Rampage AAA Midget Major alumni and Colorado Springs native, Josh Holmstrom just recently signed a AHL contract with the  NY Islanders' AHL Affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (ATO = Amateur Try Out), starting off his professional hockey career only days after completing his collegiate hockey career.

Holmstrom played for the Rampage U18 AAA in the 2006-08 seasons and lead the team in scoring with 58 points in 52 games in his second season.  The U18 Rampage won the State, District and National Championships in 2007 in Detroit, MI and the State Championship title in 2008.  

After the Rampage, Holmstrom spend 2+ years in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars and the Sioux Falls Stampede.  In the USHL, he played for 125 games with 20g, 41a and 62 PIM including the 7 playoff games for the clubs.  He then went on to play university hockey for Umass-Lowell for 4 years, including wearing the "A"  during his Junior year and being selected as Captain for his Senior year.  For Umass-Lowell, Holmstrom went from a freshman year of only 5-wins to helping the team to two Hockey East tournament championships in his Jr and Sr. years.  Overall he played 154 games and contributed 43g, 74a and 87 PIM while at Umass-Lowell. 

  The 6', 175 lbs. Right Winger is a graduate of Doherty High School in Colorado Springs and grew up playing his youth hockey in the same rinks we find many of our young Rampage talent today.  Besides his immediate plans of playing in the NHL, Josh wants to stay involved with hockey in others ways as well through coaching or business.  He will graduate from Umass-Lowell with a degree in Business Administration with marketing and management concentrations. 

"It is always exciting to see some of the local Colorado Springs talent and our very own Rampage alumni take the next steps in their hockey careers.  Through their dedication, commitment and hard work, their dreams start to become reality.  Josh gives his all in every game and always took advantage of every opportunity to learn and improve.  This work ethic and outlook will take him far.  We look forward to the day when he steps on the ice for the Islanders.  He is very capable of making it to that level with a bit of seasoning in the AHL." commented Andrew Sherman, Rampage U18 AAA Head Coach since 2004. 

Sherman adds, "We expect that this will be one of many Rampage alumni and current players having the opportunity to take their game to the highest level.  That is the goal of our programs and we will strive to provide every opportunity for these young players to realize their potential.  We have dedicated coaches and a model program from U8 on to U18 in place to foster such development.  We look forward to the next Josh Holmstrom story from the Rampage programs ."  

So keep an eye on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the NY Islanders for the Holmstrom name on the back of the jersey.

Congratulations Josh! 
The Rampage family couldn't be more proud!