Fairview's Fuller Loose won a USA High School National Championship with Monarch in 2019 and will graduate from Boulder High School this spring.
The 2020 High Plains hockey season is one that we will never forget, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. Although we didn't get the chance to take the ice and enjoy the comradery of our friends, teammates, and coaches, we would like to take a moment to recognize and honor our High Plains Hockey League Seniors for their accomplishments and the culmination of their amazing high school careers.
We at High Plains would like to extend our apologies for the heartbreak that you all have had to endure during your final days of high school. We know it was not the ending that you had hoped for, but we are also here to applaud your courage and resiliency during these harsh and uncertain times.
I wish there were some words of wisdom or enlightenment that I could bestow upon you Seniors to ease the frustration as you close this chapter of your lives in such an ominous manner, but the truth is none of us have been here before.
The class of 2020 has overcome something that we have never been through during our lifetimes, and that will only make you stronger. The perseverance and determination to overcome that you all have displayed is inspiring and we have taken notice, so thank you. Thank you for your strength. Thank you for your resolve. Thank you for showing us all the same conviction and persistence that we saw from you on the ice during your careers. And thank you for making High Plains the fun and amazing league that it is because of all of you.
This time we will take a moment to honor the first portion of our Tier III Seniors. We have 40 Tier III Seniors graduating from nine different teams this spring. Thank you all for your efforts and good luck as you move on to your next adventure.
High Plains Tier III Graduating Seniors - Part 1
Joey Salvatori - DC/CV
High School: Castle View
Position: Goalie
Favorite hockey player and team? Colorado Avalanche, Patrick Roy
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? Playing with my friends.
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? I can play with my friends and the same team that I play winter with
What are your future plans? I’m going to CMU where I will hopefully play on their team
Kellen Wood - DC/CV
High School: Castle View
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Joe Thorton, San Jose Sharks
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? I like the speed of the game and the connections you get from all your teammates and coaches.
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? It is a little more relaxed than CHSAA and you have enjoyable games.
What are your future plans? I plan to attend Metro State University and play for their club team.
Fuller Loose - Fairview
High School: Boulder High School
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
What do you like best about playing hockey?- Being able to be in the locker room with all the guys and hanging out before or after ice times getting food. And winning championships.
Why do you like playing High Plains Hockey?- It is a little more relaxed than the rest of the season, so we aren't on the ice as often, but we are still having fun in practices and games.
What are your future plans?- I will be studying business at the University of Washington this fall.
Trevor Mathewson - Fairview
High School: Boulder High
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Samuel Girard, Colorado Avalanche
What do you like best about playing hockey? How many different aspects and skills are mashed into one sport.
Why do you like playing High Plains Hockey? Because it’s a perfect mix of being competitive but not being over the top in expected commitment
What are your future plans? I will be attending Colby College in Waterville, Maine in the fall
Peter Trainor - Fairview
High School: Peak to Peak
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Jonathan Toews, Chicago BlackHawks
What do you like best about playing hockey? I like the competition.
Why do you like playing High Plains Hockey? I like playing high plains hockey because its a fun and sometimes competitive spring league
What are your future plans? I'm going to to college at St. Louis University
Caleb Brownwell - Fort Collins/Poudre
High School: Fort Collins High School
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Nathen MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? Making plays for assists and tying guys up so my team can score!
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? It's a really fun league without the pressure I usually play with.
What are your future plans? I hope to play on an NAHL team for the 2020-2021 season, then play for a D1 school the next year.
Keegan Kulesa - Fort Collins/Poudre
High School: Fort Collins
Position: Right Wing
Favorite hockey player and team? Zach Parise; Minnesota Wild
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? Hockey is fun to play because it’s fast-paced, you can handle the intensity, and it makes you unique to everyone else.
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? High Plains is basically that summer league that is not as intense as the regular season. Not to mention, I have more fun doing this league anyway.
What are your future plans? I’m planning to study Musical Theatre and Sports Broadcasting at Arizona State University.
Chirs Leslie - Fort Collins/Poudre
High School: Fort Collins High School
Position: Center
Favorite hockey player and team? Chicago Blackhawks - Alex Ovechkin
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? I like the speed of the game, I have the most fun playing hockey
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? High Plains has always been a great league to play with my friends. I have had great coaches and I like playing in High Plains because it's competitive but more casual than the regular season.
What are your future plans? I plan to attend CU Boulder in the Fall of 2020
Jacob Romano - Fort Collins/Poudre
High School: Fort Collins High School
Position: Right Wing
Favorite hockey player and team? Nathan Mackinnon, Avalanche
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? The feeling you get in a high stakes situation.
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? That our team was a tier 3 team so it was a little less competitive. It’s nice to step back and really enjoy the game from a different perspective.
What are your future plans? Attend FRCC and transfer to CSU to obtain my 4 year degree.
Trevor Thompson - Fort Collins/Poudre
High School: Poudre Community Academy
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Kopitar. LA Kings
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? Just how it feels to be on the ice and loving the game
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? It's a fun, fast league.
What are your future plans? Attend community college. Play beer leagues.
David Thiel - Mountain Militia
High School:Steamboat Springs High
Position:Forward
Favorite hockey player and team? Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals
What do you like best about playing hockey? The friendship with the guys,
Why do you like playing High Plains Hockey? It’s a fun league that is also competitive where I get to play with other players that I normally play against.
What are your future plans? I’m Going to CSU and hope to play club hockey there, while getting a degree in business.
Brady Kruck - Mountain Vista
High School: Mountain Vista
Position: Right Wing
Favorite hockey player and team? Gabe Landeskog Colorado Avalanche
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? Getting to play with all my friends.
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? It is a time for all of us to just truly enjoy hockey and just have a good time with friends.
What are your future plans? Continue my education at CU Boulder
Nolan Smith - Mountain Vista
High School: Mountain Vista
Position: Defense
Favorite hockey player and team? Dustin Byfuglien
What’s your favorite thing about hockey? Physicality
Why do you like playing High Plains hockey? Gives me an opportunity to play with a different group of guys.
What are your future plans? Becoming an Auto Technician.
Mountain Militia's David Thiel will graduate from Steamboat Springs High School and will attend Colorado State University next year.
Tag(s):
