Rocky Mountain RoughRiders return to NAPHL for 2015-16 season

May 19, 2015

The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced that the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders have been accepted as members of the NAPHL for the 2015-16 season. The organization will field full-time teams at both the 18U and 16U levels. Rocky Mountain was previously a member in the NAPHL during the 2010-11 season.

 

This is the third announcement of the NAPHL line-up of teams for the 2015-16 season. While the current membership stands at 18 different organizations, there are still some applications being accepted, considered and reviewed for the upcoming 2015-16 season. A final number of teams, a list of accepted members and the 2015-16 NAPHL event schedule will be posted in the next few days.

 

“We are excited about the return of the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders to the NAPHL for the 2015-16 season,” stated NAHL and NAPHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. “They are an organization that has a great track record of being competitive on the ice, along with an established ladder of development, quality coaching and commitment to both academic and athletic excellence.”

 

Established in 2009, the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders mission is to provide every player a safe, memorable and positive environment for youth hockey. The goal is to create and maintain a quality youth hockey experience where young people are given the tools and direction to progress to the next level of hockey.  The founding associations agree that providing a safe, positive and healthful environment is key to the success of the organization and will produce not just better hockey players, but better people.

 

During the 2010-11 season, the RoughRiders were members of the NAPHL and fielded teams at the 18U, 16U and 14U levels.  Each of their team’s qualified for the Gold Division playoffs that season, with the 14U team winning the NAPHL Playoff Championship and the 18U team finishing as Runner-Up in the NAPHL Playoff Championship.

 

“The RoughRiders are excited to rejoin the NAPHL for the upcoming season.  We feel that formally re-establishing our connection to the NAPHL is a great fit for the future of our program and players,” said Derek Robinson, Director of Hockey Operations for the RoughRiders. “The NAPHL's scouting footprint, highly competitive schedule and overall quality of play will enable us to further enhance all aspects of our program.  Specifically, competing in the highly-touted NAHL Showcase in Blaine, as well as, utilizing the NAHL’s exclusive event scouting system, will be tremendously beneficial in terms of marketing our players and program to the higher levels.  Beyond those tangible benefits, we are very pleased to maintain and strengthen what has always been a great relationship between our program and the NAPHL staff.  We very much look forward to competing in the league for the 2015-16 season.”

 

Doug Smail, who played 16 years of professional hockey, including 13 years in the NHL, coaches the 18U team. Sergei Krivokrasov, who also played 16 years of professional hockey, including 10 years in the NHL, coaches the 16U team. The RoughRiders play out of some of the finest facilities in Colorado that have the amenities to be top-notch hosting facilities for showcases/tournaments.  The RoughRiders tryouts will be hosted at the Ice Centre at the Promenade in Westminster, CO a three-sheet facility equipped with 18U and 16U locker rooms and a newly renovated RoughRiders Weight/Training Room.

 

The RoughRiders impressive list of alumni includes those that have played in the NCCA, USHL, NAHL and other junior leagues across North America.