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Breckenridge Bucks unveiled as town’s first-ever junior hockey club

Summit Daily staff report
The Stephen C. West Ice Arena in Breckenridge, home to the town's new junior college hockey team, the Breckenridge Bucks. The team is hosting a public announcement and official jersey unveiling on June 20 at the arena.
Special to the Daily |

Breckenridge Bucks team unveiling

What: An official ribbon cutting and jersey unveiling for the Breckenridge Bucks, a brand-new junior hockey team based in Summit County

When: Saturday, June 20 at 2 p.m.

Where: Stephen C. West Ice Arena, 189 Boreas Pass Road in Breckenridge

Cost: Free

The event is free and open to the public, with a live scrimmage to follow at 6 p.m. Interested players 20 years and younger are invited to attend. For more info on the Bucks, including tryouts and a schedule, see http://www.breckenridgebucks.com.

There’s a new animal in town, and it just so happens to play hockey.

On June 20, Breckenridge hosts an official announcement and jersey unveiling for the Breckenridge Bucks, Summit County’s first — and only — USA Junior Hockey team. The public announcement begins at 2 p.m. at Stephen C. West Ice Arena and includes appearances from the team’s coaches, general manager and owner.

The unveiling will coincide with the Bucks’ first tryout, which runs today through June 21 at the arena. Coaches hope to attract top local talent, along with players from various other states who are competing for a chance to join the Bucks, not to mention live in Breck for the winter season.



Other events on June 20 include an equipment presentation at 4 p.m. — the Bucks will finally receive its first round of official gear and jerseys — and a live scrimmage at 6 p.m.

Tryouts are free and open to players 20 years old and younger.



Bucks head coach Jesse Davis and general manager Brad Edelberg will host two additional tryouts later this summer, one in Minnesota and another in Detroit. The season begins in September with practices and requires at 40-game commitment, with games split evenly between home and away venues during the regular season.

“I think this will be pretty big,” Edelberg said. “On a Friday or Saturday night this winter, you could either go to the bar or catch a good hockey game. It will be a good time when it gets packed in there.”

New team, new league

The Breckenridge Bucks are a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL). The brand-new league consists of the Bucks and five other clubs from around Colorado, including Aspen, Grand Junction, Littleton, Monument and Colorado Springs.

The RMJHL is a Junior “A” Tier III level USA Hockey affiliated league, and the first-ever all-Colorado junior hockey league. The Bucks will play out of Stephen C. West Ice Arena, located in downtown Breckenridge, beginning this fall.

In its first season, the team is lead by Davis, a youth and junior hockey veteran with 16 seasons under his belt. In four seasons with the Fargo Force, a Tier I junior team, the team saw 12 NHL draft picks, more than 30 college commitments and a United States Hockey Leagure Western Conference Championship, including a trip to the Clark Cup finals. Davis also had a short stint with USHL expansion club Bloomington Thunder, serving as Assistant Coach & Director of Scouting.

Along with bringing league opportunities to local youth players, the Bucks and Davis promise “high-level, high-flying, hard-hitting family entertainment,” according to a team press release.

Bucks games will be Friday and Saturday nights from October through March.

Between now and then, the team is also searching for host families to house team players during the season. Host families will receive $400 per player every month to cover expenses like food and travel. Families will also earn two season tickets to Bucks games.

For more information on hosting players, along with info on corporate sponsorships and season tickets, visit the Breckenridge Bucks website.


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