Category Archives: Pro
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…
Avalanche reloads through trades, draft, free agency
October 2nd, 2015A good guess of the Colorado Avalanche’s worth this season is somewhere in the middle, the medium of the last two seasons. The Avs probably weren’t as good as their 112-point season of 2013-14, and they were likely better than their 90-point campaign last year. The 22-point difference was startling, yet educational. In Year 3…
Taking Liberties With… Gustav Olofsson
July 30th, 2015GUSTAV OLOFSSON Defenseman, Iowa Wild (AHL) Hometown: Borås, Sweden Last Youth Program: Colorado Thunderbirds Colorado Rubber: What’s the best piece of advice you have for young hockey players and their parents? Gustav Olofsson: For the kids, embrace and enjoy the opportunity to play hockey. I was very fortunate to play different sports growing up, and that…
Zahn excited to return to Eagles lineup
July 23rd, 2015Teigan Zahn provided plenty of grit for the Colorado Eagles last season, and enjoyed his time in Loveland so much that he’s already signed on the dotted line for the 2015-16 campaign. Zahn, a 25-year-old product of Bethune, Saskatchewan, scored three goals among 20 points and also added 298 penalty minutes – second most in…
Branham’s efforts keep Grizz moving forward
July 23rd, 2015The Utah Grizzlies are busily preparing for the 2015-16 ECHL season, and for head coach and general manager Tim Branham, that primarily means recruiting. Utah advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in May, losing to the Ontario Reign in five games after bouncing the Pacific Division champion Idaho Steelheads in the…
Carlo a ‘Bear Essential’ in Boston’s draft plans
July 21st, 2015Ask most prospects pegged to go in the first couple rounds of the NHL Entry Draft and safe bet they’ll tell you it’s an exciting – but nerve-wracking – weekend. Brandon Carlo knows the feeling. A highly touted defenseman from Colorado Springs, he wanted nothing more than to be chosen in the first round during…
Hayes making most of fresh start in Utah
March 20th, 2015When Ryan Hayes was traded to the Utah Grizzlies from the Stockton Thunder earlier this season, he had no idea the region was so picturesque. “I actually arrived here at night, so I couldn’t see the mountains or anything,” said Hayes, a fifth-year pro out of Syracuse, N.Y. “Then the next morning, when I woke…
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…
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…
Holmstrom enjoying steady pro career
January 25th, 2015Ben Holmstrom got some pretty straightforward instruction right before he took the opening faceoff in his NHL debut almost four years ago. “Win it,” Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger advised Holmstrom back on March 3, 2011 when Philly took on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Colorado Springs product did just that. Holmstrom, a graduate of…