Smokejumpers Hockey Recruiting Premier level Junior Hockey
The McCall Smokejumpers are a Tier III junior hockey team based in McCall, ID, competing in the premier division of the USPHL. The team’s staff is dedicated to helping young athletes reach their full potential, offering a supportive environment as a stepping stone for players striving to advance in their hockey careers.
team opperations
The McCall Smokejumpers are led by a dedicated ownership and coaching staff committed to building both great hockey players and great people.
Chris & Sara Gregory
OWNERS
Owners Chris and Sara Gregory bring passion and purpose to the organization. Their vision is simple yet powerful: to help every player reach their full potential on the ice while strengthening connections within the McCall community. With roots as the Bakersfield Roughnecks (2022–2025), the team was founded on their belief that hockey is more than a game—it’s a way to teach life skills, build character, and create lasting opportunities for young athletes. The 2025 relocation and rebrand to McCall proudly embraces the region’s heritage, with the “Smokejumpers” name honoring the town’s historic wildland firefighters.
On the bench, Head Coach Auggie Kuzara and Assistant Coach Nolan Stanley bring firsthand experience as former junior and professional players, paired with a shared commitment to mentorship and player development. Together, they are creating a culture of discipline, teamwork, and community pride—preparing athletes not just for their next step in hockey, but for success in life.
With this foundation of passionate leadership and experienced coaching, the Smokejumpers are poised to make an impact both in the USPHL and throughout the McCall community.
Auggie Kuzara
HEAD COACH
Nolan Stanley
ASSISTANT COACH
Program History
The team is co-owned by husband and wife Chris and Sara Gregory, who lead the organization with a clear vision: to help each player reach their full hockey potential while building strong ties within the McCall community.
Originally founded as the Bakersfield Roughnecks (2022–2025), the team was born from Chris and Sara’s deep love for the game and an even deeper commitment to the growth and success of their players. They recognized hockey as more than just a sport, but also a platform for teaching life skills, building character, and creating lasting opportunities for young athletes. Under their leadership, the organization has become a place where dedication, teamwork, and personal development thrive both on and off the ice.
In 2025, Chris and Sara made the decision to relocate and rebrand the team to reflect its new home. The name “Smokejumpers” pays tribute to McCall’s historic smokejumper base and honors the enduring legacy of wildland firefighting in the region.
WE BUILD FUTURES ON AND OFF THE ICE
The McCall Smokejumper hockey organization not only builds futures on the ice but also provides training opportunities for players interested in careers as firefighters.
If you are a dedicated hockey player looking to prepare for off-season employment as a wildland firefighter, reach out for more information.
League affiliation
Premier level Junior Hockey! The McCall Smokejumpers are a Tier III junior hockey team based in McCall, Idaho, competing in the Premier Division of the USPHL and serving as a vital bridge for elite amateur players striving to compete at higher levels of the game.
USPSHL Premier Hockey League is the nation’s largest amateur ice hockey leage and the only league to span the continental United States and parts of Canada.
Program details
SCHEDULE
The Smokejumpers will play in approximately 42 games in a regular season schedule throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to regular season games, the Smokejumpers will participate in a college showcase that will provide direct access for our players to be seen by university programs. A typical on-ice practice week for our players consists of 3-5 practices, depending upon each week’s game schedule.
OFF-ICE TRAINING
We recognize the importance of off-ice training in the overall development of our hockey players. To help amplify their development as athletes, we have partnered with Legend CrossFit to design and implement specialized workout programs tailored for the Smokejumper Hockey Team. Our athletes train in a fully equipped weight facility 2–3 times per week under the guidance of dedicated instructors, ensuring structured, team-oriented sessions that enhance strength, endurance, and mobility that will elevate their performance on the ice.
EQUIPMENT
The Smokejumpers are proud to partner with CCM Hockey to meet our team’s equipment and apparel needs. Through this partnership, our players are outfitted with high-quality gloves, helmets, bags, backpacks, tracksuits, and training gear.
Arena
The Smokejumper Hockey Team is proud to call the Manchester Ice & Event Centre its home.
This premier facility not only offers stunning lake views from the ice but also carries a meaningful legacy.
The Manchester Ice & Event Centre was built in memory of Richard Sabala, who passed away in 1993 at age 17. To honor his love for McCall, the Sabala family created a foundation that led community efforts to fund local projects, including the Rich Sabala Athletic Complex and later the Ice Centre.
Through private donations, grants, and countless volunteer hours, $6.2 million was raised to complete the facility, which opened on July 2, 2003. Located in downtown McCall across from Payette Lake, the Centre features an NHL-size ice sheet, grandstand seating, and lakeside dining, serving as a lasting gathering place for the community.
Manchester Ice
and Events Center
200 E Lake Street McCall, Idaho
The Smokejumper Hockey Team is proud to call the Manchester Ice & Event Centre its home.
This premier facility not only offers stunning lake views from the ice but also carries a meaningful legacy.
The Manchester Ice & Event Centre was built in memory of Richard Sabala, who passed away in 1993 at age 17. To honor his love for McCall, the Sabala family created a foundation that led community efforts to fund local projects, including the Rich Sabala Athletic Complex and later the Ice Centre.
Through private donations, grants, and countless volunteer hours, $6.2 million was raised to complete the facility, which opened on July 2, 2003. Located in downtown McCall across from Payette Lake, the Centre features an NHL-size ice sheet, grandstand seating, and lakeside dining, serving as a lasting gathering place for the community.