Category Archives: Youth
Colorado youth hockey quartet chosen in two-day 2021 WHL draft process
December 9th, 2021The Western Hockey League completed the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Wednesday day with clubs selecting 44 players throughout the two-round draft. With the first-overall pick, the Seattle Thunderbirds selected forward Macklin Celebrini, a North Vancouver, B.C., native who has tallied 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) in 23 games with Shattuck-St. Mary’s so far…
RoughRiders grad, Superior native Johnson earns chance at next level, signs NAHL tender with Lone Star
December 2nd, 2021Tyler Johnson is a Colorado native playing this season in Minnesota with a chance to start his junior hockey career in Texas. Originally from Superior, Johnson is skating his second season in the NAPHL with the Northstar Christian Academy and recently signed an NAHL tender agreement with the Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL’s South…
Foothills, Thunderbirds star Klee commits to ‘dream school,’ decides on NCAA D-I North Dakota
October 21st, 2021Off to a strong start with the Colorado Thunderbirds’ 16U AAA team this season, David Klee’s confidence grew this week with a major announcement as the 2005-born Morrison native committed to NCAA Division I North Dakota. Klee said the decision was a long time coming. “I had heard about North Dakota’s program but really got…
Colorado Springs native, Tigers product Miltko adjusting to junior hockey with USPHL’s Blades
October 7th, 2021Jake Miltko is a rookie this season with the USPHL’s Steele County Blades, making the jump to junior hockey after several seasons of youth hockey in Colorado. A Colorado Springs native, Miltko spent the 2020-21 season with the Colorado Springs Tigers’ 18U AAA team, finishing first in their division in NAPHL play and having “a…
After not playing in ’20-21, Thunderbirds alum Levy looking to make impact in ’21-22 for BCHL’s Wild
September 30th, 2021Hank Levy sat out the 2020-21 season due to not be able to cross the Canadian border, but that won’t be the case this season after the 2002-born goaltender signed earlier this month with the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild. Levy last played for the Colorado Thunderbirds’ 18U AAA team in 2019-20 and posted an 8-2-0 record…
Advancing game to USPHL’s Mullets ‘a perfect fit’ for Colorado youth hockey grad Szmul
September 29th, 2021Jackson Szmul was born in Dallas and moved to Castle Rock when he was seven years old. Once he arrived in Colorado, Szmul’s involvement and development with hockey took off. This season, he’s enjoying his inaugural season of junior hockey with the USPHL’s Minnesota Mullets. “My (Mullets) coach Chris Walby sent me a text and…
Colorado youngster Grasso bringing right skill set, attitude to USPHL’s Jets for ’21-22 season
September 8th, 2021Robert Grasso will be one of the youngest players with the USPHL’s Metro Jets next season, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make an impact. A native of Broomfield, Grasso is a 2004 birth year who spent the 2020-21 season playing 16U AAA for the USPHL’s Northern Cyclones organization. He came to the USPHL Detroit…
Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association welcomes Dessart as new executive director
September 8th, 2021Kevin Dessart has been named the new executive director for the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association. As a former coach for the Colorado Springs Lady Tigers, Dessart has come home to lead CSAHA in its mission to provide outstanding youth hockey programs. Dessart has been playing, coaching, and working in hockey for over 35 years….
Colorado youth hockey success story Conn advances to play with NAHL’s Wilderness in ’21-22
September 2nd, 2021After skating the 2020-21 season for the Colorado Thunderbirds’ 16U AAA team, Reid Conn entered the offseason with no concrete plans for the 2021-22 season. That’s when a Colorado connection from Minnesota stepped up to the plate. “(Minnesota Wilderness assistant coach) Brendan Phelps reached out to me in the summer asking what my plans were,”…
Rampage alum Adler decides on ’21-22 team, inks tender with new NAHL franchise in Amarillo
August 17th, 2021After time with the Colorado Rampage program, Shane Adler is heading home for junior hockey. Adler, a native of the Dallas suburb of Wylie, Tex., recently signed an NAHL tender to play for the new Amarillo Wranglers franchise for the upcoming 2021-22 season. “Once I found out about the new team coming to Amarillo, I…