Category Archives: Youth
Santa Barbara area sees explosive growth, thanks to Ice in Paradise
May 2nd, 2016Erik Norton was five years old when he attended his first city council meeting, a rabid hockey fan and a budding Mite player who wanted nothing more than a hometown rink. More than 20 years later, with many stops and starts along the way, that vision finally became a reality last fall, and Norton intends…
Sharks Ice, Jr. Sharks celebrate Gustafson-inspired growth spurt
April 26th, 2016For nearly 20 years, Jon Gustafson has had his finger on the pulse of hockey in Northern California. As the vice-president of Sharks Sports and Entertainment – which includes the American Hockey League’s (AHL) San Jose Barracuda and three arenas (San Jose, Fremont and Oakland) and their programs under the umbrella of Sharks Ice –…
Jr. Kings, Heat grad Guttman commits to St. Cloud State
April 20th, 2016Cole Guttman, a member of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ Pacific District champion 16U AAA Major team this past season, will attend and play his NCAA Division I hockey at St. Cloud State University following his junior career. A forward from Northridge, the 1999-born Guttman tied for the 16U division lead in Tier I Elite…
Quebec tourney a highlight for California Pee Wee quartet
March 30th, 2016To say that the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament is unrivaled anywhere would be a vast understatement. It seems that everyone who has ever attended the event – now in its 57th year – raves about it, some going so far as to call it a life-changing experience. Surely, the recently concluded tournament will be…
Golden State, OC Hockey, Jr. Ducks claim Tier II states
March 29th, 2016Four teams from California took home CAHA Tier II state championship banners in early March, with two going to the Golden State Elite Eagles and one each to the OC Hockey Club and Anaheim Jr. Ducks. The Eagles won the 18U AA division, winning all three tournament games. On March 11, they skated to a…
Jr. Kings, Jr. Ducks collect banners at Pacific Districts
March 28th, 2016The Los Angeles Jr. Kings won two USA Hockey Pacific District Tier I boys titles and the Anaheim Jr. Ducks collected one banner during the first weekend in March at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. The Jr. Kings won championships at Bantam and Midget 16U, while the Jr. Ducks captured the 18U title. The…
Jr. Kings’ 16U AAA Minors win in Pittsburgh
March 20th, 2016The Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ 16U AAA Minor squad took home the top prize at this year’s 15U/16U National Invitational Tournament, which was showcased last weekend (March 17-20) just outside of Pittsburgh. The Jr. Kings, led by head coach Jaro Modry, forged a 4-1 record at the prestigious event, which was contested at UPMC Lemieux…
Stockton hockey camp preps players for next level
March 9th, 2016Hockey has taken Oakland native Derek Eisler all over the world, but right now, his sights are set on a location a little closer to home. Eisler, the program founder of the Stockton-based Why Leave Hockey Development and the Bay Area Blazers, is heading up a summer camp in Stockton with the goal of prepping…
Ex-Jr. Kings blueliner Baker inks NAHL tender agreement
March 2nd, 2016Former Los Angeles Jr. Kings 16U AAA defenseman Ben Baker has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL’s Central Division. A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once…
Jr. Kings set to host Pacific District Championships
March 2nd, 2016The Los Angeles Jr. Kings will serve as host of this weekend’s Pacific District Championships, which will be showcased from March 3-6 at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. At the event, the Boys Midget 18U AAA, Midget 16U AAA and Bantam 14U AAA and Women’s C divisions will be contested; the Jr. Kings will…