Valley teens use RGV ice and roller hockey to become prospects
The Rio Grande Valley has talent, that’s impossible to deny.
We’ve witnessed Rio Hondo native, Roberto Garza start for the Chicago Bears and McAllen swimmer Shaine Casas has been a national champion in the pool. And don’t forget Bobby Morrow of San Benito brought home olympic gold in the 1950s.
But we have no hockey players right? …Well not so fast!
There have been a few Valley-based players that have reached at the highest level of hockey attainable in the Mexico national hockey program including representing Team Mexico at the highest level junior and senior roller and ice hockey tournaments.
However, that might feel like ancient history now. Especially given the fact the RGV lost its only ice rink and junior ice hockey team two years ago.
Despite the ice rink shutting its doors for good at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, two teenagers kept their passion alive on a roller hockey rink in Northwest McAllen while traveling anywhere from San Antonio, to Houston to St. Louis Missouri on a given weekend to pursue their hockey dreams.
Tyler Lanoue, 17 and Jaylon Stros, 14 are both standout hockey players for their age. The two longtime friends had plenty of support from their families. Both players have fathers that played the game at a high level. This Fall, both Jaylon and Tyler took huge leaps in their own hockey careers by landing spots on teams outside of the RGV to advance their playing careers.
“I’ve been playing hockey since I was 3 or 4 years old,” Lanoue said. “My dad grew up playing hockey so they got me on the ice real early and I just fell in love with the sport.”
The pair grew up playing together. Here is Jaylon and Tyler seen playing for the Corpus Christi Jr. Ice Rays
Lanoue’s big break came after playing in a nation-wide showcase in St. Louis, Missouri. The tournament provided the necessary exposure to earn him an invite for multiple teams, he decided on the New Hampshire Monarchs 17U AAA team. The 17-year-old born in the Rio Grande Valley, where the temperature stays above 90 degrees for most of the year, is taking his talents to New England where he will live and breathe hockey.
Jaylon Stros is only an 8th grader at Fossum Middle School but found himself on the San Antonio Jr. Rampage Roster. He is also the son of a hockey player and coach.
Jaylon started playing when he was just able to walk but like Tyler he has not had a home ice rink for the past two years. Over the past few months “Jay” has been developing his skills playing roller hockey with adults. Recognizing a blossoming talent, his father has been driving Jaylon over three hours several times a week to practice with the San Antonio Jr Rampage to expose Jaylon to higher level youth hockey. All the travel and hard work paid off when Jaylon was notified he made the team. The family is now making plans to relocate closer to San Antonio so Jaylong can continue growing as a player and person.
He’s not that different than his buddy, Tyler. When he learned how to walk…the skates came soon after.
“I’ve been playing ice hockey since I was three years old, since I learned how to walk,” Stros said. “My whole family’s played ice hockey in the Detroit area, my dad and uncle played at a fairly high level.”
“Playing against adults really helped me a lot,” Stros said. “Not having a youth program was pretty hard but being able to play with the adults is pretty fun.
Being from the Valley, impact of roller and long drives.
Tyler Lanoue, who has already graduated high school at 16 years old, worked hard at UTRGV’s Math and Science Academy and now has the opportunity to represent his family and the Rio Grande Valley on the east coast.
“I never understood how people took pride in their city until I started to realize I’m from the Valley,” Lanoue said. “As we like to say from here ‘Puro 956’. There’s not a lot of hockey in the Valley but when we had the ice rink I was always there on time, ready to practice, ready to work hard. And I was always late to get off the ice because I never wanted to get off.”
Stros said that for players with aspirations to continue playing hockey it might take some extra steps but skating regularly helps on wheels or blades.
“I know kids can get discouraged that there’s not a lot of hockey here,” Stros said. “It might take a while at first but you just have to believe in yourself to be able to do it.”
While there are big difference between roller and ice hockey, mainly one less skater in roller hockey and no offsides, both youngsters saw their skills jump when playing against older players on wheels. It helps that the valley actually has a lot of home grown talent as well as imports that have dedicated time to help the kids flourish and the hockey programs grow.
Jaylon seen getting extra work with Bruno Arjona, another player who stood out as a youth player and traveled for hockey. —Arjona played for Team Mexico both on wheels for roller hockey and blades for ice hockey as Mexico competed in IIHF tournaments worldwide.
“I have played a lot of roller hockey with South Texas Inline Hockey Association,” Lanoue said. “It has helped with my development, it’s helped with speed, it’s helped keeping the feeling of skating and not getting too rusty. I think roller is a huge help with your ice performance. The player who is probably going to go first overall in the 2023 draft, Connor Bedard, I see clips of him playing roller all the time. [Connor] McDavid played roller all the time. These NHL stars who put on inline skates they do it for a reason. It’s extremely helpful.”
Tyler Lanoue seen lifting the roller hockey championship trophy, the STIHA CUP.
The sacrifices by the families and mileage on the tires were no joke for the Lanoue and Stros family. Both were a part of the Jr. Ramage program at one point, which meant driving to San Antonio ever weekend or more. Jaylon currently attends weekday practices in the Alamo city, while Tyler previously played in the high school ice hockey league (ISHL) which was based in Houston.
Jaylon gave his father Jason a heartfelt shout out for the miles, training and love for the game that he shares.
“My dad is definitely willing to do a lot,” Stros said. “He’s thinking about moving to be closer to my hockey, which is a big leap in life for him and myself. We’re in the garage almost all day everyday. He helps me do faceoffs, I learned how to shoot because of him. He’s taught me a lot and he’s the best dad.”
Special thanks to Mr. Dan Lanoue and Mr. Jason Stros for making their sons available and supporting them through the years. Ya’ll are a big part of the hockey community in the Rio Grande Valley no matter where you end up.
Tyler Lanoue plays defense under coach Neil Liston for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs.
Jaylon Stros plays center under coach Zack Swank and the San Antonio Jr. Ramage
If you are interested in learning hockey as an adult or would like to sign your child up for youth hockey reach out to RGV Roller on Facebook for more information on how to get rolling!
By: RGV Roller
Edited Leo Korolev
