Thursday, February 21, 2008                                                                        

 

More Bulldogs Moving up to Juniors, NCAA…

 

Shost & Hill First Alliance NAHL Tenders

 

In just it’s first season, the Alliance 18U Midget Major AAA team has already paid dividends to a couple of their players.  Bulldog defenseman Matt Shost (1990) and forward Michael Hill (1990) have each signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender with the Wichita Falls Wildcats.   

 

Shost is an original Bulldog, starting with Alliance as a member of their inaugural Squirt A team for the 2001-2002 season.  He has been to three (3) USA Hockey National Championships representing Alliance – in 2004 with the Tier II 14U Bantam AA (Bronze Medal), in 2005 with the Tier I 14U Bantam AAA, and last season with the Tier I Midget Minor AAA team (Bronze Medal). 

 

Hill has spent the past two seasons with Alliance, and also won a Bronze Medal at the 2007 USA Hockey National Championships with his Alliance Tier I Midget Minor AAA team.  Prior to coming to Alliance, Michael was with Shattuck St. Mary’s for one season, and was with the California Wave prior to that.

 

Both players have helped the Alliance 18U AAA team off to a great start in its first year of existence, earning a spot in the State Final, and a berth into the Rocky Mountain District Championships in March.  Along the way, they have impressed the coaching staff in Wichita Falls enough to earn a coveted tender contract. 

 

Several former Bulldogs have gone on to play in the NAHL, but Matt and Michael are the first to receive a tender.  Receiving a tender is an exceptional accomplishment, as it allows the player the luxury of not having to attend multiple tryouts or be concerned with the NAHL draft.  For more information about a tender, read the information below from the NAHL web site…

 

FAQ from www.NAHL.com

 

What is a tender?

 

A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only.  Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team.  Each team is granted eight (8) tenders - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1.  

 

Are tendered or drafted players eligible to try out for other NAHL teams? 

 

Unless agreed upon in writing by the two NAHL teams, tendered or drafted players are not eligible to try out for other NAHL teams.  Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, but are still eligible for the USHL draft and other junior/pro drafts.

 

7th Bulldog to NCAA Division I - Maley Commits to Northeastern

 

Former Bulldog J.P. Maley (1989), currently with the Des Moines Bucs of the USHL, has committed to play for the Northeastern Huskies of the powerful Hockey East conference next season.

 

J.P., a native of Austin, Texas, played on the 2004-2005 Tier I 16U Midget Minor AAA team that won the Rocky Mountain District Championship, and played in the 2005 USA Hockey National Championships.  Maley spent the 2006-2007 season with the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL.

 

Northeastern has had more than 30 of their alumni drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL).  While at Northeastern, J.P. will have the honor of playing his home games in storied Matthews Arena, the world’s oldest ice hockey arena.   Also referred to as the “Boston Arena”, Matthews Arena is the original home of the Boston Bruins, the Boston Celtics, and the famous Beanpot hockey tournament.  

 

With his commitment to Northeastern, J.P. becomes the seventh (7th) former Alliance player to join a NCAA Division I hockey program, and the second to play for the Huskies.  Former Bulldog Cassie Sperry is currently a Junior Husky on the Women's team at Northeastern.

 

 

                                                                             Tuesday, September 25, 2007                                                                           

 

Former Bulldog Leads MJHL in Scoring…

 

Former Alliance Bulldog Nick Lazorko (’89) has found a new home, a hockey home that is, and it’s a far cry from the friendly confines of Texas.  Nick has acclimated quite nicely in his new surroundings in Winkler, Manitoba, playing for the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), a member of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL). 

 

Winkler is just over the US-Canada border north of North Dakota, approximately 80 miles from Winnipeg, and about 130 miles from Grand Forks, ND – home of the UND Fighting Sioux.

 

 

Over the years the Flyers have developed some very talented players including former Dallas Star goaltender and Stanley Cup Champion Ed Belfour, who is an owner of the Flyers.  Not only have the Flyers achieved great team success over the years, they have also experienced individual success.   In the 90’s alone, over 40 Flyers received scholarships to either NCAA or CIS Universities.

 

Nick is already having quite a time on the ice and an impact on the Flyers, as he is not only the Winkler leading scorer, he is tied for the MJHL League lead in scoring with 6 goals and 4 assists in just 5 games thus far.  His efforts have helped the Flyers to 4-1 record, and 1^st Place position in the Addison Division of the MJHL.

 

Nick spent the last 2 seasons with Alliance, most recently as a member of the Bulldog 18U Prep team that advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the 2007 USA Hockey National Championships.  During the championships, players from each team competed in the Easton Skills Competition.  Nick represented the Bulldogs and came away as the Fastest Skater AND the Puck Relay Champion in the skills competition, utilizing his extreme speed, quickness, and stick handling ability.

 

Before coming to Alliance as a second year Midget Minor, Nick played one season of travel hockey with the DMHA Titans.  Prior to that, he played house league for a couple of seasons, and played quite a bit of in-line hockey, as well as baseball. 

 

In addition to new hockey surroundings, Nick is also living with a local Canadian family, and attending a local Canadian High School for his senior year, in lieu of his hometown Rockwall High School.  Just a few of the sacrifices Nick is making to pursue his goal of playing hockey. 

 

 

 

                                                                     Thursday, August 30, 2007                                                                                      

 

Two More Bulldogs to NCAA, 5 More to Juniors…

 

Kier Ross to Join Teammate Jillson at Cornell

 

Former Alliance player Kier Ross has committed to play for Cornell University beginning in 2008, joining former Bulldog Locke Jillson, who committed earlier this season to also play for the Big Red.  Like Jillson, Kier played for the Alliance Midget Minor AAA team in the 2004-2005 season, won the Rocky Mountain District Championship, and played in the 2005 USA Hockey National Championships.  Kier played for the Dallas Stars 18UAAA team before moving on to the Omaha Lancers of the USHL last season.   Kier will play one more season with the Lancers before moving on to play NCAA Division I in the ECAC.

 

Casey Smith Makes Jump to NCAA

 

An original Bulldog in the Alliance inaugural season of 2001-2002, Casey Smith has worked hard each season to get to the next level, and it has paid off big this time, as he will be playing for NCAA Division III Framingham State this season.   The Rams play in the ECAC Northeast Division.

 

Casey played 4 seasons in the Alliance program.  Last season, Casey worked his way up within the Walpole Express program from the Junior B club to the Junior A team, and has now parlayed that success to the next level - NCAA hockey.

 

Bulldogs Moving to Big Time Juniors…

 

Five other former Alliance players will move to the Junior level for the first time this year, with a 6th making the move from the Tier II NAHL to the Tier I USHL.  Colin Haas will become the first Bulldog to go Major Junior, as he has joined the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, and Dallas Stars draft pick Austin Smith will go north of the border as well, playing with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL before moving on to Colgate.  Josh Berge, P.J. Tatum, and Jillson will all play USHL this season for the first time, and J.P. Maley will move from the NAHL to the USHL as well.

 

 

Indicated below is an update on the players we have received new information on for the upcoming season, and we expect more will be added as the rest of the Junior teams fill out and announce their rosters, and ACHA teams start later in the Fall.  If you know of a former Bulldog playing Prep, Junior, or College that is not listed, please let us know by clicking HERE...  They will be added to our list once we confirm their status.

 

For the complete list, click HERE...

 

 

 

                                                                     Monday, August 6, 2007                                                                                         

 

 

Alliance Coach and Co-Founder off to Robert Morris University…

 

Kostopoulos Named Assistant Coach for CHA Finalists

 

The Alliance Youth Hockey Association is pleased and proud to announce today that Chris Kostopoulos, Alliance Co-Founder and 18UAAA Head Coach, has accepted an offer to be an Assistant Coach for the Robert Morris University Colonials.  No one has had more influence on the development and growth of the Alliance organization since its inception in 2001 than Chris. 

 

 

Chris has taken his 16UAAA teams to the Tier I USA Hockey National Championships in 2 of the last 3 seasons, and brought home a Bronze Medal for last year's National Semi-Finalists.  Led by the efforts of Kostopoulos as Director of Hockey Operations and as a Head Coach, the Alliance organization has become a fixture in the Dallas, Rocky Mountain District, and National hockey community. 

 

During this period, Alliance has produced thirteen championship teams at the State level, seven championship teams at the Rocky Mountain District level, and 3 bronze medalists at the USA Hockey National Championships.  Chris led his inaugural PeeWee team to the 2001-2002 Texoma League Championship, and the successes just kept coming at each age level, with Chris eventually coaching a Bulldog team at each of the PeeWee, Bantam and Midget levels.

 

 

Robert Morris competes at the NCAA Division 1 level, and plays in the very competitive College Hockey America (CHA) conference, along with other top college programs such as Air Force, Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State, Niagra, and Wayne State.  Last year, the Colonials pulled off a major upset when they defeated then #2 Ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  The RMU season ended in the CHA Championship game when they fell to Alabama-Huntsville in overtime. 

 

Not only was Chris instrumental in the success of the Alliance program and its teams, he was also very influential in the development of many youth hockey players in the Dallas area, including among those Austin Smith, recently drafted by the Dallas Stars. 

 

Many great and exciting memories and traditions have been established under the direction and leadership of Chris, and he will be greatly missed by all Alliance players, coaches, parents, and board members.  Chris, his wonderful wife Wendy, and their 3 boys will head off to Pittsburg in the next few weeks to begin his college coaching career.  The Alliance family wishes Chris and Wendy all the best of luck and look forward to watching his success continue at the college level.

 

 

                                                                              Saturday, June 23, 2007                                                                                     

 

Former Bulldog is 5th Round Pick

 

 

 

 

Former Bulldog Bound for Beantown...

 

Former Alliance Bulldog goaltender Adam Kraus has committed to play hockey for NCAA Division I Boston University.  The Terriers have as rich a college hockey tradition as there is, playing in the powerful Hockey East conference, participating each year in the famous Bean Pot Tournament (winning it 28 times), and have won 4 NCAA Championships in nine final appearances.

 

Adam was an original Alliance Bulldog, when he backstopped the Bulldog Bantam A team in the inaugural 2001-2002 season.  Adam went on to play for the Dallas Storm AA before Alliance had AA teams, then moved on to the Dallas Stars Major Midget AAA team before landing with the LA Jr. Kings 18U AAA program. 

 

Last season, Adam was the net-minder for the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

 

 

 

Kraus considered offers from five different Division I schools.   St. Cloud State, University of Alaska Anchorage,  and Colorado College, all of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, were all in the mix, as was Canisius of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  But after visiting Beantown, Kraus knew Boston is where he wanted to be.

 

“Being in a city like Boston, seeing the arena — one of the nicest arenas in the country; every year they’re competing for a national championship,” Kraus, who plans to study business at BU, said. “I always wanted a shot to compete for a champion.”

 

 

Fifty-eight former Terriers have played in the National Hockey League, including Chris Drury, Tony Amonte, Adrian Aucoin, Mike Grier, Tom Poti, Keith Tkachuk, Rick DiPietro, and many others.

 

When hockey fans think of the Olympic Games and Boston University’s involvement in the “Miracle on Ice”, their thoughts automatically turn to 1980 and Lake Placid, New York, where four former Terriers served as catalysts for the U.S. team that won the Gold Medal.

 

The memory of Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Jack O’Callahan, and Dave Silk embracing each other after the Gold Medal game will forever be engraved in our memories.

 

 

 

 

Another Bulldog Headed to NCAA Division I...

 

Another Bulldog is headed to play NCAA Division I hockey, as former Alliance Bulldog Locke Jillson has committed to play hockey in the Ivy League at Cornell University, beginning in 2008.  Locke becomes the 4th former Bulldog to commit to an NCAA Division I Hockey program in the last 2 years.  Jillson said he selected Cornell because…..

 

"It is a school that would be great to attend if I wasn't playing hockey, but getting to play the sport I love while there is a huge plus."  

 

Locke last played for Alliance during the 2004-2005 season, when his Bulldog Midget Minor AAA team won the Rocky Mountain District Championship and played in the 2005 USA Hockey National Championships.   He also played for the Highland Park Scots varsity hockey team, and both his Alliance and Highland Park teams were coached by Alliance Director of Hockey Chris Kostopoulos.  Jillson will study at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.  

 

"I really enjoy sports and hope that the education I get while in the ILR school will help me find a job in the sports industry, either for a major sports franchise or in representing professional athletes.  When I graduate, I still want to be around athletics."  

 

This past season, Jillson was a forward on the nationally ranked Dallas Stars Midget Major AAA team and scored over 90 points in 75 games.  He is known for his speed and skill, and will take his game to juniors for the 2007-2008 season before enrolling at Cornell in the fall of 2008.  

 

"I have heard from some of the USHL and BCHL clubs.  We'll see which opportunities arise this spring or summer and then take it from there.  Hopefully a year in juniors will prepare me a little more for the pace of Division 1 hockey and let me get a little bigger and stronger."  

 

Cornell hockey is at the top echelon of Division 1 hockey in the country, particularly so in the east.  Cornell has won two National Championships (1967 and 1970), and last appeared in the Frozen Four in 2003.  

 

In the 2006 NCAA tournament, the Big Red played a historic contest when it lost to eventual National Champion University of Wisconsin in the Mid West Regional Final by a score of 1-0 in triple overtime.  Notable Cornell alums include Ken Dryden, Joe Nieuwendyk and Irving, Texas product David McKee, a 2005 Hobey Baker finalist and current Anaheim Duck prospect.

 

 

Former Alliance Lady Bulldog Wins National Championship...

 

Former Lady Bulldog Dru Burns (1991), garnered a Gold Medal last weekend, as she and her Shattuck-St. Mary's Girls' Prep (U19) teammates captured the 19U Girls National Championship with a 2-0 win in the Final of the 2007 USA Hockey National Championships in San Jose, California.  

 

In 2006-2007, the SS-M Prep team compiled another unbelievable season record, this time 54-2-1, including another 6 straight at the National Championships, and are now 3-Time Defending National Champions.

 

Dru was with the Bulldogs from their inception in 2001 through last season, playing last year for the 2005-2006 Alliance Bantam AAA team.  The Alliance Association and all Bulldogs congratulate Dru and her teammates on this significant accomplishment.  For more info about Shattuck's road to the championship, click HERE...

 

 

Former Bulldog Headed to Jr. B National Championships...

 

Former Alliance Bulldog Mark Gillings (1987) is headed to the Junior B National Championships in Grand Rapids, MI March 29th - April 2nd as a member of the Phoenix Polar Bears.  The Polar Bears rolled through the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) this season, with an impressive 43-2-0 record. 

 

Phoenix then went 6-0 in the playoffs, capturing the league title with a Finals sweep of the El Paso Rhinos.   This will be the 6th straight trip to the National Championships for Phoenix.

 

Mark is a 2006 graduate of Coppell High School, and last played for Alliance when he as Captain of the Alliance Midget Major AA team in 2005-2006, which won the NTXHL Championship and the 18U Tier II Texas State Championship.  Mark was also a member of the 2004-2005 State Champion Alliance Midget Major AA team that made it all the way to the Championship game of the 2005 Rocky Mountain District Championships. 

 

Mark started his Alliance career with the 2003-2004 Midget Minor A team that won the Texoma League Championship, and was promoted that same season to the Midget Minor AA team that won the Texas State Championship, and competed in the 2004 Rocky Mountain District Championships.

 

Mark also played for the 2003-2004 Coppell Cowboys team that won the 2004 SBC Metroplex High School League Championship and the 2004 Rocky Mountain District High School Championship.  After a very successful career with Alliance and Coppell,  Mark began his Junior hockey career this season with the Tucson Tilt of the WSHL, but was traded to Phoenix in December.  It appears the move has worked out great for both Mark and the Polar Bears.

 

The Alliance Association and all Bulldogs congratulate Mark on his accomplishments, and wish all the best for him at the National Championships season and the rest of his hockey career. 

 

 

Alliance Lady Bulldog Joins Another at Shattuck...

 

 

The Bulldogs have moved another top player to a higher level, again on the ladies' side, as 14U Bantam Prep defenseman Camille Biard (1993) has accepted an offer to enroll at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota to play for the Girls' U16 team.  Camille will join former Lady Bulldog Dru Burns (1991), who is currently playing for the S-SM Girls' Prep (U19) team.

 

 

Camille has spent the last 2 seasons with Alliance, and Dru was with the Bulldogs from their inception in 2001 through last season, playing last year for the Bantam AAA team.

 

The Shattuck Girls' U16 team plays an independent schedule against teams from the upper Midwest, high school varsity teams, as well as tournaments throughout the Midwest. This year the team will compete in the Midwest Elite Girls' Hockey League at the U16 level as well as compete for a berth to the U16 National Tournament in San Jose, CA.  The U16 team currently has a 10-7-5 record for the season.

 

 

The Girls' Prep team also plays an independent schedule. The team will play in the Northwood Prep tournament over New Year's Eve and the Culver Invitational.  The team will also compete for a berth in the USA Hockey U19 Tier 1 National Tournament in San Jose, CA in March, 2007.  The Prep team currently sports an impressive 27-1-0 record for the season. 

 

In 2006, the Prep team compiled an unbelievable 61-4-4 season record, including 6 straight at the USA Hockey National Championships, and are the Defending 2006 National Champions.
 

 

 

Camille's last game with the Alliance Bantam Prep will be December 19th, and she will begin classes at Shattuck January 2, 2007.  According to her father Marc...

 

"Camille realizes how fortunate she was to have great coaching in a great environment, and is so proud to be a Bulldog. 

We think that playing for Alliance for the last 2 years has developed not only her hockey skills, but also her love for the game.  This she'll take with her to Minnesota, and hopefully will keep improving.  Many, many thanks to Cosmo for giving her a chance to play at the highest level possible, and for teaching her the game of hockey, and to Chris for being the amazing teacher that he is."

 

The Alliance Association and all Bulldogs congratulate both Camille and Dru, and wish all the best for them this season and the rest of their hockey careers. 

 

 

Former Alliance Lady Bulldog Playing in Hockey East...

 

Not to be out done by the boys, a former Alliance girl has made it to the big time as well, as Cassie Sperry of Southlake is a sophomore playing hockey at Northeastern University of Hockey East, one of the top hockey conferences in Division I of the NCAA.

 

Cassie played for the Alliance Midget Minor A team in 2003-2004, which won the Texoma League Championship that season.  During that time, she also played for the Colorado Selects 16U girls team. 

 

 

She then made the switch to all-girls hockey the following season, when she went on to play for the storied Honeybaked Girls 19U program before getting her chance at the big time in college.  While at Honeybaked, she scored 39 points on nine goals and 30 assists, leading team to 57-15-5 record.

 

Last season, Cassie played 33 games for the Huskies, scoring one goal and assisting on six for eight points, as well as posting a team-leading plus-2 rating.   

 

 

Northeastern has been one of the top academic teams in Hockey East since the league started in 2002, and last season Cassie was one of Northeastern’s 11 players named to the Hockey East All-Academic team.

 

 

Former Bulldog Casey Smith Called up to Jr. A…

(courtesy of Walpole Express Junior Hockey Club)

 

Walpole Express Jr. B Captain Moving Up

 

Walpole, MA - On Wednesday evening Casey Smith had the meeting that he’s been waiting for.   He walked into GM Rob Barletta’s office and Jr A Head coach Chris Cerella sat him down and gave him the good news.   “Casey has been a dominant player on our B team and it was only a matter of time before he got his chance,” said Cerella.  “He’ll stay as long as he works hard.”

 

The Junior B team now has to replace their 1st line center and captain, a problem that head coach Ryan McGrath gladly accepts.  “Jr B is all about development and promotion.  This gives another one of our players a chance to shine,” said Jr B Head Coach Ryan McGrath.

 

Smith who was the only '87 birth date on the Jr B team hails from Carrollton, TX where he toiled in the Alliance Bulldogs Midget program the last 4 years.

 

Alliance Note:  Casey is a very hard-working, great kid who was a member of the first ever Alliance Bantam team in our inaugural season of 2001-2002, and finished his Alliance career with the Midget Major AA team last season.

 

Former Bulldog Austin Smith Headed to Colgate…

(Article by Christopher M. Baudo, Associate Director of Admissions at The Gunnery)

 

Former Alliance Bulldog and current Gunnery forward Austin Smith ’07 recently announced his decision to accept a full scholarship to Colgate University.  Smith plans to arrive in Hamilton, NY in either 2007 or 2008 and chose Colgate after entertaining offers from Brown, Yale, Princeton, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and numerous other ECAC and Hockey East schools. 

 

The 5’11” wing ultimately felt that Colgate provided him the best opportunity to thrive both in the classroom and on the ice.  US News and World Report ranked Colgate as the 16th best Liberal Arts College in the nation, while the Red Raider hockey program also boasts the 16th best team in the nation.  Coach Don Vaughn led the 2005-2006 Colgate squad to an ECAC regular season championship and NCAA tournament appearance. 

 

Smith arrived at The Gunnery in 2005 after a very successful stint with the Alliance Bulldogs organization out of Dallas, TX.  Former Alliance Coach Chris Kostopoulos proved vital to the current senior’s development and ultimate success upon entering the Highlander program. 

 

The Irving, TX native quickly became known for his explosive quickness and incredible playmaking ability, while Smith’s work ethic and passion also earned the respect of opposing coaches.   The crafty forward led the 2006 Highlanders in scoring with 23 goals and 20 assists in 32 games.  Moreover, his efforts earned him the team’s 2005-2006 Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year honors, both awards which are voted on by his teammates.  Smith also serves as a model student/athlete at The Gunnery by earning honor roll status academically and joining the Red and Gray Tour Guide Program. 

 

Austin stands as the third Gunnery Highlander to commit to a Division I program in the last year.  Greg Holt (Quinnipiac) and Tommy Powers (University of Massachusetts-Lowell) currently play in the ECAC and Hockey East, respectively.  The Gunnery’s community, hockey program and coaching staff could not be more proud of Austin’s efforts inside the classroom and out.