Cameron Gibbar is trying to follow in the footsteps of many Littleton Hockey Association players that came before him. The path toward playing Division-I collegiate hockey may be little worn down from all the traffic the LHA has sent through to the next level, but it still can only be navigated by the most talented, hard working, determined athletes.

Cam, as he’s known to friends and family, is a goalie playing junior hockey in the Western States Hockey League for the Phoenix Polar Bears. He currently leads the league in save percentage. 

Cam is one year removed from graduating from Colorado Academy. He isn’t looking too far into the future just yet. Right now he is focused on leading the Polar Bears to a league title and a spot in the Tier-III national tournament.

“I’m not sure what school I’m going to attend yet,” says Gibbar. “The plan right now is to play another year of junior hockey and try to get a scholarship.”

Cam’s father Tim Gibbar will be proud of Cam whatever decision he makes. Tim, who served as an assistant coach for most of Cam’s youth, is now the President of LHA.  A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Tim became a fan of the game when the St. Louis Blues came to his hometown. It wasn’t long after this that Cam became a fan of the Blues also.

Said Tim, “Cam loved hockey by the time he was two years old.”

Cam confirms this story, but mainly because that’s just what his dad has always told him. One memory that is very vivid for Cam is the first time he laced up the skates and tried his luck on the public ice rink in St. Louis.

“I remember going out to the public skating rink for my first time like it was yesterday. Probably because I fell right away,” Cam says.

He was no doubt influenced by his father to pick up the game of hockey.

“My dad always helped me out right from the beginning. I think he was an assistant coach for every team I played on until midgets.”

Being part of the LHA certainly has its perks. With so many Colorado Avalanche offspring passing through the system over the years it almost seems a player would be unlucky not to share a locker room with the kin of a famous father.

“Playing in the Littleton Hockey Association was great. I got to play four years alongside Jon Roy, the oldest son of every goaltenders idol, Patrick Roy,” says the younger Gibbar.

“He was really great. He’d come out on the ice to help out at practice a lot. He loved helping out the defensemen.”

If getting invaluable ice time with one of the greatest goalies in National Hockey League history weren’t enough, imagine what it would be like accompanying the Canadian superstar back to his hometown of Quebec. The players on Cam’s team were joined by their families on a trip to the French-Canadian city for the Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament.
Tim says the tournament is one of his fondest memories.

“We got to travel with Patrick Roy and his family. They were our hosts in Quebec. It was like going to hockey heaven for our whole family!”

Cam has always enjoyed the spotlight. It’s one of the main factors that attracted him to playing goalie.

“For me, it was just one of those things that clicked when I put the pads on. Every kid wants to play goalie once. I liked the attention, knowing all the pressure was on me trying to be the hero.”

Cam is making a lot of progress towards becoming an elite goalie and the Phoenix Polar Bears are a great fit for him.

According to dad, head coach Harry Mahood has done as good of a job running the team that anyone could ask.

Says Tim, “He is very fortunate to be in a great program with an exceptional coach. The team has a chance to compete for a national championship so that is great motivation.”

Once the season is over Cam will get a chance to figure out his future and hang out with his younger brother Christian, a freshmen hockey player (Mountain Vista) following in his brothers footsteps.

Yet, the next two years will determine if Cam can follow in the footsteps of many LHA alum to the next level.