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Mainland offers unique spring tourney experience
December 27th, 2015Every spring for the past two decades, youth hockey teams from all over British Columbia have flocked to the Vancouver area to compete in one of the region’s most beloved tournaments. The Mainland Hockey Tournament will be back for its 22nd year in 2016, and is expected to draw up to 100 teams – many…
Colorado developing goaltenders at a rapid pace for junior, college hockey
December 24th, 2015As the overall quality of youth hockey in the Rocky Mountain region has increased in the past decade or so, another trend has emerged – the place is starting to become a goalie factory. Think it’s fiction? Check the facts. Four goaltenders from Colorado and Utah have been selected in the past three NHL drafts…
Holiday community outreach a must for West Coast Renegades
December 23rd, 2015Within all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the West Coast Renegades found a way to make a difference recently in the Salt Lake City area. And not only did the teams do that, but they contributed in an impactful way that seems to mean more this time of year. “Community service is…
Air Force’s Reid never thought about military, but now embracing it
December 23rd, 2015Playing college athletics and serving in the military is in A.J. Reid’s blood. His dad, Alan, was a Division I football player and his uncles graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Today, Reid finds himself in a similar situation as both his dad and his uncles. He’s currently a Division I athlete…
HPHL proving to be competitive spring hockey option
December 22nd, 2015Hockey in the spring? Why not? The High Plains Hockey League (HPHL) has proven since 2000 that it can be done. The USA Hockey-affiliated high school league gives hundreds of Colorado hockey players an opportunity each year to represent their school and community and play alongside their friends and classmates. A total of 34 varsity…
Taking Liberties With … Francois Beauchemin
December 20th, 2015FRANCOIS BEAUCHEMIN Position: Defenseman, Colorado Avalanche Hometown: Sorel, Quebec, Canada Last Amateur Team: Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) Age: 35 Colorado Rubber: What advice do you have for a young hockey player and his/her parents? Francois Beauchemin: Enjoy the game. Just go out there and have fun. The game of hockey is fun and you’re not supposed…
Ex-Thunderbirds blueliners Slavin, Olofsson get first taste of NHL
December 18th, 2015From carpooling together as Colorado Thunderbirds and joking about sending clearing attempts into rink ceilings to making their NHL debuts one day apart last month, it’s been quite a ride so far for Gustav Olofsson and Jaccob Slavin. The defensemen, who are such close friends that Olofsson was a groomsman in Slavin’s wedding last summer,…
‘Long shot’ Arapahoe victorious in Quebec Qualifier
December 17th, 2015Going into the 2015 Quebec Qualifier Tournament, Arapahoe Warriors AA coach Sean Leonard considered his squad an underdog to win the 13-team event and represent the Colorado Avalanche at the prestigious Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament in February. After blanking both the Colorado Springs Tigers and NCYH Jr. Eagles to open the tournament, Leonard…
Littleton again emerges as CAHA 18U AA state champions
December 16th, 2015The late Major League Baseball great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” For the Littleton Hawks 18U AA team, winning the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association state championship has become somewhat routine, as the Hawks took their sixth straight title on Dec. 13 with a two-game sweep of the Evolution Elite…
Bartholomay proving to be backbone of Renegades
December 9th, 2015Once Adam Bartholomay came to the heartbreaking conclusion that his professional hockey career was over some four years ago, he had every ambition to stay involved in the game and found his niche in the coaching ranks. Now the director of hockey operations and 16U AAA National team coach for the second-year West Coast Renegades…