Defenseman Taylor Aronson wasn't thinking about the NHL Draft when he went to play in Portland of the WHL. One year later, he was a third-round draft choice of the Nashville Predators after an oustanding season that culminated in the WHL playoffs.

Aronson, who is from Placentia, only moved to the blue line during his Midget seasons in California. He talked about that and other transitions while attending the Predators' prospects camp in July.

From fourth line to first round, that pretty much sums up Beau Bennett's ascent in hockey from when he was a Bantam until now, when the Pittsburgh Penguins made him the highest-drafted California-born and -trained player at the 2010 Entry Draft, 20th overall.

Bennett, who led the BCHL in scoring for Penticton as a rookie this past season with 120 points in 56 games, attributes his improvement to remaining passionate about the game. He took time out from that passion, and another - going to the beach, to talk to Calirubber.com after the Draft.

Larry Bruyere has worn many hats during the course of his career - from hockey coach to hockey retailer to club founder to rink general manager.

This month, he adds another - California Rubber Magazine columnist.

Larry took time out earlier this year to talk with Calirubber.com about his nearly 40 years of involvement in the game in California and his work as Pacific District Coaching Director for USA Hockey.

Matt White did something this season no California player ever has done - he was selected the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year by USA Hockey.

That came on the heels being selected the USHL Player of the Year while playing for the Omaha Lancers. White, who is from Whittier, was second in the league in scoring with 82 points, including a league-best 35 goals. His eight short-handed goals were one shy of the USHL record.

A Nebraska Omaha recruit, White took time out to speak with Calirubber.com about his season, the transitions he's endured in his hockey career and his days playing hockey in California as a youth.

After starting off in roller hockey, White made the transition to ice when he was 10 and played for the Beach City Lightning, Huntington Beach Sun Devils and LA Jr. Kings.

Kevan Miller was a force on Vermont's blue line last season, when the Catamounts made a run to the Frozen Four. This season, they're back in the NCAA Tournament after  a strong showing in the Hockey East Tournament.

Miller, now a captain for Vermont, took time out recently to speak with Calirubber.com.

Defenseman Angela Ruggiero of Simi Valley will go down in history as one of the pioneers of women's hockey.

About to play in her Team USA record-tying fourth Olympic Games, Ruggiero is Team USA's all-time leader in games played and a multiple-time player of the year.

With all the places hockey has taken her - including medal stands for Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze - one of her favorite memories is her time growing up playing hockey in California. She took time out during her preparation for the upcoming Vancouver Games to talk with Calirubber.com

Mike Holmes wears many hats for the Tri Valley Blue Devils hockey program in Dublin, including serving as the club's director of coaches and head coach of the Midget 18U AA team, which qualified for the USA Hockey Nationals in April.

What you might not know is Holmes also has an extensive playing background, first as a youth player at the old Berkeley Iceland, then in Junior in Canada, in college at Northeastern and in the pros in the International Hockey League and American Hockey League.

Holmes took time out recently to speak with Calirubber.com about his history in the game and the changes he's seen in the sport in California in the past 40 years.

Ryan Lasch of Lake Forest has come a long way from being cut from a Midget AAA team in California. The senior at St. Cloud State University sits fourth on the school's all-time scoring list, and he has helped the Huskies to another strong start in the WCHA.

Lasch boasts two trips to the NCAA Tournament, and his resume also includes being selected a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2008 and several All-America and All-WCHA honors.

He took time out recently to discuss his career and his California hockey roots with Calirubber.com's Chris Bayee.

Larry Cahn brings a native's perspective to his role as both hockey director and coach of the San Diego Jr. Gulls program in Escondido.

Cahn brings a wealth of experience in California to the Gulls. He grew up in Santa Rosa playing at Snoopy's home ice for the Santa Rosa Flyers program. He also coached in the San Jose Jr. Sharks program before heading south to San Diego.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez was one of many players who made their NHL debut on opening night of the 2009-10 season. But what many people didn't realize is that Martinez has strong ties to the state of California. He played three seasons of youth hockey for the Santa Clara Blackhawks and San Jose Jr. Sharks, and he was part of a Jr. Sharks Bantam team that finished second at the USA Hockey Nationals.

Aliso Viejo Ice Palace Hockey Director Fred Nelson isn't in charge of large club hockey program, but the coaches in those programs in Southern California are well aware of his expertise and contributions.

Nelson has helped build the foundation of California youth hockey for 20 years by building highly popular recreational and in-house programs in Costa Mesa and Aliso Viejo. The result has been a feeder system for numerous programs that do have club hockey.

A true grass-roots grower of the game, Nelson has followed a formula that is driven by introducing young children to the game in a fun and instructional environment and assisting their families with some of the costs by providing a used and recycled equipment trade-in program.

He took time from his busy schedule to speak with CaliRubber.com recently.

Center Emerson Etem of Long Beach is coming off a stellar season with the U.S. National Team Development Program.

A '92 birth year, Emerson led the U17 team in goals, with 27, and tied (along with Matt Nieto, also of Long Beach) for second in points with 53 in 59 games. He added 13 points in 13 games of international competition.

Emerson, who will play for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League this season, also is the youngest player to train in TR Goodman's Pro Camp training program, which was popularized by Chris Chelios.

He took time out recently to talk with Calirubber.com about his experiences in the game and suggestions he'd make for younger players in the state who hope to advance in the game.

NHL training camps got underway this weekend, and Anaheim Ducks defense prospect Brian Salcido of Hermosa Beach took time out from his preparations recently to talk with Calirubber.com about his path through hockey in California and the thrill of making his NHL debut this past season.

An American Hockey League All-Star the past two seasons for Ducks affiliates in Portland, Maine, and Des Moines, Iowa, Salcido made his NHL debut in February. Salcido played for clubs such as Marina Cities, Norwalk and West Valley before three years at Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep and then a collegiate career at Colorado College.

Boston University goaltender Adam Kraus returned to one of the pivotal stops in his well-traveled hockey career this summer - Southern California.

The former LA Jr. Kings player took time out to talk with Calirubber.com about the thrill of winning a national championship at the NCAA Frozen Four, as well as the role that his time in California played in his hockey and personal development.

Austin Block of Northridge took time out from his summer training to talk with CaliRubber.com about this past season playing for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, where he led the North American Hockey League in scoring and was named the NAHL's Forward of the Year.

Block discusses his transition from California's climate to Alaska's - including playing in an outdoor game, his time in youth hockey for the West Valley Wolves, Sylmar Tigers, LA Selects and SoCal Titans, and his decision to play college hockey for the University of New Hampshire.

What a difference one season makes.

One year after being bypassed in the NHL Entry Draft, defenseman Kyle Bigos of Upland was selected in the fourth round (99th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers to cap an incredible three-month stretch.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound blueliner helped his Jr. A team, the Vernon Vipers, win the BCHL's Doyle Cup and the Canadian Jr. A RBC Cup. Bigos was selected the MVP and Top Defensive Player at the RBC Cup, and he scored a power-play goal in the Vipers’ 2-0 championship victory over Humboldt (Sask.).

In between, he accepted a scholarship to play college hockey at Merrimack College in Hockey East. He took time out before the Oilers' recent prospects camp to chat with CaliRubber.com's Chris Bayee about his year and his California hockey roots.

 

Whittier's Mitch Callahan completed a remarkable year in which he went from WHL walk-on to NHL Entry Draft choice.

Callahan, a former LA Jr. King, was selected in the sixth round (190th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings after a highly successful season with the Kelowna Rockets. Callahan had 27 points, a plus-11 mark and 188 penalty minutes (third most in the WHL) while dressing for all 70 regular-season games. He also helped the Rockets advance to within one victory of the CHL's Memorial Cup.

He took time out this summer to talk about getting drafted and this past season with CaliRubber.com's Chris Bayee.

Forward J.J. Crew of Placentia displayed steady improvement during his freshman season at Western Michigan, culminating with six points in the CCHA playoffs against Lake Superior State and Michigan.

Crew played minor hockey in California until he was 16, then played some Midget hockey in Colorado and spent a season with Lincoln of the USHL before moving on to Division I college hockey.

We caught up with him recently and asked about this past season as well as his progression through youth hockey in California and the coaches who influenced his development.

Everett Silvertips center Tyler Maxwell capped off a 46-point rookie season with five goals in five playoff games, including a hat trick. Maxwell, a former LA Selects and LA Jr. Kings player who is NHL Entry Draft eligible for the first time this year, took time out recently to speak with calirubber.com's Chris Bayee about his decision to play in Everett, his season and his recent invitation to the national evaulation camp for the 2010 U.S. World Junior Championship team.

Colin Reddin experienced a mixed season with the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL. On the one hand, the center from Corona del Mar, increased his point total from six in his first season with Portland to 33 this past season. However, the team undertook a youth movement and struggled to meet expectations.

Reddin took time out from coaching at the recent WHL Prospects Camp in Anaheim to talk about his hockey career with the Wave, in the U.S. National Program and in the WHL. He also offers advice to young players from California.

Anaheim Lady Ducks Hockey Director Kathy McGarrigle has built one of the state's top girls programs during the past decade. The Lady Ducks' 12Us and 14Us both won bronze medals at the USA Hockey Youth Nationals in Rochester, N.Y., in early April.

McGarrigle took time recently to talk about how the girls game is developing in Southern California and how she got involved in the sport.

Perhaps no player in the Western Hockey League improved as much as Irvine native CJ Stretch did this season. The right-shooting center set career highs with 29 goals, 57 assists and 86 points - a total that placed him ninth in the league in scoring. More remarkable, Stretch a total of 81 points his first three WHL seasons combined.

Stretch took time out recently at the WHL Prospects Camp in Anaheim, where he served as an assistant coach, to talk with CaliRubber.com's Chris Bayee about his season in the WHL and his time playing for the hugely successful Westminster Wave ice hockey and OC Blades inline hockey programs.

Senior forward Brandon Marino of Riverside is one of three Californians who will participate in this weeks NCAA Division I Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.

Marino and his teammates play Miami of Ohio on Thursday. He took time out from his preparations for the Frozen Four to speak with CaliRubber.com's Chris Bayee about his path through hockey in California and elsewhere, and about all the sudden attention on Bemidji's program after their NCAA victories over No. 2 Notre Dame and Cornell in the recent NCAA regionals.

USA Hockey's Ken Martel was back in California recently to discuss the organization's American Development Model for youth hockey.

Martel, who grew up playing hockey in Southern California in the 70s and early 80s, was part of a midget team that had nine members go on to play in either NCAA Division I or III or the Canadian Hockey League. Martel played at Lake Superior State, then went into coaching at the NCAA and later national levels. He currently serves as USAH's manager of youth ice hockey.

He took time out to speak with CaliRubber.com's Chris Bayee about his path through hockey in California and elsewhere.

Erik Brown has a long history in Southern California as both a player and a coach. In his 11th season of coaching, his resume includes a USA Hockey national title and two Pacific District championships. His current club, the Orange County Hockey Club Midget 16U AAA team, heads to this weekend's state playoffs in San Jose as the top seed in its division. He spoke with Calirubber.com's Chris Bayee recently about OCHC and his background in the game.

Goaltender John Blue's career was a study in perserverance. A California native, he grew up playing hockey in the San Jose area in the 70s and early 80s before moving on to the USHL and the University of Minnesota. That led to making the 1988 U.S. Olympic team and eventually playing parts of two seasons for the Boston Bruins.

Blue talks to CaliRubber.com's Chris Bayee about his path from juniors to Minnesota and the Olympic team, and he discusses which NHL players were the most difficult for him to face.

Junior Ducks President and Anaheim Ice General Manager Art Trottier discusses topics ranging from what it's like to operate a rink that is utilized by an NHL team to the growth of the Lady Ducks youth hockey program. He also touches on how Anaheim Ice copes with ice time challenges, the facility's heavy tournament schedule and possible plans to add a third sheet at the building with California Rubber Web Editor Chris Bayee.