Colton Lien is enjoying the 2025-26 season as captain of the Okanagan Hockey Colorado 16U AAA team.

Next season, the Highlands Ranch native will head to Canada to play for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.

After that, Lien, who turns 17 in March, will start his NCAA Division I career after recently committing to Arizona State.

“The Arizona State coaches came to one of our games and liked the way I played and they stayed in touch with me for over a year,” said Lien, who has also played for the Littleton Hawks. “They were very loyal and I take huge pride in loyalty. Their hockey program is taking a huge step and there coaching is great, facilities are great, and the atmosphere of the crowd is amazing. Academically, they have a great business school and a ton of opportunities for me to study new and different things.

“ASU and I haven’t talked much about when I will go, but when I get to juniors, I know they’ll communicate very well. So I am guessing that I will know more about when I will go around middle to the end of next year.”

This season with Okanagan is shaping up to be a year that is creating memories, both on and off the ice.

“The team is in a great place right now,” Lien said. “Playoffs are right around the corner and we can do some pretty big things. My goal is to help my team as much as I can to win the national championship. I think this year I have become a better leader and captain and am getting my game ready for next year and my future. This season is getting me ready for next year with Kelowna because our coach knows that most of us are playing juniors next year, so he is pushing us and holding us to higher standards, which has helped me a lot and has made me a better person and hockey player.

“I am looking forward to spending the rest of my youth hockey career with the guys on my team. We all have the same expectations and that’s winning it all. Our group this year is so tight and I think we can do something very special.”

Photo/Jen Hayes

— Matt Mackinder

(January 25, 2026)