COHEN: Florida catching up with California as hockey’s Sunshine State
Which Warm Weather Climate Produces More D-1 Players. Florida or California?
California has them by sheer numbers. 47 is their number of California-born D1 hockey players during the 2018-19 season. They all hail from a lot of different places. California hockey has been strong for a while now but right now it’s pretty amazing. Some of the more interesting hometowns of these players are:
Coto de Gaza is a place that has some interesting residents as well as being an ecological preserve for endangered plants and animals – Ryan Ruck is a goalie for Northeastern, who won their second-consecutive Beanpot, has a .954 save percentage in five games but with Cayden Primeau there, he won’t play much. Eetu Selanne is the son of Teemu Selanne. He did just play in the Beanpot for Northeastern.
Capistrano Beach – Where many go fishing and Whale watching. Dakota Raabe is a forward at the University of Michigan. He has 12 points in 29 games. Evan Plotnik is a goalie playing for American International College.
West Covina –The popular television show “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is set in this town. Elijah Barriga plays for American International College. He’s a winger who has five points in 19 games.
Walnut Creek – The town had a population explosion in the late ’80s and early ’90s and now that’s produced some hockey players. Jake Durflinger is a winger who plays for the University of Denver. He has four goals in 25 games. Patrick Khodorenko, an alumnus of the National Team Development program, the undrafted center plays for Michigan State University and has 17 goals and 36 points in 32 games. Zak Galambos is currently a defenseman at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has a point in four games this season.
Florida has 27 players. Look how far they’ve come. They may not have as many players, but they have some quality players for sure. We all saw that state producing a few guys a year but lately, it’s a lot more than that.
Pembroke Pines has an interesting footnote in music history; In 1977 The Grateful Dead played a very memorable show there and they have a super memorable hockey player too. Chase Priskie was a 2016 Draft pick of the Washington Capitals and a senior defenseman who plays Quinnipiac. For the past two seasons, he’s worn the “C” and this year he has 14 goals and 35 points in his first 30 games. With his 30th point, he became the fourth D-1 defenseman to reach that milestone and he’s a Hobey Baker candidate. His 29-career goals are a D-1 record.
Deerfield Beach is known for its annual Founders’ Day celebration. Tyler Madden, son of New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup champion, John Madden, was drafted by the Canucks in the third round in 2018. He scored three goals in the 2019 U20 World Junior Championship and he has nine goals and 23 points in 26 games. He won a Beanpot and he may be able to win more than that before this season is over.
Bradenton was explored by Spanish Explorer, Hernando de Soto in 1539! Soon they’ll be known for two talented brothers. Michael Pastujov (undrafted) and Nick Pastujov (’16, Islanders) have been playing for the University of Michigan for the past two seasons. Both are very productive players for their team.
Coral Springs is known for golf and water birds. Justin Kapelmaster is currently a junior goaltender at Ferris State University. Austin Beaulieu is a right-winger at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. He has 12 points this season. Blake Christensen is an undrafted junior left winger at American International College. This season he has 40 points and 13 goals in 32 games. Austin McIlmurray is a right winger currently playing for Sacred Heart University. He has nine goals and 16 points in 26 games.
Some alumni mention for Florida:
Shayne Gostisbehere – Pembroke Pines (moved to Margate) – Current starting defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers who starred and won a National Championship with Union.
Ryan Carpenter – Oviedo Florida – This forward currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights. He was the former captain at Bowling Green State University.
Some California alumni:
Brooks Orpik – San Francisco – Current multiple Stanley Cup winning champion for the Washington Capitals and previously the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was the first Californian to win the Stanley Cup back in 2009 with Pittsburgh. The defenseman played for Boston College as well.
Matt Nieto – Long Beach, California – Matt Nieto starred for Boston University, was drafted by the San Jose Sharks and currently plays for the
Kevan Miller – Los Angeles – Current defenseman for the Boston Bruins was a former captain for the University of Vermont. He’s another undrafted success story.
*Jason Zucker was born in California but moved to Las Vegas as an infant.
California has more players, but Florida is catching up quickly. Both have produced great players and I couldn’t mention them all.
Who has the better weather?
That’s for another day.