The winding hockey career path that began as youth-league teammates has come full circle for Alex Kim and Noah Clarke.

The California natives, once teammates on the Anaheim Jr. Ducks (CA) who later played together collegiately, have reunited as coaches for the program with two teams competing at the 2025 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier I 15O and 16U National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin.

Kim, a Los Angeles native, is the club’s director of player development and head coach of the 15O and 16U teams, each of which advanced to nationals. He played collegiately at Miami of Ohio and Colorado College, followed by 11 seasons of professional hockey before transitioning to the coaching ranks with the Jr. Ducks, where he has been for 13 seasons.

Clarke, who is from La Verne, California, was the first Southern California native to be drafted by and play for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. At the time of his first call-up to the Kings in 2003, the Los Angeles Times headline read, “Chance for a Local Kid to Make Good.”

Clarke played professionally for several years before finishing his playing career overseas.

Now he is in his first season of coaching for the Jr. Ducks with both the 15O and 16U teams.

After playing together on the Jr. Ducks, Clarke and Kim were also teammates at Colorado College for two seasons. They each played for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL as well, although their time on the team never overlapped.  

Kim said he wasn’t sure what to expect when he contacted Clarke about coaching with the Jr. Ducks.

“I just kind of went for it,” Kim said. “He was more interested in it than I thought he initially would be, and that was great, because I wasn’t sure if he wanted to do it or not … but he was up for it and it’s awesome.”

Clarke admitted he wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a coaching perspective.

“I came out to some of these spring practices, and I wasn’t sure if I was just going to help out, or coach. He [Alex] said just come out and help me out with these practices and get to know some of these kids,” Clarke said.

“I’m thinking back to when I was 15, 16 and you start to develop relationships,” he added. “I’m just trying to pass on my knowledge. ‘We’ve gone through this. We know what it is.’ To be able to pass that on and see the growth from the beginning of the year to now is pretty cool.”

Clarke got a quick head coaching baptism by fire in the 16U Pacific District final with a trip to nationals on the line. The Ducks were assessed too many penalties in the semifinal game, which meant Kim had to sit out the championship. As such, Clarke and fellow assistant David Walker ran the bench.

The Ducks earned a trip to nationals with a 3-2 victory in overtime against Team Alaska.

“It was definitely a little nerve-wracking, but it was good,” Clarke said. “We started out OK, but then the third period was great, and our overtime was fantastic, and we got the win.”

Before the game, Clarke gave his team a simple pep talk

“It’s added pressure. But then again, it’s still hockey and I’ve played a lot of hockey,” Clarke said. “My message was, ‘We’ve got a great opportunity here. Win one game and we’re in the national championships. Go out and play your game, you guys know what to do.’”

Kim said that Clarke’s career experience not only provides a tremendous vault of knowledge for the players but also provides credibility.

“You kind of see the trajectory that kids from California can make it,” Kim said. “It’s actual physical evidence of someone actually doing it for kids that are aspiring to play at the highest level. You see that in front of you and it’s an inspiration for the kids. It’s great to have him around.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.