January 2010California’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline HockeyVOLUME 3 ISSUE 5

San Jose braces for Winternationals

NHL draft coming to Los Angeles

Fresno makes Monster move to NAHL

Hockey in Tahoe not to be forgotten

Metro Conference celebrates

10 years as the state’s first

and only CIF-sanctioned high

school roller hockey circuit

North America’s Largest Summer“AAA” Hockey Tournament

June 30 – July 3Future Stars1998 – 2002

July 7 – July 10Prep School1994 – 1997Juniors1992 – 1993

www.onehockey.com

th

APPLY NOWTeam Sign up deadline January 20th

or if a division signs 20 Teams

DATES AND 2010 DIVISIONS

4

INSIDE...Rachel Nguyen, left, and Riley Brown, both of the LA Selects’ Girls 19U team, have made college plans for next season (see story on Page 21).

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Visit our Web site at: CaliRubber.com

Pictured on the cover:

From left, Mar Vista High School senior Nelson Hoffman (South Bay League), Bonita Vista High

School sophomore Lizz Fulton (Mesa League) and Westview High School senior Anthony Mata (North

County League) Photo/Paul Martinez

We have A LOT to look forward to in California

in 2010. In February, Californian Angela Ruggiero will represent our country for a record fourth time at the Vancouver Olym-pics. In addition, state champi-ons will be crowned.

-trict Regionals for Tier I boys and Tier I and II girls will take place at Sharks Ice in San Jose, and you can bet several teams from Califor-nia will advance to nationals. In late June, the NHL will

that several of our native sons will hear their names called in down-town LA. In between, the Stanley Cup playoffs will take place, and San Jose and LA have the look of strong postseason teams. And

And this fall, the state will

American Hockey League (NAHL) - the Fresno Monsters. The entry of Tier II Junior A hockey into the

grassroots growth.

So will the NAHL Monsters

this season) pursue players from California? Head coach Eric Bal-lard told me absolutely. “You always want to put the best 25 players on your roster,

Ballard said. “The last 5-10 years, the number of high-end player who have come out of California is impressive. If we can corral some

Will higher-end players from

state? I asked three who have gone

take. Austin Blocktop scorer in 2008-09, and the for-mer SoCal Titan parlayed his two seasons in Fairbanks, Alaska, into

University of New Hampshire.

hockey in my home state of Cali-

go play in Fairbanks and experi-ence something new, but if I had a chance to play for a respectable Junior A organization in Califor-

Brothers Beau and Wade Bennett headed to the Junior A BCHL after helping the LA Jr.

USA Hockey National Tournament in April.

Beau, a forward with Penticton. Added Wade, a defenseman for

-rience is about breaking out of your

I Steve Balaban -

ing our Prep School and NCAA

24-25). He volunteered his time to make sure as many players as possible get the recognition they deserve.

New Year brings plenty of excitement

From the Editor:

Reach Chris Bayee at chris@calirubber.com

Chris Bayee

CaliRubber.com 5

By Jennifer Boris

It was a storybook end to a fairytale season for the Jr.

suited up and stepped onto the

As the winners of the an-

out of Corona Inline chose to trade playing surfaces for the day to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate alongside their favorite hockey players.

last year all the way through the AAU Junior Olympics in Philadelphia. The essay focused

willingness to stick together as a team.

defeated, 8-0, by the Hawks from New Jersey. They sailed

through the rest of the tourna-ment and ended up making it

Hawks again. In a hard-fought battle, the

championship in overtime. The trophy they won was brought onto the ice at Honda Center and a team photo was taken

Bobby Ryan, who played in the AAU Junior Olympics as an inline player when he was

younger, addressed the team after it scrimmaged on the ice

“On behalf of all of us, we

said Ryan. “We had a lot of fun, and I hope you did, too. Congrats on your AAU champi-onship. I got a chance to watch your video, and it was very well put together. Glad you guys had

Hayden Holt, a member of

going head-to-head with Ryan, who played much of his youth hockey in Southern California.

coach (Newell Brown) told

I went on the ice and checked him a couple of times really

When Ryan called him out in the locker room after

brought out a big cheer from the -

ers. When asked about his favorite part of the day, the Jr.

David Everson said,

Jean-Sébastien) Giguère Said teammate Brent Collins: “My favorite part was

Before the kids got on the ice with the players, they had the chance to get dressed in the

the stalls alongside the players.

youth hockey team was ever allowed to do so and the kids

“It was incredible to see these kids… the happiness, the smiles. Christmas came early

Steven Vidger, Shane

Vidger. “We want to thank the

never get to do again and they were all thrilled to death. As a

kids have an experience like

Jr. Ducks Inline Team Wins Essay Contest‘Miracle’ Mites afforded a chance-of-a-lifetime meeting with the Ducks

The Jr. Ducks’ 10U inline team celebrated its AAU Junior Olympics championship with members of the Anaheim Ducks recently at Honda Center. Photo/Anaheim Ducks

AnaheimDucks.com

Anaheim Ducks

Class Acts

6

HConference roller hockey game. The opponents were the Bonita Vista Barons and Eastlake Titans and the game ended in a 4-4 draw. Though there was not an actual winner on the scoreboard, both teams were

high school roller hockey league in the state sanctioned by the California Interscho-

that coaches and players wear with a well-won sense of pride. That the conference is still rolling along in its groundbreaking 10th season is a tribute to its many long-term coaches, school administrators, playing talent and supporters. “I would put a lot of weight on the coaches who have kept their programs

Jerry Nestlerode, who is entering his ninth season as coach of the Southwest Raiders and also serves as league liaison to Sweetwater Union High

Jerry Schniepp. “I think the coaches do a

Celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the CIF/Metro Conference keeps rolling along

Keith Quigle Dan Vaccaro, both of whom have taken their teams through the transition from the club-

Conference play. Quigley, who coached in the confer-

has coached the Barons since 1998; Va-carro is among the true coaching pioneers in the conference, having held the Lanc-

Ron Cole is entering his 10th season

only high school roller hockey league in the state, nor does it profess to have the best teams in the state. But while other club-based circuits throughout California aspire to emulate traditional high school campus sports, with varying degrees of

of their school and school logo on their uniforms, receive district-provided bus transportation to game sites, are allot-ted basic equipment (though about half the players provide their own), receive

yearbooks and can hang championship banners in their gymnasiums alongside those of other sports. Players are awarded championship

-

Hall of Champions. In other words, roller hockey is

-side such traditional high school sports as football, basketball, baseball and soc-cer.

learned to play by the rules like every--

lated the sport into the school system.

graduating classes (and part of a third).

Hilltop welcomed six freshmen to its team this season.

has opened the door for hundreds of

take part in the overall high school sports experience who otherwise might not have had the chance. One neat aspect of the sport being included in the regular high

to pay to play the sport at the club level. -

ence is one full of ethnic diversity.

ready translation into Tagalog, one of 33 languages spoken on Sweetwater district campuses, the lure of the sport remains magnetic. “Even when new to the game, when kids put on skates they fall in love with

stands out from the other sports because

as coed so as to not violate Title IX rules and create an imbalance in male and female sports on campus. And girls have

Kelly Nash

hockey at the University of Wisconsin. Many male alumni have gone on to play both ice hockey and roller hockey at the collegiate level. A few - highlighted by

Carl HortenDan

Comrie (USHL) and La Jolla Country Nathan Sigmund (Northern

Michigan University) - have gone on play either at elite levels of amateur ice

-ling American Inline Hockey League. Teams play 20 regular-season games, followed by the Kiwanis Cup champion-ship playoffs. The conference is divided into three leagues, with each league champion receiving automatic entry into the playoffs. The rest of the 10-team

basis. The legendary 2003-04 Scripps Ranch

-ro Conference history to carry an unde-feated season through regular-season and postseason competition.

section championship (section bylaws

teams and the Metro circuit is limited

By Phillip Brents

Representing the CIF/Metro Conference’s South Bay League are, clockwise from bottom left, St. Augustine High School senior Chris Dante, Southwest High School sophomore Chris Mikesell, Sweetwater High School senior Zachary Tupaz and Mar Vista High School senior Nelson Hoffman. Photo/Phillip Brents

CaliRubber.com 7

-ers view the Kiwanis Cup playoffs as the

for now. Support for each roller hockey pro-gram varies from school to school and year to year. Quigley received a budget of $3,000 from his school this season and was encouraged to buy snappy new uni-forms, which he did. Many coaches use

equipment. Non-district teams, however, remain fully self-funded. Dale Ingram, who is coaching his seventh season at Poway High School, said the Titans program is overseen by 15 board members who are active in securing sponsorships and dona-tions to keep everything rolling.

Conference has managed to survive - and even thrive - amid the ever-present shadow of school budget cuts. Many are

more would like to see it continue to expand to allow even more student-ath-letes the chance to play hockey for their schools.

Conference began this season with the same number of teams it ended with last year.

In the beginning, there was no

High School Roller Hockey Conference, a club-based league whose leadership

CIF sports on campus. Don Cerone, a Scripps Ranch High

-sioner. When the club-based conference expanded to include Hilltop High School

conference expanded further to include a South Bay League in which Hilltop found competition against several other newly-formed club teams from its own

As the South Bay League solidi-

- Sweetwater district superintendent Dr. Ed Brand - provided the key ele-ment to push the sport along further. It

that roller hockey became an action

of Managers agenda and eventually received enough support to classify it

Conference, which is governed by the Sweetwater district. There was only one hitch: Roller

-

with the stipulation that no other athletic conference within the section be permitted to do the same. Effectively,

hockey circuit was placed in a state of quarantine. But it was alive - that was the im-portant point. The inaugural 2000-01 season saw nine schools within the Metro Confer-

league consisted of all four Sweetwater district schools that had previously

based South Bay League, along with

Hilltop won the inaugural con-ference championship with a 13-0-1 regular-season record, while Bonita Vista captured the title in a four-team non-sanctioned postseason tournament, the forerunner of the Kiwanis Cup,

postseason championship tournament. The league was a success and two non-district teams - Scripps Ranch and

gained admission to the Metro Confer-ence for its second season. With two non-district teams now in the lineup,

A further commitment by the Sweetwater district was made follow-

full-sized roller hockey rink was built

Park High School in southern Chula Vista. (The CPHS rink is used free of charge for practices and outdoor games by Sweetwater district schools while the

in National City for indoor games.) Because other conferences within

-

-

Conference has thus grown to include 16 teams (nine from the Sweetwater district and seven from other districts). In the 10 seasons, only one Sweetwater district school has placed its roller hock-

three non-district teams have come and gone. Peak membership was during the

teams. Only one school has won three conference titles: Scripps Ranch (2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05). Two schools - Westview (2005-06 and 2008-09) and

- each have won two Kiwanis Cup titles. Two schools each have one champion-ship to their credit: Hilltop (2000-01) and Bonita Vista (2001-02). The Westview Wolverines are the defending Kiwanis Cup champions.

CIF/Metro Conference: 2009-10 Alignment

Mesa LeagueBonita Vista BaronsChula Vista SpartansEastlake TitansHilltop LancersOtay Ranch Mustangs South Bay LeagueCastle Park TrojansLa Jolla County Day TorreysMar Vista MarinersSt. Augustine SaintsSouthwest RaidersSweetwater Red Devils North County League Poway TitansRancho Bernardo BroncosScripps Ranch FalconsWest Hills Wolf PackWestview Wolverines Rink locations: Castle Park High School (Chula Vista), Skate San Diego (National City), Escondido Sports Center (Escondido) Roller hockey remains a coed sport in the CIF/Metro Conference. Pictured, from left, are Southwest High School’s Maria Bojorquiez, Mar

Vista High School’s Kassandra Cook and Southwest’s Nia Adams. Photo/Phillip Brents

By Phillip Brents

CIF Roller Hockey: A Genesis

8

Travel has been a way of life for David Inman.

As a youth, he made the

LA to play AAA hockey for four years. The Inman family showed a tremendous level of commitment to allow him to

the highest level, and, slowly but surely, he became one of our top players.

stronger every year, and he earned the respect of his peers. “My experience with the LA Jr.

year in Pee Wee to the last year

a forward, but Igor Nikulin and I - his coaches - decided to have him

played before. “I struggled in the beginning,

said Inman. “I think that was the reason I was able to have so much success as I got older; the coaches saw my potential as a defenseman and I ended up becoming a much

as a forward. The three national championships his teams won at the Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget 16U

forget. “I think the most memorable

a Pee Wee in Anchorage, Alaska, mostly because we were all so

remembered. “None of us had ever

took him to the Midwest, where he played for the U.S. National Team

Arbor, Mich., from 2003-05.

“I played with the best players

incredible now to see some of them

never forget being able to put on the

Inman continued moving eastward, deciding to attend and play college hockey at Yale University in Connecticut. “My senior year, we won our league (ECAC) in both the regular season and the playoffs, and played

“It was the best team Yale has ever

professional hockey in Essen, Germany.

learning an entirely new language

Inman also has advice for younger players in California.

he said. “The good thing is that if

want to keep playing as much as you

I got older was that practice is more important than games in terms of improving as a hockey player,

new things and develop."

Road well traveled pays off for Inman

Chalk Talk:

James Gasseau is the president of the LA Hockey Club/LA Selects youth

hockey organizations. He also coaches the program’s 96 and 99 teams.

James Gasseau

Keeney climbing the ranks with USHL promotion

LA Hockey Club / LA Selects

Rudsons

LAHockeyClub.com • LASelects.com

BJohn Keeney’s travel schedule for the past month, much less the 13

The former LA Selects goaltender capped a 32-day stretch by winning his USHL debut for the

he faced against Tri-City. “I was pretty nervous,

-minder said, adding that his new teammates - four of whom also are from California - helped his ad-

difference in speed (from Midget AAA hockey). The USHL is so much faster. Our team is really good, so it makes it a lot better on

14 1993 birth years in the USHL, and one of only three goalies.

Selects coach Shawn Pitcherteams like to go with more

Omaha covered lots and lots of miles. Keeney began the

18U AAA team. In mid-November, the Lancers scouted him during a trip

League showcase. He was

their summer futures camp. The following week-end, a scout spoke with him after another show-case game in El Segundo.

come up to Omaha to stay -

ney said. “About four days later, I got a call offering me the spot. “I was pretty sur-

Next up, however, was

coaches then broke the news of his opportunity to his teammates.

Bliss Littler) liked Johnny and wanted to get him on

is a very humble kid. He

on his sleeve, which is good for a goalie. He stays composed even if one or two gets by him.

From there, Keeney made another road trip with his dad, who had driven from California

where they were greeted by 8-degree weather.

-ment to go to a new team

said. “Practice was not that much different, but we spend a lot more time

One thing Keeney

was living with a billet because he already was doing that this season.

-ern California, he and fellow Selects goaltender Hayden Capuozzo (who is from Texas) lived with Steve Switzer, the owner and chief instructor of AAA Goaltending, in Or-ange County.

previous years playing hockey in California, his parents, Mike and Sha-ron, would drive him from

Peaks, which is located in the San Bernardino Moun-tains, to rinks in Anaheim, Westminster and Yorba Linda - commutes that

round trip. While the USHL is primarily a bus league, Keeney can take comfort in that he now has a 15-minute drive to the rink and a two-minute drive to school.

Twin Peaks’ John Keeney won his USHL debut last month with the Omaha Lancers. Photo/USHL Images

By Chris Bayee

HOCKEY CLUB

Visit CaliRubber.com for Podcast interviews with the University of Vermont’s Kevan

Miller and Boston University’s Max Nicastro!

CaliRubber.com 9

It was the third weekend in August, and the ice at the Lake

been resurfaced; the new hockey season was about to begin. For the players and coaches of

beginning of a fun - but grueling - training camp weekend that con-sisted of alternating on- and off-ice conditioning and team-building ex-ercises so that the coaches and play-ers could begin to come together. In addition to the training, the players, parents and coaches took

-

barbeques.

that, like everything the organiza-tion does, tries to broaden the lives of their players and parents not only to a high level of hockey, but to many more nuances of life that

Saints coach Mark Falkowski. Based at the Ray and Joan Kroc

since 2002, the Saints, under the

athletes pursue their goals.

Saints teams have competed and succeeded in some of North

-ments, including the Bell Cup in Ottawa, the Richmond Invitational

Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., the Paul Coffey Invitation in Toronto and the annual Silver Stick Invita-tional, which the Bantam team won in 2006. The Saints also boast a strong in-house instructional program that focuses on opening the game

the beginning stages of their hockey development. Adding both programs together, there are more than 200 players in the Saints system for the 2009-10 season. “In-house and travel clubs are deep with coaches who have an exceptional backgrounds in hockey, while many also have impeccable professional careers in education, engineering, contracting, sales, physical therapy and the armed

coaches are not only able to offer sound hockey training, but career guidance and internships for their

The mission of the Saints is to provide as many young athletes with the opportunity to play hockey, so the organization conducts several fundraising events each year to sup-port a scholarship for families who

This year, the Saints hosted a 10K run at the Tecolote Canyon State Park and the annual Hat Trick Classic Golf Tournament at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Country Club. The Saints raise roughly $20,000 a year of which 100 percent is put into the Financial Assistance

The Saints primarily attract

some come from as far north as Los Angeles. Numerous alumni have

teams and U.S. college programs. “Several former players have re-turned to the program to coach and provide the same memorable experi-ences they had for the next genera-

The Saints are steadily carving out their own hockey traditions in

lives of the players, parents and coaches and that will be around for many years to come.

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Saints Continue Their March Towards DevelopmentSan Diego program provides plenty of opportunities, on and off the ice

Players like Jack Manning of the Saints’ Midget AA team are helping build on San Diego’s already-strong hockey foundation. Photo/Jaimi Manning

Visit CaliRubber.com For More Information On Our Marketplace Partners!

®

AnaheimDucks.com

Tteam holds the lead in its respective division after the third North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) tour-nament of the season held last month in Rochester, N.Y. The NAPHL is comprised of 24 programs from across the country that compete at the Tier I Midget AAA level.

14 Midget Minor) play in each of the

be crowned champions. The Titans, who skated to a 4-1 re-cord in Rochester, now hold a 13-2 record overall, good for 26 points - one more than both the Lansing (Mich.) Capitals and the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals.

-

said Titans head coach Scott Yorkison. Gabe Levin has led the Titans of-fensively this season. The forward from

with 28 points on eight goals through 14 games. “We have a lot of good leadership in

our locker room and Gabe is the one who

his work ethic. No one works harder

Levin will play in the North Ameri-

can Hockey League (NAHL) next season after signing a tender recently with the

player who will contribute in all facets of

decision to recruit Levin. The Titans have also been get-ting great goaltending, especially from Gordon Ceasar, a returning netminder from Oak Park. He holds an 8-1 record to compliment a 1.51 goals-against aver-age (fourth in the league) and a .929 save percentage.

Yorkison. “He also has great work ethic and competes everyday in practice to get

any easier when the NAPHL moves to Ann Arbor, Mich., from Jan. 15-18 - the last event before the NAPHL Champion-ship Tournament Series, which will be held at Sharks Ice-San Jose from Feb. 12-15. “We still have some big in-state games that count towards state playoffs,

-

California entries - the San Jose Jr.

battling for playoff position.

10

NAHL Welcomes Monsters for Next SeasonLeague conditionally approves Fresno as its first-ever California team

ITier II Junior A hockey in Fresno next season.

-

Governors voted last month to grant conditional approval for an expansion membership to Fresno Ice, LLC. The club, which will be named the Fresno Monsters, will begin play in the 2010-11 season and play its home games

Fresno.

said NAHL commissioner Mark Fran-kenfeld. “California is an up-and-com-ing region that continues to develop top-

doors as it relates to prospective mem-

The Monsters are currently in

III Junior A Western State Hockey League (WSHL). The organization will

continue to operate a team in the WSHL next season.

NAHL and what the league represents

coach and general manager Eric Bal-lard. “The professionalism and ap-proach the NAHL champions is exactly what the Fresno Monsters organization wants for its players, its city and its

The membership is conditioned upon on the prospective ownership presenting league-required documents to the NAHL

application process. The club may begin operations once all necessary documents are received in an acceptable form. The North American Hockey League, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior A league boasting 19 teams from across the country, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspira-

professional hockey.

Titans Take Lead in NAPHL’s U18 DivisionSo Cal, Jr. Sharks ready for Ann Arbor event before playoffs in San Jose

Chris Guidotti and the Titans’ U18 team have a 13-2 record after the first three NAPHL events of the season. Photo/John Elftmann

Titans continued page 17

CaliRubber.com

By Matt Mackinder

Playing in the North American Hockey

League (NAHL) has been a “happy and satisfying

Zach Ledford and he credits the league for helping him reach his dream next year of playing college hockey. Ledford, traded in September from the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild to the Wichita Falls (Texas) Wildcats, recently committed to Bentley College, a small

located in Waltham, Mass., and a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association. “(Bentley) saw me play in 2008 at the NAHL Showcase

old defenseman from Folsom. “Then at the Showcase this season, they saw me again, brought me out for a visit and made me an offer.

“Bentley plays in a great

I want to go into business and Bentley has one of the best business schools in the country. “School is a huge thing for me and, after I committed, it was a huge relief and I could focus more on playing my game and not worry about getting noticed.

Tendered by Wenatchee prior to last season, Ledford said his time with the

“I had a chance to sign with (the) Fairbanks

and when I chose to go to Wenatchee, a lot of people thought I was crazy and

said. “Fairbanks has sent a lot of guys to college and Wenatchee was a new team,

but, when I got there, it was awesome.

who you are. Even when I went back there with the Wildcats this year, before the game they showed a tribute video of me. They really treat

One of four California natives with Wichita Falls – the same team that groomed

Dan Sexton - Ledford said they all face the friendly razzing and teasing about being from the West Coast.

Ledford. “Two of the other

region and yeah, they

Ledford played in Colorado before going to

Wenatchee last season. Growing up in California, Ledford said he and a neighborhood friend tried hockey “because our dads

when they were 5 years old. Ledford said that with the strong potential for an NAHL team in Fresno next season, he thinks that in the future, youngsters can play minor hockey all the way

leave the state. “When I was younger,

away from home as possible; I actually wanted to go to

Ledford said. “But now, if

been cool to have friends and family make the drive to the games to see me play. Soon enough, I think kids from California will be able to do

11

NAHL Leads Ledford to D-I OpportunityFolsom product readies for college career at Bentley

Zach Ledford, from Folsom, will play his Division I hockey in Massachusetts next season. Photo/NAHL

Adam Cardwell

Long Beach

University of Alaska - Fairbanks

Austin Block

Northridge

University of New Hampshire

Josh Rabbani

Woodland HillsRPI

North American Hockey League

NAHL.com

12

NHL Entry Draft Makes its Way to LA

Parents of youth hockey players will all generally

-thing. Responsible coaches, parents and board members for youth hockey programs will all tell you that skill develop-ment and improvement, along with building relationships off the ice, is the real name of the game and the end result we strive for when it comes to our kids.

hockey Utopia. There are still coaches and parents out there who think winning is all we

these folks and know their

and even argued with them.

--

a bad thing; expecting to win and only wanting to win is the problem.

like to tell the kids, “If you like winning more than you like

believe that credo.

to learn from losing, but, if you teach youth players that

those lessons are lost.

upon both coaches and parents to build a healthy sense of com-petition in our young players rather than an obsession with recording a win in the score-

easy, either.

Youth sports have come a long way since I played. When we were younger, we always kept score. We always had league standings. And, unlike many youth sports today,

at the end of the year.

marginalizing the idea of com-

good for our children as they mature into adulthood. Americans are de-empha-sizing the idea that winning comes from hard work and dedication and losing simply means we have to work a little bit harder. Losing teaches us as much or more than winning

anything if we preach the idea

anything either. There has to be a balance.

-lenging economic climate where people are losing their homes due to mortgage

of downsizing, many parents of youth hockey players have been forced to deal with some

A lot of us have already learned about mental tough-ness and how to persevere, though. We learned these lessons out on the basketball

pitch or hockey rink.

kids of these same life lessons - ones which will stick with them throughout their lives

work, tenacity and embracing the idea of becoming the best you can at a given task. If we can instill these traits upon our kids (tempered with a healthy dose of good sports-

to be successful - win or lose - both on the ice and later in life.

Winning isn’t always a dirty word

Cean Burgeson is a hockey parent in the

Capital Thunder youth association.

Parental Guidance:

Cean Burgeson

Not only will the NHL

2010, but it appears there could be several players who were trained in the state selected during the two-day showcase at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Kings will serve as hosts for the event, which will be held June 25-26.

the continuing evolution of the Los Angeles Kings, as well as the growth of hockey in

commissioner Gary Bettman said after the announcement

youth programs producing an increasing number of elite play-

bring this showcase event to

Ten players who were trained in California have been selected in the past four drafts, including defenseman Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita), who in

California-born and -trained player

round. Blum, claimed by the Nashville Predators with the 23rd overall pick, played his youth hockey with the Cali-fornia Wave before moving to the WHL and now plays for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. According to the NHL, 24 players have been drafted from the state of California since

U.S. have had more: Minne-sota, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan and Illinois.

place on Friday, June 25, begin-ning at 4 p.m. (PT). On Satur-day, the draft concludes with

Fittingly, a Californian

Emerson Etem is ranked fourth by NHL

Central Scout-ing on its Top 25 Western Hockey League

Players to

A handful of locals could hear their names called during June’s festivities

Watch list for the 2010 draft. The speedy center plays for the Medicine Hat Tigers, where he has been among his

6-foot, 190-pound Etem had 35 points (tied for 36th in the WHL and third among rookies). His

the league. Another California prospect

King Beau Bennett, who has been the top-scoring rookie and import in the BCHL all season. The 6-1, 180-pound Ben-nett (Gardena) had 56 points through 31 games. Three other players with California ties have appeared on Central Scouting Watch Lists this season: Tyler Parker (Livermore) is a 6-foot, 180-pound forward for Regina of the WHL. He

games for the Pats. He started the season with Wenatchee of the NAHL, where he had three points and a plus-5 rating through 15 games. The former San Jose Jr. Shark played last season for Everett in the WHL. Markus McCrea (Canyon Lake) is a 6-3, 205-pound left wing with Everett of the WHL. A product of the Yorba Linda Blackhawks, McCrea has seven

Former LA Selects center Jason Zucker, a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, is the 18th-ranked USHL

pounts, is from Las Vegas. Other potential draftees

ago include: left wing Tyler Maxwell (Manhattan Beach) of Everett of the WHL; defense-man Matthew Konan (Tustin) of Medicine Hat of the WHL; and forward Cory Kane (Ir-vine) of Vernon of the BCHL.

With continued success in the WHL this season, expect Long Beach’s Emerson Etem to be taken in the early rounds of this summer’s NHL draft. Photo/Mc Images

By Chris Bayee

CaliRubber.com

Considered one of the best nights of the season for everyone in the

organization, San Jose Sharks players

Sharks Foundation last month at the

help out some of those less fortunate.

Ryane Clowe. “The guys love doing it

see the families and hopefully we have a

“You never have to pull teeth to get

Laura Johnston, of

hearing someone say, ‘Thanks for giving

The players were teamed up with families struggling to make ends meet

this night, the Sharks players did their best to make everyone in attendance feel like the most important people in San Jose. The festivities began with an open-skating session, and, for a good portion

youngsters on the ice for conversation or, in some cases, to simply help hold them up while they glided around the ice.

said defenseman Kent Huskins of the daughter in the family he sponsored. “I think she was more excited about that

The on-ice session was followed by a catered dinner from Outback Steakhouse

during which the players sat with their

Sports Bar.

when the families moved downstairs and headed to the Sharks Ice atrium where there were bags of presents from the players and Sharks staff. After receiving a list of desired items from the families, the shopping was

completed by the players, their wives and girlfriends and the Sharks staff. “The kids were really excited to see the gifts and hopefully they got what

Marc-Edouard Vlasic. “It was nice to see the

The event is an annual affair for

attending for Huskins.

sit with them at dinner. It was great to get to know a little about them and for

When the night concluded, everyone

members to the players went home happy. “It was really nice and we had a lot

defenseman Dan Boyle. “Unfortunately,

to help out. Hopefully, it brings a little

13

‘Adopt-a-Family’ Party Spreads Holiday CheerSharks happy to bring smiles, gifts to local families in need

The Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic and his girlfriend, Martine, delivered gifts to their adopted family at last month’s holiday party. Photo/San Jose Sharks

®

San Jose Sharks

SJSharks.com

Submit your favorite hockey photos at CaliRubber.com!Picture Perfect

The San Diego Jr. Gulls celebrated the Bantam B title at the Jr. Ducks Fall Festival over Thanksgiving Weekend.

In the Mite B bracket of the Jr. Ducks Fall Festival, the Valencia Express skated to a first-place finish.

Sebastian Whitehead of the San Francisco Sabercats’ Pee Wee team puts one home against the California Cougars. Photo/Bob Austrian

Genevieve Lai of the Lady Ducks’ 10U team battles for the puck with a member of the Ventura Mariners at November’s Junior Ducks Fall Festival in Anaheim. Photo/Ted Lai

Junior Ducks Pee Wee A captain Mitchell Hodges fends off a couple of opponents during a tournament game in Arizona.Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com

Netminder Daniel Battaglia of the Beach City Lightning’s Bantam A 96 team keeps his focus during a recent tournament game in Phoenix. Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com

The San Diego Oilers’ Pee Wee B team is all smiles after winning its division of the Jr. Ducks Fall Festival.

Connor McPherson of the California Heat’s 16 AA team takes a breather during a recent tournament in Phoenix. Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com

The San Jose Sharks’ Brad Staubitz, left, and Kent Huskins took time out recently to take pictures and sign autographs for kids in the Sharks Ice Youth Hockey League. Photo/San Jose Sharks

CaliRubber.com 15

By Chris Bayee

The distance between Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo and Ben-

jamin Banneker Special Education Center in south Los Angeles is fewer than 10 miles. A recent visit by several members of the LA Jr. Kings made a world of difference for the students in both programs. “It made me feel lucky about how I can go out on the ice and perform every

Chase Souto, a forward on

What started out as an idea to donate some money to the school for special needs children so it could have a holiday party has grown into a tradi-tion that saw the Jr. Kings give not only money, but their time. The event, which also involves personnel from the Los Angeles Police

school, which serves children in Grades K-12 who have a variety of physical and mental needs.

Chet Carlbom, an assistant coach

involved a few years back through the Frank Salcido,

a retired Beverly Hills police captain. “His team was sponsoring a class-room for $200 so they could have a holiday party. I was coaching an A team at the time so I thought maybe my team

“The next year, it expanded to the entire Jr. Kings program and it did pretty well

in terms of raising money. “This year, it was even better than

One of the parents suggested taking some of the players down there and be-

So Carlbom and a handful of players, mainly from the 16U AAA team, went and received an enthusiastic reception.

Jr. Kings, and we all went out and the kids were yelling and happy to see us.

The enthusiastic greeting was in

brought nets out so the Jr. Kings players could play some 2-on-2 and demonstrate hockey skills. “The boys thought that up on their

held up their hands and screamed when someone would score a goal. It was a

After all of the introductions, there were stations where students could pet the police dogs and horses and check out

One of the other popular attractions? A corner of the schoolyard where the Jr. Kings showed students how to prop-erly hold hockey sticks and shoot roller hockey balls. “It was fun teaching some of the kids

big smile to all of their faces as well as

Jr. Kings Help Brighten Students’ HolidayProgram lends its time, talent at a local special needs school

Toyota Sports Center

ToyotaSportsCenter.com

Members of the LA Jr. Kings demonstrated hockey skills to students at the Benjamin Banneker Special Education Center last month at the school’s holiday party.

16

San Francisco’s Base Continues to StrengthenNow in their 10th year, the Sabercats are paving the way for promising futures

Hockey is alive and well in San Francisco, and you

than the emerging Sabercats youth program for proof. Now in their 10th season, the Sabercats have grown thanks to a dedicated staff that includes youth hockey admin-istrator Sami Naffziger, team president and Nor Cal treasurer Jennifer Clark and Paul Swi-tenkicoaches. Today, San Francisco has

Squirts, PeeWees, Bantams and -

budding in-house program and other starters clinics to boot.

people understand that we have teams at every level that are

“We also have the most solid

focus is its meticulous atten-tion to player development at the earliest possible ages, as

witnessed by its Hockey 1 and 2 programs, which are ISI (Ice Skating Institute)-based, as well as its Hockey Tots begin-ner programs.

and-under for Hockey Tots and

Also unique to the San Francisco program is Pond Hockey, which was started by Sara ElliottHockey 1 and 2 serves as the prerequisite to the in-house level, the Hockey Tots feed the Pond Hockey level, where the skill side of the game is intro-duced. “The kids bring their sticks, helmets and everything like

throw some pucks on the ice to kind of teach them how to go around cones and things like

At the Mite level, the

development and fun.

have to travel, play 26 games

said. “You should play cross-ice, touch the puck a lot and kind of match what USA Hockey has established this year with the

Model). “The parents have all bought into the program as far

let them make mistakes and

-ments. The kids are in a less competitive environment with more opportunity for ice time and are learning a lot of the basics without the pressure of

largest cities, the Sabercats are

doing their best to change that. One organization the club has partnered with to help raise its visibility is the Tenderloin Youth Sports Initiative (TYSI), a program whose aim is to get more children involved in vari-ous sports.

relationship with the TYSI has already yielded positive results.

that program this season, and four of them are in the Hockey Tots

Naffziger. “The whole relationship is very, very new, but I hope to see those kids move up to participate in our in-house

“Give Hockey

wildly successful for San Fran. Last season, it hosted two “Give Hockey

in January and the other in March. “Both sessions had about 50-55 kids who showed up, and

said Naffziger. “We ended up

challenges, the future is shap-ing up to be a bright one for

the hockey residents of Yerba Buena Gardens.

said Switenki. “If we can get a parents group together, I think that would be key because we can do more things and promote the game more than what the rink is doing right now, and

Goaltender Mitchell Austrian of the Sabercats’ Pee Wee team is part of an emerging youth program in San Francisco. Photo/Bob Austrian

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comes with lacing up the boots. Only a hockey player can wheel a gal by simply living through the swagger and hidden traits that make us special - traits that others always notice, but will never repli-cate.

There are many hockey players out there who are constantly looking for their own identity in the sport. Not everyone can go out, dip their hands in holy water, dangle two d-men for the g-dub snipe, but every hockey player deserves to take

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CaliRubber.com 17

In one of the most immaculate

noted for its skiing, the South Lake Tahoe (SLT) Grizzlies are making headway into establish-ing hockey as another viable winter sport for the youth in the

In terms of longevity, the Grizzlies are the youngest members of Nor Cal. Now in its

has already achieved champion-ship success when its Pee Wee B Team won the Boise Iceblast Tournament in 2008. Although that success is the

to date, SLT president Michael Newberger notes that the club is still very much in the build-ing mode.

said Newberger. “We want to be able to get the kids on the ice, into the game and get them

gearing towards that. “We also try to eliminate

This season, the Grizzlies have roughly 80 kids playing on two travel teams (Pee Wee and Squirt) and one house team

Wees and Squirts play at the B level. In addition, the Grizzlies also have a thriving skate school, which is a collaborative venture with the city of South Lake Tahoe.

“The skate school has been

the city and it takes place in a city-run facility, so it can be of-

said Newberger. “We work with them as far as promoting the program and providing instruc-tors. “Our coaches donate their time to it, so the program has worked out very well and

-

Like many smaller pro-grams, SLT faces its challenges, most notably its location. The Grizzlies nearest Nor Cal opponents, which reside in Roseville, are more than an hour away by car. Another issue

which to draw players, which is

considerably smaller than many of their Nor Cal counterparts. Part of what makes the Grizzlies such a unique organi-zation is their almost-insepa-rable ties to the city of South Lake Tahoe. And, as Newberger explains, those ties are essen-tial to the success and growth of the sport in the region.

purchaser of ice time from the rink, so we also provide them with the bulk of their revenues. In turn, they work with us on the programs, especially at the

-

us in terms of viability because the facility is tax dollar-funded

city, the rink and our organiza-tion.

far as working with the pro-grams and getting the kids on the ice to learn to skate and play hockey. The bulk of our kids are at the Mite and Squirt

keep feeding into those levels,

One event born from the

Tahoe Invitational Tournament. -

nament, which will run from Jan. 15-18, has evolved from a fundraiser to a true invitational tournament.

teams playing over three days

of fun and this year the tour-

nament is a true invitational.

instead of having to do mass ad-vertising to get teams to come.

teams coming up from San

Northern California. In the

from Arizona, Colorado and Idaho participating as well. “The tournament is great for the organization and the city, too, because it brings a lot

growing the sport of hockey is getting kids interested at the

its successful skating school program, which serves a feeder to its teams, which makes it all possible. While the future looks very bright for the young Grizzlies,

ways to get younger kids start-

ways to provide a low-cost op-portunity for kids to have a shot at trying the game and to knock down the barriers that could prevent that from happening. of our area an opportunity to play competitive level hockey

to build too fast, either, and we also want to get the parents

-

“And, being in South Lake

Young Grizzlies Taking Hold in the SierrasSlowly but surely, South Lake Tahoe is establishing its roots in Nor Cal

Along with a house team, the South Lake Tahoe Grizzlies ice two travel clubs at the B level: Pee Wees, pictured above, and Squirts.

ninth place), while the U16 team will

(tied for eighth). Forward Stanton Turner, from San Francisco, leads the U18 team in scoring with 16 points on 12 goals in 15 games.

coach Tony Zasowski, who also serves

Tommy Nourie, a defenseman from Morgan Hill, sits atop the U16

points through 15 games.

blue line and he makes other teams

an anchor on the power play, too, with

Overall, Yorkison and Zasowski

NAPHL and are excited about its pros-pects for the future. “I really like the league and how

“The teams are competitive and all the coaches and managers are classy and understand, too, that we have to work together to make this league successful. “Of course we compete on the ice, but off the ice everyone works well

together, which bodes well for the future of

-pectations. The parity in the league has been tremendous for our teams; anyone can win any game. Plus, our players have gotten a lot of attention from

For more information on the NAPHL, visit NAPHL.net.

Titans Take Lead in NAPHL’s U18 Division - continued from page 10

18

Ahockey since I was 5, I was a

start playing until middle school.

and sure enough after playing roller hockey for a couple of months my goal-scoring and stickhandling im-proved dramatically. It also allowed me to be much more creative in offensive situations. Before playing roller hockey, I

once I started, I was suddenly hold-ing onto the puck longer instead of passing it right away like I did on the ice. The extended time with the

in my moves. The puck also bounces more in roller hockey, so it takes better concentration and hand-eye coordination to control it. Both of those things helped improve my stickhandling. The play in roller hockey tends to develop slower, so I could also be

have never thought about trying on

moves has given me a wider arsenal to use in ice hockey when others

how many moves could translate to ice with a little bit of tweaking. Roller hockey also did wonders for my conditioning. Roller hockey skates are heavier than ice skates,

other shift for 2-3 minutes. Having only four players on a team skat-ing in the same sized area as an ice rink can be a killer. Ice time can also be hard to come by, especially in California. Adding roller hockey to your activi-ties will get you playing some form of hockey a few more times a week,

that. All of these things have posi-

tively affected my ice game and made me a better player than I

hockey. But roller can create a few bad habits that affect your ice game, the

positioning. In roller, players tend

as ice hockey, and that will tick off every ice hockey coach.

to me, I had to really concentrate in practice to overcome that tempta-

having an understanding coach who

the problem in a hurry.

ice and roller hockey, but for me and many other players I know,

game while also bringing me a lot of

and club roller teams.

summer when you want to play more hockey, take a look at some-one after skating three or four games on a hot SoCal rink sweating

-ate the potential.

Roller can improve your game on ice

Steven Sherman is the captain of the San Diego Jr. Gulls’ 16U AAA team.

Steven Sherman

View From The Ice:

By Chris Bayee

Max Nicastro has deftly handled

young ice hockey career. A freshman defenseman for defending NCAA national champion Boston Uni-versity, Nicastro has steadily progressed in his eight years on the ice, and in the process he has attracted the attention of

but USA Hockey and the NHL. A 1990 birth year from Thousand Oaks, Nicastro was a third-round pick

United States in international competi-tions, and he came this close to a fourth before being one of the last two players cut from the U.S. Junior National Team camp

camp informing him he was one 30 play-ers on the preliminary roster.

our team play a number of times this Mike

Bavis. “They were looking for big, mobile

includes a title at the 2008 World Junior A Championship in Camrose, Alberta, in

Three Nations Tournament and third -

lenge.

None of those accomplishments would have been possible had Nicastro and his brother, Michael, and some friends not traded their inline skates for ice skates in 2001. Then 11, Max began playing for the Channel Islands Riptide in Oxnard. “I had a lot of fun playing there with

From there, he played Bantam for the Ventura Mariners before transitioning to AAA hockey. He was a member of the

national championship team coached by Mike Lewis.

18 AAA team the next season, which was when he committed to BU. “Max was a good kid and a great player who could be used in all situa-

Frank Salcido, one of the Jr. Kings coaches. “We used him on both the PP and PK. He was a strong skater with a

next transition took him to Chicago of the USHL. He said having a former NHL defenseman, Steve Poapst, as his coach prepared him for what was next.

said Nicastro, one of two Californians on

forward Ryan Santana (Yorba Linda). Nicastro was second in the Steel in

points (6-14). Last season, he upped that to 31 points (10th among USHL defense-

All-Star Game. He then moved right into

- no easy task in the highly competitive Hockey East - and

work (in the weight room) last

good skater, but he brought a more physical style with his

That, in turn, caught the eye of USA Hockey.

been one key to handling all of the transitions. “Everything has been positive with practices and

everyday determined to work

Nicastro’s Game Beaming in BeantownThousand Oaks product fitting right in on BU’s blue line

The Detroit Red Wings picked Max Nicastro in the third round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

CaliRubber.com 19

By Matt Mackinder

In a sign that California is experiencing a hockey boom at

all levels, high school hockey is getting more and more attention these days, especially in the southern part of the state. The JSerra Ice Lions, located in San Juan Capistrano, are

let that fact fool you - this team

second season with a program in the Trinity League. “Our team founder and president, David Pauluzzi, is from Chicago and played high school hockey there at Notre

media and marketing manager Mark Russell. “He knew what a great experience it was for him and wanted to see that happen

Joe, is a defenseman on the varsity team as a sophomore.

looked at the Okanagan Hockey Academy up in British Columbia to see how it operates and, once

approached the board (at JSerra Catholic High School) about

persistence paid off and here we

The next step was to get

board. Coincidently, they were also looking to get involved in high school hockey in Southern California. “This would not be happening

Russell. “They pay for all of our equipment, except for skates and sticks, and they even pay for half of our ice time, which can really add up.

struck when they see guys like Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer at our home rink (Anaheim Ice), which is also the

This season, due to the growing number of kids who want

varsity entry was created. The school now has 44 hockey players from a school with a student body of only 1,100. “All of the kids on the team know each other because they all

grew up either playing with or

“Once you get to a certain age,

to the competitive nature of the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association (SCAHA). High school hockey is the ideal

David Karpa, a former

squad along with assistant coach, Leo Fenn. Another former

Guy Hebert, Craig

Johnson, an ex-Los Angeles

Southern California high school team: Santa Margarita Catholic,

our team this season have already

been counseled by (Okanagan Hockey Academy president) Andy Oakes. He and the staff at Okanagan have really helped us understand what we want to accomplish at JSerra, which is to one day soon have a hockey academy like the one in Okanagan. “We consider them our adopted sister school and having a program in Southern California

actually came out last season for a few games and have committed

JSerra Ice Lions Thanksgiving

Russell also commented on the future of high school hockey

two teams this season, he believes that can double next year with more to follow.

potential incoming freshmen and the response from the kids has

of them would rather play high school hockey than play on a club team. “The pride you get playing for your high school is an amazing feeling. Our home games against our rival, Santa Margarita, are

that compares to the energy felt during football season on Friday nights.

organization Dave (Pauluzzi)

And when the team travels, it requires that all players attend daily study hall run by Betty Petersen, whose son, Dack, is a defenseman on the varsity team and also a school administrator.

is the highest among all other sport teams at JSerra, according to Pauluzzi, and six of its varsity

honor roll this season. “Being a high school hockey

said Pauluzzi. “We demand them to be exceptional human beings as

For more information on the Jserra hockey program, visit JSerraIceLions.org.

Jserra Catholic working towards excellence in the fledgling Trinity LeagueHigh School Pucks Start Moving Down South

From left, Dylan Carter, Zac Russell and CJ Geeza are the captains of the JSerra hockey team, which competes in the Trinity League along with Santa Margarita Catholic.

Get ready California. The third annual Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok

- a three-day nationwide celebration of the sport of hockey - will take place Jan. 29-31. Each of the three days associated with Hockey Weekend Across America has a theme, including: Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey, presented by ShopUSAHockey.com, on Friday; Bring

A Friend to the Rink, presented by the NHL, on Saturday; and Celebrate Local

Mutual Responsible Sports, on Sunday. “After two incredibly successful years, Hockey Weekend Across America continues to be one of our most important

of USA Hockey. “With the full support of the entire hockey community, this weekend will help us expand

our game while properly honoring those who have

HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com will serve as the information hub for the event. It features material for download, including the event logo, poster and both video and audio public service announcements. Additional information will continue to be added, including highlights of activities planned

from around the country.

Hockey Weekend Across America Coming January 29-31

20

Tagalong Sister Now an Emerging Lady Duck

Marissa Gebauerthe typical younger

sister mold nicely.-

ey rink whenever her two older brothers had practice or games and participated in some fun of her own,

rat. “I played games and watched my brothers play and played with their

8-year-old from Mission

Until that all changed. Gebauer said she found hockey “interest-

playing and thought it was

So the well-spoken youngster has been off and running - skating, rather - ever since and has emerged as one of the best players in the young Lady

Kathy McGarrigle thought so highly of Gebauer that she has her playing for both the 8U and 10U teams this season. “Marissa was hap-pily on our 8U in-house

the 2001 birth year. “But, after a season of that and only sporadic ice time, she went into the spring of 2009 with very little game experience and little knowledge of positioning

The spring league was an awakening for Marissa, according to McGarrigle. “With a game and a practice a week, Lady

other skills opportuni-ties, she realized she had end-to-end speed and puck

“That and the heart and desire to be a more com-

And, by the end of summer, Gebauer was not only was slotted as a

8U team, but she earned a spot on the 10U club (SCAHA Squirt B) as well. “The tagalong sister, often relegated to rink-rat duty or playing hide-and-seek in the pro shop on most days has quickly

McGarrigle. Gebauer has become the only defenseman in her family. Both of her broth-ers - Travis Pee Wee A) and Tyler (12,

- are forwards.

Glenn, said he never thought Marissa would take up the sport, but ad-

surprise. “I never really had any type of planning

of surprised us. I never really made the leap to girls hockey, but once we got with the girls and I saw the whole program, I thought, ‘Wow, this is

Marissa has developed into an avid Anaheim

memorized all of their

numbers. No. 4? “(Nick) Boyn-tonreplied. And No. 10? “Corey Perryshe an-swered without

Iplayers should stretch and what types of stretching they should do. The answer I usually give to both of those

It depends on a number of factors: Is it for before practice? After games? At home? All of these questions need to be addressed before giving advice on proper stretching protocols. Stretching is very important to any hockey player. Over time,

strains and pulls, can occur because your muscles are too tight. In hockey, the muscles that have a greater chance of being

because hockey players skate with their knees, hips and spine bent.

usually sitting on the bench while they wait for their next shift or

stalls during intermissions. The movements performed in hockey, combined with prolonged sitting, can contribute to the shortening of the muscles in your body. To prevent this from happening, some simple daily stretching techniques need to be implemented into your off-ice program. Dynamic Stretching: This is done before practices and

simply executing different types of movements. We really refer to it as

this time, the athlete is actively stretching and warming up the muscles used in that particular

exercise, such as a body-weight squat, for 8-10 reps. Active Isolated Stretching: Founded and endorsed by massage therapist Aaron Mattes, this type of stretch we do within our strength-training workouts and

with individuals who may need extra attention on certain muscle

stretch the opposite muscle group

working our upper-back muscles in an exercise such as a chin-up,

muscles between sets. Here, we hold the stretch for six seconds, relax, and repeat. We do three repetitions. Static Stretching: This is usually what people refer to when they think of traditional stretching. Here, we hold our stretches for a

as well as other muscle groups that can traditionally become tight in hockey players such as the IT bands, quads, hamstrings and chest. Static stretching is done primarily after practices and games, because when you stretch

muscles back to a lengthened state after being used in the game or practice.

be too easy; it should be almost uncomfortable, but not painful. Most people will stretch within their comfort zone and work

stretched, while the ones that do are often neglected. No matter what method you use or when you use it, stretching can

performance and well being of a hockey player.

Reap the benefits of proper stretching

SeanSkahan

Sean Skahan is the strength and conditioning coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

Visit his Web site at SeanSkahan.com.

Away From The Rubber:

hesitation. And Marissa? Well,

same as her brother, Ty-ler, and one of her favorite NHL players, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. She knows about

addicted to the NHL

all the NHL games from that day. “She knows all the

said. “She remembers

-

with her brothers. And then there are times when

hockey skills on her own. “She disappears for

she really got into it,

Glenn said.

Tournament in San Jose, Marissa will be skating for both the 8Us and the

a chance to show off the fruits of all her labors.

-

works hard and plays hard

Playing for two teams, Gebauer is making the most of her opportunitiesBy Lindsay Czarnecki

Marissa Gebauer is getting plenty of ice time this season skating for the Lady Ducks’ 8U and 10U teams. Photo/Photography66.com

CaliRubber.com 21

TGirls 19U team recently decided on -

fenseman Riley Brown and goaltender -

sion III programs. Brown, 18, of Riverside, chose St.

-legiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Brown decided to skate for the Car-dinals after narrowing down her options

Scholastica and Plattsburgh.

a small school and I wanted a personal

want to be another number at a big

Brown, in her third year with the LA program, will be the second Cali-fornia native to attend the school since Jenn Shire of Anaheim Hills gradu-

off to Williams College in Williamstown,

Mass. The Ephs play in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NE-SCAC). Nguyen was also seriously considering Princeton

senior, Nguyen is excited about the op-portunity to be able to contribute right away.

--

ing the program and I wanted to be part

LA after previously playing for the Cal

team two seasons ago. Cari Coen is the other LA player to commit this season, as she will play

- Lindsay Czarnecki

Two More LA Girls Solidify College PlansBrown to St. Mary’s; Nguyen decides on Williams

HOCKEY CLUB

Every team Sam Uisprapassorn has ever played on or coached in

Southern California always had players from LA, Orange and Riverside Coun-ties on it. So when it came time to name the club he founded in June, Tri-County made a lot of sense. The Tri-County Penguins, playing out of the recently renovated Skating Edge Ice Arena

at Midget 16U AA, and Uisprapas-sorn, who began playing hockey at the now-closed Norwalk rink in 1991, hopes to expand next season to include Squirt B, Pee Wee B and perhaps Bantam. “The only agenda we should have is kids having fun while developing

Uisprapassorn, who has coached for the Beach City Lightning and the Artesia Avalanche. “I want parents to walk and

Uisprapassorn, who also is a profes-sional member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, believes

strongly in striking a balance be-tween fun and discipline.

“I preach fun, but when the kids are here,

-rings, piercings or tattoos. When we have a game, they

He also is a big advocate of utilizing social-networking tools to help promote the club and its players. “There is only so much you can do

positive atmosphere is very important. When I walk in after a loss, the kids

- Chris Bayee

Penguins Mix Business with PleasureHarbor City-based program puts the right spin on youth hockey

By Phillip Brents

San Jose resident Matt Pamidi got a live out a

dream when he signed an emer-

in late November. The former San Jose State University ice hockey player and current goaltending coach at the Silver Creek Sportsplex traded in his roller blades for a pair of ice skates for two weeks while in service for the Central Valley minor pro team.

see any game time, he suited up and participated in warm-

games.

The Thunder signed Pamidi on Nov. 24 to serve as a backup to Bryan Pitton when

Andrew Perugini, was called

American Hockey League. Perugini returned to Stock-

released. Pamidi, 24, has played in-line hockey all his life, earning top goaltender awards in the

2008 NARCh Finals and 2009 NARCh West Coast Winterna-

-ship at the 2008 NARCh East Coast Winternationals. The 6-foot-1, 189-pound netminder caught the eye of Thunder coach Matt Thomas during a free-agent camp.

main preseason camp in early October, but was released. He also recently had a tryout with the Rhode Island Storm of the North East Professional Hockey League. Pamidi appeared in four games for San Jose State in

average and a .891 save per-centage. Otherwise, his experience has been primarily on inline skates. He appeared in 30 games for the American Inline

in 2008-09, registering a 16-14

-age.

exactly put everything on his

the Thunder. Ice hockey coaches often look the other way when players list an extensive roller

-reotype that Pamidi has helped break. Thomas said he was “sur-

roller hockey background. Pamidi said he had little

called on by the Thunder.

needed me to go out there, I

he told The Record, a Stockton-area newspaper. Should either Perugini or Pitton be recalled in the future, Pamidi could very well get another emergency assignment with the Thunder. None more proud of

the Thunder are the young skaters on the Revision Mus-

division teams that Pamidi coaches. “Matt is a great teacher of

Jeff Manning, a coach with the Re-

and very good at working with

him and we wish him the best while he continues to live his

22

Stockton’s ECHL team calls on San Jose product Pamidi

Inline Coach Gets Chance of a Lifetime

Signed to an emergency goaltender’s contract, Matt Pamidi dressed in five games for the Stockton Thunder. Photo/Revision Mustangs

Rollin’ Ice Not Your Ordinary Inline BarnBy Phillip Brents

Rrinks is being touted among roller

hockey facilities - and deservedly so.

full-height glass boards, Sport Court

locker rooms and showers that are kept spotless. An expansive pro shop and full-service restaurant provide customer amenities not usually found elsewhere.

former San Jose Shark and Stanley Cup champion David Maley. It originally consisted of two rinks housed at the Expo Hall at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and moved to its current location when the expansive Sportsplex

The new-look facility - bigger and better than ever - will take the spotlight in 2010 when it hosts the prestigious NARCh Winternationals and NARCh Finals, as well as two NARCh regional

The best in the world will be coming to San Jose to compete for top awards

hockey tournament and largest indoor sporting event. Bay Area residents, however,

programs for all ages and skill levels. Recreational leagues are offered for youth, over-18, over-35 and over-45 age divisions. The facility also hosts a high school club league; offers private and semi-private training, including goalten-der training; instructional classes (free for adult beginners and children under 12); pick-up hockey for youth and adults;

and event packages. Kids in the youngest age divisions receive free instruction, with the empha-sis on developing skills, sportsmanship and having fun.

base for several competitive youth travel teams: the Revision Mustangs Hockey Club, Nor Cal Riot, Revision Pandemo-nium, Silicon Valley Quakes, Rampage Hockey Club, Team Redline, Eschelon

rinks used for play in the American

Northern California Mustangs, San Jose Pirates and Nor Cal Riot.

truly a spectacular viewing experience; the glass on the spectator side of the

The Silver Creek Sportsplex, of -

sports facility under one roof in North America, totaling 240,000 square feet and measuring nearly one-fourth of a mile in length. The Silver Creek Sport-splex is as long as the Empire State Building is high. The sprawling complex plays host to

and box lacrosse leagues; offers martial

arts and self-defense training; hosts a golf academy and various sports camps; has an open play area for children with

-ment arcade games; and boasts a state-

(Club One), top-end spa (Banyan Spa) and physical therapy program.

runs for miles immediately behind the Sportsplex.

Host facility of this month’s NARCh event boasts plenty of amenities

San Jose’s Silver Creek Sportsplex is as long as the Empire State Building is high.Photo/Silver Creek Sportsplex

CaliRubber.com

The North American Roller Hockey Championship (NARCh) series will wield a hefty presence in Northern California during the 2010 season with two

regional tournaments - the NARCh West Coast Winternationals and NARCh

The three-rink venue will play host to the West Coast Winternationals Jan.

tournament: NARCh Finals, which will run from July 16-31. NARCh president Daryn Goodwin called the Silver Creek Sportsplex “the

-ties that have opened this year in NorCal - the Ripon Powerplay Sports Arena and the Antioch Indoor Sports Center. The sport is certainly healthier in North-

The West Coast Winternationals face off in Northern California for the second consecutive year after wintering in Irvine in 2008. The event serves as an

a barometer for success at the season-ending NARCh Finals. Like the NARCh -

son-ending championships.

“Many teams that medal at Winternationals also go on to

The 2010 West Coast Winternationals will feature

(8-under), Mite (10-under), Squirt (12-under), Pee Wee (14-under), Bantam (16-under), Midget (18-under),

NARCh Pro. Competition in the Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, Men Silver

16. If needed, some games in the Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam

Northern California teams, Goodwin said.

The Tour Mudcats became one of the NARCh rarities by winning championships at both the 2009 Winternation-als and NARCh Finals. Goodwin said he expects Northern California teams to

of four high-caliber tournaments being played in their own backyard.

no question that teams from the northern half of the Gold-en State have begun to make a name for themselves at the national level the past several years, and that momentum is continuing to build.

coaches and programs in that market are truly doing a

The Silver Creek Sportsplex is located at 800 Embed-ded Way in San Jose. For more information, call (408) 225-1843. For more information about NARCh West Coast Win-

com.

23

NARCh Winternationals Returns to San JoseThis month’s festivities kick off a busy year at the Silver Creek SportsplexBy Phillip Brents

The Tour Mudcats pulled off a NARCh rarity in 2009 by winning the Pro Division title at both NARCh Winternationals and NARCh Finals. Photo/NARCh

NARCh Winternationals: Did you know?This is the third year that the NARCh Winternationals

has been held on both the West Coast and East Coast. The East Coast Winternationals are scheduled Feb. 12-15 in Bethpage, N.Y.

“The main reason we added the East Coast event was due to the decline of the teams coming from the East Coast to the West Coast for the event, which I attribute to more players having ice hockey commitments combined with other tourna-

Daryn Goodwin said. Previous Winternationals venues included Huntington

The Reno Winternationals literally lived up to its name when a huge snowstorm helped shut down many services in that northern Nevada city.

it was the biggest storm they had since 1918. The biggest

down. We had to build rinks in the convention center and that

The move back to California was a logistical one. Goodwin noted that the Arizona Sports Complex is now “100 percent

Vegas has gone to 100 percent ice hockey usage. “The 949 Roller Hockey Center in Irvine hosted Winter-nationals in 2008 and is a great location for the event, but if

While the San Jose venue may be tops in the state for

sake of exposure - one of the core ideals behind NARCh.-

tant for players to have different experiences in different cit-

-Phillip Brents

NARCh Winternationals2009 Parade of Champions

Mite Silver: H.S. Mission HawksMite Gold: West Coast WarriorsSquirt Silver: Thousand Oaks BruinsSquirt Gold: W.C. WarriorsPee Wee Silver: Irvine Mission Raiders RedPee Wee Gold: Western Capitals WhitePee Wee Platinum: Nor-Cal RiotBantam Silver: Western Capitals WhiteBantam Gold: S.V. Quakes BlackBantam Platinum: Western Capitals BlackMidget Club: S.V. Quakes TealMidget Silver: Bandit Hockey ClubMidget Gold: Team EschelonMidget Platinum: Western Capitals

Junior Platinum: Team HyperHigh School: San Pasqual

35-and-Older: Rinkside Rockets

NARCh Pro: Tour Mudcats

24

P R O F E S S I O N A L H O C K E YNHLAlec Martinez (Bay Area) – Los Angeles KingsRichard Park (Torrance) – New York Islanders

AHLJon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita) – MilwaukeeRobbie Earl (Los Angeles) – Houston AerosGabe Gauthier (Torrance) – Manchester MonarchsRyan Hollweg (Norwalk) – San Antonio RampageColin Long (Santa Ana) – San Antonio RampageRay Macias (Long Beach) – Lake Erie MonstersTravis Ramsey (Lakewood) – Manitoba MooseBrian Salcido (Hermosa Beach) – Manitoba MooseGarrett Stafford (Los Angeles) – Texas StarsBrett Sterling (Pasadena) – Chicago WolvesLandon Wilson (Los Angeles) – Texas Stars

ECHLMatt Ford (West Hills) – Charlotte CheckersJeff Hazelwood (Fremont) – Las Vegas WranglersTim Kraus (Garden Grove) – Ontario ReignAndrew Orpik (San Francisco) – Las Vegas WranglersZach Tarkir (Fresno) – South Carolina Stingrays CHLGrant Goeckner-Zoeller (Los Angeles) – Rio GrandeChris Tarkir (Fresno) – Wichita Thunder IHLMike Thompson (La Habra) – Flint Generals

Brandon Marino (Riverside) – Quad City Mallards EuropeNoah Clarke (La Verne) - SwitzerlandJustin Morrison (Los Angeles) – Finland

C O L L E G E H O C K E YDIVISION I – MenAtlantic HockeyNelsson Arcibal (Vista) – American International

Andy Gevorkyan (Glendale) – American InternationalJason Krispel (Cypress) – University of ConnecticutShane Madolora (Salinas) – RITBlake Page (San Clemente) – Air Force AcademyKevin Wright (San Jose) – Air Force AcademyGregg Rodriguez (Sunnyvale) – Sacred Heart University

CCHABrett Beebe (Redondo Beach) – Western Michigan UniversityAdam Cardwell (Long Beach) – Alaska-FairbanksJJ Crew (Placentia) – Western Michigan UniversityAlex Hudson (Corona) – University of Neb.-OmahaJared Katz (San Jose) – Western Michigan UniversityPJ Kavaya (San Clemente) – Western MichiganJohn Kemp (Arcadia) – University of Neb.-OmahaTJ Miller (Placentia) – Northern Michigan UniversityBrandon Richardson (San Clemente) – Neb.-OmahaMatt Tennyson (Pleasanton) – Western MichiganScooter Vaughn (Placentia) – Michigan University

ECACBilly Blasé (Santa Monica) – Yale UniversityKevin Crane (Irvine) – Princeton UniversityJoe Harkenrider (Manhattan Beach) – RPINick Maricic (Alta Loma) – Yale UniversityCorbin McPherson (Folsom) – Colgate UniversityJosh Rabbani (Woodland Hills) – RPI

Hockey EastMike Beck (Long Beach) – University of New HampshireKyle Bigos (Upland) – Merrimack CollegeAustin Block (Northridge) – University of New HampshireAdam Kraus (former Jr. King) – Boston UniversityKyle MacKinnon (Walnut) – Providence CollegeKevan Miller (Los Angeles) – University of VermontMax Nicastro (Thousand Oaks) – Boston University

Ryan Santana (Yorba Linda) – Boston University

Casey Wellman (Brentwood) - Massachusetts

WCHA

Ryan Lasch (Lake Forest) – St. Cloud State University Joe Marciano (Alta Loma) – Colorado College

Andreas Vlassopoulos (Los Angeles) – Colorado CollegeBrian Volpei (Burbank) – St. Cloud State University

r

DIVISION III - MENECAC EastBryan Albert (Redlands) – UMass-BostonJustin Alonzo (San Jose) – Castleton State

Josh Harris (Torrance) – Castleton StateVince Johnston (Simi Valley) – UMass-BostonKris Kranzky (Glendora) – UMass-Boston

Ryne Lubert (Yorba Linda) – University of New EnglandJeff Van Siclen (Alamo) - UMass-BostonJohnny Van Siclen (Alamo) - Amherst College

ECAC NortheastMike Caprio (Valencia) – Becker College

Chris Fraterrigo (Laguna Hills) - Fitchburg State CollegeJake Gilbert (Huntington Beach) – Becker College

Jerry Hotarek (Foster City) – Curry CollegeJacob Hutt (Menlo Park) – Curry College Steven Jakiel (Santa Clarita) – Curry CollegeSkylur Jameson (Long Beach) – WITShaun Jameson (Long Beach) – WentworthBrett Kaneshiro (Laguna Niguel) – Curry CollegeSteven Mohler (Anaheim) – Curry College

Will Munson (Corona) – Nichols CollegeBranden Parkhouse (Rancho Cucamonga) – Becker College

Kevin Richardson (Temecula) – Nichols CollegeKyle Richardson (San Jose) – WIT

ECAC WestRussell Anderson (Riverside) – Utica CollegeAlex Contis (Calabasas) – Hobart CollegeKregg Guestin (Kingsburg) – Utica CollegeKyle Guestin (Kingsburg) – Utica CollegeBobby Hannah (Burbank) – Hobart CollegeMatt Jimenez (Santa Rosa) – Utica CollegeShaun Mathur (Laguna Hills) – Lebanon Valley CollegeMark Morikawa (Redondo Beach) – Elmira

Nicholas Schultz (Lakewood) – Lebanon Valley CollegeMarcus Wilhite (Torrance) – Lebanon Valley College

MASCAC

Tim Bowman (Moorpark) – Worcester StateNicholas Calma (Simi Valley) – Framingham State

Lucas Romero (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Westfield State

MCHA

Steve Marino (Torrance) – Northland CollegeNick Prange (Acton) – Concordia College

Michael Wyenn (Thousand Oaks) – Concordia College

MIAC

Scott Cohen (Culver City) – St. Olaf CollegeAlex Contis (Calabasas) – Hamline UniversityEvan Mackintosh (San Jose) – University of St. Thomas

Justin Thomas (Belmont) – St. Olaf College

NCHAChris Annunziato (Alta Loma) - UW-Stevens PointSam Graham (Los Angeles) – Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Nick Hopper (Culver City) – Wisconsin-StoutBrady Horn (Yorba Linda) – Wisconsin-River Falls

NESCACThomas Herd (Los Angeles) – Bowdoin CollegeBrandon Hew (Fresno) – Amherst CollegeSebastian Kimmel (Chico) – Trinity CollegeCory Korchin (Fountain Valley) – Tufts University

Ryan Purdy (La Jolla) – Williams CollegeSasha Voloshin (Pasadena) – Williams College

SUNYACHank Van Boxmeer (Orange) – Oswego State University

DIVISION I – WOMENCollege Hockey AmericaCarleah Angeles (San Jose) – Niagara UniversityAmber Moore (Sunnyvale) - Cornell University Amanda Rowe (Santa Cruz) – Niagara University

ECACKristen Burney (Alta Loma) – RPIJoy Joung (Torrance) – Brown University Paula Romanchuk (San Jose) – Princeton UniversityJessi Waters (Menlo Park) – Colgate University

Hockey EastJennifer Friedman (San Gabriel) – Providence College

Lauren Lemond (Vista) – University of ConnecticutRachel Llanes (San Jose) – Northeastern UniversityLaura Veharanta (La Verne) – Providence CollegeAlyssa Wohlfeiler (Saugus) – Northeastern University

WCHASydney Aveson (W. Covina) – Minn. State-MankatoOlivia Jakiel (Santa Clarita) – University of WisconsinKelly Nash (Bonita) – University of Wisconsin

DIVISION III – WOMENECAC EastWhitney Fraleigh (Fresno) – UMass-BostonJessica Frump (Saugus) – Manhattanville College

Ella Hubley (Santa Monica) – Manhattanville CollegeCori Myers (San Jose) - Saint Anselm CollegeNicole Ruman (Riverside) - Castleton State College Cheryl Winter (Cupertino) – Nichols CollegeAly Zappen (Huntington Beach) – Saint Anselm CollegeAmy Zappen (Huntington Beach) – Saint Anselm College

ECAC West

Elyse McGinnity (Temecula) – Utica CollegeAshley Reid (Chino Hills) – Chatham University

MIACKelly Biddle (La Mirada) – St. Olaf College

NCHAShana Katz (San Jose) – University of Wisconsin-Superior

NESCACAshley Bairos (Van Nuys) – Middlebury CollegeMichelle Chee (San Francisco) – Trinity College

Courtney Hanlon (Fullerton) – Amherst CollegeCaroline Hu (Cerritos) – Amherst College

J U N I O R H O C K E YAlberta Junior Hockey LeagueKyle Bowen (Valencia) – Lloydminster Bobcats

Casey Rogers (Moreno Valley) – Brooks Bandots

Atlantic Junior Hockey LeagueCory Giczewski (Fountain Valley) – Boston BulldogsAlex Kwon (Los Angeles) – Laconia Leafs

Jacob Rakitis (Long Beach) – Northern CyclonesEdward Rohaly (Huntington Beach) – Walpole ExpressMike Smith (Pleasanton) - Portland Jr. Pirates Trevor Van Haute (San Marcos) – Phil. Little Flyers

BCHLBeau Bennett (Gardena) – Penticton VeesWade Bennett (Gardena) – Trail Smoke Eaters

Chris Gularte (Salinas) – Prince George Spruce KingsCory Kane (Irvine) – Vernon VipersFaiz Khan (Santa Clarita) - Salmon Arm SilverbacksKevin Kraus (Garden Grove) – Vernon VipersKyle Manlow (Murrieta) – Prince George Spruce KingsJonathan Milhouse (Yorba Linda) – Vernon VipersJason Nash (Oxnard) – Westside WarriorsJosh Pineiro (Huntington Beach) – Prince GeorgeMarcus Watson (San Jose) – Langley ChiefsSteven Weinstein (Los Angeles) – Vernon Vipers

CJHLChris Mason (Montrovia) – Cornwall ColtsTyler Tosunian (Whittier) – Pembroke Lumber Kings

CSHLBrett Menton (Monrovia) – Flint Jr. Generals

Ian Seidl (Livermore) – Grand Rapids Jr. OwlsSteven Terry (Santee) – St. Louis Jr. Blues

EJHL

Tyler Gilmore (Valencia) – Bay State BreakersChris Gularte (San Jose) – New England HuskiesBrant Sherwood (San Anselmo) – Syracuse Stars

KIJHLJordan Bledsoe (Costa Mesa) - Revelstoke GrizzliesBilly Faust (Alta Loma) - Nelson LeafsZach Fridella (Los Angeles) - Fernie Ghostriders Kyle Garcia (Costa Mesa) - Golden RocketsUriah Machuga (Norco) - Spokane BravesFaiz Khan (Santa Clarita) - Revelstoke GrizzliesBruce Silvera (Alta Loma) - Revelstoke GrizzliesAlex Spadoni (Calabasas) - Revelstoke GrizzliesAdam Wade (Yorba Linda) - Spokane Braves

Manitoba Junior Hockey League

Metropolitan Junior Hockey Leagues

Minnesota Junior Hockey LeagueNick Cafrelli (San Jose) – Minnesota OwlsSpencer Gaalaas (Santee) – Minnesota Wildcats

Morgan Sanchez (Corona) – Minnesota Ice Hawks

MJAHL Phill Jennrich (Lake Forest) - Yarmouth Mariners

NAHLJoe Adams (Orange) – Texas TornadoBrandon Brossoit (Los Alamitos) – Wenatchee Wild Ryan Frost (Corona) – Wichita Falls Wildcats

Brendan Jensen (El Granada) – Wenatchee Wild

Ilya Kravtchouk (Encino) – Bismarck Bobcats Zach Ledford (Folsom) – Wichita Falls Wildcats Adam McKenzie (Petaluma) – Wenatchee WildBilly Miller (Morgan Hill) – Alexandria Blizzard

J.T. Osborn (Alpine) – Wichita Falls WildcatsTyler Parker (Livermore) – Wenatchee WildNathan Paulson (LaHara) – Albert Lea Thunder

Sam Skura (Saugus) – Motor City Metal JacketsMico Solorzano (San Jose) – Texas TornadoJason Torf (Hermosa Beach) – Motor City Metal JacketsTyler Vanscourt (Corona) – Topeka RoadrunnersKevin Zehnder (Pleasanton) – St. Louis Bandits

Northern Pacific Hockey League

Aaron Arnold (Redondo Beach) – Missoula MaulersBryon Berryhill (Huntington Beach) – Butte Roughriders

Arram Chinarian (Orange) – Helena Bighorns

Grey Edwards (Carlsbad) – Missoula Maulers

Christian Foster (Los Angeles) – Bozeman IcedogsRay Frianeza (Ladera Ranch) – Eugene Generals Edward Fritz (Seal Beach) – River City Jaguars

Austin Goldsmith (Tracy) – Rogue Valley Wranglers Nicholas Gomez (Lancaster) – Butte Roughriders Neil Holder (Fresno) – Eugene GeneralsPhil Jennrich (Lake Forest) – Yellowstone Quake

California Alumni 20092010

Send additions, deletions and corrections to info@calirubber.com

CaliRubber.com

Adam Johnson (Santa Rosa) – Helena BighornsKeahi Johnson (Rocklin) – River City Jaguars Gabe Katsimpas (Camarillo) – River City Jaguars Christian Kramer (Thousand Oaks) – Helena BighornsChristian Kramer-Johnson (Valencia) – Rogue Valley

Tyler McGreevy (Camarillo) – Helena BighornsChristian Merritt (Murrietta) – Eugene Generals Joshua Nourse (Newbury Park) – River City Jaguars Matt Prigge (Rocklin) – Yellowstone QuakeJeffrey Purslow (Clovis) – Rogue Valley WranglersMario Retana (San Jose) – Eugene GeneralsMorgan Robinson (Hermosa Beach) – Billings BullsTrevor Ruiz (Riverside) – Eugene GeneralsTracey Sato (Grenada Hills) – Yellowstone QuakeNoah Segall (Los Gatos) – Missoula Maulers

Alex Sulitzer (Los Angeles) – River City JaguarsRyan Thompson (Palmdale) – Butte RoughridersJamie Velasquez (Canyon County) – Helena BighornsNic Wackerly (Altadena) – Helena Bighorns

SJHLCameron Gibson (Valencia) - Humboldt

USHL

Taylor Holstrom (Yorba Linda) – YoungstownSteven Hoshaw (Vista) – Lincoln Stars Adam Hout (Ladera Ranch) – Tri-City StormMitch Hughes (Laguna Niguel) – Tri-City StormSoren Jonzzon (Mountain View) – Waterloo Black HawksJohn Keeney (Lake Arrowhead) - Omaha LancersMatt Leitner (Los Alamitos) – Fargo ForceBrett Mohler (Yorba Linda) – Tri-City StormBryon Paulazzo (Redwood City) – Indiana IceBen Paulides (Los Gatos) – Youngstown Phantoms

Troy Power (Camarillo) – Omaha Lancers

Matt White (Whittier) – Omaha Lancers

U.S. National Team Development ProgramChase Balisy (Fullerton) – Under-18 Team

Matt Nieto (Long Beach) – Under-18 Team

Shane Sooth (Canyon County) – Under-18 Team

WHLTaylor Aronson (Placentia) – Portland WinterhawksAdam Brown (Yorba Linda) – Kelowna RocketsMitchell Callahan (Whittier) – Kelowna RocketsCody Castro (Pasadena) – Tri-City AmericansEmerson Etem (Long Beach) – Medicine Hat TigersShane Harper (Valencia) – Everett SilvertipsMatthew Konan (Tustin) – Medicine Hat TigersGasper Kopitar (Manhattan Beach) – PortlandRyan Letts (Newport Beach) – Spokane ChiefsTodd Mathews (Covina) – Kootenay IceTyler Maxwell (Manhattan Beach) – Everett SilvertipsShane McColgan (Hermosa Beach) – Kelowna RocketsMarkus McCrea (Canyon Lake) – Everett SilvertipsJonathan Parker (Solana Beach) – Seattle ThunderbirdsColin Reddin (Corona del Mar) – Prince Albert Raiders

CJ Stretch (Irvine) – Kamloops Blazers

Brandon Underwood (San Marcos) – Kamloops BlazersMitch Wahl (Seal Beach) – Spokane Chiefs

WSHLZach Alvarez (Sacramento) – Fresno Monsters

Jimmy Bashara (Valencia) – Fresno MonstersKyle Bicksler (Clovis) – Arizona Redhawks Brett Blomgren (Frazier Park) – Fresno Monsters

Ben Conroy (San Jose) – Fresno Monsters

Bryan Fiol (Burbank) – Valencia Flyers

Thomas Freeman (Rancho Cucamonga) - Fresno Monsters

Nick Goodenough (Visalia) – Fresno MonstersAndrew Hallmark (Bakersfield) – Bakersfield Jr. Condors

Edy Keshishian (Arcadia) – Valencia FlyersHarout Keshishian (Arcadia) – Valencia Flyers

Kyle Lenhof (Fresno) – Fresno Monsters

Andrew Lux (Valencia) – Valencia FlyersJames McGuirk (Newbury Park) – Fresno MonstersPeter Megariotis (Anaheim Hills) – Fresno MonstersNick Miner (Newbury Park) – Valencia FlyersJohn Mullin (Paso Robles) – Arizona Redhawks

Ryan Parkhouse (Rancho Cucamonga) – Fresno

Mike Richmond (San Jose) – Fresno MonstersPatrick Ryan (Laguna Niguel) – Fresno MonstersKyle Schwartz (Sherman Oaks) – Valencia FlyersEvan Sharpshair (Thousand Oaks) – Valencia FlyersVinnie Smith (Fresno) – Fresno MonstersChris Tomaszewski (Santa Rosa) – Bakersfield Jr. Condors

Justin Wilmers (Valencia) – Fresno MonstersJoey Yaller (Moorpark) – Valencia Flyers

P R E P S C H O O LDivision I - New EnglandJake Abrahams (Los Angeles) - Exeter

Matthew Caito (Coto de Caza) - Salisbury

Max Edson (Hermosa Beach) - Salisbur Austin Hall (Auburn) – Tilton Jeff Hodgkinson (Newport Beach) – Avon Old FarmsEvan Hutson (Pasadena) - Tilton

Tyler Kring (Newport Coast) – Proctor

CM Liotta (Menlo Park) - Taft Ryne Lubert (Yorba Linda) - Tilton Andrew Mason (Manhattan Beach) - ProctorVinnie Smith (Fresno) - Kimball Union Jaren Taenaka (San Gabriel) - The GunnerySean Okita (Newport) - Milton

Xavier Reed (Oakland) - Taft Jake Rivera (Los Angeles) - Tilton

Morgan Weireter (Agoura Hills) - Tilton

Division I-US/Canada

Matthew Robertson (Rohnert Park) - Stanstead College

Women’sChelsey Goldberg (Agoura Hills) - NAHAJessica Hon (Brea) - NAHAAllie Hughes (La Canada)- Brewster Academy

Krista Manzanares (R.S. Margarita) - NSAAlison Pankowski (Laguna Hills) - NAHA

25

Send additions, deletions and corrections to info@calirubber.com

California Alumni Continued... 20092010

Angela Ruggiero of Simi Valley was selected to her

record fourth U.S. Olympic

Ruggiero, a defenseman who played collegiately at Harvard, and Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.) are the only

the feat. The team was selected from the 23 players who made

National Team. The group has been training in Blaine, Minn.,

Schwan Super Rink since early September, in addition to com-peting on the Qwest Tour and in two international tourna-ments.

-fulness of our team, as well as comfortable with the veterans

Mark Johnson, head coach for Team USA.

Former LA Jr. Kings for-ward Gasper Kopitar, a

member of Portland of the WHL this season, played for Slovenia at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World

-

in Megève & Saint-Gervais, France. Kopitar, a native of Je-

this season. It also won the Jr.

Tournament in September. The LA Hock-ey Pee Wee 98s also won a title in El Segundo, edging the Jr. Kings, 2-1, in the

Meanwhile,

Wee A team won

at the tourna-ment, edging the Bay Harbor Red Wings, 2-1. Bay Harbor had won an earlier meet-

-tender Chad Phillipsen made 21 saves, and James Maloney and Nate Schickler scored goals for the Jr. Kings.

TExpress and West Valley Wolves

Festival over Thanksgiving Weekend. The Jr. Gulls defeated the

Daniel Levin scored two goals, Troy Podratz and Kiyono Cox had two assists apiece, and Zach Lopez and Jake Eldrige scored a goal each for the Jr. Gulls. Austin Weber and Andrew Goodwin scored

Orange County Hockey Club, 6-4, to win the Pee Wee B divi-sion. Trevor Scully and Derek Houde each scored twice, Nolan McRae had a goal and an assist and Patrick Lee chipped in a goal for the Oilers. OCHC got two goals and an assist from Francis Lemay. The Valencia Express edged

Colin Madrid scored four goals and Riley Silos added two - including the win-ner - for Valencia, while Kyle Melchior had a pair of goals for Anaheim.

senice, Slovenia, returned to the

winter break.

opportunity to represent Slove-nia as we try to win our tourna-ment to advance to the top divi-

to play for my country and help

He played for Jack Bowkus’ Midget 18U AAA team that advanced to the USA Hockey National Tournament in April. His father, Matjaz, was an assistant coach on the team. His older brother, Anze, is an assistant captain for the Los An-geles Kings.

Former LA Jr. Kings forward Beau Bennett (Gardena)

has committed to play college -

ver (WCHA). The 6-foot-1, 180-pound forward is playing for the Pent-icton Vees of the BCHL this sea-son. He has been the top-scoring rookie and import in the league. Through 32 games, he was No. 4 in scoring in the BCHL with 59

Bennett, who said he se-

academic and hockey traditions, as well as its proximity to Cali-fornia, was a key member of the U.S. Junior Select Team that

captured its second consecutive World Junior A Challenge cham-pionship in November. Bennett had three goals and an assist in the tournament. Bennett recently was select-ed to play in the BCHL All-Star Game on Jan. 13. In addition, he was named the Top Forward of the CJHL Prospects Series in

The Santa Clara Blackhawks came out as the biggest over-

place over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Blackhawks will be sending four teams to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada for the Silver

will be sending two teams in the Mites and Pee Wee B groups, while the Santa Rosa Flyers and host San Jose will each send one team apiece. The lone non-Nor Cal team that will be sending a team from that regional is the

the Squirt B group crown.

L Michael Juola has committed to Brown

University (ECAC) for next year. Juola, a 20-year-old playing in his second season with the

led the NAHL in scoring with 51 points (15 goals) through 35 games. “Mike is an unbelievably

Josh Haugegrow from an offensive talent

Lteam (99s) edged the LA Jr. Kings, 3-2, for the championship of their division at the Jr. Kings Thanksgiving Extravaganza Tournament at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. LAHC defeated the Cali-fornia Cougars, the Anaheim Wildcats No. 2 team and the

-nal. Nathan Katzaroff, Ocean Wiesblatt and Cam Hausinger each scored a goal, and Brett Rudy had two assists. LAHC held on behind the goaltending of Nolan Moreno and Ethan Rautbort. It was the

26

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Driving the ‘NetHere’s a sampling of stories that ran recently on CaliRubber.comCompiled by Chris Bayee

Lake Forest’s Michael Juola, who is currently skating in the NAHL, will play his college hockey at Brown University next season. Photo/NAHL

The West Valley Wolves won the Squirt B division of the Jr. Ducks Fall Festival over Thanksgiving Weekend.

Gasper Kopitar, a former LA Jr. King now playing with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, represented his native Slovenia at last month’s World Under-20 Division I Tournament. Photo/Bryan Heim/Portland Winterhawks

The West Valley Wolves defeated Orange County Hockey

Matthew Kora, Jin Lee and Stanislav Struthers scored goals for West Valley, while Ty-ler Browning got both OCHC goals.

Princeton University sopho-more forward Paula Ro-

manchuk of San Jose was named to the ECAC All-Star Team that played against the

team earlier this month at Quin-nipiac University in Hamden, Ct. She played in all 31 games for Princeton as a freshman.

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