Rocky Mountain Showcase Opens with Fireworks as Kaos, Fleas, Yotes & Jackals Invade Colorado Springs

One of the busiest weekends of the Rocky Mountain schedule kicked off in style Friday night at Pepsi Roller Sports Arena, as PIHA Semi-Pro and Pro action rolled out six games in rapid succession. Headlining the weekend is the long-awaited season debut of the Naples Labeda Kaos Pro squad, back with a revamped roster after last year’s stunning collapse in the Pro Championship Final. Joining the party is the brand-new Phoenix Fleas Pro franchise, built on the core of last season’s Semi-Pro champion Arizona Yotes organization. With the Phoenix Jackals and Arizona Yotes now operating under that same umbrella, Friday night felt like the official unveiling of a new power structure in the West.

Before the Pros took the floor, the Yotes and Jackals renewed their rivalry with a spirited Semi-Pro doubleheader. From there, the spotlight shifted to a Pro twinbill between the Phoenix Fleas and Colorado Springs Thunder, capped by a statement-making two-game thrashing from the visiting Naples Labeda Kaos against the Parker Royals.

Semi-Pro Twinbill: Yotes vs. Jackals Set the Tone

Phoenix Jackals 5, Arizona Yotes 4 (OT)

Semi-Pro – 5:45 PM

The first game of the weekend was a thriller, as the Phoenix Jackals outlasted the Arizona Yotes 5–4 in overtime. Arizona carried much of the play, outshooting the Jackals 25–18 and building momentum off a pair of goals from Theo Rooke and a multi-point effort from Warren Jelinek. The Jackals, however, matched them stride for stride, with Koby Jones and Dylan Fridlund helping to erase deficits at key moments. The Yotes carried a lead into the late stages, but Phoenix refused to go away, tying the game in the second and forcing OT. In the extra frame, Conner Daniel played hero, jumping into the rush and burying the game-winner just under two minutes in to seal the first Rocky Mountain win of the weekend for the Jackals.

Arizona Yotes 5, Phoenix Jackals 4

Semi-Pro – 6:25 PM

Game two flipped the script, as the Arizona Yotes answered back with a 5–4 win in regulation to split the doubleheader. Arizona’s top duo of Warren Jelinek and Kaden Paterno absolutely took over, combining on multiple goals and driving the Yotes’ offense with speed and puck control. The Yotes jumped out to a three-goal cushion in the first period and extended the lead early in the second, forcing the Jackals to chase the game. Phoenix showed plenty of fight—getting goals from Landon Menard and Conner Daniel and cashing in on the power play to keep things interesting. In the end, though, the Yotes’ early offensive burst and timely saves from Michal Nabozny held up, giving Arizona a hard-earned split in what promises to be a season-long in-house rivalry.

Pro Doubleheader: Phoenix Fleas vs. Colorado Springs Thunder

Colorado Springs Thunder 6, Phoenix Fleas 1

Pro – 7:15 PM

The Phoenix Fleas made their Pro debut against a seasoned Colorado Springs Thunder squad that wasted no time reminding everyone why they’re a Western mainstay. After a scoreless first period where both teams felt each other out, the Thunder exploded for six unanswered goals in the second. Parker Harrison and Austin Resseguie led the charge, each posting multi-point efforts as Colorado Springs turned quick counterattacks into grade-A chances. Phoenix’s lone answer came from Zach Hoffman, who broke the shutout with a second-period strike, but the Fleas spent much of the frame pinned in their own end. Thunder goaltender Avery McDonnell and the defensive group in front of him kept Phoenix’s talented forward group largely to the outside, cruising to a convincing 6–1 win in the opener.

Phoenix Fleas 4, Colorado Springs Thunder 3 (OT)

Pro – 8:15 PM

The second game was a completely different story, as the Phoenix Fleas showed exactly why there’s so much buzz around this new Pro roster. Phoenix struck three times in the first period, with Conner Daniel, Aydin Schwetz, and Kawena Lee all finding the net to put the visitors in front. The Thunder chipped away, leaning on goals from Ryan Wass-Tursick, Cody Ayers, and Parker Harrison (on the power play) to claw back into a 3–3 tie. Both teams traded chances in a tense second half, with Phoenix’s structure and backchecking significantly improved from Game One. In overtime, it was Zach Hoffman again—this time shorthanded—who jumped on a loose puck and buried the walk-off winner, giving the Fleas their first-ever Pro victory and a hard-earned split with Colorado Springs.

Pro Showcase: Naples Labeda Kaos vs. Parker Royals

Naples Labeda Kaos 11, Parker Royals 2

Pro – 9:15 PM

If there were any questions about how the Naples Labeda Kaos would respond after last season’s heartbreaking collapse in the Pro Final, they answered them loudly with an 11–2 demolition of the Parker Royals. Naples wasted little time asserting themselves, with Vinny Cafone opening the scoring and setting the tone for a relentless offensive onslaught. Star forward John Schiavo went to work in the second period, rattling off a string of goals to complete a dominant performance, while Kyle Novak, Jordan Greenberg, and Ryan Marker piled on with precision finishing. The Kaos attack came in waves, as nearly every shift produced sustained pressure and high-danger looks. Parker managed a pair of goals from Lucas Coon and a late strike created by Lester Lewis and company, but they simply couldn’t slow the Kaos machine once it got rolling.

Naples Labeda Kaos 8, Parker Royals 3

Pro – 10:00 PM

The nightcap saw Naples continue their statement weekend with an 8–3 victory to finish a convincing sweep over Parker. This time it was Ryan Marker and John Schiavo leading the charge, with Marker striking early and often and Schiavo once again driving play and racking up points. Trevor Mullaly added his name to the goal column with a pair of tallies, while the Greenberg brothers and the Cafones continued to round out one of the most dangerous forward groups in the league. Parker showed more pushback in this one, getting three goals from Andrew Decarlo and Jasper Lester that capitalized on breakdowns and extra-attacker situations. Still, the Kaos’ mix of elite skill, depth, and crisp puck movement was too much, as they closed out their long-awaited season debut with a combined 19–5 aggregate over two games.

TEAM-BY-TEAM FRIDAY SNAPSHOT

Arizona Yotes (Semi-Pro)

The Yotes walk away from Friday at 1–1–0, but more importantly, they showed their championship pedigree is intact. The duo of Warren Jelinek and Kaden Paterno looked every bit like top-tier Semi-Pro talent, driving offense in both games and responding immediately after adversity. With that kind of frontline production and solid goaltending from Michal Nabozny, Arizona looks poised for another deep run.

Phoenix Jackals (Semi-Pro)

The Jackals also finish the night 1–1–0, grabbing three total points thanks to their overtime win in Game One. Conner Daniel’s OT heroics and multi-goal performance in the set, along with strong play from Koby Jones and Landon Menard, proved this group can trade blows with anyone. As they round into form under the Phoenix umbrella, the Jackals look like the perfect counterbalance to the Yotes within the organization.

Phoenix Fleas (Pro)

It was a true “welcome to Pro” night for the Fleas—outclassed 6–1 in the opener, then bouncing back with a gutsy 4–3 overtime win. Zach Hoffman emerged as the early face of their offense, scoring all of Phoenix’s goals across the two games, including the dramatic shorthanded OT winner. Paired with the strong two-way work of Aydin Schwetz, Conner Daniel, and Kawena Lee, the Fleas showed they can adjust quickly and compete with an established Pro staple like Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Thunder (Pro)

The Thunder reminded everyone of their pedigree in Game One, smothering the Fleas with a six-goal second period and locking things down defensively. Game Two’s overtime loss will sting, but it also showed that Colorado Springs can generate offense from all over the lineup—especially through key contributors like Parker Harrison, Cody Ayers, and Ryan Wass-Tursick. A 1–0–1 night is still a productive start against a talented new opponent.

Naples Labeda Kaos (Pro)

Naples’ long-delayed season debut could not have gone better: 2–0–0, 19 goals for, and 5 against. Their revamped roster looked frighteningly cohesive right out of the gate, with Ryan Marker, John Schiavo, Vinny Cafone, Trevor Mullaly, and Jordan & Justin Greenberg all flashing elite-level chemistry. If this is the baseline, the rest of the Western Pro field has a serious problem on its hands.

Parker Royals (Pro)

It was a tough night at the office for the Royals, who ran straight into a buzzsaw in their first look at the 2025–26 Kaos. While Lucas Coon, Lester Lewis, and Andrew Decarlo provided some offensive bright spots, Parker struggled to contain Naples’ speed and passing in transition. How they respond in their next outing will say a lot about their trajectory this season.

STARS & STORYLINES OF FRIDAY NIGHT

• Naples Sends a Message – After last year’s finals heartbreak, Naples Kaos opened with a ruthless two-game sweep, immediately reestablishing themselves as one of the favorites in the Pro West.

• Fleas Find Their Footing – Phoenix’s Pro debut featured a humbling loss and a resilient bounce-back win, highlighted by Zach Hoffman’s clutch scoring.

• Yotes–Jackals Rivalry Is Real – A one-goal OT game and a one-goal regulation game set the tone for what should be a fantastic Semi-Pro rivalry within the Phoenix organization.

• Thunder Still a Force – Colorado Springs showed they remain a heavyweight, dominating one game and pushing another to overtime despite Phoenix’s surge.

• Depth and Identity – From Kaos’ star-studded roster to the Fleas’ and Yotes’ organizational depth, Friday underscored just how deep and competitive the Rocky Mountain division has become.

WHAT’S NEXT

The action is just getting started. Naples Kaos, Phoenix Fleas, Arizona Yotes, and Phoenix Jackals will continue to make their rounds through the Rocky Mountain division on Saturday and Sunday, with more league points and early-season positioning on the line. As additional Semi-Pro and Pro teams join the fray throughout the weekend, Pepsi Roller Sports Arena and rinks across the region will be buzzing with high-stakes matchups, budding rivalries, and plenty more storylines in what’s shaping up to be a landmark season out West.