Category Archives: Pro
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…
Reign one step closer to returning to Calder Cup Finals
May 22nd, 2016The Ontario Reign has taken another step toward reaching its ultimate goal of repeating as Calder Cup champions after defeating the San Diego Gulls four games to one to capture the Southern California rivals’ American Hockey League (AHL) Western Conference Pacific Division Finals playoff series. The Reign improves to 7-2 through two rounds of divisional…
AHL Man of the Year winners impact local communities
May 17th, 2016Prior to the start of the Calder Cup playoffs, the American Hockey League announced the individual team winners of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year awards. These players were selected by their respective clubs for their outstanding contributions to the local community and charitable organizations during the 2015-16 season. From this list of…
AHL Pacific Division Finals pairs Southern California rivals
May 4th, 2016Though the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings suffered what some might consider unkind early exits from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Southern California arch rivals’ American Hockey League affiliates (Ontario Reign and San Diego Gulls) are ready to duke it out on the ice in the Calder Cup’s Western Conference Pacific Division Finals. The…