Going into his senior year of high school, Jake Stordahl was wondering if high school hockey was going to happen this season.

The Parker native looked at Plan B, and it’s been working out quite nicely for the 2002 birth year as Stordahl is playing with the USPHL’s Hampton Roads Whalers, a perennial contender in the junior circuit.

“Last summer, I was concerned that the upcoming Regis Jesuit High School hockey season might be in jeopardy because of COVID-19, so I tried out for a number of NAHL teams,” explained Stordahl. “I played well and received good feedback from the coaches. As a result, my advisor Daniel Pitman introduced me to the Hampton Roads Whalers. I spent a week with the Whalers in August, and they invited me to play with them during the upcoming season. It was a very hard decision because I love RJ hockey and think coach (Dan) Woodley is one of the best coaches in the county, but I decided to accept the Whalers offer.”

Stordahl said he was drawn to Hampton Roads because of the franchise’s winning tradition

“They have won back-to-back national championships and also have the reputation of moving players to the next level,” Stordahl said. “Lastly, they play in the Southeast Division of the USPHL, which is considered the toughest and most competitive division in the USPHL.

“When I first arrived at Hampton Roads, I did not know anyone, but the open and inviting environment that the team and the organization creates made it very easy to make friends and connect with my teammates. I hope to gain experience and confidence at the junior level, and to win a national championship. I want to contribute to the winning history of the Hampton Roads Whalers.”

Like many in Colorado, Stordahl started out in roller hockey, getting his start at the age of six. Two years later, he suited up on the ice for the Arapahoe Warriors, where he played until his second year of Pee Wee before going to the Evolution Elite Hockey Academy.

Once in high school, Stordahl played for RJHS.

“Coach Woodley is a coach that really made a difference in my playing career,” Stordahl said. “He was such a big influence because not only was he a great coach on the ice but a leader and a mentor off the ice. As a teacher at Regis, he taught us to be a great student first and a hockey player second. He taught me many lessons about life and about the game that I will take with me throughout my career.”

Moving forward, Stordahl wants to advance to the Tier II ranks next season with the ultimate goal of playing college hockey.

— Matt Mackinder

(Nov. 25, 2020)