Joakim Jutras makes impact with Texas Tornadoes

Joakim Jutras in net for the Roughriders

Westminister, CO - Former Rocky Mountain Roughrider standout goalie, Joakim Jutras, recently signed with the Texas Tornados in the NAHL in Frisco, Texas. In the recent showcase at the Schwan SuperRink in Blaine, MN Jutras showed exactly why the Tornados picked up the Canadian netminder.

In Thursday’s exhibition game against Wichita Falls, Jake Stafford allowed just one goal and stopped 28 of the 29 shots he saw. Joakim Jutras did him one better tonight against Corpus Christi, turning aside all 22 IceRays shots en route to a shutout and a 6-0 Tornado victory.

The biggest save Jutras had to make wasn’t even on an IceRays shot. Corpus Christi dumped a puck down into the far-side corner, but the puck hit the glass, took a funny bounce and headed straight for the net. Jutras was halfway out of his net, but was light on his feet to get back in goal and make the stop with his glove.

Jutras earned the second star of the game for his efforts. He continued to play excellent and went 2-0-1 at the Showcase in Blaine, MN.

Roughriders Open Tier I Play with a Tie

Maul and Fushimi celebrate with Miller on opening goal.

Orland Park, IL - The Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16 AAA program took the ice this afternoon in their first face-off in Tier I Elite League play. The Roughriders squared off against the TPH Thunder. The Thunder are a hybrid team with players coming from the Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN and Fort Myers, Florida areas. The game got underway at 12:30pm with the Roughriders donning their black Teddy Roosevelt Sweaters.

The first period lacked any type of flow or consistent play from either squad, however, as time wore on each team managed several quality scoring chances. Shots on goal were not kept officially during the first period due to scorekeeper error, however, a rough estimate had the TPH Thunder outshooting the Roughriders 10-7. Jared Young got the start in net and stopped every shot he faced during the period.

The second period saw a bit more organization and quality play on both sides of the ice. The Roughriders struck first when Braiden Miller buried a shot from Paige Maul and Ryan Fretwell at 13:24 of the second period. Penalties plagued the Roughriders and killed any momentum that they were able to generate. The TPH Thunder power play was controlled and well organized, however the Roughrider Penalty Kill was equal to the task and shutdown all opportunities.

The TPH Thunder netted the equalizing goal at 6:36 of the second period on a redirected shot right in front of the net. Rosburg was the recipient of a great pass across the crease and the puck directed off his stick into the back of the net.

The Roughriders opened the third period with a 5 minute power play opportunity as the Thunder were called for a crosscheck to the head on Max Shusterman. The Roughriders failed to get the puck in net despite many solid opportunities. The Roughriders got one last chance to win the game when Braiden Miller grabbed the puck at center ice, raced into the offensive zone, braked, looked and caught a streaking Alex Sanchez with a laser pass. Sanchez double deked the goalie, but was unable to squeeze the puck through the gap. The Roughriders battled to the final buzzer.

Up Next:

Roughriders vs. Pittsburgh Hornets - Arctic Ice Arena 8:00pm 9-16-2011

Roughrider's U16 Take Opener with 10-0 Victory

Weisbeck drives a shot on net

Westminister, CO - A rather large crowd was on hand at the Promenade Ice Arena on Friday night to witness the kickoff of the 2011-12 season and the Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16AAA team started the season off with a bang. The U16s lined up against their own U15 team in a sort of inter-organizational grudge match. The first several minutes of the game saw equal play on both sides of the ice and each team tried to find their own rhythm. The U16 Roughriders found their rhythm first when Vincent Guimond found the back of the net at the 5:20 of the first period for a Power Play goal with assists going to Pippen Weisbeck and Alex Sanchez.

From that point on it the senior players dictated the pace of the play until the final buzzer.  The U15 team did manage to inflict a few licks on the U16 players, but the U16s did a lot more damage on the scoreboard. Pippen Weisbeck got the scoring going again for the U16s when he got a shot off on the weak side boards beating goaltender, Marc Audet. Vincent Guimond and Alex Sanchez registered assists on the play. Braiden Miller rounded out the scoring in the first period when he buried his shot from Brandon Fushimi and Paige Maul marking their second Power Play Goal.

The second period found the U16s tallying four more goals. The line of Miller, Maul and Fushimi combined for 5 of the 10 goals while the team went 7 for 12 on the power play. Paige Maul led all scorers with 5 points. The U16s outshot the U15s 53 to 14 with Jared Young making all 14 stops in his debut in net for the Roughriders.

The U16 Roughriders square off against their own U18 today in a controlled inter-organizational scrimmage. Puck drops at 1:45pm at Promenade Ice Arena.

Roughrider's U16AAA Kicks off Season This Friday Night

Westminister, CO - The Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16AAA team kicks off its season this Friday night, September 9, 2011 at 7:30pm when they faceoff against their interprogram compadres, the Roughrider U15AAA team. The game will be held at the Promenade Ice Arena at 7:30pm.

The Roughrider U16AAA has had two weeks worth of practices and looks to get things rolling on Friday night. Except for Braiden Miller, the lone returner from last years U16 team, the entire team is brand new. The U16AAA team looks drastically different than it did last year. Gone are the 6 foot plus defensemen, gone are the toe dragging, top shelfing forwards. This years team is full of blue-collar, nose the grind stone, old school hockey playing young men. Strong work ethic, character, and talent are cornerstones of a John Paris, Jr. team and this new crew has all of that in spades!

The U16AAA team will have an intersquad controlled scrimmage on Saturday at 1:45 also at the Promenade.

The U16AAA Roughriders are then off to Chicago next weekend to participate in their first Tier I Elite League Showcase. Updates on the Showcase will follow.

4 Roughriders Attend WHL Camp

Victoria Royals, WHL

Westminister, CO - Four Rocky Mountain Roughriders departed DIA this morning on their way to a WHL tryout in Victoria, British Columbia. The Victoria Royals are hosting a rookie camp followed by a main camp. Cade Warner ('96), Brandon Fushimi ('96), Braiden Miller ('95), and Lucas Blomquist ('94) have accepted invitations to attend camp that begins on August 24.

The Rookie camp is rumored to have about 150 attendees mixed with 1995 and 1996 birth years with about 20 of the 1995 players slated to advance to the main camp.

Best of luck to our Roughriders in Canada!

Chicago Showcase Schedule Release

Westminister, CO - The schedule for the Chicago Tier 1 Elite League Showcase has been released. Airline tickets have been purchased, buses are being arranged and hotel details will be forthcoming. In the meantime this schedule may help parents and family plan travel arrangements if they wish to come to Chicago.

Team Schedule

gamesheet view     printable gamesheett

Home	Away	Date	Time	Rink/ GS	GT
RM RoughRiders16	TPH16	Fri, Sep 16	12:30 pm	Arctic Champ
RM RoughRiders16	Pittsburgh Hornets (mm)16	Fri, Sep 16	8:30 pm	Arctic Champ
RM RoughRiders16	Ohio Blue Jackets (mm)16	Sat, Sep 17	2:20 pm	Arctic Champ
RM RoughRiders16	Buffalo Jr. Sabres (mm)16	Sun, Sep 18	8:30 am	Arctic Champ

Buonincontri lands in Cornwall

Westminister, CO - Michael Buonincontri, from last years Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16AAA team, has landed a spot as a Forward with the Cornwall Colts. The Cornwall Colts are a Tier 1, Junior A program in Ontario, Canada playing in the CJHL. Buonincontri finished his U16 season with 52 goals and 42 assists in 59 games with the Roughriders.  Below is a report from the Standard Freeholder news agency.

CORNWALL — The Cornwall Colts' roster continues to take shape.
The Colts have signed Michael Buonincontri, replacing goaltender Pete Karvouniaris in the player least likely to have his name spelled corrrectly department.

Buonincontri though, doesn't guard the net. He finds it.
"He's got good size, he's a left winger who can score, and I think he'll fit in here," said Cornwall coach/GM Ian MacInnis on Tuesday.

Buonincontri comes to Cornwall from Montreal, via Colorado.
The 17-year-old finished last season in the Centennial State, playing midget AAA with the Rocky Mountain Roughriders. He showed some scoring touch, turning on the red light 14 times in 14 games.

He attended the Colts' camp in May.
"We had heard about him before the camp," said MacInnis
"Someone called me and mentioned the kid, and said we should take a look at him. We did, and we liked what we saw."

 Buonincontri will hit the ice beginning in September and looks to pick up right where he left off in Colorado...burying the puck.

Roughriders Wrap Up 2011-12 Tryout

Pippen Weisbeck works hard at the Roughrider tryout

Westminister, CO - The Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16AAA team wrapped up tryouts Monday night. After 3 days of grueling drills and scrimmages, a 20 man roster has been reached. Coach Paris and the entire Roughrider organization would like to thank all of those that attended the tryout and participated in the camp.

The 20 man roster will be posted soon along with information on practice times and information on the Tier I Elite League schedule.

Tryouts are right around the corner - schedule posted!

Westminister, CO -

U15/U16 AAA Tryout Schedule @ Promenade:
Saturday July 23 7:15 am Goalie Check In ‐ Goalies Only
Saturday July 23 8:00‐9:00 am Goalie Session ‐ Goalies Only On Ice
* Saturday July 23 9:00 am Exit Interviews
*GOALIES WILL BE RELEASED AFTER GOALIE SESSION
Saturday July 23 9:30 am Player Check In ‐ All players/walk‐ups accepted
Saturday July 23 10:15‐11:30 am Game One
Saturday July 23 11:45‐1:00 pm Game Two
Saturday July 23 3:30‐4:45 pm Game Three
Saturday July 23 5:00‐6:15 pm Game Four
Saturday July 23 6:30‐7:30 pm Informational Parent Meeting U15/U16 Team
Sunday July 24 1:00‐2:15 pm Game Five
Sunday July 24 2:30‐3:45 pm Game Six
Sunday July 24 4:00 pm Exit Interviews
Monday July 25 3:15 pm U16 All Star Game Player check In
Monday July 25 4:00‐5:30 pm U16 All Star Game
Monday July 25 5:45‐6:45 pm Exit Interviews with Coach Paris

*Monday July 25 7:00‐8:00 pm Mandatory Meeting U16 Team
*Mandatory Players and Parents Meeting for U16AAA team
*Please be prepared to make Team Payments and to sign player and payment agreement

Monday July 25 5;00 pm U15 All Star Game Player check In
Monday July 25 5:45‐7:15 pm U15 All Star Game
Monday July 25 7:15‐8:15 pm Exit Interviews with Coach Smail

*Monday July 25 8:30‐9:30 pm Mandatory Meeting U15 Team
*Mandatory Players and Parents Meeting for U15AAA team
*Please be prepared to make Team Payments and to sign player and payment agreement


Questions Regarding RoughRiders U15/U16 AAA please contact:
Head Coach U16 John Paris Jr. jpj0194616@yahoo.com
Head Coach U15 Doug Smail 720‐235‐9781/ codan9@msn.com
Director of Operations Derek Robinson 720‐480‐1030 / derek@teamrockymountain.com

Roughriders continue to Advance Player Development

Guymon skates at VIK tryout

Westminister, CO - The Rocky Mountain Roughriders continue to advance player development by placing players at higher levels. Furthering player development is the number one priority with the U16 Roughriders. Nate Guymon is the latest player to be recognized for his talents and efforts. Guymon will be heading to Sweden to play for Vasteras on the J20 team. Here is what The Hockey Magazine had to say about the move.

Swiss and American are ready for Vasteras
Vasteras has finalized two imports to their J20 team.
First is the Swiss national team forward Flavio Schmutz, born 1994, signed with Vasteras after he scored 46 points in 27 matches in the U17 Elit league. Schmutz played in 19 national team games for Switzerland this season, five of them with the older 18 year old team. “He was here for a week this Spring after our regular season was over. He’s a good player and powerful on his skates. He looked very interesting” said head coach Par Hellenberg.
Even an American defenseman has signed with Vasteras. Nathan Guymon (picture), born 1994 who played with the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U16 AAA, has decided on VIK. “He was also here and played in a training match with us. He is good at controlling the puck, is good under pressure and comfortable holding the puck and turning”, explains Hellenberg.
Two very interesting acquisitions that could very well help take the SuperElit league play to a higher level.

 The decision of Vasteras to go with two imported players even drew attention from the Stockholm media.

VIK strengthened their J20 team with two foreign players: American defenseman Nathan Guymon and Swiss forward Flavio Schmutz.
“Two exciting players that will be fun to follow”, says Head Coach Par Hellenberg.
Nathan Guymon and Flavio Schmutz, both born 1994, were here in the Spring for a visit to Vasteras to learn more about the city and tryout with the team.
The duo made a good impression and Guymon even played in a training match.
“It’s fun for the guys on the team to get to know two new players from other countries.  And even better when they will be able to contribute right away on the ice,” said Hellenberg.
Here’s what the VIK Coach had to say about Flavio Schmutz:
“A powerful player with good skating.  He’s one of Switzerland’s top ‘94s and we see big potential in him.  The thinking is we will move him up to the professional team when the time is right.”
Hellenberg on Nathan Guymon:
“A big right defenseman that plays tough and dares to hold and control the puck often.”
What is it that draws foreign players to come here?
“The J20 SuperElit is Europe’s best junior league.  It is a good path for them to go.  Then we have the professional team here also.  And in Nathan’s case he was interested in a student exchange experience also.”