Monday, January 1, 2018

Goal scorer Hamilton Whyte of Las Vegas is playing for ACHA New York University this season. Hamilton has one goal in four games. He is a junior at NYU.

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Ontario, Ca. – Cory Ward of Las Vegas and the AHL Ontario Reign lost 2-1 to the Tucson Roadrunners in a New Year’s Eve game before 6964 on home ice at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Jason Zucker of Las Vegas in action for NHL Minnesota Wild

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JASON ZUCKER PLAYER FOR THE YEAR FOR 11TH STRAIGHT TIME

==========2017 VEGAS HOCKEY AWARDS==========

By Lee Samuels

The dynamic Jason Zucker, the first and only Las Vegas player in the NHL is the Vegas Hockey Player of the Year for the 11th straight time.

Jason, 25,  is a top line skater for the NHL Minnesota Wild.

He grew up in Las Vegas and went to his first arena in town when he was 3 1/2 years old. His father Scott took him to meet Larry Sanford, the 7-time Vegas Hockey Roller Coach of the Year, at his Crystal Palace roller rink. Jason brought his own hockey stick that day.

Few know that Jason, like many of the star players in his era and earlier in Las Vegas, initially began to play roller hockey before moving over to ice hockey.

Jason’s last Las Vegas ice hockey coach was Wally Lacroix on an AAA Nevada Storm 16u team at the Las Vegas Ice Center. Jason was 14 1/2. When team practiced penalty shots Wally told the other players to fire off a shot in either corner, low, or high left or right corner. When it was Jason’s time to shoot Wally told him “….whatever you figure out Jason what works best to score is fine with me.” That’s how great Jason was at the time.

Jason said “It is an honor to be recognized as the Las Vegas Player of the Year. I appreciate the nomination and support from Vegas hockey fans. I am very proud to be from Las Vegas and be a part of the community they have.”

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Anthony Greener, one of the greatest players ever for UNLV, is the 2017 Vegas Hockey Coach of the Year. He and his staff spectacularly helped transition the Rebels from an ACHA D2 team to a ACHA D1 level club. The Rebels, with a bigger, stronger roster of players, this season beat #1 ranked Minot State and are presently ranked #10 in the nation while playing before sellout crowds at the City National Arena.

“It’s an honor to be Coach of the Year. It’s not just me but my entire staff which makes this team continue to get better each day. We have an amazing group of players who put in the work and buy into our system day in and day out. I have taken a lot from my coaching cousins who I played for and then added my twist to everything. It really is a love and passion for the game and it is an honor to go to the rink to teach and learn the game every day.”

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Zee Khan of UNLV was voted the Best GM of the Year.

“My main responsibilities include recruiting, scheduling, player development along with Anthony Greener, Nick Robone and now Jeff May. Together we have all of the same goal of continued growth and success for the program. My hockey background and relationships built along the way with top junior level coaches helped our recruiting process as we have been able to bring in top players from the best leagues to play for us in Las Vegas. It is our goal to continue to grow our program and be a model ACHA D1 program as well as a good example for the youth players here in Las Vegas by providing a top notch opportunity.”

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Rob Pallin of HC TWK Innsbruck was voted Best International Coach

“The biggest challenge is to getting all of the players to be the best teammates possible. For me it’s team first. We have 3 Czechs, 1 from Denmark, 4 Americans, 5 Canadians, 8 Austrians, and getting all of these players thinking the guy sitting next to him is more important than yourself. I love the challenge of taking struggling clubs and making them winners. Innsbruck never made the playoffs in 11 years before I arrived here. It’s not the helmet or the jersey – it is who puts on the helmet and jersey. We have great character and skill.”

MAJOR AWARDS

LAS VEGAS HOCKEY PERSON OF THE YEAR – NICK ROBONE, UNLV

BEST INTERNATIONAL PLAYER – BRYCE REDDICK, CARDIFF DEVILS

BEST ROLLER PLAYER – CODY PRINTZEN, TEAM USA

BEST GIRLS PLAYER – ASH PRINTZEN, AAA DETROIT BELLE TIRE 16U

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UNLV PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

BEST PLAYER – JOSEPH KASZUPSKI

BEST DEFENSE – JONAS GORDON, JAKE KEARLEY

ALL HEART – CODY WILLIAMS

BEST GOALIE – BEN GIESBRECHT

AHL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

GAGE QUINNEY, AHL WILKES-BARRE SCRANTON PENGUINS

CORY WARD, AHL ONTARIO REIGN

ECHL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

CAPTAIN CHRIS FRANCIS, ECHL QUAD CITY MALLARDS

ZACH POCHIRO, ECHL ALLEN AMERICANS

DEREK SUTLIFFE, ECHL GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS

NCAA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

MIKE MCNICHOLAS, NEW HAMPSHIRE UNVERSITY

JOEY RAATS, ARIZONA STATE

CAPTAIN JOE SULLIVAN, ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LANDON QUINNEY, QMJHL SAINT JOHN SEADOGS

NA3HL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

VITO CARLO, NA3HL ATLANTA CAPITALS

USPHL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MICHAEL CICHY, USPHL WISCONSIN MUSKIES

WSHL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

JAKE MCKENNA, WSHL VALENCIA FLYERS

GABRIEL TESTA, WSHL FRESNO MONSTERS

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VEGAS JR GOLDEN KNIGHTS AWARDS

BEST COACH – WALLY LACROIX, VEGAS JR KNIGHTS BANTAM TEAM

VEGAS JR GOLDEN KNIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

BEST PLAYER – MIKE YOCHUM

BEST DEFENSEMAN – DANIEL RAMOS

AA VEGAS JR GOLDEN KNIGHTS 16U TEAM

BEST PLAYER – HUNTER BARTO

VEGAS JR GOLDEN KNIGHTS BANTAM TEAM

BEST PLAYER – AJ LACKAS

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LAS VEGAS PLAYERS AWAY FROM HOME

BEST GM

JIMMY SAMUELS, GM, KANSAS UNIVERSITY ACHA D3

AAA 18U

BEST PLAYER – AIDAN MCNABB, AAA SO-CAL TITANS

BEST DEFENSEMAN – STEVEN AVALONE, AAA ARIZONA BOBCATS

AAA 16U

BEST PLAYER – ERIC ATCHISON, AAA ARIZONA BOBCATS

BEST DEFENSEMAN – JERRETT OVERLAND, AAA ANAHEIM DUCKS

BEST GOALIE – ANTHONY BONALDI, AAA ARIZONA BOBCATS

AAA 15U

BEST GOALIE – LUKE FUNDATOR, AAA ARIZONA BOBOCATS

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LAS VEGAS AWARDS

BEST ATHLETIC TRAINER – KENDALL GALOR, UNLV

BEST TEAM SOCIAL – UNLV

BEST TEAM PR – MEGAN EDMUNDS, UNLV

BEST ARENA – CITY NATIONAL ARENA

BEST ARENA MUSIC – UNLV GAMES AT CITY NATIONAL ARENA

BEST REFEREE – TODD OWEN

BEST HOCKEY ARTIST – GUNNAR ROKSVOLD – CREATOR OF JOHNNIE GOLD IN OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS STORY ON VEGASHOCKEY.NET

BEST RINK SNACK BAR – LAS VEGAS ICE CENTER

BEST HOCKEY WEBSITE – LAS VEGAS ICE CENTER

BEST RINK COFFEE – LAS VEGAS ICE CENTER

BEST LAS VEGAS SUMMER SHOWCASE – ROY HENDERSON’S LAS VEGAS GLOBAL AT LAS VEGAS ICE CENTER

 

 

 

Sunday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve – 2017

By Lee Samuels

Thank you sincerely to each and one of you who voted for the 2017 Vegas Hockey Awards. Your votes determined the winner in each of our categories. Writing is underway and the 2017 Vegas Hockey Award winners will soon be announced.

 

Saturday, December 30, 2017

“Rob Pallin Took the Time to Help Our Special Needs Son”

By Lee Samuels

Las Vegas – We were at the rinkboards – which is not a bad place to be – and we spotted team mom Rosey Gomez whose son #32 Isaac Gomez of the AAA Arizona Bobcats 18u was cracking into a few of the blue-shirt Central Ontario Wolves in a big game at the Las Vegas Ice Center when all of a sudden – and don’t ask me how because we don’t know – coach Rob Pallin’s name was mentioned on a cold Saturday afternoon.

Rosey, wrapped in a blanket around her, said coach Rob at the SoBe Ice Arena helped tweak the game of her son Isaac a year or two ago.

“We have a special needs son – our Jonathan,” Rosey said in the cold arena. “Coach Rob had Jonathan do some ice chores around the SoBe Ice Arena. Rob didn’t have to do it. But to our family it was so meaningful. Rob touches, helps someone, then moves on to help someone else. On off days he feeds the homeless. He doesn’t ask or get publicity for it but I wanted to let you know.”

Yes we know about coach Rob’s care for others. He is now coaching professionally in Austria with HC TWK Innsbruck.

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We chatted with Bobcats head coach Derek Morris after the game. He isn’t just a coach, he’s a legend who played for five NHL teams including the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. 

We asked about how his Bobcats moved the puck – not dump and chase – but rather move across the blue line in an organized style.

“The blue line is the most treacherous spot on the ice rink – there are more turnovers there than anywhere on the ice. What we do is work to get a wide entry and get across the blue line to set up in the offensive zone.”

Coach Morris added that premier Las Vegas defenseman Steven Avalone “has a great work ethic, works on improving his game and is totally prepared for every game.”

About Anthony Rodriguez of Las Vegas coach Morris said ‘we think he can become an excellent power forward for our team.”

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Then we got down to it.

Who is your biggest rival.

Coach Morris smiled, but just a little.

“Phoenix Jr Coyotes,” he said. 

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Goalie Luke Fundator was at the boards. He is from Las Vegas and plays for the AAA Arizona Bobcats 15u. He was outlining a certain goalie technique called “Reverse VH” which seals off corners – like using your entire leg against a post when a forward is attacking.” Hope we got that down right, not sure. Re-checking our notes.

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Central Ontario Wolves won the game 5-3.

 

 

 

Saturday, December 30, 2017

NCAA

Joe Sullivan of Las Vegas and St. Lawrence University vs Mass-Lowell in the Catamount Cup, Burlington, Vermont

//Captain Joe Sullivan scores a short-handed goal – his 7th goal of the season – to help St. Lawrence win 3-0

Brendan Harris of Las Vegas and Bemidji State vs Alabama Huntsville at Sanford Center, Bemidji, Minnesota

//Bemidji State wins 4-1 on a brutally cold night before 2817

Joey Raats of Las Vegas and Arizona State vs Lake Superior, Three Rivers Classic, Pittsburgh

//Lake Superior wins 4-1; Joey Raats assists on the ASU goal

Yale vs Mike McNicholas of Las Vegas and #16-ranked New Hampshire at Thompson Arena, Hanover, N.H. 

//Yale 4, New Hampshire 2 final score

ECHL

Chris Francis of Las Vegas and Quad City Mallards vs Fort Wayne Komets at TaxSlayer Arena, Moline, Illinois

//Powerful Fort Wayne wins it 5-0

AAA 18u

Steve Avalone, Anthony Rodriguez, Isaac Gomez of Las Vegas and AAA Arizona Bobcats 18u vs Central Ontario Wolves, Canada, at Las Vegas Ice Center – South Rink

Final Score – Central Ontario Wolves Canada 5, Arizona Bobcats 3

//Intense action all the way; Arizona led midway in the game, then Central Ontario rallied to win it. There were three Las Vegas players in this game for Arizona – Steven Avalone, Anthony Rodriguez and Isaac Gomez. After the game the two teams posed together center ice for photos as the fans applauded.

 

Friday, December 29, 2017

By Lee Samuels

From the Blue Line at the Las Vegas Ice Center……

Two Las Vegas players came home – premier defenseman Steven Avalone and forward Anthony Rodriguez for the AAA Arizona Bobcats 18u who played against the Central Ontario Wolves from Canada at the Las Vegas Ice Center on Friday. Steven wore gold jersey #8, Anthony wore gold #13.

And boy were the rinkboards packed with Las Vegas hockey folks to see them play.

Hockey talk got started right away. We asked hockey dad “New York” Steve Avalone about the whereabouts of his hockey daughter Gia who plays for the AAA Anaheim Lady Ducks 16u.  “In Boston, comes home Saturday night, cannot wait to see her,” he said.  

Luke Fundator, the gifted Las Vegas goalie who plays for the AAA Arizona Bobcats 15u was there with his hockey dad Doug. Luke is very tall like 5’11 tall at least it seemed to me. Doug mentioned Luke’s save percentage is a high voltage 92% which is awesome at any level of the game. Oh and Luke said he is 5’11, 150. 

Bryce Gould, who played for the Micah Sanford-coached AAA Las Vegas Storm 16u team two seasons ago, was at the rink glass. Bryce is now playing for the AAA Colorado Thunderbirds 18u. He has 3 goals, 2 assists. He also mentioned the T-Birds #1 rival is none other than the Colorado Rampage. Those two teams have been in firefights for the last decade in the Rockies.

Anthony Bonaldi’s name was mentioned. He is a another top Las Vegas goalie. Anthony plays for the AAA Arizona Bobcats 16u. Anthony’s hockey mom was at the game. 

Bob Della Rocca of the Ice Center was at the boards too on the South Rink. The Ice Center’s hockey website is getting a lot of votes for Best Website for our Vegas Hockey Awards. “David Thieury is our webmaster, Brandon Peterson assists,” Bob said. The Ice Center’s web has won the Best of Vegas Hockey awards quite a few times. 

We asked the hockey folks at the boards who is the best referee in town.

Todd Owen’s name was mentioned by practically everyone within our notepad area.

The final score – Central Ontario Wolves of Canada jammed in a shot in the final moments to win 2-1. 

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Game two of AAA Arizona Bobcats 18u vs the Central Ontario Wolves is tomorrow – Saturday – 12:30 pm….Las Vegas hockey mom Mary Margaret Samuels will be at the game Saturday to say hello to all of the players at the boards…..

From the Blue Line, Lee

 

Thursday, December 28, 2017

By Lee Samuels

Las Vegas – Vincent Dekumbis, an awesome goal scorer and the only All-Star for the WSHL Las Vegas Storm, is skating for the NA3HL Texas Jr Brahmas. Two seasons ago at the Las Vegas Ice Center Vincent had 31 goals, 15 assists. He won the Fastest Skater Award when he went to the WSHL All-Star game. He was dealt to the WSHL Valencia Flyers who were in a playoff run and then moved onto other teams. Vincent, 20, is from Fribourg, Switzerland. 

There have been searches here on Vegashockey.net for Joey Allegrini, a very popular player with the WSHL Las Vegas Storm. Joey is now playing for the NAHL Kenai River Brown Bears. Seth Bergeron, from Las Vegas and a Storm alum, is with the NAHL Philadelphia Rebels.

There are repeated searches here for Teddy Astrom, a 23-goal scorer for the WSHL Las Vegas Storm two seasons ago. Teddy returned home to Sweden and is playing for HK Solleftea Division 1. He has 2 goals, 8 assists.

Isaiah Letendre from Red Earth Creek, Alberta, Canada, burned down the ice in dynamic performances and scored 31 goals two seasons ago for the Storm. He is now playing for the North Peace Navigators, a Junior B team in Alberta, Canada. The team plays at the Baytex Energy Center. Isaiah, one of the great players we’ve seen in town – who gave it all he had in every game – has 6 goals, 13 assists this season. As we write this there is an Extreme Cold Warning in Alberta – snowing now – and going down to minus-23 degrees this weekend.

There are four former Storm players – Nikita Pintusov, Melwin Thorsson, Jake McKenna and goalie Spencer Kozlowski – playing this season with the WSHL Valencia Flyers. Nikita has 25 goals, Melwin 6 goals, 21 assists, Jake is a premier defenseman and Spencer is a top goalie for the Flyers.

The Storm’s all-time goal scorers in their three seasons in the WSHL

49 – Isaiah Letendre; 48 – Vincent Dekumbis, 43 – Nitkita Pintusov; 32 – Jeffrey Morgan; 30 – Beau Ricketts; 30 – Jean-Cristophe Lachapelle; 29 – Arrigo Burgener; 23 – Teddy Astrom; 20 – Sam Sykes

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

St. Paul, Minnesota – Jason Zucker of Las Vegas shook loose, veered to the left and fired a hard-angle shot for an empty-net goal with 42 seconds to play to close out a 4-2 win for the NHL Minnesota Wild over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Jason also had an assist in this game before 19,107 at the XCel Energy Center. Jason has 15 goals, 11 assists this season.

Friday Update – Central Ontario Wolves of Canada scored late – jamming in a goal near the Arizona net to win 2-1. It was a tough, physical game. Anthony Rodriguez of Las Vegas got plenty of ice time on a top line for Arizona. Steven Avalone of Las Vegas played a smart, intelligent game clearing pucks and setting up his forwards. Game Two of this series is Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Las Vegas Ice Center – Lee

 

Friday December 29, 2017

Special to Vegashockey.net

Las Vegas – Steven Avalone, a premier defenseman, and winger Anthony Rodriguez of Las Vegas and the AAA Arizona Bobcats 18u are coming home to play two games against the Central Ontario Wolves of Canada at the Las Vegas Ice Center on Friday and Saturday.

The games are set for Friday 3 pm and on Saturday 12:30 pm on the South Rink at the Ice Center on Flamingo Avenue.