(TEAM) NAPHL – Golden State Elite

About Golden State Elite Hockey

WHO ARE WE?

Established in 2012, we provide tier-only, youth, ice hockey programs to Northern California players.  After 5 years, we have become the top performing tier club in all of California in terms of winning percentage, average goals scored per game, and fewest goals allowed per game.  In 2020, we were rated the Top 20 AA clubs in the nation by Culturama.

We cater to players that want to play beyond youth hockey, like Juniors or College. Our coaches, in addition to being coaches, also double and triple as hockey “career counselors” and scouts. As career counselors they help guide players towards performance goals, manage their path through youth hockey and beyond, and offer advice throughout. As scouts representing organizations in North America, they become valuable “leg-up” resources for players with the caliber and ambition to move on.

Golden State Elite Hockey is the brain-child of Chris Hathaway, Larry Cahn, and William H. Stone and is a joint venture between the Cupertino Cougars, Vacaville Jets,  and the San Francisco Sabercats.

Our current directors are:

GSE Hockey is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

WHY ARE THE CLUBS COMBINING TO DO THIS?

It has become increasingly obvious that the current tier talent in Northern California is few and, literally, far between. This has created a watering down effect in our AA, A, and B programs to the point where we are not competitive with similarly labeled teams from other regions.

So, the idea is to reduce the number of tier teams, concentrate the tier players into one organization, and focus the best resources and coaches on the resulting smaller group of players, i.e. all-star teams.

Tier programs take a disproportionate amount of time, money, and effort away from a typical club, thus starving other programs from much-needed attention. By removing tier programs from clubs into Golden State Elite, clubs can turn their attention back to delivering and growing solid A, B, and House programs which represent the bulk of the players.

PLAYER PROFILE

We are looking for players (both boys and girls) that have the following attributes/qualities:

• Self-motivated players driven to excel, improve, and become the best
• Players of skill and capability that want to play with other similarly-skilled players
• Players that are serious about hockey and love the game
• Players that are looking to play beyond youth hockey
• Players must be willing to learn, able to play in a team environment, and be coachable

Question: Do I have to play for one of the member clubs to tryout? NO.

Imagine a program where the player next to you is the best. This motivates you to play better, faster, and harder.

Imagine a program where the player next to you loves hockey as much as you do. This keeps you and the team focused on playing good hockey.

INTERESTED?

If you are interested in submitting your name to our coaches in order for them to review your potential, please use our Interest Form.

If you do not think you possess the skills just yet, our coaches can still advise you about the steps you need to take in order to prepare for an eventual tryout. So, fill out the Interest Form and indicate your intentions.

Parents: Listen to what your player is telling you and follow his/her lead. If your player is super-motived, lives/breathes/eats hockey, and has the skills, then consider our program. Pushing a player into this program will not yield a successful result.

SCOUT CONTACT FORM

For scouts, coaches, and managers wishing to make contact with our players or coaches, please fill out this form:

 Scout Contact Form

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2023-2024:

• First girls team: 16U AAA that went to the semis at the Chi-Town Shuffle
• GSE alumni, Ben Kevan, was the 5th overall draft pick in the USHL draft. He was drafted to Des Moines
• Jonas Kemps (14N), was placed on the prospect list for the WHL’s Tri City Americans
• Fielded our first regular season girls team: 16U AA
• Ines Khamis made the Girls 15U Goalie Camp and the Girls 15U Development Camp
• 12S won the Vegas Jr Golden Knights Labor Day Tournament
• 14S was a finalist at the Vegas Jr Golden Knights Labor Day Tournament
• 16S was a finalist at the Vegas Jr Golden Knights Labor Day Tournament
• 19 players made NORCAL Selects/Alts
• 16S won the OneHockey tournament
• 14N was a finalist at the Vegas Confetti Cup
• The following teams went to playoffs: 14N, 16 Girls AA
• 6 girls made CAHA Selects/Alts
• Our 16U AA Girls team won the State title
• The following 5 teams are headed for playoffs: 14N, 14S, 16U Girls (Pacific District), 16S, 18 Combo
• 16S are the Tinsel Town Presidents’ Day tournament champs
• 16S was a finalist at CAHA States
• 16U Girls are the PGHL champions

2022-2023 Season:

• Our 16AAA won the Chi-Town Shuffle in April
• Tyler Webb named MVP at the Chi-Town Shuffle
• Our 18U AA team joined the NAPHL-Showcase league
• Our 16U AAA team joined the T1HF league
• Our 12U team was a finalist at The Cube’s Labor Day Tournament
• Our 16S team was a finalist at The Cube’s Labor Day Tournament
• Our 18U AA team was champions of the Sun and Fun Labor Day Tournament
• All 12U-16U AA teams made the top 4 in their conferences which guarantees them a slot to play in CAHA’s AA regular season
• Our 16N team was a finalist at the Salt Lake City Turkey Cup
• Our 12U AA team was a finalist at the Gold Medal Classic in Utah
• We had 27 NORCAL Selects and alternates
• 18s finished the regular season in first place
• Teams headed for State Finals: 16AAA, 18 Combo, and 16S
• Our 16AAA team is the Tier 1 Hockey Federation Western division champs
• We had 2 girls and 6 boys make CAHA Selects
• Our 18 Combo team won the NAPHL 18 Showcase national championship
• Our 16N team won the Presidents’ Day Tournament in Colorado Springs
• Our 14N team won the Presidents’ Day Tournament in Colorado Springs
• Our 16S team made it to the CAHA State semi-finals
• Our 18 Combo team won the CAHA State championship
• GSE is the only NORCAL club that won a CAHA tier state title
• Our 18 Combo team went to USA Hockey Nationals in Maple Grove, Minn.
• First GSE alumni to sign with the NHL: Hunter McKown
• Our 18 Combo team was a quarterfinalist at USA Hockey Nationals
• Paavo Makela made the All-Tournament Team at USA Hockey Nationals
• 18 Combo team was featured on KPIX News: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/whats-the-buzz-the-boys-of-golden-state-elite-hockey/
• Overall stats for the club for last season:Record: 172-99-26 for a total of 297 games playedWinning %: 62.2%Average goals scored per game per team: 3.84Average goals allowed per game per team: 2.36+/- average per game per team: 1.48Average number of shutouts per team: 9
• Two players made USA Hockey National Selects: Jilian Klein and Jonas Kemps.

2021 – 2022 Season (10th season!):

• Our 14-1 team was the Summer Escape Tournament champions
• Our 15O AAA team was the Cube Labor Day Tournament champions
• Our 16 North team was the Cube Labor Day Tournament finalists
• 5 teams made the top 12 in the first 3 CAHA pre-season weekends, more than any other CA club
• All AA teams made the top 12 and participated in the CAHA Tier II league
• Announced Girls program
• Our 12 North team was a finalist at the Halloween Vegas Bash
• Our 14 North team was a finalist at the Halloween Vegas Bash
• 21 players and goalies made the NORCAL Selects and Alternates list
• Our 14 South team won the Orlando MLK O-Town Showcase
• 2 girls made CAHA Girls Selects
• 4 boys made CAHA Selects and alternates
• Our 16 South team won the January Las Vegas OneHockey Tournament in the 18U AA division
• Our 15 AAA team was a semi-finalist in the CAHA State Finals
• Our 16 North team won the February Las Vegas OneHockey Tournament in the 18U AA division
• Our 14 North team won the Top Shelf tournament in Dallas
• Four teams went to the CAHA Tier II State Finals: 14 South, both 16 teams, and 18 Combo – the most teams sent by any California club. Three of those teams went on to the semi-finals and one team was a finalist
• Highest ranking NORCAL teams in Tier II for: 12U, 14U, and 16U

2020-2021 Season:

• Rated in the Top 20 AA clubs in the US by Culturama
• COVID-19 had a significant impact on the season
• Our 14U-2 team was a finalist in the AAA division in the Phoenix Invitational
• 4 players made CAHA Selects
• Our 14-2 and 16 teams went to the CAHA State Finals
• Our 14-2 team was the Can/Am Champions
• Our 12-2 team was the Vegas Spring Showdown Champions
• Our 14-2 team was a finalist at CAHA State Finals

2019-2020 Season:

•  Won Carmen Starr at the 14U level
• Our 12U AA South team took 2nd at the CCM World Invite in Denver in the 2007 AAA/AA division
• Initial MyHockeyRankings: 18s are ranked #37, 16 North is ranked #2, 16 South is ranked #108, 14 North is ranked #124, 14 South is ranked #95, 12 North is ranked #14, and 12 South is ranked #20
• Our 12U AA North team won the Idaho October Classic Tournament
• Our 12U AA South team won the Can/Am Tournament in Las Vegas
• Our 16U AA North team won the CCM World Invite Tournament in Chicago
• Our 12U AA North team won the Colorado Cup
• Our 14U AA North team was a finalist at the Richmond International Tournament, BC
• Our 12U AA South team won the O-Town Showdown tournament in Orlando
• Our 14 South team was a finalist at the O-Town Showdown tournament in Orlando
• Our 18 team was a finalist at the Arizona Cactus Cup
• Our 14 North team won the Las Vegas Invitational
• 18 players made NORCAL Selects and Alternates
• Winning %: 66.67%, average goals scored/game: 4.71, average goals allowed/game: 2.48, average goal diff per team: +38, and average national rank %: top 6.1%
• Our 12 South team won the Cal State Games Presidents’ Day Weekend tournament
• Our 12 North team was a finalist at the Phoenix Invitational Presidents’ Day tournament
• Our 14 North team won the Dallas Top Shelf Challenge
• Every team, all 7, went to playoffs.  We sent more teams to playoffs than any other club in California
• 3 teams earned a place at CAHA State Finals
• COVID19 ended the season prematurely

2018-2019 Season:

• 14 players made NORCAL Selects or alternates
• Our 12U AA North team won the Colorado Cup
• Our 16U AA team won the Minnesota Gone Wild tournament
• Our 14 South team was a finalist at the Orlando MLK tournament
• Our 16U team completed the season undefeated
• Six teams made it to playoffs
• Two teams (16U and 18DC) made it to the state finals
• Two alumni are drafted to the NAHL: Ben Biester and Victor Ouellet-Massicotte

2017-2018 season:

• 24 players were selected or alternates at NORCAL Selects
• 8 players made CAHA Selects, including one female player
• San Francisco was approved to join GSE in 2018
• Our 14U AA South team won the Orlando MLK Tournament
• 6 out of 7 (86%) teams went to AA playoffs – the most of any CA team 
• Both 14U teams ranked in the top 50 in the nation
• Our 12U South team is ranked 4th in the nation
• Season performance: 54% winning percentage, 3.18 goals fielded per team per game, and 2.90 goals allowed per team per game
• Our 14U AA North team was the state finalist

​2016-2017 season:

• 18U AA wins the Team Ohio Labor Day Shootout
• 12U AA 1 wins the OC Labor Day Hockey Festival
• Initial MyHockeyRankings.com for our 18U AA team placed them at number ONE in the nation
• Initial MyHockeyRankings.com for our 12U AA South (1) team placed them at number SIX in the nation
• Initial MyHockeyRankings.com for our 12U AA North (2) team placed them at number SIX in the nation
• 12U AA 1 wins the Fall Faceoff Tournament in Boise, Idaho
• 18U AA won the Regional Silverstick Tournament in Las Vegas
• 30 (or 40%) players and goalies are selected for NORCAL Selects and alternates
• 12 players (including 4 females) went onto the Pacific District Select Camp/03 Camp
• 14U South semi-finalist, Richmond International Tournament, BC
• 14U North semi-finalist, Richmond International Tournament, BC
• 18U quarter-finalist,  Richmond International Tournament, BC
• 18U finalist, International Silverstick, Sarnia, ONT
• We had a record 4 female players
• Our 12U North AA and 18U AA teams ended the season in first place in CAHA
• We sent a record 7 (of 8) teams to playoffs (more than any other club in CA)
• Started the Norcal Spring Tier League
• Three teams went to the State Finals: 12U South, 14U North, and 18U (more than any other club in CA)
• 14U North team is the State Finalist
• 18U team is the State Champion
• 18U team went to Nationals in Lansing, MI and was a semi-finalist
• 5 teams ranked in the top 60 nationally
• Average per-team winning percentage: 66%, average goals fielded per game per team: 4.33, average goals allowed per game per team: 2.27

2015-2016 season:

• Peewee AA North team wins the regional Silversticks
• Midget 18 AA wins the Gold Rush Tournamentj
• 16 (or 30%) players and goalies are selected for NORCAL Selects and alternates 
• Bantam AAA wins the Richmond, BC International Midget/Bantam tournament
• Bantam AA is the finalist at the Richmond, BC International Midget/Bantam tournament
• Bantam AAA wins the Arizona Cactus Cup
• Every team (all 6) made the state playoffs
• PW AA South was a finalist at the Presidents’ Day Invitational in Phoenix
• PW AA North won the Tinsel Town Tournament Series
• Midget 18 AA goes undefeated in the regular season
• PW AA North and South and Midget 18 AA made State Finals, GSE is the only Northern California club that has multiple teams going to the State Finals
• GSE is the only Northern California club with state titles at any tier level
• PW AA North wins the State Championship
• Midget 18 AA wins the State Championship
• Midget 18 AA goes to Nationals
• Average team winning percentage: 73.6%
• Average goals allowed per game: 2.31
• 6 players made the BCHL Spruce Kings Prospect Camp All-Star Team
• 4 teams ranked in the top 70 nationally

2014-2015 season:

• M16AA team won the Arizona Ice Breaker Tournament
• M18AA team won the Regional Silversticks
• 16 players & goalies made the NORCAL Selects and alternates
• M16AA team won silver at the Richmond, BC International Midget Tournament
• Bantam AA 1 team won bronze at the Richmond, BC International Midget Tournament 
• 2 players won the individual skills competiton at the Richmond International Midget Tournament
• PW AAA team was a finalist at the Minnesota Gone Wild Tournament
• 5 of 6 (or 83%) of our teams made State Playoffs
• PW AAA team was a State finalist (GSE was the only NORCAL team in the Major AAA playoffs)
• We have our first 2 female players
• Our Bantam 2 (2001 birth year) team was ranked 5th in the nation according to MyHockeyRankings.com
• Our Peewee AAA team was ranked 24th in the nation
• Our Midget 18 AAs were ranked 35th
• 5 of 6 of our Midget players made the all-star team for the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings‘ camp
• Club’s league average win % was 68.8% and average goal diff was +22.5

2013-2014 season:

• 3 teams participated in the CAHA playoffs
• 2 teams participated in the CAHA finals
• 1 team won the state title
• Peewees ranked #1 in the nation by MyHockeyRankings.com
• 3 teams ranked in the top 35 in the nation
• 1 team went to nationals
• 2 teams won the regional Silverstick tournament
• Midgets took bronze at the Richmond, Canada International Midget Tournment
• Club’s league average win % was 64.58% and average goal diff was +33

2012-2013 season (our inaugural season):

• 3 teams participated in CAHA finals
• 2 teams ranked in the top 30 in the nation
• 1 team won the state title
• 1 team went to nationals and placed 8th