California Rubber

California’s and Nevada’s Authoritative Voice of Hockey

Category Archives: Junior

Nieto named NAHL Goaltender of the Month

January 6th, 2016

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs held firm atop the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Midwest Division standings with a 6-0-1 record in December, and Yorba Linda’s Gavin Nieto was a big part of the equation. The red-hot goaltender posted a perfect 6-0 record during the month and, to top things off, he made his NCAA Division…

WSHL’s Monsters out to tackle unfinished business

December 29th, 2015

A rematch is looming in the Western States Hockey League’s (WSHL) wild west, but Bryce Dale and the Fresno Monsters have their sights set on something bigger. The defending division champs from Fresno, who’ve won three of the last four Western Division titles, were in a dogfight with the Valencia Flyers for top spot in…

Yorba Linda’s Nieto decides on Brown University

December 27th, 2015

Yorba Linda’s Gavin Nieto will attend and play his NCAA Division I hockey at Brown University following his junior career. A goaltender for the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Fairbanks Ice Dogs this season, Nieto leads the league with a 1.74 goals-against average and holds the sixth-best save percentage at .927. Nieto, a former Los…

Texeira, Weinger stay the course with Winterhawks

December 26th, 2015

The 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)…

Yorba Linda’s Nieto wins weekly NAHL award

December 23rd, 2015

Gavin 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…

San Diego’s Williams decides on UMass-Amherst

December 18th, 2015

San 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…

Cassetti, McManus, Barnes to represent U.S.

December 15th, 2015

Two 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…

Pair of local sharpshooters lighting up SJHL

December 4th, 2015

One is a three-year veteran of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), while the other is only 20-odd games into his junior career, but Igor Leonenko and Coby Downs have more in common than both hailing from California. Both are giving goalies north of the border fits. The Battlefords North Stars were off to a…

Four recognized by NHL Central Scouting

November 25th, 2015

Three former Los Angeles Jr. Kings – forwards Keoni Texeira and Evan Weinger and goaltender Evan Sarthou – and former San Jose Jr. Shark Zak Galambos were recognized by NHL Central Scouting on its “Players to Watch” list for 2016 draft-eligibles, which was released today. Texeira and Weinger, both of whom are skating for the…

Long Beach starts WSHL season strong

November 24th, 2015

It’d be difficult to find a more diverse locker room in all of hockey than that of the Long Beach Bombers. And with seven wins in their first 10 games to start the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) season, it’s an exciting time for head coach Chris White as he guides his own version of…

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