Blog
Niwot’s Sdao playing to strengths in AHL
March 20th, 2015Michael Sdao has been around hockey his entire life, and his passion for the sport has taken him to some elite levels of the game. “My dad got us playing when we were really young, and it was a big part of growing up and still is, obviously, to this day,” said Sdao, now in…
Officiating in good hands with Groothedde
March 5th, 2015It’s never been considered one of the more glamorous jobs in hockey, but nonetheless on-ice officials are as passionate as they come about their trade. Locally, Ron Groothedde, the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association’s (CAHA) supervisor of officials, sees to it. He represents the state’s 800-plus zebras, managing their annual education and certification requirements while constantly…
Graber, Shatzer decide on Dartmouth College
March 4th, 2015Longmont’s Will Graber has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Dartmouth College following his United States Hockey League (USHL) career. A forward, Graber has dished out five assists, recorded 30 penalty minutes and is a plus-2 over 26 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks since being acquired by the team in December from the…
RoughRiders take pride in local development
March 2nd, 2015It only makes sense – and is quite ironic – that the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders AAA program plays a rough schedule year in and year out. That’s just the way director of hockey operations Derek Robinson likes it. “We can only improve and take giant strides if we continue to play the best teams in…
Gunner lives up to his name at Air Force
February 27th, 2015Cole Gunner has heard it pretty much on a daily basis for the better part of the last four years, and says it’s never bothered him – and it never will. The fact that a student-athlete with the last name “Gunner” plays hockey at the U.S. Air Force Academy is every bit as ironic as…
T-Birds’ captains proving effective as leaders
February 27th, 2015Being a team captain comes with a lot of responsibility, even at the AAA youth level. This season, the Colorado Thunderbirds have a dynamic group of players wearing the “C” for their respective teams: Jacob Tinker and Blake Terry (18U); Keegan Mantaro and Cal Foote (16U National); Matteo Glennon (16U American); Bryan Lockner (14U); Xander…
‘Riders look ahead to spring with anticipation
February 26th, 2015As the curtain begins to close on its sixth season of operation, the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Tier I organization is already looking ahead to building on its winning developmental formula in 2015-16 through its upcoming spring program. “The goal is to give young players the opportunity to experience elite hockey with elite, experienced coaches while…
Renegades set for spring, summer programs
February 26th, 2015As the 2014-15 campaign winds down, the West Coast Renegades organization is already looking ahead towards next season. The spring and summer months are right around the corner, and the Utah-based program has no intentions of taking its foot off the gas when it comes to keeping its players in top form. “Spring and summer…
Plandowski reaches milestone with Utah
February 26th, 2015What started out as a simple love for hockey, along with an interest in the medical field, has led Utah Grizzlies head athletic trainer Mike Plandowski to working more than 1,000 games at the pro level. Now in his eighth year with the ECHL club, Plandowski reached the milestone on Jan. 23, which was also…
Editor’s: Another Shore paves way to NHL
February 26th, 2015Colorado youth hockey celebrated another developmental milestone last month, as Nick Shore made his NHL debut on Jan. 17 as a member of the Los Angeles Kings – the team that selected the Denver native in the third round of the 2011 draft. Shore, a forward, grew up playing in the Littleton Hockey Association (LHA)…