Marc Fletemeyer played his formative youth hockey years with the Colorado Springs Tigers, rounding out his game to get noticed by junior hockey teams.

The NAHL’s Chippewa Steel was one of those clubs and decided to take Fletemeyer in the second round (41^st overall) of the 2021 NAHL Entry Draft this past July.

Fletemeyer made the team out of main camp and to date, has collected two goals and six points in 21 games.

“I went to a pre-draft camp and they liked my playing style and decided to draft me in the second round,” said Fletemeyer, a Larkspur native who turned 19 on Dec. 19. “The NAHL is a great league of opportunity and can help me get to the next level of hockey. Chippewa was appealing because it’s a small town, very similar to where I live, so it was a home away from home. 

“I didn’t know anyone on the team, but during main camp I made some friends with the returning players, so when I made the team, they knew who I was. It took me a couple games to get used to the speed of play, but it’s been a steady road so far.”

Growing up, hockey became Fletemeyer’s passion, and that has carried over to his junior hockey career.

“My dad (Drew Fletemeyer) played in the USHL (for the Madison Capitols) and in college (for Wisconsin-Stevens Point) and pushed me to play hockey and I do not regret anything,” Fletemeyer said. “I love this sport, and of course, the Avs played a role. Every kid’s dream is to play in the NHL.”

Fletemeyer played AAA hockey for the Colorado Evolution and saw his game take an upward turn when he joined the Tigers.

“The Tigers helped me push into a better player and a better human,” beamed Fletemeyer. “Kevin Holmstrom was the best coach that I’ve ever had. He had helped me through tough times in hockey and made me a tough-minded hockey player.”

With the NAHL season set to get back underway in a few days’ time, Fletemeyer has also started to look at what his long-term future might look like, on and off the ice.

“I want to play hockey as long as I can,” Fletemeyer said. “I would love to work at NASA; I think that would be cool. I was thinking of majoring in Astrophysics (in college).”

Photo/Hannah Smalls

— Matt Mackinder

(December 29, 2021)