Pueblo's top hockey players to watch during the 2022-23 season
With the 2022-23 winter sports season officially underway, it's the perfect time to highlight some of the talented Pueblo hockey players expected to make their presences felt on the ice this year.
This list was compiled by the Chieftain sports staff with the help of Pueblo County's athletic director and head hockey coach.
Here are the top players to watch this year on the Pueblo County co-op hockey team:
Garrett O'Brien
O’Brien was the leading goal scorer for the Hornets last year with 16 goals on the season. He also had five assists to lead the team in points with 21 overall. He will likely match or surpass those totals this season as the established offensive leader of the team.
Anthony Berumen
Berumen will be a junior this year and has already lettered twice for the Hornets. He is a talented goaltender for a team that will be looking to earn its first victory in more than a year. Last year, behind a young defense, Berumen was 0-16 in goal, but he's ready to grow and learn from that experience, according to coach Lee LaJeunesse.
Joe Stanko
Stanko played nearly every game last year for the Hornets and finished the 2021-22 season with three goals and six assists, totaling nine points. The forward's best attribute is perhaps his efficiency: Stanko's three goals last year came on just three shots.
Jake Nellor
Nellor, another forward, is someone to watch for this year. He totaled two goals and three assists in 16 games last season and is expected to take his scoring to another level this year.
Trevor Simon
Simon was another playmaker on offense for the Hornets last season who netted five goals and three assists for the team. He will seek to crack double-digit scoring this year.
More:Florence freshman Trevor Simon dedicated to hockey, Pueblo County team despite distance
Zeke Phillips
Phillips is one of the few defensive players who scored a goal for the Hornets last season. In 18 games, he netted one goal and three assists while being a mainstay of the Hornets' backline defense. Expect the aggressive defenseman to continue making an impact on offense and defense this year.
Tyler Horton
Horton, a freshman, is a newcomer to the team who could provide a spark off the bench for the Hornets. With youth and athleticism on his side, Horton may surprise some people on the ice this season.
Aydon Atencio
Another forward joining the team this year is Atencio, who has experience playing in the Colorado Prep Hockey League. He, too, will seek to provide some offensive firepower for the Hornets coming off the bench.
More:Freshman Garrett O'Brien already a captain as first-year player for Pueblo County hockey
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter @chowebacca
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo's top hockey players to watch during the 2022-23 season
