A new program at Monument’s Colorado Sports Center has helped the area’s best high school hockey players prepare for the upcoming season and play some high-level games along the way.

The Colorado Rampage AAA club organized 16-and 18-and-under high school All-Star teams for an abbreviated season starting in August and ending this weekend. The 18s play at the Aspen Fall Faceoff this weekend with games against club teams from Arapahoe, Arvada, Summit and Winnipeg, Manitoba, while the 16s host a Canadian team Saturday.

The program is for players who did not make either the Rampage or Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association teams, but want to keep playing until next week’s high school tryouts.

“This a good way to give kids an opportunity to play that would otherwise have to wait to play for their high school,” said Air Academy coach Dave Meisinger, an assistant with both squads. “The 16s are getting a lot of experience they wouldn’t normally get.”

The extra time should help area high schoolers at the state level once the season starts. The All-Star team has been competitive against the clubs and is seeded No. 1 this weekend.

“This is a high-level team” Meisinger said.

For Czech Republic exchange student Jakub Mohl, the team was a good chance to get used to NHL-sized ice sheets and the more physical style of play in North America after years playing club hockey in his hometown of Karlovy Vary.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Mohl, who should play for Lewis-Palmer this season.

The cost is $625 with travel and tournament fees extra, the Rampage’s Shaun Hathaway said.

“It’s a great way to get in shape for the high school season,” Pine Creek junior Christian Clark said. “It’s been a great benefit.”

In addition to practices, players have access to the center’s training rooms.

“There’s a lot of conditioning and you can work a lot on your skating skills,” Air Academy senior Christopher Maceau said.

It’s been difficult to schedule a lot of games with club teams that already have full schedules and league commitments, Hathaway said. But he and Meisinger are hopeful the program will grow and add games in coming years.

The Colorado Rampage’s Shaun Hathaway conducted a practice for area high school All-Stars at the Colorado Sports Center in Monument on Thursday. Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE