Luke Opilka came very close to quitting hockey before realizing his true calling as a goaltender during an open skate at a friend’s birthday party.
“I was never too good a player; the only goal I ever scored was on my own net,” Opilka said. “I really thought I actually scored a goal so I began celebrating. I was probably a mite [8 years old] then and I probably should have known better, but I didn’t.”
A year of experience with the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and an intense summer of training have made a huge difference for goalie Luke Opilka.
The St. Louis native, who splits time with Michael Lackey on the U.S. National Under-18 Team, has a 7-3 record with a 2.71 goals-against average and .899 save percentage so far this season.
Clark Kuster, D, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders: The defenseman dished out four assists and posted a plus-two rating in helping the RoughRiders to a pair of weekend victories, extending their win streak to six games. He assisted on both power play tallies in Friday’s 5-3 win against the Chicago Steel. His second assist was the 50th point of his USHL career.
USA Hockey today announced that Sioux City Musketeers head coach Jay Varady has been named the head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge in Kinderseley, Saskatchewan from December 14-20.
The Dubuque Fighting Saints made a trade today, acquiring forward Trey Dodd from the Austin Bruins of the NAHL for future considerations. Dodd has joined the team and is eligible to play this weekend. He will wear #16 for the Fighting Saints.
Wisconsin hockey fans hoping to get a peek at the future will get their chance on Thursday, as recruits Brock Boeser and Luke Opilka will play on national TV at the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.
Minnesota Magicians defenseman Paul O’Connor will begin the 2014-2015 season with the Bloomington Thunder of the United States Hockey League (USHL). A native of Missouri, O’Connor spent part of last season with Cedar Rapids of the USHL before joining the Magicians for 29 games.
Incoming defenseman Ty Farmer, and Phantoms affiliate list player Luke McInnis have been named to the U.S. Under-17 Select Team that will participate in the 2014 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, slated for August 13-17 in Crimmitschau, Germany. The Select Team is made up of 20 players who participated in the USA Hockey Boys’ Select 16 Player Development Camp from July 7-16.
“I was 3 when I started playing hockey,” Tkachuk, a forward who just wrapped up his Under-17 season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, said. “I just fell in love with it from the beginning. I used to go to my dad’s games, and he forced me into skates but I just loved it.”
With only eight players coming back from last year’s team, the Sioux City Musketeers have some holes to fill. Coach Jay Varady has 15 roster spots open, and the majority of them on the blue line.
