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Thunderbirds sweep Tier I states, take two district crowns
March 28th, 2016The Colorado Thunderbirds have five new banners to display within the organization. With three Tier I state championship victories Feb. 28 by the 14U, 16U National and 18U teams, plus 14U and 16U Rocky Mountain District (RMD) titles on March 13, the Thunderbirds are creating quite a gallery for championship banners and hardware. The Colorado…
Taking Liberties With … Calvin Pickard
March 24th, 2016CALVIN PICKARD Position: Goaltender, Colorado Avalanche Hometown: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Age: 23 Height/Weight: 6-feet, 200 pounds Last Amateur Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Drafted: Colorado’s second-round pick (49th overall) in 2010 NHL draft Colorado Rubber: What advice do you have for a young hockey player and his/her parents? Calvin Pickard: Just to stay positive. Play…
‘Battle On Blake’ outdoor game creates lasting memories for DU, CC
March 22nd, 2016University of Denver seniors Grant Arnold and Gabe Levin could not have been clearer when addressing their teammates before the “Battle on Blake” on Feb. 20 at Coors Field. “This is a great event, it’s special,” Arnold said. “But if you don’t get the ‘W,’ it’s not as special for us. That was our message…
Overtime heroics fuel Aspen’s run to RMJHL championship
March 22nd, 2016After trailing the Breckenridge Bucks 6-1 going into the third period of a Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL) semifinal on March 3, it looked all but over for the Aspen Leafs. About an hour later, Aspen captain Taylor Knight’s overtime winner completed the comeback and the Leafs had a 7-6 win and a date…
Denver’s Heinen, Levin selected NCHC year-end award winners
March 18th, 2016The NCHC held its annual awards celebration at Minneapolis’ Muse Event Center on March 17, with a pair of University of Denver student-athletes taking home individual specialty awards. Sophomore winger Danton Heinen was named the conference’s Forward of the Year, while senior center Gabe Levin took home Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Heinen, 20, has…
NAHL advancement sends Miners’ Eubank home to Alaska
March 17th, 2016Even in Kenai, Alaska, the reputation of the Pikes Peak Miners is well-known. Jake Eubank was looking for an 18U team after options ran out in his home state and a longtime family friend, Steve MacSwain, turned Eubank’s eye to the Miners. “Steve had a lot of input for me and had heard nothing but…
Grizzlies rookie d-man Binkley enjoying ECHL life in Utah
March 12th, 2016When Jason Binkley’s ECHL rights were released last summer by the South Carolina Stingrays, he wondered what uniform he would wear for the 2015-16 season. Then his phone rang. “When I became available, (Utah Grizzlies coach-GM) Tim Branham gave me a call and we talked for two hours straight,” remembered Binkley. “I really liked what…
Lazo shows scoring touch for surging Eagles
March 11th, 2016In his first nine games, he literally has been “Johnny on the Spot.” For the Colorado Eagles, signing Johnny Lazo in mid-January has been a great remedy for the team’s scoring woes this season as the 27-year-old Winnipeg native recorded nine goals in nine games, to go along with three assists for a 12-point start….
Avs’ Duchene has but one dream – the Stanley Cup
March 10th, 2016Let’s face it: Colorado Avalanche cowboy Matt Duchene would have been the hands-down winner of the NHL Breakaway Challenge if the 2016 NHL All-Star event was based on skill. In describing Duchene’s one-handed, between-the-legs shot past New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider – all while donning at cowboy hat at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Jan. 30…
RoughRiders booming, soon to call Sport Stable home
March 9th, 2016The blueprints for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders’ success over the years have literally morphed into construction blueprints. Beginning with the 2016-17 season, the RoughRiders AAA youth organization will call the Sport Stable, a new state-of-the-art complex located in Superior, its new home. The program, now in its sixth season with six teams (12U tournament team,…