Development a top priority for Jr. Bison
By Matt Mackinder B
rent Cullaton has tasted success behind the Boulder Jr. Bison’s bench in the past, and wants nothing more than to continue that trend this season. Much like his players do each time they step on the ice against their West-
ern States Hockey League (WSHL) competition, the third-year coach also has his eyes on learning and improving. “I think we’re a really young team that’ll be successful with a good work
ethic and by playing simple hockey,” said Cullaton. “We have a few returners who’ve played in the national tournament, and we’ll lean on them to lead by example and bring the team together.” Recently, Cullaton named forward Anthony Cullen his team’s captain.
Cullen was an alternate captain last season as a rookie and is a player Cullaton calls “the epitome of a leader.” “He’s a very emotional player, but very respected in the room and also by the
coaching staff,” said Cullaton. “Both myself and Army (assistant coachDerek Armstrong) have been captains before and this pick was a no-brainer for us.” Defenseman Preston James, from Thornton, and forward Taylor Porrier
are this season’s alternate captains in Boulder. “James is a steady defenseman who brings skill and toughness to the table,”
said Cullaton. “He’s also a very respected player in the room and also leads by example on the ice.
“Taylor gives 110 percent all the
time and is the caring type of leader who’s always looking out for his teammates and picking them up,” the coach said of the 5-foot-9, 170- pound Porrier. “He has the heart of a lion and plays a lot bigger than he is.”
While Cullen, James and Por-
rier will all wear letters, there’s also an onus on the rest of the team to provide the trio with support and leadership. “I’m excited to see the direction
Anthony Cullen’s leadership, on and off the ice, will be a valued asset this season in Boulder.
we take,” Cullaton said. “We’re a very young team, so I’m sure we’ll have our ups and down throughout the season, but with these three and the other supporting cast of lead- ers we have, on and off the ice, both myself and Army are confident we’ll be winners.” Cullaton said luring athletes to come play Junior A hockey in Colo-
rado has never been a problem, and that’s a direct correlation to how well the WSHL is operated, according to the coach. “The majority of our players are from Colorado, and we started this team to
give local players an opportunity to stay at home rather than have to go away,” explained Cullaton. “I think junior hockey is doing fine here and I think the league is solid.” The WSHL is 16 teams strong and, this season, for the first time, sanctioned
by the Amateur Athletic Union; previously, USA Hockey governed the league. “We have a few great rivalries with teams and the competitive balance is
good,” said Cullaton. “(Commissioner)Ron White has done a terrific job pro- moting the league and setting up showcases to provide the scouts an opportu- nity to watch our players.” After playing pro hockey the better part of the last 15 years, Cullaton’s foray
into coaching has been an easy transition. “I’ve played for many coaches and taken a lot of information and watched
them over the years, he said. “I’ve learned how to treat players and how not to, what works and what doesn’t.” Player development, he says, will always be his top priority. “My goal coaching this team is to promote as many players to college and
Tier II junior hockey as I can,” he said. “We’re a Tier III league, which is about developing and promoting players - that’s the bottom line. “I want my players to have the same experiences in hockey I did.”
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