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FAIRMONT SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ICE HOCKEY WINS D-1 CHAMPIONSHIP IN ANAHEIM DUCKS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Just two years after its inception, the innovative hockey program, which incorporates on and off-ice training into the regular school day, freezes out the competition

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The ice hockey program at Fairmont San Juan Capistrano has been getting a lot of attention since its formation in 2021. People from all over California have taken notice of its impressive rise during that short time, particularly after they captured the Division 1 title in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League (ADHSHL) – besting teams like Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita Catholic High School – and earning an invitation to compete at the state level.

 

A Program Like No Other
But it’s not just the team’s record that people are talking about. There’s also quite a buzz surrounding the innovative way Fairmont incorporates its athletes’ on and off-ice training into the course of the actual school days. “Four days a week, our players skate on a rink for their first period class before jumping on the bus to the campus for their academic and athletic training classes,” said Dack Petersen, General Manager of Fairmont Hockey. “While other hockey players aren’t getting home until the evening, our athletes are wrapping everything up – school, skating, strength and conditioning, speed and agility – by 4:00 in the afternoon.”

Petersen first approached Fairmont about starting a hockey program in 2019 and had a clear vision for what he wanted that program to look like. “There are lots of serious hockey players out there and I was looking for a way to create a program where they could get not only exceptional training but also an exceptional education. I was very familiar with Fairmont’s reputation for academic excellence. I also knew that they had some street hockey experience and were always on the cutting edge of introducing new opportunities to their students. I approached the school’s leadership and, thankfully, they agreed.”

A Pandemic Pause
But then came COVID, so the program was put on hold for two years. Petersen took advantage of this time to put things in place so they would be ready to hit the ground running once cleared to return. 

For its part, Fairmont made the strategic decision to launch the program at its newly acquired campus in San Juan Capistrano, where they were investing considerable resources into developing athletic programs which would appeal to high-level athletes. One such program is Fairmont Athletic Academy, which caters to elite middle-school athletes and partners with organizations like Strikers Soccer Club – Orange County’s #1 youth soccer club, and Tstreet Volleyball Club – California’s #1 volleyball club.

Success Beyond Their Expectations
A lot of things have happened since hockey’s inaugural 2021-22 season. “We set a goal of having a strong JV team by the end of our second year,” said Petersen. “Not only did we meet that goal, but we exceeded it because that team was elevated to a Varsity D-3 level within the first month of our first season. We have also added Varsity D-1 and Varsity D-2 teams since we started the program – something we didn’t expect to do until our fifth year.”

Difference-Making Partnerships
A big part of this success, said Petersen, is due to the partnership Fairmont entered into with West Coast Academy, whose co-founders, Kevin Bieksa and Dean Caban, shared the same priority as the program: helping young athletes reach the highest levels in hockey and in life. Bieksa played professionally for 15 years, including three with the Ducks, and is a well-known television broadcaster and analyst. Caban, widely recognized as a student of both the science and art of hockey, has been coaching elite players from all over the world for two decades.

Another contributor to Fairmont’s success is the high-caliber off-ice training athletes receive through the school’s partnership with The Treigning Lab, which leverages science and technology to maximize performance and develops cutting-edge, personalized training regimens for each individual athlete.

Moving Forward
Fairmont hockey has come a long way in a very short period of time. But Petersen isn’t content to rest on its laurels. He has plans to expand upon its middle school program so more players can benefit from its elite training before they reach high school. He’s also eyeing international hockey players. “There’s a lot of interest from athletes outside of our country. We believe that tapping into this pool will not only benefit international athletes but also help prepare our domestic players for global competition.”

Fairmont has some lofty goals as it moves forward because they believe they have the makings of one of the premier high school programs not just regionally, but nationally. But no matter what they set their sights on, Petersen says they will remain committed to staying true to Fairmont hockey’s four pillars of youth performance: academics, athletic development, character and leadership, and strength and conditioning.

About Fairmont Schools
Fairmont is Orange County’s oldest and largest secular, co-educational preschool – 12th grade private school. Voted Best Private School in Orange County for nine consecutive years, Fairmont is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and Cognia. It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

For more information, visit the school’s website.
For questions about admissions, contact Betty Petersen at bpetersen@fairmontschools.com. 

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SOURCE Fairmont Schools

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America’s Largest Political Group Is Getting Its Own Election Night

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A record 45% of Americans identify with neither party. On November 3, they get the first nationally televised Election Night built around the independent voter bloc, presented by United Independents, the organization behind the Independent National Convention, in partnership with DeFiance Media.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Can the country’s largest bloc of voters turn identity into representation? Independents now make up 45% of U.S. adults, a record high in Gallup’s 2025 data, yet partisan coverage continues to dominate mainstream mediums. On November 3, one broadcast will cover the election from the Independent point of view.

Broadcast live from the National Press Club’s television studio in Washington, D.C. Election Night 2026: Independent Edition is an eight-hour program hosted by Christopher Life, founder and CEO of United Independents, and Macy Gunnell, NewsForce’s White House correspondent. DeFiance Media will be producing and streaming the broadcast.

Built on live election data from The Associated Press (AP), the program will call the national races as the returns come in. Then it goes where other broadcasts don’t: race-by-race coverage of independent candidates in consequential congressional contests, and guest conversations with the strategists and organizers behind them.

Built for the Voters Both Parties Are Chasing

Two generations of Americans have come of age as independent voters, and in 74 years of nationally televised Election Night broadcasts, not one has been built around them. This one is: national results and the balance of power, dedicated coverage of the independent candidates who could tip the next Congress, and a live chat with selected viewer questions put to the hosts and guests on air.

Open to Every Newsroom

Television pool feed. U.S. television outlets, including local stations, can carry the program live, in full or in part, separate from DeFiance Media’s full-program streaming.Social streaming. The broadcast streams through participating social media partners. Channels that want to carry it can sign up at Election2026.live.Live clips and excerpts. Newsrooms, commentators, and creators can pull portions of the program for reporting and social distribution while the broadcast is underway.

Request access through the Media & Distribution Access Form at Election2026.live.

Free and Accessible Nationwide

Going live Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, from 6 PM- 2 AM ET. Updates, guest announcements, and viewing instructions: Election2026.live.

Media Contact

Shaun Saunders
shaun@graffiticreativegroup.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-largest-political-group-is-getting-its-own-election-night-302919753.html

SOURCE DeFiance Media

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Pianist Michael Weinstein Wins Best Social Media Music Collaborations at the 2026 Vega Awards

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With more than a million followers across social media, Weinstein’s piano collaborations bring together vocalists from around the world to create unique musical performances and reach new audiences.

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Pianist, entrepreneur and social media creator Michael Weinstein has been recognized at the 2026 Vega Digital Awards in the Social Media Collaboration category for his music collaboration series, Piano Sessions: Bringing Voices Together Through Music.

“I love collaborating with talented singers including building friendships that have become just as meaningful as the music itself.”

Weinstein has built a social media audience of more than a million followers across TikTok, Instagram and other platforms by sharing piano performances and collaborations with singers from around the world. His videos feature vocalists performing alongside his piano accompaniment, creating intimate musical performances that showcase each artist’s individual talent and style.

While Weinstein has spent much of his professional career building businesses and marketing consumer brands, music has always remained one of his greatest passions.

“Music has always been a huge part of my life and one of the things I enjoy most is collaborating with other musicians,” said Weinstein. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many incredibly talented singers and I love being able to play alongside them and create something special together. It’s also rewarding to introduce these artists to new audiences while building relationships and friendships that have become just as meaningful as the music itself.”

An accomplished pianist and keyboardist, Weinstein has collaborated with an impressive range of vocalists, including artists who have performed and recorded with Maroon 5, Sting, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Usher, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. He has also collaborated with standout performers from American Idol, America’s Got Talent and The Voice.

Weinstein is also planning a live concert in New York City in 2027, bringing together several of the talented vocalists featured on his social media channels for a special collaborative performance. Additional details will be announced in the coming months.

Outside of music, Weinstein is the Founder and CEO of JAM Direct, a marketing and advertising agency, and former Chief Marketing Officer of Allstar Products Group, where he was responsible for marketing some of the most successful products in “As Seen On TV” history, including the Snuggie, ShamWow and Shake Weight.

Watch Michael Weinstein’s performances here:

https://linktr.ee/mweinsteinmusic

About the Vega Digital Awards

The Vega Digital Awards is an international competition recognizing excellence in social media, digital marketing and brand strategy. Judged by the International Awards Associate (IAA), the competition honors work that demonstrates innovation, effectiveness and measurable impact across the global marketing landscape.

Media Contact

Michael Weinstein, JAM Direct, 1 9146610053, mw@jamdirect.com, https://michaelweinstein.me/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/pianist-michael-weinstein-wins-best-social-media-music-collaborations-at-the-2026-vega-awards-302919551.html

SOURCE JAM Direct

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Landis+Gyr Secures Major Contract with Leading US Utility

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CHAM, Switzerland and ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Landis+Gyr Group AG (SIX: LAND), a global energy technology leader driving intelligent innovation across the grid, today announced that it has secured a major contract with a leading US investor-owned electric utility. The agreement covers more than 3 million advanced metering endpoints.

Under the agreement, Landis+Gyr will provide Revelo meters and associated network and head-end system technologies, complemented by advanced security solutions, premium support, and software maintenance and services. The deployment is expected to advance the utility’s grid modernization objectives by enhancing security, grid visibility and operational performance.

“This important win reflects the strong momentum of our Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio and the trust customers place in Landis+Gyr to support large-scale grid modernization programs. By combining advanced metering, integrated technology, security and support capabilities, we look forward to helping this utility enhance grid visibility, reliability and operational performance,” said Peter Mainz, Chief Executive Officer of Landis+Gyr.

About Landis+Gyr

Landis+Gyr is a global energy technology leader, delivering intelligent solutions that connect devices, data, and decisions across the grid. Trusted by more than 2,000 utilities worldwide, we transform traditional devices into intelligent, networked sensors, giving utilities real-time grid visibility and system control. With these combined insights, electric, gas, and water companies can anticipate demand, optimize operations, and deliver energy that’s more reliable, resilient, accessible, safe, and sustainable for everyone. For more information, please visit our website www.landisgyr.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/landisgyr-secures-major-contract-with-leading-us-utility-302919687.html

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