Alumni

Competed at the 16U AAA and 18U AAA levels with the Jr. Reign before advancing to juniors with the San Diego Sabers, where he played for two seasons. While competing in juniors, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from UC San Diego, graduating in 2022.

He is now a Software Development Engineer at Amazon, where he was promoted to SDE II after just 1.5 years.

Emmett Croteau, an Alberta-born goaltender, traveled to California at just 14 years old to chase his dream, leaving home at a very young age. The 2003-born netminder played under Coach Tomas in 2019–2020 with the U18 AAA Ontario Jr. Reign and with St. John Bosco High School, where he won a Division 2 State Championship.

In the spring of 2020, he was drafted into the USHL by the Waterloo Black Hawks, selected 150th overall. He joined the team that September and went on to play three seasons in Waterloo, becoming one of the league’s most elite goaltenders.

In June 2022, after his second season, Emmett was drafted by the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens—162nd overall and the first pick of the sixth round—before beginning his third year with the Black Hawks. He also committed to Clarkson University to play Division I NCAA hockey.

During his first season at Clarkson, Emmett battled injuries and appeared in only six games. In the summer of 2024, he transferred to Dartmouth College, where he played the following season and led the Big Green to an ECAC semifinal appearance.

Emmett has begun the 2025–2026 season with Dartmouth on a franchise-leading pace, determined to make a run to the Frozen Four in pursuit of an NCAA Championship.

His time in California with Coach Tomas was invaluable—one of the best experiences of his life, and something he will never forget.

Matthew Berezowski is a Kapusta Hockey Academy alumnus who has built a steady and well-rounded hockey and academic career.

He developed at the Jr. Reign 16U & 18U AAA levels before moving on to junior hockey with the San Diego Sabers (USPHL). In the 2019 NAHL Draft, Berezowski was selected 36th overall (2nd Round, 4th pick) by the Chippewa Steel.

Berezowski spent 2019–2021 with the Chippewa Steel (NAHL), continuing his development at the Tier II junior level. He then played the 2021–2022 season with Liberty University (ACHA Division I), where the team reached the Nationals Quarterfinals.

Beginning in 2022, Berezowski competed at the NCAA level with Bethel University (NCAA Division III) through 2026. Off the ice, he has maintained strong academic performance and was named the 2022 MIAC Elite All-Conference Male Scholar-Athlete for winter sports, earning a 4.0 GPA.

Matthew Berezowski’s career reflects consistent progression through junior, collegiate, and NCAA hockey while prioritizing academic success.

Jakub Havlíček is a Kapusta Hockey Academy alumnus from Czechia who has followed a steady development path through European and North American hockey.

He began his youth career in Benešov before spending multiple seasons with HC Slavia Praha at the U17 level, gaining experience in Czech national competition. During the 2023–24 season, Havlíček moved up to the U20 level with HC Smíchov 1913, where he produced offensively while continuing his physical development as a forward.

In 2024–25, Havlíček gained valuable North American experience, playing high school hockey at St. John Bosco High School in California and competing with the Frontier Selects LA Prep program. His time in the U.S. allowed him to adapt to a new style of play, improve his English, and develop independence off the ice.

Reflecting on his experience, Havlíček noted that the transition was challenging at first, but ultimately rewarding, providing him with new perspective, friendships, and personal growth. He currently plays for HC Smíchov in Prague and looks forward to returning to North America in the future.

Jakub Havlíček’s path highlights the value of international experience and long-term development, both on and off the ice.

Matyas started playing hockey at the age of six in Kladno, Czech Republic, where he grew up in the Kladno hockey system and developed a passion for the game.

At seventeen, Matyas made the life-changing decision to travel to the United States as an exchange student and continue his hockey career overseas. Matyas joined his high school team and had a very successful season, which opened new doors. During that year, a coach noticed Matyas' performance and recommended him to the San Diego Sabers.

The following season, Matyas became part of the San Diego Sabers organization. He noted that playing for the Sabers was an incredible experience that helped him grow both as a hockey player and as a person. "Competing in the U.S. taught me discipline, confidence, and a new approach to the game."

After his time in San Diego, Matyas returned to the Czech Republic and played semi-professional hockey in Czechia 3. Later, he continued his studies and represented his university team.

Matyas' hockey journey then took him to Spain, where he completed an internship and played for the Logroño Panthers. "Hockey has allowed me to travel, experience different cultures, and meet amazing people around the world."

"I am truly grateful for my time with the San Diego Sabers and for everyone who supported me along the way. My experience in the United States remains one of the most important chapters of my hockey and personal life."

Logan Burger's interest in hockey began when the LA Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2014. He started playing hockey at nine years old and transitioned to club hockey a year later. Logan played for Coach Tomas for approximately 7-8 years with the Jr. Reign Hockey Club, competing on his 14AA, 16AAA, and 18AAA teams. He states that during this time, he was able to develop in every area of his life, both on and off the ice.

"Tomas always pushed us to become better people while also guiding us and giving us the skills to become the best players possible. One thing that has stuck with me throughout my hockey career is how he taught me to read and watch the game. While hockey is both a skillful and physical sport, Tomas emphasized becoming a student of the game, as hockey IQ is one of the most important aspects of a player’s success. The skills and lessons he taught me have helped shape the person I am today and have played a major role in the success I’ve found on the ice."

Currently, Logan is a junior playing hockey for the United States Naval Academy, where he hopes to become a Naval Aviator after graduating next year. "I carry the lessons Tomas taught me both on and off the ice and am forever grateful for the impact he has had on my life."

When Marko Giourof first stepped onto the ice at just four years old, he could barely keep his balance. The rink felt enormous, the skates felt foreign, and the puck never stayed where he wanted it. But standing beside the ice was his first coach, Tomas Kapusta, who saw far more than a young kid learning to skate He saw a future built on skill.

From the very beginning, Tomas focused on what mattered most, edge work, balance, puck control, vision, and confidence with the puck. He taught Marko how to think the game, how to protect the puck, and how to rely on skill and hockey IQ rather than size or strength. Those lessons became critical, because Marko was a late bloomer.

Years later, when Marko was drafted into the NAHL at just 135 pounds, he wasn’t the biggest player in the room..far from it. But he had something that couldn’t be taught overnight. A skill set built patiently over years. The foundation laid at four years old allowed him to compete, survive, and ultimately thrive at an elite level. Through hard work and belief in his game, Marko grew from an undersized draft pick into a Juniors All-Star, proving that skill, intelligence, and determination can close any gap with the proper lessons taught by having the right coach who believed in him. 

That same skill set carried him through elite youth hockey, juniors, and now to NCAA college hockey at Suffolk University. As the game got faster and more physical, Marko leaned on what he had learned early..his skating, his puck skills, his ability to read and control the game. What once helped him overcome being smaller became the very reason he succeeded.

Marko’s journey is a reminder that development isn’t about who grows first it’s about who is built the right way. And it all started with a coach who believed in teaching skills before results.

Thank you, Coach Tomas Kapusta, for believing early, for teaching the fundamentals that mattered, and for giving a late bloomer the tools & confidence to play this game at the highest levels. What you taught our son Marko at four years old is still showing up on the ice today.