To All Monster Fans,
It has been both an honor and a privilege to have worked with the Fresno Monsters for these past several years and to have had the opportunity to help rebuild the hockey program in the city that I call home. For me to write this letter as someone whose been with the team since 2012 means that I have been fortunate enough to have been part of an amazing experience here in Fresno, and I am extremely humbled and grateful to have been allowed to be in this position.
This journey in my life and with this hockey community has been one of the most rewarding experiences that a person could ever ask for.
I would like to first thank the greatest fans in the Western States Hockey League, which is the entire community of Fresno. We have the best fans in the entire league, and putting together a team/season that you would be proud of, will always be one of the things I miss most.
We’ve accomplished great things together along the way…. 3 Western Division Championships, returning to Selland Arena, dominating social media, bringing the Stanley Cup to Fresno, and I’m proud to announce that a Fresno Monsters jersey will now sit in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Together we’ve turned the Fresno Monsters into the flagship of junior hockey here on the west coast.
I want to thank our former coaches— Bryce, Zach, Gumper, Brian, Eric, & Jay. And our present coaches - Cody, Bullett, and Kevin for all of their amazing support and dedication to our players and their development. I am proud to say that I have been able to work next to some of the hardest working and honest people I know and I am truly humbled to have been a part of their lives.
To Jeri and Bryce – thank you for taking a chance on a young kid and for taking me under your wings all those years ago. You both taught me how to become the best version of myself and taught me how to become successful both in my personal life and in business. Words can’t express how grateful I am to the both of you, thank you.
To all Fresno Monster players' - Thank you for everything.... For all the memories, for leaving your blood, sweat, & tears on the ice, and for becoming my brothers. I wish all of you the best of luck in your future endeavors and don’t forget to hit me up every once in awhile to let me know how things are going.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to Micolette, Kimo, Timm, Mike, Sandi, Amanda, Chris, the Monstars – Kenny, Christen, Taylor, Mikayla, Hannah, our medical staff – Ortiz, the Iwahashi’s, Doc. Bohigian, the Gateway Ice Center staff, and all of our off ice officials - you are all the best group that anybody could ever ask for and the absolute difference in what sets our organization apart from the rest.
To the White family and Jeff, I want to thank you for your unwavering support of our team and allowing me to have the responsibility to represent all of you and our organization to the hockey world and the community of Fresno.
I would also love to thank my family & friends for their support and the sacrifices that they made to allow me to serve in my position. Without you guys I wouldn’t have been able to achieve as much as I did.
The future of hockey in Fresno is bright and I have full confidence that this team will achieve higher goals than I ever dreamed of. Take care of each other and never take any of this for granted.
I hope you all enjoyed the show....
Humbly Yours,
James Karr
