This is a Flashback Story...
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November 16-17, 2002
Santa Fe Stations Ice Arena
AAA SAN JOSE JR SHARKS 18U INVADE SANTA FE STATIONS ICE ARENA
By Lee Samuels
Las Vegas – One of Las Vegas’ most fierce rivals, the AAA San Jose Jr Sharks 18u, are on the ice here in town this weekend. The Sharks are coached by Brandy Semchuk, a 1990 draft pick of the NHL Los Angeles Kings.
Semchuk, from Calgary, has put together powerful, hard-skating midget-level teams in San Jose. This season the Sharks are off to a solid 10-5-3 start including 9-1, 7-2 wins over the Oakland Bears last weekend.
In September, the AAA Las Vegas Outlaws took on San Jose and blasted to a 4-1 lead. The Sharks rallied to tie and Las Vegas scored with 1:16 left to win 5-4. It was a very important game, the first round of the famous Washington Totems Tournament in Seattle.
Las Vegas, 19-6-4 and ranked #18 in the nation by Midgetaaa.com, is coached by Rob Pallin of Minnesota. He is in this third season and Las Vegas is coming off a 60-11-3 season which included a AA 18u Pacific Regional gold medal and a 3-1-0 record at the U.S. Nationals.
Last winter, Las Vegas smashed 30 team records.
Tonight’s Official Lineup card
AAA LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS
Head Coach Rob Pallin
#4 – Josh Shiode
#5 – Justin Johnson
#6 – David Lewandowski
#7 – Scott Chisholm – tough enforcer from Utah
#8 – Nate Rein
#9 – Eddie Samuels
#10 – Cody Moran
#11 – J.C. Caron
#12 – Eric Bowman
#16 – John Jasek – Josh always wore jersey #16 during his hockey career
#17 – Travis Roseberry
#18 – Spike Neely – Spike, Travis and JC Caron were on the Triple Threat Line here in 1999-2000 season – in that era this was one of the greatest lines in the West.
#24 – T.J. Craig
#27 – Alex Redmond – later known as Alex ‘Blackjack’ Redmond in junior hockey
#30 – Zach Whisman
#31 – Cody Fulwiler
#83 – Eddie Del Grosso – one of the greatest – if not the greatest – defensemen ever in Las Vegas
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Following that season the entire Red Line of Josh Jasek, Adam Naglich and Eddie Samuels was collectively signed by the BCHL Victoria Salsa – the only time in Vegas hockey history an entire line was signed by a junior team…
Years later Spike Neely at Eddie Del Grosso’s wedding reception said “..coach Rob made us believe we were better players than what we really were. When we went over the wall for a game we knew we going to win.”
The Hockey Sister – Jessica Jasek – played rock music during the games mentioned in this story. She was the first in hockey history in Las Vegas to play music at home games at the Santa Fe Stations Ice Arena.
When the Santa Fe Stations Ice Arena shut down, the overhead scoreboard, rinkboards and a Zamboni was sent over to the SoBe Ice Arena. The original scoreboard and rinkboards are still at the SoBe on North Rancho Drive…
Coach Rob Pallin is currently the head coach of HC TWK innsbruck which plays in the Austrian League.
