Valley

Cactus Cup tournament returning to Coachella Valley in 2026 with defending champ UMass Lowell joining Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Yale – College Hockey

by
Cactus Cup tournament returning to Coachella Valley in 2026 with defending champ UMass Lowell joining Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Yale - College Hockey

Acrisure Arena is the home of the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds (photo: acrisurearena.com). The second annual Cactus Cup will return Jan. 2-3, 2026 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. Next year’s event will feature UMass Lowell, Minnesota State, Yale and St. Cloud State. Friday’s first matchup begins at 3:30 p.m. PDT with game two … Read more

Coachella Valley Firebirds Set For Long-Term Success

by

The Calder Cup Finals next month will look different. They’ll feel different, too, now that the Coachella Valley Firebirds will not be returning to the Finals for a third consecutive year. Those scorching hot June days and early evenings at Acrisure Arena, the Firebirds nearly brand-new palatial home, have coexisted with Calder Cup Playoff hockey for … Read more

Atlantic Division Semifinals Preview: Hershey Bears vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms

by

Photo: Eric Lord The Hershey Bears kick off their quest to become just the second team in American Hockey League (AHL) history to win three straight Calder Cup with a matchup with the Lehigh Phantoms. It is the second consecutive year that the two instate rivals will play in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. The Phantoms … Read more

In a League Built on Maturity, Lehigh Valley Is Built for a Calder Cup Run – The Hockey Writers – AHL

by

The American Hockey League (AHL) is one of the toughest leagues to win in. Players move up and down all the time, making it hard to find chemistry and have players buy into the team’s system. “This league’s hard because you lose guys for a few months, and all of a sudden they come back … Read more

Kraken Call Up Niklas Kokko From Coachella Valley – The Hockey Writers – Seattle Kraken

by
Kraken Call Up Niklas Kokko From Coachella Valley - The Hockey Writers - Seattle Kraken

Ales Stezka made his NHL debut last night with the Seattle Kraken. He allowed three goals, and the Kraken ultimately fell 4-1. This was not the outcome that they wanted. It seems the Kraken have given up on Stezka backing up Joey Daccord for the time being. On Feb. 24, they announced that they had … Read more

Utah Valley Wins 2025 NCPA National Championship

by
Utah Valley Wins 2025 NCPA National Championship

The best collegiate pickleball teams in the country battled it out at the National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA) Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada, this past weekend.  In a high-stakes final against in-state rival Utah Tech, Utah Valley secured a dramatic 4-3 victory to claim the national title and the $14,000 grand prize.  Teams first battled … Read more

AHL All-Stars converge on the Coachella Valley | TheAHL.com

by
AHL All-Stars converge on the Coachella Valley | TheAHL.com

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer The Coachella Valley has long been a winter home for movie stars and snowbirds drawn to its balmy weather and striking mountain views. Now some of hockey’s best young prospects are also making this sunny, scenic slice of California their winter home, at least for a couple of days. The … Read more

Laurie Balatti Is Using Her Teaching Skills To Grow Pickleball In California’s Central Valley

by
laurie-balatti-featured-image

Balatti’s persistence has paid off. In the fall, the city will break ground on nine new pickleball courts that are being built at the AG Sports Complex in Los Banos. “I feel a big sense of pride,” Balatti said of her work as a USA Pickleball Ambassador. “There was never a month that went by … Read more