Category Archives: Pro
Player pipeline cements AHL-NHL ties with California squads
November 15th, 2016With the American Hockey League (AHL) serving as a development league for the National Hockey League, it would make sense that players making the transition both to and from the NHL parent club should experience a sense of continuity. Players in the AHL are, in fact, seen as an extension of the parent club’s roster. Thus,…
Defending AHL Pacific Division champion Reign back on top
October 24th, 2016Through the opening two weekends of the 2016-17 American Hockey League (AHL) season, the Ontario Reign has assumed a familiar position in the Pacific Division standings. First place. The Reign opened defense of its Pacific Division championship by defeating the host San Diego Gulls 2-0 in its season opener on Oct. 15 and then tipped…
Preseason winds down for AHL’s five California teams
October 13th, 2016The American Hockey League’s Pacific Division teams will face off the 2016-17 season the weekend of Oct. 14-15. It will be the AHL’s 81st season of operation and the second season for the Pacific Division, which will be buttressed once again by five teams in California. The division has grown in membership to eight teams…
AHL rosters building from NHL training camps
September 14th, 2016By all accounts, the American Hockey League’s (AHL) inaugural 2015-16 Pacific Division campaign was a smashing success. It accomplished all its goals, and then some. Fans can look forward to the 2016-17 AHL season when it faces off Oct. 14. All five California-based franchises return: the Pacific Division champion Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings) and…
Ducks, Kings, Sharks draft for the future in Buffalo
August 3rd, 2016California’s three NHL teams started to build for the future and beyond June 24-25 at the annual NHL Draft, held this year in Buffalo, N.Y. Just the Anaheim Ducks had a first-round pick (two, actually) and came away with London Knights (Ontario Hockey League) forward Max Jones at No. 24 and Regina Pats (Western Hockey…
Beau knows Stanley
July 29th, 2016One day with the Stanley Cup could tell you all you need to know about Beau Bennett’s priorities. Bennett became the first California-born and –trained player to be part of a Stanley Cup champion when the Pittsburgh Penguins vanquished the Sharks in Game 6 in San Jose on June 13. He and Stanley started their…
NHL awards expansion franchise to Las Vegas, McPhee named GM
July 13th, 2016The National Hockey League announced in late June that it has granted an expansion franchise to Las Vegas. The franchise, which will begin play in 2017-18, was approved in a unanimous vote by the League’s Board of Governors during a meeting today in Las Vegas. Ownership of the Las Vegas franchise will principally reside with Bill Foley….
Kings’ Doughty, Kopitar take home top NHL awards
June 23rd, 2016Two players from the Los Angeles Kings bagged top honors last night at the NHL awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Drew Doughty (pictured) won his first Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman, while new captain Anze Kopitar was awarded the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward and the Lady Byng Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player. Doughty…
How Swede it is: Lasch wins championships, scoring title
June 21st, 2016To reach the Swedish Hockey League’s mountaintop, Ryan Lasch has climbed out of his share of valleys. His perseverance helped him accomplish a rare feat this season. Not only did he help Frolunda HC win Sweden’s championship, but he also helped Frolunda capture the Champions Hockey League against other top teams from around Europe. Lasch,…
Going out on top: San Jose’s Alonzo part of FHL champs
June 1st, 2016If ever there was a way to finish a professional hockey career, winning a championship is the ultimate way to go out. Justin Alonzo played three seasons of pro hockey and won titles the past two seasons with Federal Hockey League (FHL) clubs, including last month with the first-year Port Huron (Mich.) Prowlers. He captained…