recruiting and getting that exposure, I guess you could say, so I feel like I'm comfortable to make that step next year into college hockey and then after that, the NHL,” Jost said. “The BCHL, I have so much respect for that league. I know everybody kind of looks down on it sometimes, and I don't think that should be the case at all just because it is a great league, and it's so good for your development. I have nothing but great things to say about the BCHL.”

On the second day of the draft, Colorado add-ed five more prospects, including Boulder native and former Rocky Mountain RoughRiders defense-man Nate Clurman, who went in the sixth round (161st overall) out of the Culver Military Academy in Indiana.

Also becoming property of the Avalanche were reigning United States Hockey League Rookie of the Year Cameron Morrison (second round, 40th

overall), who recorded 34 goals and 60 points with the Youngstown Phantoms last year, Prince George Cougars (Western Hockey League) defenseman Josh Anderson (third round, 71st overall), Swedish goalie Adam Werner (fifth round, 131st overall) and Ottawa 67’s (Ontario Hockey League) forward Tra-vis Barron (seventh round, 191st overall).

Feeling A DraftAvalanche add top NCAA prospect Jost, Boulder native Clurman in Buffalo

By Matt Mackinder

Chris Stewart won’t be behind the bench next season for the Colorado Eagles, but he’ll still be behind the

successful ECHL club.Stewart has decided to leave the bench as head coach of the team, choosing

to turn his focus solely to his growing role as governor, president and general manager of the organization.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision for me,” said Stewart. “I have been fortunate enough to spend over three decades in the world of coaching, an ex-perience which has been so very rewarding. I very much look forward to continu-ing my work as the governor, president and general manager of this outstanding organization. The future of the Colorado Eagles is extremely bright and what we have in store over the next several months will prove that to our expanding fan base, which is the absolute best in the ECHL.”

Stewart served as Colorado’s head coach for 11 of the team’s 13 seasons. Over that stretch, he captured two league championships (2005, 2007), four conference titles (2005, 2007, 2008, 2011), six division crowns (2004-2008, 2016) and led the Eagles to the postseason in each of his 11 seasons behind the bench. In addition, he guided the Eagles to the Central Hockey League’s (CHL) Governor’s Cup on two separate occasions after capturing the league’s best regular-season record in 2005 and 2006.

“Having no hockey background, I relied heavily on Chris’ guidance through the years,” said Eagles CEO Martin Lind. “His stewardship of this organization has been impeccable, both on and off the ice.”

Stewart was the first person hired by Eagles founder Ralph Backstrom in 2002 and concludes his head coaching career with an all-time record of 602-322-91.

“An extensive search for the next head coach of the Colorado Eagles has already begun and we will diligently seek to find the best person to continue to move this organization in the right direction,” added Stewart.

Stewart leaves Eagles bench to focus on growing admin role

By Matt Mackinder

The Utah Grizzlies want to keep building on their highly successful 2015-16 season.The team’s progress took a positive turn recently when

eight players from last year were issued qualifying offers for the 2016-17 ECHL season.

By extending the qualifying offers, the Grizzlies will retain the ECHL contract rights to the eight players for the upcoming season.

Utah coach-GM Tim Branham chose to offer contracts to forwards Barry Almeida, C.J. Eick, Alex Gallant and Erik Higby and defensemen Marc Cantin, Connor Hardowa, Phil Pietroniro and Shayne Taker.

Players under contract with the Grizzlies’ NHL affiliate, the Anaheim Ducks, are not eligible to receive qualifying offers.

Almeida scored 29 goals and added 19 assists for 48 points in 57 games with Utah in 2015-16 and has signed to play in Italy for the upcoming season. Eick played in all 10 playoff games (one goal, one assist) and the final seven regular-sea-son games (two assists) after signing with Utah out of Michigan Tech University in March. Gallant: Signed with the San Jose Sharks organization during a call-up from Utah last year and Higby posted 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 74 games with the Grizzlies last year.

On the blue line, Cantin was voted the Grizzlies’ Best Defenseman in 2015-16 and totaled three goals and five assists for eight points in 10 playoff games. Hardowa leads Utah defensemen with 98 regular-season games played last two seasons with eight goals and 26 assists and has appeared in 19 playoff games over that stretch. Pietroniro, named the Grizzlies’ Most Improved Player during second half of his rookie season, joins Taker, who served as an assistant captain in 2015-16 and was called up to the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate in San Diego twice.

The Grizzlies open next season Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 when they host the Idaho Steelheads for two at the Maverik Center.

Cantin, Taker among eight given offers by Grizzlies for ’16-17

In the third round of the NHL Draft on June 25 in Buffalo, N.Y., the Colo-rado Avalanche chose Prince George Cougars (WHL) defenseman Josh Anderson with the 71st overall selection. Photo/Aaron Bell/CHL Images

CORubberHockey.com 11

TahoeHockeyAcademy.com

TAHOE HOCKEY ACADEMYTahoe Hockey Academy gaining steam toward grand openingBy Greg Ball

It’s been years in the making, and now it’s down to the final weeks.

Next month, the Tahoe Hockey Academy will offi-cially open its doors for the first time, and the group of men behind organizing California’s first hockey board-ing school couldn’t be more ready.

The excitement is palpable in Tahoe, and the mo-mentum is contagious.

“This started out as an idea, but we’ve learned that this boarding school model resonates with so many different families,” said Leo Fenn, the academy’s pres-ident. “To hear story after story about the sacrifices families make to keep their children in hockey and school only reinforces our belief that this is a sound solution. After only a few conversations, we’ve realized this isn’t a localized problem. We’ve heard from par-ents from the East Coast, Midwest and even Canada about the concern for juggling high-end athletics and academics, and doing so all at an affordable price. We’re proud to have that philosophy be the founda-tion behind Tahoe Hockey Academy.”

Fenn, athletic director Mike Lewis, head coach J.J. James and the rest of the Tahoe Hockey Acad-emy team have been working tirelessly to get all the elements in place for the academy not only to be suc-cessful in its first year, but to build the foundation to do so many years into the future. Countless hours have been spent designing the academic and housing fa-

cilities, planning the team’s on-ice and off-ice training schedule, developing relationships with the local com-munity and more.

Lewis, a veteran Orange County youth hockey coach, said the approach is to find those families who believe that there’s a ben-efit for what the academy has to of-fer.

“We’re extremely blessed to have the support of our board of directors, which can offer financial support to so many of our families,” Lewis said. “Hockey can be extremely restrictive financially, and to know that a player can now achieve the academic and athletic development necessary to achieve their goals is life changing. This offers a viable way for so many families to break the cycle of paying money to sit in traffic or be out of the classroom.”

The task of starting an academy from the ground up has seemed overwhelming at times, but the team behind the effort has continued pushing forward and has methodically taken each step as it has come. Because the group spent so much time conceptualizing and planning the academy, it was in

good position to act on its plans when the time came. It has also helped that the team assembled to lead the effort has a wide variety of experience not only in the hockey and academic worlds, but the financial and

business spaces as well.As the excitement grows, so does the anticipation for the players al-

ready selected to be a part of the unique opportunity to study

and play at the Tahoe Hockey Academy.

“Our players are chomp-ing at the bit to get start-ed,” James said. “It obvi-ously takes a lot of effort and energy to get all those things done, but we want to do this right from Day 1.

From the locker rooms to our team bus to our on-ice

learning and our approach, we want this to be a world-class ex-

perience for our players.”It won’t be long before Tahoe

Hockey Academy makes its way to Southern California to compete in its first game

in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League. If the team on the ice is anything like those behind this endeavor, the future would seem bright for the players who call the academy home.

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine12

By Chris Bayee

In the midst of his fourth prospect camp with the Nash-ville Predators in late June and early July, Colorado Col-

lege’s Teemu Kivihalme traded his hockey gloves for oven mitts.

And the result was a lot of happy faces and satisfied sweet tooths at the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville.

The 6-foot junior, who will be counted on to help lead a youthful Tigers blue line group this season, took time out with a handful of fellow Predators pros-pects to bake and decorate a plethora of sweet treats for the kids. The Ronald McDonald House provides resources for families who have critically ill children receiving treatment at an area hospital.

“Giving back is awesome,” Kivihalme told the Predators official website. “Being interactive with other people around the community is definitely some-thing cool to do and baking, I haven’t baked in a while, so this is nice to do.”

With the graduation of leading scorer Hunter Fejes, Kivihalme stands as the only CC player whose draft rights are held by an NHL team. The Predators selected him in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.

Kivihalme’s career-high 15 points included three goals and led the Tigers’ defensemen in scoring. The next four defensemen on the scoring list were fresh-men last season. Kivihalme had 11 points, including five goals, as a freshman.

On the ice in Nashville, Kivihalme capped a solid week by scoring a goal in the development camp’s closing scrimmage. Still, his biggest impression may have come in the kitchen.

“People watch you for your hockey, but being able to show yourself and who you really are outside of the rink means just as much as being on the ice,” Kivihalme said. “Being able to engage with the fans, you build that relationship and build that fan base and we’re happy to do it.”

Tigers forward Cody Bradley, who had 15 points during his senior season, attended the Minnesota Wild’s development camp.

By Chris Bayee

The University of Denver served notice to the NCAA

in the spring with its Frozen Four run.

In June, it was the NHL’s turn.Two sophomores to be – forward Dylan Gam-

brell and defenseman Blake Hillman – and incoming freshman Henrik Borgstrom were selected in the an-nual NHL Draft on June 24-25. It marked the 15th year in a row the Pioneers had at least one player picked.

It also was the first time since 2013, when Evan Cowley, Will Butcher and Quentin Shore were tak-en, that the Pioneers had three players selected in one draft.

Borgstrom, a high-scoring prospect from Finland, went in the first round (23rd overall) to the Florida Pan-thers. A rangy 6-foot-3 and 176 pounds, Borgstrom had 29 goals among his 55 points in 40 games in his country’s top junior league.

Panthers general manager Tom Rowe was ecstat-ic to land the future Pioneer.

“We are very excited to have selected Henrik with our first-round pick,” Rowe told the Panthers official website. “He is a big, exciting and highly skilled play-er that has had a strong season with the HIFK Junior team.

“He is heading to a strong program at the University of Denver that will help further his development.”

Borgstrom was the fourth DU player ever taken in the first round, joining Beau Bennett (2010), Joe Colborne (2008) and Craig Redmond (1984).

Gambrell capped an ascendant season by being

selected in the second round (60th overall) by the Stanley Cup finalist San Jose Sharks.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Gambrell was one of the Pioneers’ best players all season, amassing 47 points (17 goals) and forming one of college hockey’s most electrifying lines with Danton Heinen and Trevor Moore. The point total was third most among fresh-men in Division I and second only to North Dakota’s Brock Boeser in the NCHC.

“It was a good draft for our team,” Gambrell said, adding the selection by the Sharks came as a bit of a

surprise. “Some teams talked to me more than others, but I had no idea when the time came. I tried not to think about it.

“I’m excited to be part of the Sharks organization. They’re one of the closest teams to where I grew up,

besides the Vancouver Canucks.”In helping DU to its first Frozen Four since 2005,

Gambrell collected several honors. He was select-ed to the NCHC All-Rookie Team and earned NCAA All-Regional Team honors at the NCAA West Regional, where he had five points in two games.

Hillman went to the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round (173rd overall). The 6-foot-1 Hillman blos-somed during the second half of the season, when he scored 10 of his 11 points. He was chosen the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA West Regional after recording four points in Denver’s two wins and netting the winning goal in the Pioneers’ victory over Ferris State.

“I talked to a couple of teams, but I wasn’t get-ting my hopes up,” Hillman said. “I knew there was a chance. I did talk to Chicago probably the most the past three years I was eligible. A scout of theirs told me he liked how I was playing this season.”

Gambrell was more bullish on Hillman, whom he has played with in Dubuque (United States Hockey League) and DU.

“I’ve played with him for the past three years and watched him progress. I told him to be ready,” Gam-brell said. “He’s really poised with the puck, and as the season went along, his confidence starting going through the roof. He was playing more and making great decisions.”

Gambrell and Hillman took a large measure of pride in their selections continuing the Pioneers’ momentum.

“It says a lot about DU,” Hillman said. “One reason is Jim Montgomery is a great coach and a winning coach. He has a great track record of sending players on to the next level wherever he is coaching.”

Hat TrickPioneers continue trend with three talents selected in Buffalo at annual NHL Draft event

Denver defenseman Blake Hillman scored the winning goal in the NCAA West Regional against Ferris State in March and was then chosen by Chicago in the NHL Draft last month. Photo/DU Athletics

By Chris Bayee

The hockey world continues to take note of the sterling freshman season turned in by Air Force goaltender

Shane Starrett.Starrett, who fashioned one of the best seasons by a goaltender in the

Academy’s storied hockey history, participated in the Chicago Blackhawks’ De-velopment Camp from July 9-13.

The 6-foot-5 goalie backstopped Air Force’s second-place finish in Atlantic Hockey Conference (AHC). The Falcons were 16-7-5 in the league and 20-12-5 overall. In the process, Starrett became just the second Falcons goalie – and first freshman – selected First Team All-Conference. His 1.92 goals-against av-erage and .924 save percentage both were the second-best in program history.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity to go out and hopefully show that I can compete at that level,” he told the school’s official website. “This will be a great learning experience. I’m looking forward to seeing what it takes to compete at this level.”

The chance to put on the pads in a pro camp at this point caught Starrett off guard. He is 21 and was not drafted during any of his three years of NHL Draft eligibility.

“I was in complete disbelief when I got the call,” he said. “This is something you always dream about when you grow up playing hockey.”

Not only did Starrett join his younger brother Beau, a sophomore to be at Cornell University who was a third-round selection (88th overall) in the 2014 draft by the Blackhawks, at the camp, but he continued a recent trend of Fal-cons standouts spending their summer leave in the Windy City.

In 2015, forward Cole Gunner went to Chicago’s camp, just as defense-man Dan Weissenhofer had in 2013 and forward Kyle De Laurell had in 2012. Two other Falcons attended development camps in 2012 – goalten-der Andrew Volkening with Florida and defenseman Adam McKenzie with Washington.

Starrett spends his summer leave tending goal in Chicago

CC’s Kivihalme excelling on the ice, in the kitchen, too

CORubberHockey.com 13

Submit your favorite hockey photos to pictureperfect@rubberhockey.com!

PICTURE PERFECT

Former University of Denver standout Beau Ben-nett was part of the Stanley Cup champion Pitts-burgh Penguins this season and brought the cup to his native Southern California the first week-end in July. Photo/Philip Pritchard/@keeperofthecup

Niwot native Reilly Herbst, who played youth hockey in Colorado for the Hyland Hills Jaguars, Boulder Hockey Club, Colorado Thunderbirds and Rocky Mountain RoughRiders, participated in the Rocky Mountain District Player Development Camp in May in Salt Lake City.

University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery has taken the Pio-neers to the NCAA tournament in each of his three seasons behind the bench and was recently rewarded with a contract extension through the 2020-21 season. Photo/DU Athletics

The ice at The Edge in Littleton will have a Butch Mousseaux memorial for next season. Mous-seaux passed away in March after falling on the ice and hitting his head prior to an NCHC playoff game. WCHA referee Pete Friesma is the rink's adult hockey director. Photo/Dawg Nation

A slew of Outliers Hockey Academy families and friends rallied together on May 7 as team Face Off For The Cure at Susan G Komen® Utah’s Race For The Cure. The Outliers group was one of the top fundraising contingents with over $1700 collected in donations.

Two former players with the Colorado Thunderbirds program – Brian Hawkinson (left) and Dayton Rasmussen (right) – were part of the Tri-City Storm team that captured the USHL’s Clark Cup playoff championship May 20 after a three-game sweep of the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Colorado Rampage youth players ranging from Mites to 18U exhibited their patriotic spirit and participated in the 4th of July Parade on Inde-pendence Day in Monument.Photo/Heather Engle

The Sarver family took an early summer vacation trip to South Dakota with the Kislesky family and Engle family – all three families have youth players with the Colorado Rampage. The boys spent two hours at a ropes course, the Alpine Slide and Mount Rushmore, where they donned their Rampage shirts for the day. Photo/Heather Engle

Larkspur native Cale Morris, a Colorado Thunder-birds and Colorado Hockey Club (now Rampage) graduate, attended the Anaheim Ducks development camp in early July as an undrafted free agent. He'll play at the University of Notre Dame (Hockey East) this fall.

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine14

UTAH REPORT

By Matt Mackinder

Young kids account for much of the growing population of hockey players in Utah.Then again, so do adults.

This summer, Utah Grizzlies’ coach-GM Tim Branham will host five Saturday dates at the Utah Olympic Oval for an adults-only clinic (those aged 18 and older).

Each clinic session will address a particular skill and/or strategy essential to increas-ing a player’s level of play on the ice.

With Branham's 15 years of hockey school experience and his Level 4 coaching cer-tificate from USA Hockey, players are guaranteed to work hard and learn some important on-ice skills to elevate your play.

"The adult clinics, as well as working with the adult league at the Olympic Oval, has been awesome," said Branham. "They are huge supporters of the Grizzlies and we do the best we can to give back to them. Adult hockey has grown so much over the past three years thanks to Jae Worthen and Jared Youngman and it's great to be a part of it."

*Goalies are FREE. Skaters are $100 each.*Each player will receive a fan four-pack of tickets for one Utah Grizzlies home game

(an $80 value) for the 2016-17 season.*All participants will receive select Utah Grizzlies trading cards.*Limited to first 40 skaters.The dates and skills taught:• Aug. 13 - Defensive Zone Strategy, Positioning• Aug. 20 - Review D-Zone/Track Without the Puck• Aug. 27 - Offensive Zone Concepts, Faceoffs• Sept. 3-10 - Power Play/Penalty Kill

In addition, the Utah Olympic Oval also offers men’s and women’s rookie leagues and an adult D-League – all info is available at http://utaholympiclegacy.org/hockey-overview/.

To register for the adult Saturday clinics, contact Jae Worthen at jworthen@uolf.org or 801-963-7107.

Grizzlies coach Branham heads up Olympic Oval adult camps

By Matt Mackinder

Outliers Hockey Academy director of hockey operations Paul Taylor saw Year 1 of his program as “a great success.”

Now, he sees Year 2 as one to keep the progression moving.“We were able to raise the skill level of our athletes and teams through our

intense training system and now we have some new players joining our pro-gram who want to be part of our development model,” Taylor said.

For the 2016-17 season, the Outliers will have two Squirt teams, one Pee Wee team and two Bantam teams.

“We are very encouraged and have high expectations for next season,” said Taylor. “The first year was about laying the foundation and educating families about our program’s advantages. I expect Year 2 to be a big year for us in that so many of our athletes have improved tremendously, which allows us to be more competitive. We have also attracted a lot of new talent.”

New next season will be a partnership with the new Utah Hockey Center.“The opportunity came up through an introduction to a gentleman who had

a training center sitting dormant,” explained Taylor. “Through many conversa-tions, we decided to partner together and make it an off-ice hockey-specific training center. We chose to name it the Utah Hockey Center and open it up to all the athletes in the area to enhance everyone's development. During the hockey season, it will be the official training home for our Outliers Hockey Academy. Our athletes will receive a huge benefit from this training center.”

Taylor said the benefits go beyond the Outliers.“I think it is a tremendous opportunity to have a state-of-the art facility like

the Utah Hockey Center in our own backyard,” he said. “Our program is built around high performance training and we want to provide our Outliers athletes with the best training possible and this building facilitates that for us. It is also an opportunity for us to help raise the bar in Utah and help develop some other local players from various organizations in the state.”

Outliers focused on tastingeven more success in Year 2

CORubberHockey.com 15

The Colorado Jr. Eagles' run to the WSHL’s Thorne Cup finals was led offensively by Riley Roberts, a forward who posted 70 goals and 125 points during the regular season to lead the WSHL. Photo/Mark Mauno

By Chris Bayee

Talk about a hat trick for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders.Not only did they have an alumni drafted by an NHL team, but he was the first one

drafted by the Colorado Avalanche.The Avs selecting Nate Clurman in the sixth round (161st overall) also reinforced one

of the club’s primary missions – developing homegrown talent.Clurman, a Boulder native, played two seasons of 14U AAA for the RoughRiders. The

6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman also skated for the Boulder Hockey Club.“Obviously, a guy like Nate staying home and trusting the nearby programs is big,” said

Matt Huckins, who coached Clurman with the RoughRiders. “Throw in he’s the first Colo-rado kid drafted by the Avs and it multiplies the effect.”

“Matt Huckins, Derek Robinson, Chris Lawson and Neil Runbeck were all very influential in my development,” Clurman added. “Matt gave me the opportunity to play 14U a year early, which really helped my development.”

Clurman, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame (Hockey East) for the 2017-18 season, had 16 points (four goals) in 20 games for Culver Military Academy last season.

Robinson, the RoughRiders’ director of hockey operations, said Clurman and his par-ents, Andrew and Claire, have been important contributors to the Boulder and RoughRid-ers clubs.

“They’re very involved,” Robinson said. “He and his family are very focused on academ-ics. He’s a great representative of our program.”

Clurman has attended Culver since his freshman year of high school. He has the option of returning there for his senior season or playing with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.

“When Nate decided to go to Culver, the RoughRiders did a great job supporting him as a club,” Huckins said. “He was a great player and he could have helped the club win a lot of games and helped a lot of other players, but they did what was right by the player.”

RiderTownUSA.com

Clurman’s selection by Avsillustrates RoughRiders’ mission

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROUGHRIDERS

By Matt Mackinder

Kevin Holmstrom has been involved with Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey for many years as a parent, coach and administrator.For the 2016-17 season, he’ll get back behind the bench as head coach of the

Tigers’ 18U AAA team.“I recently stepped out of a long business career and coaching was No. 1 on my

list if an opportunity arose,” said Holmstrom. “The timing and opportunity really fell in place. I spoke with Cody Campbell (16U coach) and Nick Harper (20U coach) about the direction of the program and the vision we all shared was so natural. Within days of visiting with (executive director) Brian Copeland, we were able to put the pieces in place.”

“When we started our search for a new 18U coach and created a checklist of traits, experience and knowledge we wanted in a candidate, we found ourselves lucky to find a coach that checked all the boxes, and more,” said Copeland. “We have no doubt in Kevin's ability to develop every player on our 18U team, but he brings along the experience, knowledge and passion to help move the entire club to a higher level.”

Holmstrom said his coaching style centers around speed and discipline.“With player development and academics at the top of the list, I think our play-

ers will like the puck possession, tempo game we will bring,” Holmstrom said. “Our players will have the opportunity to develop and advance while working very hard in a highly competitive development path.”

Both of Holmstrom’s sons, Ben and Josh, played in the New York Islanders orga-nization in 2015-16.

“Hockey has been a large part of our family for many years and we are very fortu-nate for all it has provided our family,” said Holmstrom. “Every level has its challenges and rewards and I hope to bring that knowledge to our players and families and yes, give back to the game.”

CSAHA.com

Holmstrom expands role withTigers, will guide 18U squad

COLORADO SPRINGS AMATEUR HOCKEY

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine16

2015-16 COLORADO/UTAH ALUMNIE-mail all additions, deletions and corrections to alumni@rubberhockey.com

COLORADOPROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Richard Bachman – Vancouver Canucks &Seth Jones – Nashville Predators &Trevor Lewis – Los Angeles Kings @Gustav Olofsson – Minnesota Wild #Nick Shore (Denver) – Los Angeles KingsJaccob Slavin (Erie) – Carolina Hurricanes

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUEDarik Angeli (Lakewood) – Portland PiratesDrayson Bowman (Littleton) – Charlotte CheckersBrandon Carlo (Colorado Springs) – Providence BruinsMat Clark (Wheat Ridge) – San Antonio RampageJosiah Didier (Littleton) – St. John’s IceCapsBen Holmstrom (Colorado Springs) – Bridgeport Sound TigersMichael Sdao (Niwot) – Rochester AmericansDrew Shore (Denver) – Stockton Heat

ECHLCollin Bowman (Littleton) – Colorado EaglesMatt Cope (Lakewood) – Norfolk AdmiralsDaniel Doremus (Aspen) – Allen AmericansJosh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs) – Missouri Mavericks Brett Kostolansky (Denver) – Rapid City RushTate Maris (Denver) – Colorado EaglesRyan Massa (Littleton) – Orlando Solar BearsSean Zimmerman (Denver) – Colorado Eagles

SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEKyle Brodie (Northglenn) – Columbus CottonmouthsPhil Tesoriero (Boulder) – Pensacola Ice Flyers

EUROPEBraxton Green (Thornton) – FinlandLuke Salazar (Thornton) – England

COLLEGE HOCKEY

NCAA DIVISION I – MEN

ATLANTIC HOCKEYDylan Abood (Centennial) – U.S. Air Force AcademyJackson Barliant – Sacred Heart University @Sammy Bernard (Lafayette) – Sacred Heart UniversityAlec Butcher – Sacred Heart University @Ben Carey (Centennial) – U.S. Air Force AcademyAdam Durkee (Nederland) – Sacred Heart UniversityChris Dylewski (Colorado Springs) – U.S. Air Force AcademyEvan Feno (Morrison) – U.S. Air Force AcademyMax Hartner (Greenwood Village) – U.S. Air Force AcademyTyler Ledford (Colorado Springs) – U.S. Air Force AcademyIan Mansfield (Lakewood) – U.S. Military AcademyRob Nichols – University of Connecticut #Erik Ouellette (Denver) – College of the Holy CrossKevin Patterson (Colorado Springs) – Niagara UniversityTyler Pham (Fort Collins) – U.S. Military AcademyBrad Shumway (Lafayette) – Rochester Institute of TechnologyLogan Smith (Littleton) – College of the Holy Cross

ECACJared Fiegl (Parker) – Cornell UniversityKyle Hayton (Denver) – St. Lawrence UniversityBrandon Kirk – Dartmouth College *Austin Shaw (Denver) – Princeton UniversityBrendan Smith (Centennial) – Cornell UniversityLandon Smith (Greenwood Village) – Quinnipiac UniversityGavin Stoick – Cornell University #

HOCKEY EASTMatias Cleland (Longmont) – University of New HampshireJason Cotton – Northeastern University #Hayden Hawkey (Parker) – Providence CollegeKyle Huson (Parker) – University of ConnecticutColton Saucerman (Colorado Springs) – Northeastern UniversityJacob Townsend (Highlands Ranch) – Univ. of Massachusetts-Lowell

NCHCGrant Arnold (Centennial) – University of DenverEvan Cowley (Arvada) – University of DenverMikey Eyssimont (Littleton) – St. Cloud State UniversityAndrew Farny (Steamboat Springs) – Colorado CollegeDylan Gambrell – University of Denver #Brad Hawkinson (Aurora) – University of DenverChristian Heil (Westminster) – Colorado CollegeRudy Junda (Denver) – University of DenverEvan McCarthy (Castle Rock) – Miami UniversityScott Moldenhauer – Western Michigan University #Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha #Austin Ortega – University of Nebraska-Omaha #Evan Ritt (Lakewood) – University of DenverDerek Shatzer (Highlands Ranch) – Colorado CollegeQuentin Shore (Denver) – University of DenverColin Staub (Colorado Springs) – University of DenverTroy Terry (Denver) – University of Denver

WCHAEvan Anderson (Littleton) – Michigan Tech UniversityDan Billett (Highlands Ranch) – Bemidji State UniversityCole Huggins (Centennial) – Minnesota State UniversityNick Kossoff – Lake Superior State University #Sean O’Rourke – Ferris State University *Tyler Poulsen (Arvada) – University of Alabama-Huntsville

INDEPENDENTPatrick Yudez (Broomfield) – Arizona State University

NCAA DIVISION III – MEN

ECAC NORTHEASTMikio Minobe (Golden) – Suffolk University

ECAC WESTOliver Janzen (Denver) – Nazareth College

MASCACTieg Alward (Vail) – Plymouth State University

Quinn Wold (Aurora) – Fitchburg State University

MIACDrew Allen (Arvada) – Augsburg College Brady Bender (Steamboat Springs) – Augsburg CollegeJake Hebda (Firestone) – St. Mary’s UniversityDylan Meier (Highlands Ranch) – Augsburg CollegeTrevor Stewart (Highlands Ranch) – Augsburg CollegeConnor Tedstrom (Edwards) – St. Olaf CollegeChris Wilhite (Colorado Springs) – St. Mary’s University

NCHATom Greene (Arvada) – Aurora UniversityJustin Gregory (Franktown) – Aurora UniversityBuster Hebda (Firestone) – Concordia UniversityJosh Racek (Colorado Springs) – Northland CollegeZach Simpson (Parker) – Milwaukee School of EngineeringScott Smoot (Fort Collins) – Marian UniversityMitch Snyder (Colorado Springs) – St. Norbert CollegeJerad Tafoya (Highlands Ranch) – Milwaukee School of EngineeringBrett Wagner (Centennial) – Milwaukee School of Engineering

NEHCKyle Arenson (Fort Collins) – New England CollegeBen Hull (Littleton) – Norwich University

NESCACMark Knowlton (Colorado Springs) – Trinity CollegeSage Marshall (Telluride) – Wesleyan UniversityJonathan Sdao (Niwot) – Colby College

NORTHEAST-10Travis Army (Englewood) – Stonehill College

SUNYACJimmy Morgan (Highlands Ranch) – Fredonia State UniversityMax Ross (Arvada) – Fredonia State University

WIACJono Davis – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point *Tyler Shipstad (Colorado Springs) – University of Wisconsin-Stout

NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN

CHAJeanette Bateman (Greeley) – Penn State UniversityNicole Hensley (Lakewood) – Lindenwood UniversityShara Jasper (Aurora) – Lindenwood UniversityRemi Martin (Littleton) – Penn State University

ECACBrooke Ahbe (Centennial) – Dartmouth CollegeNikki Friesen – Harvard University %

HOCKEY EASTAriana Buxman (Glenwood Springs) – Providence CollegeKyra Smith (Littleton) – University of New Hampshire

WCHAKendall Curtis (Highlands Ranch) – Ohio State UniversityEmily Harris (Littleton) – Minnesota State University

NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN

CHCJulia Johnson (Littleton) – Becker CollegeEmma Sunness (Fort Collins) – Stevenson UniversityMcKenzie Taggart (Centennial) – Stevenson UniversitySara Zatorski (Parker) – Salem State University

ECAC WESTEmily Coope – Utica College !Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch) – Utica CollegeJocelyn Gacek (Highlands Ranch) – Utica CollegeTaylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch) – Utica College

MIACMargeaux Cohen (Aspen) – St. Olaf CollegeDrue Engleman (Denver) – St. Olaf CollegeJena Kosley (Colorado Springs) – Hamline UniversityKacee Medved (Littleton) – College of St. Benedict

NCHASara Martin (Durango) – Finlandia University

NEHCKat Armstrong (Boulder) – University of Massachusetts-BostonRachel Bellio (Denver) – Norwich UniversityKristen Embrey (Highlands Ranch) – Univ. of Massachusetts-BostonTaryn Harris (Morrison) – Manhattanville CollegeAlexandra Karlis (Denver) – University of Massachusetts-BostonMaura Kieft (Littleton) – St. Anselm CollegeNaomi Major (Telluride) – St. Michael’s CollegeLanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins) – Franklin Pierce UniversityJulie Matthias (Thornton) – College of the Holy CrossCaley Mueller (Littleton) – St. Anselm CollegeKelsey Roy (Fort Collins) – Plymouth State UniversityTaylor Shrode (Craig) – Plymouth State UniversityJensen Wurm (Arvada) – Nichols College

NESCACCasey Brown (Lafayette) – Hamilton CollegeKylie Davis (Superior) – Hamilton CollegeMarisa Dreher (Aspen) – Middlebury CollegeCaroline Godfrey (Aspen) – Bowdoin CollegeJamie Meroz – Hamilton College %Hannah Oganeku (Castle Pines) – Trinity College

JUNIOR HOCKEY

ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUENolan Carothers (Castle Rock) - Calgary CanucksDylan Rauh (Aurora) - Fort McMurray Oil Barons

BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUEScott Allan (Denver) - West Kelowna WarriorsJaden Anderson (Aurora) - Wenatchee WildAlex Bates (Highlands Ranch) - Wenatchee WildPhil Middleton (Vail) - Salmon Arm SilverbacksRider Stoglin (Littleton) - Prince George Spruce KingsBryan Yoon (Parker) - Wenatchee Wild

EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Holden Biebel (Roxborough Park) - Walpole Express (Premier)Nick Buchholtz (Windsor) - New York Applecore (Premier)Joshua Cox (Broomfield) - New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Elite)Sean Cuscaden (Arvada) - Vermont Lumberjacks (Elite)Keegan Davis (Aspen) - Connecticut Oilers (Premier)Walker Harris (Boulder) - Connecticut Oilers (Premier)Hadan Jordan (Colorado Springs) - Boston Bandits (Premier)Sylas Kalyan (Lyons) - New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier)Victor Lombardi (Arvada) - Boston Bandits (Elite)Vincent Mastrandrea (Frederick) - Connecticut Oilers (Premier)Blaine Minatra (Thornton) - Connecticut Nighthawks (Premier)Matt Moscati (Lakewood) - Northern Cyclones (Elite)Brady Nelson (Boulder) - Northern Cyclones (Elite)Sean Patrick O’Leary (Windsor) - New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Premier)Jack O’Neil (Denver) - Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (Premier)Ashton Opperman (Littleton) - Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (Premier)Dawson Quint (Glenwood Springs) - Vermont Lumberjacks (Premier)Colby Schaeffer (Brighton) - Vermont Lumberjacks (Elite)Tyler Seltenreich (Littleton) - Northern Cyclones (Premier)Jackson Shanley (Edwards) - New York Bobcats (Premier)Stuart Shanley (Littleton) - Northern Cyclones (Elite)Kirk Underwood (Littleton) - Valley Jr. Warriors (Premier)Ryan Worley (Centennial) - Vermont Lumberjacks (Premier)

GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUEBenjamin Adams (Parker) – Orangeville Ice CrushersZachery Hargis (Highlands Ranch) – Norfolk Vikings

KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUEGarrett Graham (Pueblo West) – Spokane BravesDonny Nordstrom (Denver) – Kelowna ChiefsStephon Perreault (Aurora) – Spokane BravesJackson Ross (Glenville) – Kamloops StormAnders Saarela (Denver) – Princeton Posse

METROPOLITAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUECody Pisciola (Broomfield) – New Jersey ColonialsAustin Wheatly (Castle Rock) – Connecticut Nighthawks

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUEKris Carlson - Austin Bruins #Riley DeFazio (Colorado Springs) - Amarillo BullsJake Eubank – Kenai River Brown Bears @David Fessenden (Parker) - Bismarck BobcatsSean Giles (Colorado Springs) - Lone Star BrahmasBen Lown - Wichita Falls Wildcats #Matt Nehls (Boulder) - Amarillo BullsGavin Paczosa (Greeley) - Aberdeen WingsRhys Phelps (Centennial) - Brookings BlizzardJared Resseguie (Arvada) - Bismarck BobcatsDavis Sebald (Morrison) - New Jersey TitansDean Shatzer (Castle Rock) - Odessa JackalopesBrandon Tucker (Colorado Springs) - Odessa JackalopesJacob Weatherly (Castle Rock) - Amarillo BullsNate Werhane (Arvada) - Odessa Jackalopes

NORTH AMERICAN 3 EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUEScott Albertoni (Denver) - Jersey Shore WildcatsLane Gregory (Franktown) - New York AviatorsDylan Plsek (Grand Junction) - Jersey Shore WildcatsCorey Rees (Denver) - New York Aviators

NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUEJ.T. Ackerman (Westminster) – West Michigan WolvesJosh Aycock (Lakewood) - Bozeman IcedogsCade Boreing (Highlands Ranch) - Gillette WildWilliam Bostwick (Aurora) - Glacier NationalsRyan Daugherty (Lone Tree) - Helena BighornsAlex Feese (Colorado Springs) - Gillette WildJeremy Hamerquist (Woodland Park) - Toledo CherokeeAustin Krantz (Highlands Ranch) - Great Falls AmericansJohnathan Meakins (Colorado Springs) - Point Mallard DucksLiam Miller (Durango) - Bozeman IcedogsMitchell McEwan (Westminster) - Gillette WildBrady Mielnicki (Centennial) - Euless Jr. StarsJoe Morgan (Highlands Ranch) - Wooster OilersTyler Myers (Thornton) - Texas BrahmasC.J. Nitchen (Pueblo) - St. Louis Jr. BluesKyle Plantz (Windsor) - Rochester Ice HawksKyle Traux (Durango) - Gillette WildTim VanTuinen (Longmont) - Gillette WildJacob Yoho (Aurora) - Billings BullsR.J. Yusko (Parker) - Gillette Wild

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUESam Rappaport (Basalt) – Soo Eagles

NORTHERN PACIFIC HOCKEY LEAGUEAdam Shimamoto (Thornton) - Tri-Cities Outlaws

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUEMason Akers (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsBen Barron (Vail) – Breckenridge BucksNoah Beairsto (Vail) – Breckenridge BucksSkylar Budman (Greenwood Village) – Colorado ThunderbirdsLevi Clemenson (Lakewood) – Colorado ThunderbirdsNoah Cunniff (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageConnor Dockins (Monument) – Colorado RampageKayan Farsad (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsGarrett Ferguson (Craig) – Breckenridge BucksSamuel Gilmore (Broomfield) – Colorado RampageBrendan Greenberg (Silverthorne) – Breckenridge BucksReed Grignano (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageSpencer Harned (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsJack Hinton (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageJames Huerena (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageBen Joseph (Highlands Ranch) – Colorado ThunderbirdsGeorge Kamins (Silverthorne) – Breckenridge BucksAidan Kirby (Castle Rock) – Colorado ThunderbirdsChris Kiser (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsAustin Knoebel (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsBen Lepper (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsBrady Milenicki (Centennial) – Colorado ThunderbirdsChance Mundorf (Glade Park) – Breckenridge BucksJacob Palmer (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageDante Palomares (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsBraden Parker (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsJarret Pederson (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageDerek Read (Colorado Springs) – Colorado ThunderbirdsJesse Reller (Silverthorne) – Breckenridge Bucks

Quinton Reynolds (Aurora) – Colorado RampageJason Rivera (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageBen Schoeffield (Breckenridge) – Breckenridge BucksAlex Schubert (Colorado Springs) – Colorado RampageBrendan Strong (Denver) – Colorado ThunderbirdsEmilio Trujillo (Fountain) – Colorado RampageJake Wener (Littleton) – Breckenridge Bucks

SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUEZach Goberis (Arvada) - Estevan Bruins

UNITES STATES HOCKEY LEAGUEC.J. Dodero (Highlands Ranch) – Sioux City MusketeersJack Doremus (Aspen) – Sioux Falls StampedeAnea Ferrario – Des Moines Buccaneers #Griffin Foulk (Broomfield) – Fargo ForceWilliam Graber (Longmont) – Muskegon LumberjacksBo Hanson – Muskegon Lumberjacks *Brian Hawkinson (Aurora) – Tri-City StormGarrett Klee (Morrison) – Madison CapitolsPhilip Knies – Sioux City Musketeers #Zach LaRocque (Arvada) – Cedar Rapids RoughRidersKeegan Mantaro (Monument) – Dubuque Fighting SaintsMatt Meier (Highlands Ranch) – Omaha LancersGarrett Metcalf – Waterloo Black Hawks *Cale Morris (Larkspur) – Waterloo Black HawksDayton Rasmussen – Tri-City Storm #Evan Smith (Parker) – Sioux City MusketeersCam Spicer (Erie) – Bloomington ThunderZach Walker – U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team #A.J. Vanderbeck (Monument) – Sioux Falls StampedeDaniel Warpecha (Aspen) – Sioux Falls Stampede

UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUEJ.T. Ackerman (Westminster) - Forest Lake Lakers (Midwest)Josh Beatty (Westminster) - Steele County Blades (Midwest)Ryan Bochert (Thornton) - Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite)Matthew Donnelly (Denver) - Jersey Hitmen (Premier)Willy Doremus (Aspen) - Chicago Cougars (Midwest)John Drummond (Littleton) - Florida Eels (USP3)Tyler Gainer (Arvada) - Charlotte Rush (USP3)Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs) - Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite)A.J. Giordano (Broomfield) - Florida Eels (USP3)Hunter Henderson (Loma) - Steele County Blades (Midwest)Chris Kerr (Littleton) - Florida Eels (Elite)Shawn Knowlton (Colorado Springs) - P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (Premier)Jake LeBauer (Highlands Ranch) - Dells Ducks (Midwest)Dillon Lindholm (Westminster) - Richmond Generals (USP3)Hunter Marsh (Dillon) - Steele County Blades (Midwest)Gavin Medina (Lakewood) - Florida Eels (USP3)Trace Pederson (Denver) - Dells Ducks (Midwest)Austin Resseguie (Arvada) - Florida Jr. Blades (USP3)Alan Rickli (Denver) - Daytona Racers (USP3)Alex Sanchez (Denver) - Florida Eels (Elite)John Shanley (Littleton) - Florida Eels (Elite)Casey Shannahan (Colorado Springs) - Portland Jr. Pirates (Elite)Ethan Solat (Centennial) - Islanders Hockey Club (Premier)Jeremy Solat (Centennial) - Islanders Hockey Club (Premier)Jordon Stone (Parker) - Connecticut Jr. Rangers (Premier)Nicholas Vitale (Castle Rock) - Carolina Eagles (USP3)Travis Volmert (Parker) - Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite) Mike Watson (Colorado Springs) - Chicago Cougars (Midwest)Pippen Weisbeck (Golden) - Islanders Hockey Club (Premier)Garrett Wood (Greeley) - Florida Eels (Elite)Jared Young (Superior) - Dells Ducks (Midwest)

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUEScott Eansor (Englewood) – Seattle ThunderbirdsCal Foote (Denver) – Kelowna RocketsMax Gerlach – Medicine Hat Tigers #Riley Hillis (Arvada) – Tri-City AmericansCaleb Jones – Portland Winterhawks &Brian King (Golden) – Everett SilvertipsBeau McCue (Colorado Springs) – Tri-City AmericansAlex Overhardt (Cherry Hills Village) – Portland WinterhawksDominic Turgeon (Denver) – Portland Winterhawks

WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUEHampus Akesson (Erie) - Superior RoughRiders Avery Albert (Arvada) – Colorado EvolutionScott Appleby (Littleton) - Superior RoughRidersTyler Blue (Westminster) - Superior RoughRidersDakota Coleman (Aurora) – Colorado EvolutionDevin Coombe (Arvada) – Colorado EvolutionBlake Couture (Westminster) - Superior RoughRidersBrandon Cyrus (Centennial) – Colorado EvolutionNick Davidson (Fort Collins) - Colorado Jr. EaglesAlec DeKramer (Aurora) – Colorado Evolution Sean DeKramer (Aurora) - Superior RoughRidersMarc Demers (Erie) - Superior RoughRidersJohnathan Doherty (Aurora) - Colorado Jr. EaglesDavis Dryden (Denver) – Phoenix KnightsZach Dym (Golden) – Colorado EvolutionEric Fedorco (Aurora) – Colorado EvolutionKameron Fehr (Denver) - Ogden MustangsTrent Fleming (Broomfield) - Superior RoughRidersCameron Gardner (Longmont) - Superior RoughRidersR.J. Haenze (Colorado Springs) - Southern Oregon SpartansBrandon Hanson (Castle Rock) – Colorado EvolutionBrantt Heble (Parker) - Fresno MonstersNicolas Hemming (Parker) – Colorado EvolutionEliot Herz (Colorado Springs) - Superior RoughRiders Trenton Hines (Fort Collins) - Colorado Jr. EaglesEvan Hunchar (Littleton) - El Paso RhinosKeagan Jenkins (Windsor) - Colorado Jr. EaglesDustin Johnson (Deer Trail) - Vancouver RangersMatt Jung (Denver) - Colorado Jr. Eagles Christian Kendall (Parker) – Colorado EvolutionKeegan Kessler (Colorado Springs) - Vancouver RangersTristan Klewsaat (Larkspur) - Arizona HawksJack Longenecker (Denver) - Superior RoughRidersEthan Lone (Aurora) – Colorado EvolutionDuncan McIntosh (Denver) - Superior RoughRiders Andrew Nash (Littleton) - Wichita Jr. ThunderJack Nevicosi (Breckenridge) - Springfield ExpressBen Novy (Lafayette) - Superior RoughRidersCody Oakes (Aurora) - Superior RoughRidersMattijs Ossorio (Lafayette) - Superior RoughRiders Caleb Pola (Broomfield) - Ogden MustangsKyle Reilly (Parker) - Superior RoughRiders Colton Sablich (Brighton) - Superior RoughRiders

Austin Shea (Thornton) - Ogden MustangsDeston Stagg (Fort Morgan) - Casper CoyotesAustin Storm (Colorado Springs) - Arizona HawksQuinn Travis (Gunnison) - Las Vegas StormTanner Ulland (Fort Collins) - Colorado Jr. EaglesCade Warner (Windsor) - Colorado Jr. EaglesJacob Weber (Highlands Ranch) – Colorado EvolutionLevi Weber (Eaton) - Colorado Jr. EaglesNevada White (Parker) – Colorado EvolutionBrett Wilson (Thornton) – Colorado Evolution

NEW ENGLAND WOMEN’S JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUEAva Reynolds (Aurora) – Northern Cyclones

PREP SCHOOLA.J. Hodges (Littleton) – Shattuck-St. Mary’sNoah Prokop (Littleton) – Shattuck-St. Mary’s

UTAHPROFESSIONAL HOCKEY

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUERichard Bachman (Salt Lake City) – Vancouver CanucksTrevor Lewis (Salt Lake City) – Los Angeles Kings

ECHLR.G. Flath (Park City) - Wichita Thunder

FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUEZach Hale (Sandy) – Brewster Bulldogs

COLLEGE HOCKEY

NCAA DIVISION I – MEN

ATLANTIC HOCKEYNash Worden (Kaysville) – U.S. Military Academy

WCHADaniel Brickley (Sandy) – Minnesota State University

NCAA DIVISION III – MEN

ECAC WESTJordan Haskell (Stansbury Park) – Hobart College

NCHAAndrew Bergquist (Bountiful) – Aurora UniversityDavid Higgs (Salt Lake City) – Finlandia University

JUNIOR HOCKEY

ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUEAngus Scott (Salt Lake City) - Camrose Kodiaks

BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUENick Halloran (Draper) - Trail Smoke Eaters

GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUERoy Andres (Lake City) – Norfolk VikingsCameron Kincaid (Park City) – Komoka DragonsHunter Wood (North Logan) – Bradford Bulls

KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUESteele Anderson (Orem) – Spokane Braves

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUEJared Pike (Sandy) - Bismarck BobcatsRyan Solomon (Murray) - Aston Rebels

NORTHERN PACIFIC HOCKEY LEAGUEOtto Chao (Salt Lake City) - Wenatchee WolvesThomas Hendry (Salt Lake City) - Wenatchee WolvesZane James (Salt Lake City) - Seattle Ravens Anders Johnson (Salt Lake City) - Wenatchee WolvesKory Palmer (Salt Lake City) - Eugene Generals

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUELandon Anderson (Murray) – Colorado RampageRobert Brennan (Salt Lake City) – Colorado RampageSheamus Stoyle (Salt Lake City) – Breckenridge BucksEmilio Trujillo – Colorado Rampage $

SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUELogan Jackson (Riverside) - La Ronge Ice Wolves

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUEAnea Ferrario (Ogden) – Des Moines BuccaneersGarrett Metcalf (Salt Lake City) – Waterloo Black Hawks

UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUEKaleb Combs (West Valley City) - Steele County Blades (Midwest)Beau Dommer (Pleasant Grove) - Jersey Hitmen (Premier)Jesse Guyer (Park City) - Steele County Blades (Midwest)Brooks Mandryk (Salt Lake City) - Carolina Eagles (Elite)

WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUELindros Beard (Salt Lake City) - Salt Lake City MooseColby Birch (Vernal) - Missoula MaulersReed Hunter (West Jordan) - Dallas SnipersParker Lewis (Riverton) - Idaho Jr. SteelheadsMatt Psaras (Sandy) - Ogden MustangsAndrew Pyper (Salt Lake City) - Salt Lake City MooseAlex Randazzo (Eden) - Idaho Jr. Steelheads Payton Wright (Draper) - Las Vegas Storm

NEW ENGLAND WOMEN’S JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUEMina Maciunas (Salt Lake City) – Northern Cyclones

& Former Littleton Hawk@ Former Pikes Peak Miner# Former Colorado Thunderbird! Former Colorado Tiger% Former Colorado Select+ Former Rocky Mountain RoughRider* Former Colorado Rampage

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine17

CHALK TALK

Summers are an enor-mous opportunity for

growth and development of hockey players at all ages.

The transition from en-durance-based training becomes strength-based training as athletes are resting more and focus-ing more on off-ice train-ing than on-ice. Summer training allows players

to concentrate more on their skating abilities and puck handling skills without worrying that they're going to be hammered into the boards at any moment. This is a low-injury training environment relative to the season, and it is a great habitat for growth.

Goaltenders, however, become the shooter tutor.Goalies drop into their butterfly thousands of times

in a season; each practice, this number could be any-where from 50-200 times and in games, ranging from 10-70 (hopefully not more). In a week with three prac-tices and two games, a goaltender could be looking at almost 800 butterflies! No other sport sees this much overuse of a specific joint, and that joint suffers.

With the advent of the successful "butterfly" goal-

ies in the 1990s, it became a style of stopping the puck. And while the butterfly is a revolutionary move-ment for goaltenders, it is not a style itself. The over-use of the butterfly and other hip straining movements in the crease at young ages will lead to long term problems.

Hip surgery is becoming a popular topic among profession goaltenders, as more and more are need-ing to take time off to either have surgery or recover from a hip-related injury (Nicklas Backstrom, James Reimer, Tim Thomas, Pekka Rinne to name a few). While a 12-year-old shouldn't need to worry in the slightest about having their hips replaced or worked on, they are already getting into habits that could lead to hip deterioration later in life. When goalies as young as 15 and 16 are having hip strain issues, it is time to take a different approach to training, especially during the offseason.

There are a tremendous amount of ice opportuni-ties for goaltenders once the season ends and while they all offer their own advantages, too many of them together could spell trouble and lead to over-training. Private lessons, spring and summer programs, stick and pucks, Junior A and AAA camps can all lead to goalie-specific training when kept to moderate num-bers. The atmosphere of each ice session may be dif-ferent as well. In a private lesson, the goaltender may only be dropping to the ice 20 times if they are work-

ing on specific skill acquisition, whereas in a practice session at a player camp, they could be facing 150 shots.

To avoid this over-training mentality, we first have to face the fact that great athletes make great goal-tenders, not the other way around. Goalies need to be tremendous athletes to succeed at the higher levels, and this is very apparent in skating skills and off-ice athleticism. If you cannot move to get in front of the puck, you will not be a successful goaltender.

Power skating, skating as a player, playing multiple sports, and focusing on the core athlete are more im-portant to young goaltender development than having them face thousands of shots in a structured environ-ment. The sport of hockey is free flowing, and while there are concepts, structure, and systems to the game, no play is exactly the same as the last.

Fluid movement and adaptation skills are key to goaltender development. Small-area game opportuni-ties and 3-on-3 game days are far more important for young goalies than structured drills of “move here and take a shot here.” Structure is still important, but for young goalies it should be applied in moderation.

Nurturing the athlete first mentality will lead to less overuse injuries in goaltenders, and will help cre-ate puck stoppers who can move more freely in the crease and have more fun and more success in the long run.

How to avoid the dangers of goaltenders over-training

Riese Niehaus

Riese Niehaus is the director of player personnel and associate goalie director for the Colorado Rampage.

Interested in being a Chalk Talk columnist? E-mail Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com.

ByMatt Mackinder

D an Pszenyczny doesn’t have the easiest name to pronounce, but as long as he gets results, the Glacier Yetis won’t mind.

The Yetis, entering their second season as part of the USA Hock-ey-sanctioned Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL), hired the Detroit-area native in late June to be the team’s new head coach.

For Pszenyczny (pronounced ‘Pah-CHEZZ-nee’), he sees the RMJHL as “a great opportunity for any young kid looking to get into juniors.”

“The one thing that really intrigued me most were the owners, Alan and Robbie Koos ,” said Pszenyczny. “From our first phone call, to meeting with them has just been really great. We are all on board for the same things. We want to help grow the game on all levels of hockey and develop players to move them on to either a higher junior level or even college.”

Pszenyczny has experience across the board, having coached college hockey at the University of North Florida, junior hockey with the Berkley Bruins and Kalkaska Rhinos in his home state and then this past season, helping guide the Belle Tire 14U AAA team to a Michigan state champi-onship.

In assessing his coaching style, Pszenyczny said it’s twofold.“I would say it’s a little bit of old-school with a little bit of new-school

hockey,” Pszenyczny said. “I l ike the old-school mentality of doing what-ever you have to do to get the job done, having the guys that will go on the corners and battle, guys that will go to the front of the net battling for position and loose pucks, guys that will take a hit to make a play and players finishing hits to open up ice. And then you need some of the new-school hockey blended into that with speed, guys that can make defensive players miss and open up opportunities for other players.

“I'm just looking to develop players in all aspects of the game. If we continue to work hard and develop each time we are on the ice, the sea-son will take care of itself.”

RMJHL’s Yetis nab junior, college coaching veteran Pszenyczny

Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine18

Colorado Rubber: What is your favorite hockey memory growing up?Ryan Massa: Probably winning a double overtime game with the Rampage at states against the Pikes Peak Miners in 2007-08.

CR: What is your favorite memory in the game since leaving Colorado?RM: Playing in the Frozen Four in my senior year (2014-15) was pretty special as far as a collegiate experience. That’s the crown jewel of college hockey. Getting an opportunity to play professionally in both the East Coast League and the American League was a pretty big milestone to date. I’m continuing to stick to the process.

CR: What advice would you give young hockey players?RM: Go out there and have fun. If you can’t have fun, there is no point in doing it. Don’t get caught up in statistics. Get better each day and the process will take care of itself.

CR: Who has been the biggest influence on you on and off the ice?RM: I’d have to say my family. All those years of the early mornings, the late nights and the extensive travel schedule, all the hours spent at the rinks. All that stuff goes unno-ticed. That certainly wouldn’t happen without the support of my parents (Mark and Tami) and my younger sister Gianna (who also attends UNO), who was dragged to a lot of practices and games.

CR: What is your game-day routine like?RM: It’s changed every year, but I keep it fairly simple. A morning skate, followed by the usual off-ice routines. I eat a big pre-game meal – pasta, chicken and bread – then take a nice nap. I head to the rink three hours early.

CR: Are there are any pieces of gear you’re particular about?RM: Pretty much everything. At this point, I’m pretty picky about how certain pieces of equipment feel. I like to feel comfortable. I always get my skates sharpened and re-tape a new stick.

CR: What are essential items to take on a road trip?RM: The computer or iPad for sure. Good pair of headphones or two. Some juice packs, with extra battery life in them. The memory foam neck pillow is important.

CR: When you’re back in Colorado, do you have a favorite meal or restaurant?RM: I love my mom’s cooking. You name it - everything and anything that’s home-made is great. For breakfast, it would be French toast, lunch at Panini and dinner is tough – probably chicken enchiladas. I also like getting some authentic Mexican food downtown. Usually the few times while I’m back, I’ll go to Jabo’s Bar-Be-Q.

CR: Did you have a favorite player growing up?RM: I’d say it’s pretty obvious growing up in the early 90s era – Patrick Roy. I played with his sons, Fred and Jon, and got to know them over those several years he was here playing for the Avalanche. It was fun learning the position at a young age, and he would come out on the ice and work with me. It was pretty special getting to learn from a Hall of Famer. A lot of fun and something I’m extremely thankful for.

CR: If you weren’t playing pro hockey, what do you think you’d be doing?RM: If I didn’t have to worry about money, I’d be a fisherman, traveling to all the oceans across the world. If I have to worry about putting food on the table, I’d choose some-thing in the finance business.

CR: What is the most challenging aspect of playing pro hockey?RM: Just the sheer talent at the next level. It’s no longer just your age group and the United States. It’s everyone in the world. It’s a lot harder to make it to the NHL and just be successful at the pro level. If you’re willing to put the time in, it is attainable.

- Compiled by Chris Bayee

RYAN MASSAPosition: Goaltender, Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)Hometown: LittletonLast Amateur Team: University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)Youth Teams: Littleton Hawks, Colorado Thunderbirds, Colorado Rampage

Fernando Medina/Orlando Solar Bears

Attracting the very best youth hockey programsunder the bright lights

of Los Angeles!

For more information, contact tournament directorBrian McDonough at (612) 220-4402 or brian@jrkingshockey.com

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THANKSGIVINGWEEKEND

November 24 - 27, 2016

PRESIDENTS’ DAYWEEKEND

February 12-15, 2017

Midget Open . 2003 Elite & AAA2004 Elite & AAA . 2005 Elite & AAA2006 Elite & AAA . 2007 Elite & AAA

2008 Elite & AAA2009 Mite Track I (Full Ice)

2010 Mite Track II (Half Ice)

Midget 18U AA/A - Midget 16U AA/A . High School . Bantam AA, A, B . Pee Wee AA, A, BB, B . Squirt A, BB, B . Mite Track I & II

LABOR DAYWEEKENDSeptember 2 - 5, 2016

MEMORIAL DAYWEEKENDMay 26 -29, 2017