Blog
Texeira, Weinger stay the course with Winterhawks
December 26th, 2015The novelty of being named as potential picks in the NHL Entry Draft has worn off slightly for Keoni Texeira and Evan Weinger. Despite cracking the Central Scouting Service’s rankings as potential fourth- to sixth-round draft picks for the second consecutive year, both former Los Angeles Jr. Kings (Texeira also played for the LA Selects)…
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…
Wildcats’ first girls team off to promising start
December 24th, 2015Ali Woodford and Madison Detwiler didn’t know it at the time, but an off-hand conversation they had while putting on their hockey pads last season may have had a major impact on girls hockey in San Diego. Now members of the Wildcats Hockey Club’s first-ever girls team, the two high schoolers were playing for boys…
Yorba Linda’s Nieto wins weekly NAHL award
December 23rd, 2015Gavin Nieto, a goaltender for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, was named the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Midwest Division Star of the Week for the week ending Dec. 20. Nieto, a 19-year-old from Yorba Linda, started and won both games in a two-game road sweep of the New Jersey Titans, allowing just one goal in…
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…
San Diego’s Williams decides on UMass-Amherst
December 18th, 2015San Diego native Brian Williams has committed to attend and play his Division I hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst following his junior career. “It feels amazing to commit; a dream come true,” said Williams, a former LA Select and San Diego Jr. Gull. “I chose the University of Massachusetts-Amherst because it’s amazing, both athletically and…
Flames program rises out of Jr. Wranglers’ ashes
December 17th, 2015For more than a decade, Las Vegas residents enjoyed the excitement of hosting a team in the ECHL, and a side benefit to the presence of the Wranglers in Sin City was the organization’s positive impact on youth hockey. Alas, when the pro Wranglers folded last spring, so too did the Jr. Wranglers. A dedicated…
Cassetti, McManus, Barnes to represent U.S.
December 15th, 2015Two players with California youth hockey ties – forwards Joey Cassetti and Brannon McManus – were named to the U.S. National Under-17 Team that will compete in the upcoming Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, which will run from Dec. 16-20 in Slovakia. Cassetti, a former San Jose Jr. Shark from Pleasanton, is skating this season with…
McCrea, Pankowski cop weekly NCAA awards
December 9th, 2015Two California natives – El Cajon’s Alec McCrea and Laguna Hills’ Annie Pankowski – picked up weekly awards in their respective NCAA Division I conferences for the week ending Dec. 7. McCrea, a freshman defenseman with Cornell University, was named the ECAC Rookie of the Week after leading all league freshmen in scoring while also…
Renovations give Lakewood rink a needed facelift
December 4th, 2015Though hockey in Southern California had been around for a number of years prior to his arrival, it can be argued that Wayne Gretzky’s trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 was when it truly established itself locally. Since that time, California has added two NHL franchises in the San Jose Sharks and the Mighty Ducks…