Since Sommer reached the National Hockey League, the California hockey scene has exploded. 40 California born players have reached the NHL and counting and there are more kids playing youth hockey in the West than ever before.

The Barracuda entered the AHL All-Star by earning three of a possible four points in a pair of games in Grand Rapids and are now riding a five-game point streak (3-0-1-1).

The San Jose Barracuda (24-8-2-4) scored the games first two goals on Saturday at the Van Andel Arena but the Grand Rapids Griffins (25-14-3-4) (Detroit Red Wings) would even the score in the second and eventually win 3-2 in a shootout.…

In the victory, Josef Korenar (15-3-1) steered away all 29 Griffs shots to earn his third shutout of the season and hand GR their first shutout since October 6 at San Antonio and their first shutout loss at home since November 3, 2017, vs.…

Both players with make the trip to Grand Rapids to play the Griffins on Friday and Saturday.