Weston English had a decision to make this time last year — join the U.S. Coast Guard or play his final season of junior hockey in Idaho.

The Longmont native decided on Idaho, signing with the USPHL’s McCall Smokejumpers and subsequently being named a captain while putting up 20 goals and 29 points in 32 regular-season games, adding another two goals in two playoff games.

“The owner/GM reached out to me halfway over the summer (of 2025),” English said. “I was contemplating joining the U.S. Coast Guard at the time and when the offer came to me, I looked into and decided I wanted to play another year of juniors as I had what could have been a career-ending surgery in 2024 on my left labrum in my hip. I missed the entirety of the 2023-24 season, and only played half of the 2024-25 season. Last year in McCall was my only full year of junior hockey. And it was a blessing to wear the ‘C’ on the team and lead us to the playoffs.

“I still deal with hip issues quite regularly, but have been able to manage them and keep safe to be able to keep playing. Now since my hip has recovered, I’m continuing my hockey pathway and no longer enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard. I have college options for next year, but nothing is set in stone yet.”

In looking at last season, English said finishing out his junior hockey days in Idaho was a season full of memories.

“It’s a lot of fun to play in a ski town, especially a very small one,” said English. “Only about 4,000 people live up there and in the evenings, there’s not a lot going on besides the hockey games and the town would show out.”

Back home growing up, English played for the Boulder Bison and Hyland Hills Jaguars before moving away for hockey when he was 15 years old.

“I have learned to be thankful of the time I have with people and places,” said English. “I have so many close friends that I rarely get to see as so many of them live across the world. I’ve tried my best not to take my time with people for granted as I never know when I might see them again once the season ends.”

Moving forward, English aspires to play college hockey and pro hockey.

Photo/Blake Drost

— Matt Mackinder

(August 10, 2026)