Category Archives: Pro
Time to shine for California at AHL All-Star Classic
January 26th, 2016Players from the five California teams in the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Pacific Division will be out to shine when the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic takes place on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Syracuse, N.Y. All 30 AHL teams will be represented in the upcoming event, hosted by the Syracuse Crunch. Nine players…
Condors’ Ford excels in California homecoming
January 8th, 2016Matt Ford’s homecoming with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL) is, by his own account, going quite nicely. “I’ve taken the best opportunity to come back,” said Ford, a San Fernando Valley native. “First of all, you can’t beat the weather, and being able to come home has been a blessing for…
Taking Liberties With… Rocco Grimaldi
December 27th, 2015Rocco Grimaldi Center, Portland Pirates (American Hockey League) Hometown: Rossmoor Last Amateur Team: University of North Dakota Youth Programs: California Wave, Little Caesars (Detroit) From California Wave to riding the waves of pro hockey, Rocco Grimaldi has experienced the highs (winning USA Hockey national championships and World Junior gold) and lows (season-ending knee surgery in…
Jr. Sharks, ‘Hawks grad Olofsson gets taste of NHL
December 24th, 2015Gustav Olofsson and his family haven’t lived in California for nearly a decade, but his experiences playing hockey in the Bay Area for four years remain fresh in his mind. “I have tons of memories,” said Olofsson, who made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 19. “I had such amazing coaches growing…
AHL’s Condors, Heat ready for outdoor game
December 19th, 2015The American Hockey League’s (AHL) Bakersfield Condors and Stockton Heat are set to make history when they pair up in an outdoor game on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Raley Field in Sacramento (the game was postponed from Dec. 18). The Pacific Division contest will be just the eighth outdoor game in AHL history and, more…
Takings Liberties With… Chad Ruhwedel
December 2nd, 2015Chad Ruhwedel Defenseman, Rochester Americans (American Hockey League) Hometown: Scripps Ranch (San Diego) Last Amateur Team: University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East) Youth Programs: San Diego Stars, La Jolla Jaguars, San Diego Jr. Gulls, Los Angeles Jr. Kings A switch from forward to defense paid dividends for Chad Ruhwedel when he was a Pee Wee, helping…
Sommer right at home with AHL’s Barracuda
November 23rd, 2015Have you heard the one about…? Roy Sommer has. In fact, if the Oakland native hasn’t lived or told the hockey tale, it’s probably not worth telling. The coach of the San Jose Sharks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate has begun his 20th year with the organization and 18th as their AHL coach in locations as varied…
AHL pushing development above all else
November 4th, 2015For the first time in the American Hockey League’s (AHL) 80 seasons, five teams faced off their campaigns in California as part of the league’s new Pacific Division. A month into the 2015-16 season, the move westward appears to have been a good idea. The proximity of AHL teams to their parent NHL clubs has…
Rebirth of AHL’s Gulls big for San Diego hockey
November 1st, 2015When Nick Ritchie scored a power-play goal 15 minutes into the first period of the San Diego Gulls’ season-opener on Oct. 10, it not only marked a new beginning for professional hockey in America’s Finest City, but also sent positive reverberations to rinks from Escondido to Mid-City and everywhere in between. Ritchie’s goal – which…
Taking Liberties With… Ryan Lasch
October 30th, 2015Ryan Lasch Forward, Frolunda Indians (Swedish Elite League) Last Amateur Team: St. Cloud State University (WCHA) Hometown: Lake Forest Local Youth Programs: California Wave, South Coast Sabers, Los Angeles Jr. Kings Where Ryan Lasch goes, points follow. After piling up 147 in 56 games during his final year of juniors in Pembroke, Ontario, Lasch went…