Blog
T-Birds 16U Nationals enter record books, win Bauer World Invite
November 27th, 2015The Colorado Thunderbirds made state hockey history over the weekend of Nov. 6-8 at the Bauer World Hockey Invitational in Chicago. The T-Birds’ 16U AAA National team captured the top division – 16U Supreme – to become the first program from Colorado to win a AAA championship at the 430-team event, which is the largest…
Girls Stick With It aims to increase numbers for girls hockey
November 26th, 2015By and large, hockey is generally seen as primarily (and sometimes solely) as a boys sport. There is no women’s league that generates the level of coverage that the NHL does, nor is there as much college hockey coverage as there is for men. But one Denver program is doing its best to try change…
Scahill providing leadership, spark for Jr. Eagles
November 25th, 2015When Reed Scahill thinks back on his mid-summer decision to leave his Michigan home and sign with the Colorado Jr. Eagles, he’s glad he eventually picked up the phone. Through mutual contacts in the hockey world, Jr. Eagles coach-GM Steve Haddon started calling Scahill to recruit the Port Huron, Mich., product to Northern Colorado. Scahill,…
Miners 18U players see valuable time at USHL, NAHL levels
November 25th, 2015A pair of first-year Pikes Peak Miners 18U AAA players recently joined Junior A teams for practices and games and now know what it takes to advance to the next level. Defenseman Preston Weeks (North American Hockey League’s Kenai River Brown Bears) and goaltender Jeremy Swayman (United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm), two Alaska natives,…
Grizzlies captains bring consistency, skill to West Valley City
November 23rd, 2015Utah Grizzlies coach-GM Tim Branham decided on this season’s team captains rather than a team vote, but said that if the players were to pick, he’d confident their picks would have been the same as his. For the 2015-16 ECHL season, Brent Gwidt will wear the ‘C’ and Barry Almeida and Alex Gallant will assume…
Oval women’s league aims to have fun, solid competition
November 20th, 2015It’s well-documented that women’s hockey is indeed growing in Utah and the newly-created Lady Grizzlies Adult Rookie League at the Utah Olympic Oval is a prime example of that growth. With the goal to provide and fun and competitive environment, head instructor Jae Worthen said the league is ideal for adult women players who may…
Select’s Martinez earns prestigious Liz Turgeon Award
November 19th, 2015Lexi Martinez said she has had a love for hockey ever since she set foot on the ice as a toddler many years ago. Now in her fifth season playing for the esteemed Colorado Select organization, that passion has translated into the 19U AAA forward being named the 2015 recipient of the Elizabeth “Liz” Turgeon…
Martello’s time at CC the ultimate tribute to his father
November 18th, 2015It was supposed to be a day that James Martello Jr. received a really cool birthday present – Sept. 11, 2001. Martello was going to go into New York City with his dad, James Sr., and check out his offices in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He woke up and got ready…
The Ascent Continues: Thunderbirds’ dozen playing in-state NCAA Division I
November 17th, 2015Many would consider two or three players from a youth hockey program playing NCAA Division I hockey impressive, but what about 12 spread out over three programs in the same state? That gives you a snapshot of what the Colorado Thunderbirds have going on these days. This season, a dozen young men who played at…
Taking Liberties With … Nikita Zadorov
November 13th, 2015NIKITA ZADOROV Position: Defenseman, Colorado Avalanche Hometown: Moscow, Russia Age: 20 Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 220 pounds Last Amateur Team: London Knights (OHL) Acquired: Trade with Buffalo Sabres on June 26, 2015 Drafted: Buffalo’s first-round pick (16th overall) in 2013 NHL Entry Draft Colorado Rubber: How do we pronounce your name? ZAD-or-off or Za-DOR-off? Nikita Zadorov: Za-DOR-off….