October, 2010 - Rubber Hockey Magazine

VOLUME 6
ISSUE 2
From Kids to Coyotes, the Desert’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey
. CANYON STATE ACADEMY MAKING THE GRADE
. PRO PUCK IS BACK WITH COYOTES, SUNDOGS
October 2010
. FIREBIRDS’ MIDGETS TAKE TO NATIONAL STAGE
. IHAAZ’S HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION ON THE RISE
ArizonaRubber.com
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Arizona Rubber Magazine is published by:
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10 times a year, once monthly September through
May and once in the summer.
Jordan Nash-Boulden, a goaltender on Canyon State Hockey Academy’s
Pee Wee team, gobbles up the puck during a tournament game over
Labor Day Weekend. See more on the budding Canyon State program on
Page 19. Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
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Arizona Rubber Magazine is a production of:
Arizona State University’s senior class: Back row, from left, Jarett Costello,
Joe Schweiger, Mark Chadwick, Scott O’Neill and Chris Vassos; Front row,
from left, Paul Scola, Pat Lind and Mark Schacker
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publisher: Brian McDonough
editor: Shane Dale
designer: Julie Wilson
cover photo: Dave Getz/A-Z Photo.com
EDITOR’S COLUMN:
Youth hockey shaping up in Prescott
Y
es, most of the attention (and all of the drama) in the Arizona hockey world
seems to be focused on the Valley of the Sun, but it’s definitely worth taking
a glance up north every now and then.
The state’s Prescott-based minor league team, the Arizona Sundogs, is making some noise of its own - most recently with its announcement of its 2010-11
youth hockey program.
The organization will field three teams that’ll be separated
into Mites (8U), Squirts (10U) and Pee Wees (12U). Each team
will have 16 practices and play 16 games (eight home, eight
away) during the season.
“Our goal is to grow the game here and expose more young
kids to hockey,” said Shane Ferraro, the Sundogs’ vice president of communications. “We’re still a young program in our
fifth year of existence. It’s not (on the level as) the programs
down in Phoenix yet, but that’s our long-term goal.”
The cost for the program is $395 per player. Visit ArizonaSundogs.com or e-mail [email protected] to
learn more.
veteran left winger Ray Whitney. Get out to Jobing.com Arena and show the
NHL that hockey can thrive in the desert!
Our cover story this month features Arizona State University and its success, but we also want to recognize the resolve of Flagstaff’s Northern Arizona
University program since the Jay Lively rink collapse in
January.
Having to hold tryouts and practices at Tempe’s Oceanside Arena over the offseason, the Ice Jacks’ home-opener at
the new Jay Lively is finally here (Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. against
D-II rival ASU, to be exact).
“I can’t wait to play that first game in our new rink in
front of all of our fans,” said Ice Jacks senior Kevin Ingram.
It’s always neat to follow our fellow Arizonans as they
climb the ranks to junior, college and even professional
hockey. With that said, our alumni list is back (see Page 24).
As always, feel free to keep us in the loop with any additions or changes throughout the year by sending a quick
e-mail to [email protected].
And good luck to all of our alumni! Here’s to healthy and
productive seasons to every one of you!
While the future of the Phoenix Coyotes remains in doubt,
one thing’s certain: the ‘Yotes should be an exciting team to
Dale
watch this year following their surprising 2009-10 season, the best
in team history (see more on the Coyotes on Page 8).
Finally, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to register at ArizonaRubber.com
Along with the return of Jack Adams Award-winning coach Dave Tippett
to be in the running to win great hockey prizes all season long. We kicked
and captain Shane Doan, they re-signed 2009-10 acquisitions Lee Stempoff the promotion last issue and the response has been tremendous. This
niak and Wojtek Wolski, will benefit from the return of forward Scottie
month’s prizes start on Page 20. Good luck! b
Upshall, who missed the second half of last season due to injury, and signed
Reach Shane Dale at [email protected]
4
NCAA schools come calling
for plenty of local girls
By Brett Fera
The New CCM U+ Crazy Light
C
all them hockey players, call them student-athletes, call them leaders,
and call them trailblazers.
For Arizona hockey products like Chandler’s Lyndsey Fry, Glendale’s
Breanne Sundquist and a host of other local talents who took their games
to the next level in recent seasons, playing NCAA-caliber hockey goes well
beyond practices and study halls.
“It feels really great to know that we’re showing (female) players in Arizona just how far hockey can take them,” Fry explained. “It really is an awesome feeling to know that there are younger girls who look up to us and who
want to be in our shoes someday.
“Girls hockey needs to grow in Arizona and I hope that we can potentially
inspire young girls to chase
after this fantastic opportunity we have the privilege of
experiencing.”
Added Sundquist: “For
me, it’s amazing. There
aren’t a lot of girls in Arizona who play hockey yet.
It’s an awesome feeling to be
a leader for the younger girls
who want to play hockey.”
In all, Fry (Harvard
University) and Sundquist
(University of Vermont) are
just two in a group of at least
eight female hockey players
from Arizona set to grace
NCAA Division I or Division
III rosters this season.
Peoria’s Courtney
Orner is a freshman playing for Buffalo (N.Y.) State
beginning this fall, while
Glendale’s Allie Era also
headed to New York, earning a spot at SUNY-Plattsburgh. Loren Carrier, a
goalie out of Chandler, is
a freshman at Ohio State
Scottsdale’s Erin Wente, a sophomore at the University
University, while Glendale’s of Vermont, is one of a number of female hockey players
Kaley Gibson is not only
from Arizona who will suit up for big-time NCAA probeginning her college career grams this season. Photo/Brian Jenkins/University of Vermont
at Wisconsin’s St. Norbert
College, but is one of a complete roster of 24 freshmen helping the school’s
women’s team celebrate its first-ever season of play.
Phoenix’s Sydney Williams, a junior at Pennsylvania’s Chatham University, and Scottsdale’s Erin Wente, a sophomore at Vermont, are the local
experienced players of note taking to NCAA ice this season.
Sundquist said it’s indicative of the way hockey is growing across the board
in Arizona that so many strong talents are finding spots at big-time NCAA
programs.
Fry agreed that playing college hockey has a different feel for women than
it might for their male counterparts. While many of those on the men’s side
are clearly focused on the next step – junior hockey, international play and
ultimately the NHL draft – Fry notes that “women’s hockey players tend to
enjoy the experience more for what it is, (rather) than always worrying about
making it to the next level.”
Part of that may be unfair, since the Olympics - the ultimate goal, Fry said
– is seemingly the only step beyond college for women at this time.
Lynne Fry, Lyndsey’s mother, noted that it wasn’t so hard to see her
daughter move back east full time since she’s been playing throughout the
continent for years already. She added that at any school, let alone an Ivy
League institution like Harvard, female hockey players are smart to make
academics a true priority, in addition to their athletic endeavors.
“(Lyndsey is) only going to play hockey for so many years, then you have
to move on and do something different,” Lynne Fry said. “I think she’s been
really wise in keeping that focus. School, in the end, really is the most important thing to her.” b
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Devils With a Cause
Arizona State’s eight seniors are poised to take the program to yet another level
By Brett Fera
T
years until we look back and see the effect of our
time here,” explained Lind, ASU’s captain for the
third consecutive season. “Hopefully, I can look
back five, six years from now and see a couple of
national championships here.”
Powers said Lind, the Devils’ leading scorer
his first two seasons, epitomizes what he’s looking
for in terms of leadership.
“Patty is a kid who’s mature and wise beyond
his years,” said the coach. “He’s such a good ambassador for our program, on and off the ice.”
Powers added that having a legacy like Chadwick and a big-time former NCAA Division I play-
getting him out here. He turned around this program. He was the key component that really put
us over the top,” Powers explained.
When discussing what Vancouver native
Chris Vassos and Paul Scola of New England
bring to the Sun Devils, “maturity” and “leadership” are naturally the first words out of Powers’
mouth.
“(Vassos) is an older kid,” he said. “He played
three years in the BCHL, had a scholarship to
Alaska-Anchorage, but ended up down here at
ASU. He’s a kid who, out of anyone on this team,
has the best pedigree. He’s a captain this year.
“(Scola) got here and he’s just been
lights out. He’s a cool kid, real smooth.
He’s another kid who’s really mature
and wise beyond his years. The kids really respect him.”
Then there’s Scott O’Neill, a Southern California product who’d be playing his fourth year with the Devils this
season, except he got cut last year.
“He played his first two years, and
last year he had a horrendous, horrendous tryout,” Powers said. “Scott will
be the first to admit he didn’t deserve
(to make the team), but the way he
handled it was first-class all the way.
He came around the rink, hung around
the guys.
“He asked me if he could try out
again, and I was honest with him; I
said, ‘Scotty, we brought in a lot on
(defense).’ But he came back and was a
different player. He earned it this year.
I have a ton of respect for what he did.”
hey’ve had their ups. They’ve had their
downs. And they’ve had their ups again.
Plenty of them, to be sure.
For the Arizona State University’s (ASU) current senior class, the 2010-11 campaign marks
the end of a wild four-year ride through the
American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)
national standings.
But, as each one clings to the maroon and gold
for one last run this season, that back-and-forth
elevator ride to their current place among the
nation’s elite still has one more stop to
make if head coach Greg Powers and
his crew have any say about it.
That next stop? The top floor - for the
program’s first national championship.
“They’re have been a lot of people
behind the scenes who’ve helped turn
this thing around and make us into a
national championship contender,” Powers said. “But nobody deserves the credit
more than this (eight-man senior class)
for what they’ve done.”
Powers, in his first year at the helm,
is the first to admit things haven’t been
perfect. But there has been progress
– and lots of it.
Four head coaches in four years. A
change in home venues. Two years of
losses outnumbering wins.
But they’ve grown as players, leaders
and young men, he notes, and, oh yeah,
last year they made the quick rise to
national contender, finishing ranked 8th
in the nation and winning 26 games.
“(These seniors) were here because they loved hockey,” Powers said.
“They’re the reasons why, now, we
have a really nice locker room, and we
get good crowds, and we get warm-ups
ASU head coach Greg Powers credits his senior class for helping turn the Sun Devils
and backpacks and T-shirts and they’re
into a top-flight college hockey destination. Photo/A-ZPhoto.com
treated like college athletes should be.”
Local Love
Powers’ assent to head coach doesn’t just start
over the last two seasons when he served as an
assistant. No, Powers bleeds maroon and gold,
having led ASU to nationals three times as a
player.
He may not be an Arizona native, but with
ties to the ASU program for the last 15 years, he
might as well be.
“I have season tickets to basketball, football…
I love this university, and everything about this
hockey program is so important to me. That’s
what’s so good about these eight kids: They see
that in me and feel that, too.”
That’s why he doesn’t underestimate the
importance of seniors like Scottsdale’s Pat Lind,
Chandler’s Jarett Costello and Phoenix’s and
Mark Chadwick.
Growing up with ASU’s program in their
backyard, it’s not just the fact that the three are
from Arizona, but they’ve also been a few of the
program’s best players.
“For local guys like myself, I think it’ll be a few
6
er like Costello, who transferred from Connecticut
two seasons ago, just adds to the program’s credibility amongst up-and-coming local talent.
“(Chadwick’s) brother (Paul) played four years
here, too, so for seven years there’s been a Chadwick in this organization and two years ago he
(Mark) was our team MVP,” Powers said.
“(Costello)’s just been a rock. He’s one of those
kids who just decided he wanted to be close to
home and be close to his family, and we were
fortunate enough he chose ASU.”
What’s Not to Like?
Powers said it’s hard not to find something to
like about every player in his senior class. Everyone has their own story, he explains, and all of
them bring something unique to the table.
He proudly goes on about how Michigan native
Joe Schweiger was, so far, one of his greatest
recruiting conquests.
“After his sophomore year, he was a ThirdTeam All-American at Eastern Michigan and he
contacted some places. It was a rigorous battle
Mindful Netminders
A three-time ACHA All-American as
a goaltender for ASU, Powers was arguably the best netminder the program
has ever had.
But he’ll be the first to say it: Current
senior goalie Mark Schacker has the
chance to take that title away, and Powers couldn’t be prouder.
“Schacks has been - and I’m not blowing smoke
- the best goalie in the country,” Powers said of
the Penn State transfer who’ll play his third year
with the Devils this season. “He was by far our
best player last year; he was our team MVP and
he missed Third-Team All-American by one vote.”
“Last year our D was a weak spot (in front of
him). This year, it’s going to be our strength, so
he’s going to get a lot more support. Nothing gets
to him. It’s going to be impossible to replace him;
he’s that good.”
Schacker said there’s no denying the “feeling”
around the ASU locker room in terms of what the
Sun Devils are capable of this time around.
“I think it starts with being here when the
program was kind of at the bottom,” he explained.
“We weren’t the worst team, obviously, but us
eight guys - or at least the four or five of us who
were here two years ago when we were .500 - we
know. Every year, the coaching and the chemistry just seems to get better and better.
“We’re ready for it.” b
ArizonaRubber.com
7
Coyotes Benefiting From Change in Culture
Phoenix sets its sights on duplicating last year’s magic
By Brett Fera
“It does put a little more onus on us, you know, that we’re not going to
sneak up on anyone anymore. We’re going to have to play solid throught was only two days into the Phoenix Coyotes’ 2010 training camp, and out. People out there are expecting us to play hard,” Tippett said. “We
head coach Dave Tippett wasn’t shy about acknowledging the differhave to show up and do that or else we’re not going to be successful.”
ence between his team now and at this time last year.
While team stalwarts like longtime captain Shane Doan, defenseDepth. Confidence. Experience. And - oh yes - the reigning NHL
man Ed Jovanovski and goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov are back again,
Coach of the Year is actually here, in Arizona, for the start of camp.
Tippett notes that it’s the development of the team’s younger players and
“Oh yeah, absolutely,” was the answer given by a sly-grinned Tippett - more recent acquisitions - both before last year’s trade deadline and this
a slight uptick in his voice feigning to hide his true emotion - when asked offseason - that will likely set the tone for another playoff run.
if he was excited to be in Phoenix as the Coyotes kick off the encore to
Can breakout stars like Scottie Upshall, Wojtek Wolski and Lee
their talk-of-the-league run to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year.
Stempniak be magical again? Can youngsters like Mikkel Boedker,
Tippett, for one, hasn’t forgotten that he wasn’t even employed by the
Victor Tikhonov and Kyle Turris live up their early-draft-pick status?
Phoenix club at that point a year ago. Then, the Coyotes were still conHow will recent additions like Ray Whitney and Eric Belanger fit in
sidered Western Conference bottom feeders and the team’s off-ice situawith the existing group?
tion was in disarray.
“It seems like a great bunch of guys; everyone’s on the same level,”
And the thought of a 100said Belanger, a free-agent
point season and a playoff
pickup. “There are no superberth was laughable in NHL
stars here, and I think that
circles.
makes a big difference.
But a funny thing happened
“I feel like everybody is
on the way to the start of the
treated the same, and it goes
2010-11 campaign: The game’s
a long way and it showed
most iconic figure, Wayne
last year. Hopefully, me and
Gretzky, held himself away
can bring a little bit more
from training camp, resigning
and do a little bit of damage
his post as Coyotes head coach
in the playoffs.”
days before the regular seaYet perhaps no player at
son was to start. Tippett was
the Coyotes’ preseason camp
brought in to steady the ship
has a better perspective on
and, oh yeah, the 2009-10 camwhat last year did for the
paign turned out to be arguably
franchise than Turris. In
the most successful in team
2008-09, when the Coyotes
history - and that includes the
limped to a 13th-place Westprogram’s days in Winnipeg.
ern Conference finish, Turris
Fast forward 11-and-a-half
was only 19, but already a
months, and it’s easy to forfull-timer on the NHL cirgive Tippett for housing some
cuit. Then, last season, Coyexcitement on the first weekend
otes management, including
of training camp.
Tippett and NHL Executive
“Just being here, obviously,
of the Year Don Maloney,
with the excitement of our
promptly kept Turris at the
group and how we finished last
team’s AAA affiliate in San
year and getting going this
Antonio for all of the 2009year, the whole experience is
10 season.
pretty good,” he said, admitting
Despite a full season
he was a little bit antsy in the
of NHL experience, Turdays leading up to his players
ris didn’t dress for a single
The Coyotes, led by Dave Tippett, the reigning Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s top coach, won’t catch the
reporting. “Things aren’t too
Coyotes
game as the big club
rest of the league by surprise like they did a season ago. Photo/Norm Hall/Phoenix Coyotes
different. We’re running a very
excelled from start to finish.
similar camp as they had last
As camp got underway,
year before I got here.”
Turris said he was not only eager to prove himself an NHL-caliber player
As the club prepares for a repeat performance this season, almost
again, but added that the change in culture for the organization from his
all is well in Coyoteland. Sure, it’s not perfect; the team’s off-ice situarookie campaign to now is certainly palpable.
tion still isn’t settled, although the league and the City of Glendale have
“It feels great to be back,” Turris said. “Coach Tippett has really come
heavily prioritized finding a suitable ownership situation to keep the club in with an attitude that’s changed this whole organization around. It’s
local.
exciting for everyone involved.
On the ice, however, is where Tippett and his players have their at“(Being away from the NHL) definitely gives me more motivation,” he
tentions focused, and Tippett is the first to admit that there’s no chance
added. “I’m going to do anything I can to make this team. Last year, it
the Coyotes catch the rest of the league by surprise like they might have
was frustrating to be in (San Antonio) with the Coyotes winning games,
a year ago.
but I feel like I learned a lot and I’m hungry to make this step.” b
I
8
Arizona State University
D-I, D-II clubs working together as one
By Shane Dale
T
he days in which Arizona
State University’s (ASU)
Division I and Division II
hockey programs functioned
separately are over, and a new
one in which the two operate as
a single unit is here.
“We’re really focused on building
an overall hockey program here at ASU,” said
Greg Powers, coach of the Sun Devils’ D-I squad. “In
the past, the two have really been run separate. Now,
we’re considered one program and two teams within
the university.”
Under the new system, the D-I team “really runs
the entire hockey program,” Powers said.
Although D-II has its own coaching staff, both
teams, which are members of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, have the same president
and general manager (Ken Lind) and director of
hockey operations (Powers).
“This structure ensures that ASU hockey, both
D-I and D-II, is constantly on the same page,” added
Powers.
The entire ASU coaching staff is excited about
the D-II roster for the 2010-11 season, according to
Powers, especially because of the enormous amount of
quality players who’ve been recruited to the D-I roster
in recent years.
“Top to bottom, we have some serious talent on
will prepare them for the same opportunity.
that team,” he said. “The trickle-down effect from D-I
“I think there are six or seven guys on the D-II
really upgrading in talent shows on the D-II roster.
roster who have the ability to make our D-I roster in
“I truly believe this D-II team is more talented
the future,” he said. “That’s very exciting for us, being
than the D-I team was two years ago from top to
that we’re developing our own feeder system and
bottom. There’s some serious pedigree on our D-II
development model within our hockey program.
roster, and our goal for that team is to at least make
“We’re ecstatic that we’ve rostered two D-II guys
the Western Regionals, which would mean a Western
(on the D-I team) and really
Region ranking of No. 10 or
hope the guys on D-II this year
higher.”
develop like these two did so
Another example of the
we can roster even more next
upward talent shift within
season.”
the D-I and D-II programs is
Adam Schoenfeld, who
that two previous D-II playplayed locally for the Desert
ers - sophomore forward Taylor Chomiski and sophoYouth Hockey Association
from 1997-99 and was a standmore goalie Scott Czarnik
out on ASU’s D-I team from
- have been placed on the D-I
roster this season.
2000-04, is head coach of the
D-II team. With the leadership
“Taylor was a leader as
and experience Schoenfeld
a freshman coming in after
brings to the table, Powers
playing Junior A hockey two Scott Czarnik, above, along with Taylor Chomiski,
are making the jump to ASU’s Division I team this
is confident he’ll not only get
years ago for the New York
season. Photo/Colleen T. Hayes
many of his players to exceed
Bobcats, and he really impressed us in tryouts this season,” Powers said. “Scott expectations, but will be able to get the entire team to
do so, as well.
was a starter in goal for D-II last year and he’s going
“Coach Schoenfeld is doing a tremendous job getto really battle for the No. 2 spot on our D-I team this
ting those guys ready to win this season,” he said.
year.”
Powers hopes the ascension of these two players
“He’s put together a tremendous schedule that, if they
will motivate the rest of the D-II squad and put them
perform, there’s no way they won’t or can’t qualify for
regionals, which is our initial goal for D-II.” b
on notice that a year of hard work and development
SunDevilHockey.com
ArizonaRubber.com
9
Arizona Hockey Union
16U AA team progressing just Fine
By Shane Dale
S
ure, it was the preseason,
but considering the
results, one should be able
to understand the excitement that surrounds Arizona
Hockey Union’s (AHU) Midget
16U AA club.
The Midgets swept the Labor Day round
robin hosted by the VOSHA Mustangs at Arcadia Ice Arena in Phoenix in impressive fashion: a
5-1 win over VOSHA; 9-2 over the DYHA Firebirds; and 3-0 over the CAHA Jr. Coyotes.
Rex Fine, who coached the Arizona Heat’s
Bantam A team last season, has only been the
coach of the Midget squad since its players were
selected in June, and while there are only four
1994 birth years on the team, he wasn’t surprised with the club’s performance.
“The group, as a whole, is just a bunch of
hard-working kids,” he said. “We don’t have any
superstars, but you can do a lot of things when
everybody on the team is a hard worker.”
AHU president Gina Quinn said the team’s
performance was a breath of fresh air.
“Last year was a tough one for our Midget
16 team; few wins, mostly losses,” she said. “We
replaced the head coach midseason and dropped
the team to Midget 16U A from AA. This year,
we’re looking for a fresh start and a new attitude
with Coach Fine at the helm.”
Last year, Fine took the new Heat Bantam A
team from a group that was expected to be second to its sister team, the Phoenix Polar Bears’
Bantam A squad, and turned it into a club that
finished at the top of the Sonoran League and
made it to the championship game at the end of
the season, Quinn said.
If the 16U AA club has a star, it’s the best
goalie in Arizona, according to Fine: 1995-born
Justin Irby, the squad’s only netminder.
“He was our only goalie last year in Bantams,
too,” Fine said, adding that Irby was also selected to participate
in last spring’s
Rocky Mountain regional camp.
There are several other standout players on
the Midget team,
including Braden
Cooper, a ’94-born
No. 1-line center
who Fine called the
“Tom Brady of the
team,” referring to the
New England Patriots star
quarterback.
“The kids gather around him,” said Fine.
“He’s something special. He’s good with all the
players on the team.”
The other ‘94s on the squad include Matt
O’Dwyer, Shane Fitzpatrick and the currently injured Keiran McBay, whom Fine called a
“highly-talented skill player.”
Those players, along with AHU ’95 AAs Tanner Branch and Jakob Decina and Heat and
Polar Bears’ Bantam A players Nick Thornton,
Kyle Thompson, Chase and Shane Fine,
Kyler May, Michael Decrescenza and Ryan
Jones, have already set a new course of success
for this season, Quinn said.
But a lot of the credit for the turnaround
belongs to Fine, according to Quinn.
“Rex’s style of quiet discipline and coaching
to boys to tell their story on the ice has created a
loyal following of players,” she said.
Of course, it’s still early in the
season, and Fine said the biggest
measuring stick for the team to date
is coming up soon at the Silver
Stick Rocky Mountain Regional
Tournament in Denver from
Oct. 14-17.
“You win that tournament,
you can go to nationals,” he said.
“I feel we can.”
And Quinn, who noted that
the 16U AA team still has room for a
few more players (visit ArizonaHockeyUnion.com to learn more), has nothing but an optimistic outlook for every Union
squad this season.
“We have a lot of dedicated players, coaches
and parents who are committed to making this a
great year,” she said. “We’re looking forward to
what’s in store the rest of the way.” b
ArizonaHockeyUnion.com
Phoenix Polar Bears
Arizona Heat
Heat teams start seasons
off strong
Squirts, Bantams taste
Labor Day success
T
I
By Shane Dale
hree of the Arizona Heat’s six squads participated in
the Sonoran Youth Hockey League Labor Day Tournament, and all felt pretty good about themselves when all was said
and done.
The Pee Wee A and Bantam A teams both finished with 5-1-0 records in
the tourney, with both losing to the CAHA Jr. Coyotes in the championship
game.
The Bantam A squad fell behind 2-0 less than three minutes into the title
game, and ultimately saw its rally fall short in a 3-2 loss. Ashton Amaya led
the team with eight goals and six assists.
“Our guys weren’t focused early, but we battled pretty well after that,”
said coach Sean Hill of the championship game. “(CAHA is) a big, strong
team that skates well. It’ll be fun to play them down the road.”
Michael Vukonich had similar sentiments after his Pee Wee A team,
led by Anthony Masanotti (nine goals, two assists), opened the tournament
with a 5-0 record before falling to CAHA, 2-1, in the finals.
“It was a great kickoff to the season,” said Vukonich, whose team decided
to move up to AA status after its success over Labor Day. “Unfortunately, we
ran into a strong CAHA squad that really earned the championship.”
Austin Gloyd (five goals, one assist) led the Heat’s Mite squad to a 2-2
record in the tournament.
“We performed above our expectations, and this has really set the tone for
the rest of the year,” said co-head coach Kevin Noonan. b
AZHeatHockey.com
10
By Shane Dale
f the preseason Sonoran League Labor Day Tournament
was any indication, the Phoenix Polar Bears’ Squirt A and
Bantam A teams are in for promising 2010-11 campaigns.
The Squirt A squad went 3-0-1 at the event, capped by a dramatic 1-0 win
in the championship game over the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes thanks to a goal by
forward Dante Bagnasco with 17 seconds left in regulation.
“Dante played it two ways all weekend,” praised coach Mike Goldberg.
“His goal was one he earned with his hard work on both sides of the ice
throughout the weekend, and also because our kids were unselfish and made
perfect passes.”
Goldberg said he’s very pleased with his team’s progress early in the season.
“I think the thing that impressed me the most was our passing and teamwork,” he said. “The guys really bought into the team system, playing as a
solid unit and not as individuals. I’d say we’re ahead of schedule right now.”
The Bantam A squad enjoyed a 3-1-0 record at the Labor Day showcase - a
performance that earned a “B” grade from coach Greg Avant, who said he
was impressed with his team’s crunch-time goals in a pair of weekend games
that resulted in victories.
“We have a great outlook for the season,” he said. “I feel fortunate to have
a group of hard-working, even-keel, attentive players. If we can get them to
buy into our solid team concept and learn to play a little physical, we’ll improve all year.” b
PhoenixPolarBearsHockey.com
Phoenix Polar Bears Junior A
Arizona Redhawks Junior A
Captain Boese ready to
lead the charge
Highlighting the positives
goes a long way
By Shane Dale
By Rob Powell
A
I
s one of the Phoenix Polar Bears’ top players,
Jake Boese had a feeling he might be named
captain of the squad this season.
“There’s definitely a lot of weight because this year I’m
hoping we win a national championship,” the Gilbert, Minn.,
native said. “After going to nationals nine years in a row, that’s not
enough; we want to actually get there and do something.”
Indeed, the Polar Bears have won the Western States Hockey
League’s (WSHL) Thorne Cup each of the last two and seven of the
last nine seasons, but they haven’t won a national title since their
2002-03 campaign.
“I have big shoes to fill,” Boese said. “It’s humbling. The teams in
the past, they have big traditions, so it’s an honor to lead the team.”
Boese also said he feels comfortable in the transition in coaches
from Harry Mahood to Jeff Heimel, a former Polar Bears player
who’s now the team’s associate head coach.
“It’s going great,” Boese said of Heimel. “He knows everything he’s
talking about. He’s got the system down from Hoody perfectly and he’s
building a great team.”
Heimel said he’s impressed with the leadership skills Boese has
displayed so far.
“He was an instrumental part of our Thorne Cup playoff run last
year and has carried that experience over to the team this year,” he
said.
“I have no doubt Jake will continue to be a valuable asset to our
team, both on and off the ice, as we defend our league championship.”
To view the Polar Bears’ home schedule, visit
PhoenixPolarBears.com. b
PhoenixPolarBears.com
VOLUME 6
ISSUE 1
From Kids to
Coyotes, the
ritative Voice
Desert’s Autho
of Ice and Inline
Hockey
September
LINEUP
ee
BOLSTER ASU’S
MORE
. TALENTED NEWCOMERS
Win Fkrey
KIDS WANTING
IDEN
PLE
ANSTIO
. AHC COACH GOAR LEAVES HED
OCE
COM
AT
TO
ON
SE
c
SWUILITCD CLO
Ho ff! CKEY CAM
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RINHT’
. AFF
. FLAPSGST
‘RE’SD LIG
ERSHTOR
HEAE T
SUPWIT
FORECES
N DAL
SCOJOITTS
uDYforFOR
USA
BTM
ON’SICH
NL,ATVUK
! HO
. DOOTER
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.OPE
REA
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HIL
ta
ALSt
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LOCS
CEN
6
NYS
See page
ArizonaRedhawks.com
2010
Ready
OFF
for TAKE
ROLLER RETURN
was asked over the summer by some local players
who played against the Arizona Redhawks last season, “How did you get the guys up for games at the end
of the season when things hadn’t gone so well? They always came
out working hard.”
I had answers, but it really came to me recently when the mother of a
Squirt player said, “I can’t believe my son and his team played so poorly in
the tournament over Labor Day.”
My response to her was, “It’s not how they’re playing now; it’s how
they’re playing at the end of the season.”
Well, that really wasn’t the answer she was looking for, but I explained
that, even at the junior level, we have weekly - sometimes, daily - areas of
concern we want players to work on, and we provide them with the tools to
do just that.
Then, after a practice, game or even a shift during a game, we talk
about where the player was, where he is and, finally, where we want him
to be.
I did this with my Redhawks team last year especially because I was
trying to focus on individual, line and positional improvement as opposed
to wins and losses, and I really believe that’s why we had two players
advance to college hockey and four players move up to higher levels of
juniors in Canada.
With that in mind, as parents, instead of asking your kid if they scored
a goal, ask if they had fun, or point out something like, “Coach really had
you working on the breakout this week at practice and it worked! You guys
did really well!”
Remember: Keep things positive, acknowledge improvements and keep
Livin’ the Dream! b
Discounted packages available for all
Arizona and California ice and inline
teams and associations!
Contact Brian at (612) 929-2171
or e-mail [email protected]
for details!
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ArizonaRubber.com
11
Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association
2 Annual
nd
Former Sun Devil joins
coaching cast
House
League
By Shane Dale
T
November 26 - 28, 2010
.
.
.
.
Divisions: Mite . Squirt . Peewee . Bantam
4-game guarantee
(3) 12-min. stop-time periods
4 teams per division
Phoenix-area house teams
from CAHA & Polar Ice
. Awards for 1st & 2nd place/MVP
Team entry fee only $999
Questions? Contact Tommy Hess
480.473.5822 . [email protected]
For information visit CoyotesIce.com
yler Besch may be new to the Coyotes Amateur
Hockey Association (CAHA), but he’s no stranger to
coaching - or Jr. Coyotes director Mike DeAngelis.
Besch, who was recently named coach of the Jr. Coyotes’
new 16U AA squad, played for DeAngelis when he was the
coach and general manager of Arizona State University’s (ASU) hockey team.
Besch played four seasons for ASU beginning in 2001.
A Buffalo, N.Y., native, Besch had coached within the Phoenix Polar Bears
organization the past four years. DeAngelis, for one, is nothing but high on his
potential behind the bench and commitment to the game.
“He’s a good young hockey mind here in the Valley who’s willing to give his
time to CAHA to grow as a coach,” said DeAngelis.
“The chance to learn from some of the best coaches in the state was too intriguing of an opportunity to pass up,” Besch added. “Learning from other coaches we have here with the Jr. Coyotes will only make me better in the future.”
Besch’s most pressing concern with his new team is filling out the last spots
on his roster, which includes 15 skaters. Regardless, he likes the talent that’s
already in place.
“One of the strengths of our team is our goaltending,” he said. “Both Nic Peterson and Cooper Johnson will give us a chance to win every game we play.”
And, despite the open roster spots, Besch’s expectations for the team are
high.
“We were very competitive in our opening games of the season and were in
every one of them until the end,” he said. “I feel we’ll eventually have the hardest-working team in the state.” b
CoyotesIce.com
CHALK TALK:
Bench duties taxing, but rewarding
R
ecently, a friend of mine
experienced his first game
coaching youth hockey behind the
bench.
Many of us coaches have a history of playing the game at a high
level - my friend no exception
- and we’ll all agree that positioning yourself behind the players
is not as easy as it looks. I’ve
learned the hard way that it can
be downright exhausting; it takes
a toll on you, emotionally.
I’ve also noticed through the
years that coaching during games
is exciting, fun and challenging
and truly keeps you connected to
the sport without actually putting
on the skates.
Of course, it may depend on
what level you coach and the age
of the kids, but most of us are
very passionate about our job,
which is so unique, involved and
rewarding. A sound coach will
always try to motivate, teach and
maintain control on the bench
during the actheir own squad.
tion.
All of these
My partner
decisions must
was surprised
be executed in a
with how much
matter of secquick thinking
onds and must be
and decisionswift and final or
making coaches
you can end up
face every few
confusing - and
seconds durlosing - your playing play. The
ers.
higher levels of
During a
game, your mind
youth hockey
is constantly racalso require the
coach to manage
ing; it’s actually
tiring and you
the game clock
De Angelis
feel it in your energy level afterand allocate the ice time each
player receives from shift to shift. wards. The bench can become
quite tense in the latter part of a
Without hesitation, they must
close contest, too, when everyone
decide on who’s playing well and
in the building is scrutinizing
which players are following the
your decisions.
game plan and team instructions
During a recent game, I had
the best.
an injured player crying out in
Many coaches want certain
pain on the ice while the final
line combinations out on the ice
against the other team’s top play- minutes of the game approached.
I was trying to access the severers, while others just focus on
Mike DeAngelis is CAHA’s director of youth hockey.
12
ity of the injury, but still running
the bench with healthy bodies
looking for instruction. All of this
must be done delicately with your
hands still steering the ship as
the game moves on with the players deciding the outcome of the
game.
Coaching may drain you
emotionally at times, but we all
have a bit of euphoria afterwards
because we feel like we were part
of the battle. It’s not unlike being a player, as both have some
involvement in the way the game
is played out. Certainly being a
player is always best, but coaches
still feel a close connection when
running the bench.
Soon after my coaching partner’s first youth game was over,
he flashed an excited grin and
asked when the next game was
scheduled. He had an amazing
career as a player, and I think he
found another avenue to stay connected to our fantastic sport. b
Sundogs keep focus on fans, community
By Brett Fera
S
ome changes are afoot in Northern Arizona
this season for the Central Hockey League’s
(CHL) Arizona Sundogs.
But, as the Prescott-Valley-based minor pro
team drops the puck to celebrate its fifth season
of hockey, there is one constant, at least, that
rises above all else.
The Sundogs are, in fact, still here.
“I think everything is close to being behind
us,” said Marco Pietroniro, the team’s head
coach and general manager, of the team’s recent
off-ice uncertainty.
On the surface, the Sundogs’ situation following the 2009-10 season - just two years removed
from winning the Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup as
CHL champions - mimicked their Arizona pro
hockey brethren from the Valley. Ownership uncertainty has loomed since the league took over
managing the team back in April.
But, with a local ownership group close to being finalized and the team’s stability in Prescott
Valley all but certain at this point, Pietroniro
agreed it’s about time to turn the focus back on
the Sundogs’ players - and their fans.
“Our slogan this year is ‘Your Team,’ and this
is truly a community team,” he said. “When we
came here Day 1 there was nothing in place - no
building, no nothing. We were able to establish this and, without their support, this team
wouldn’t exist.”
And, according to Shane Ferraro, the
Sundogs’ vice president of communications, the
mood around town has been nothing but positive
despite what took place over the offseason.
“There were certainly rumors being bandied about in the community that the Sundogs
weren’t going to survive, but we as a staff
worked hard to reassure fans that wasn’t the
case,” said Ferraro. “The CHL stepped in to ensure the long-term success of the franchise and
things are progressing.”
Pietroniro, in the meantime, put his coaching
and recruiting efforts back towards assembling
championship-caliber play the Tim’s Toyota
Center faithful knows all too well. In addition to
ushering in plenty of new talent, the team also
held on to defenseman Mike Nesdill, a Phoenix
native.
One of the most prominent roster shifts, however, will be from the ice to the bench. Former
Sundogs captain Chris Bartolone, the team’s
all-time leader in games played and points
scored, is the squad’s new assistant coach after
retiring following last season. Bartolone spent
last season as a player/assistant coach last year.
“Chris Bartolone has been such an anchor for
our organization, both on and off the ice,” Pietroniro said. “Our team is a community team,
and he’s been part of this community since Day
1.”
In fact, the team will officially retire No. 29
in honor of Bartolone during “Chris Bartolone
Night” on Oct. 29. The club will raise Bartolone’s
No. 29 in a special ceremony prior to the team’s
game against the visiting Texas
Brahmas.
“His numbers and accomplishments speak for them-
selves,” Pietroniro said of Bartolone. “He’s been
the face of the franchise since its inception and
his impact on this team deserve the utmost respect and recognition. By retiring No. 29, we’re
paying Chris one of the greatest respects in all
of professional sports.
“It will be a tremendous event for our club
and our fans.”
And, if all goes according to plan with new
ownership, it
should mark
continued
prosperity for
Prescott
hockey.
“We’re
very excited
to celebrate
our 5th
Anniversary
season with
some of the best
fans in the CHL,”
said Ferraro. b
ArizonaRubber.com
13
B:21.
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T:2
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S:20
Put
Put everything
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at bAUER.cOM.
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ArizonaRubber.com
S:11.5”
© 2010 Bauer Hockey, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos
and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2010. All Rights
Reserved. VAPOR is a registered trademark owned by Nike, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used under exclusive license for hockey.
bAUER.cOM
The staff at Behind the Mask put Howler, the
Phoenix Coyotes’ mascot, to work last month
during his visit to its new Scottsdale Superstore.
Carter Newlin of the Phoenix Firebirds’ Squirt Minor A/B
team rushes the puck up ice at last month’s Made in the
USA tournament. Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
Jordan Woodall of AZ Heat’s Bantam A squad gets set for
a faceoff at last month’s Made in the USA tournament.
Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
Auston Palumbo of the Arizona Heat’s Bantam
A team celebrates a goal during the Made in
the USA tournament over Labor Day Weekend.
Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
CAHA’s Mite 2002 team celebrated its Squirt B championship at the Made in the USA tournament over Labor Day
Weekend.
The Phoenix Firebirds’ Mite Major team celebrated a championship
at the Made in the USA tournament over Labor Day Weekend. See
more on the team’s success on Page 20.
Mike Maiorano shoots and scores a drive down the
fairway during last month’s Tanner Catalano Foundation golf outing at Troon North. See more on the
event on the opposite page.
Kelsey Atkinson of the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes¹
Bantam A team smothers the puck during Made
in the USA action over Labor Day Weekend.
She didn’t allow a goal the entire tournament.
Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
Members of the Phoenix Polar Bears’ Squirt A team show off their trophies after winning their division
at the Made in the USA showcase over Labor Day Weekend. See more on the Squirts’ championship on
Page 10.
Submit your favorite hockey photos to [email protected]!
Be sure to include: Player(s) name(s); Order, if applicable (ex. from left, middle, third from right, clockwise from top); Team name and level (ex. Bantam, Pee Wee), Game
and/or tournament name and location; and photo credit (if applicable).
16
Tanner’s Kids Golf Outing Enjoys Record Turnout
Last month’s fundraiser at Troon North raises more money for worthy causes
By Brett Fera
tournament will gross close to $24,000 (minus
expenditures) for the foundation and its signature
Tanner’s Kids youth hockey starter program.
“As the foundation grows, I think the support
(for the tournament) grows each year,” Zubrod
said, adding that the foundation’s regular volunteers deserve credit for the countless hours
they’ve put in to get the foundation to where it is
now.
Zubrod said that day was just pure fun, adding
that special contest and events within, including one where players try to tee off on the course
wearing a set of big, bulky hockey gloves, helped
keep everyone entertained.
“You’d be surprised how well people can hit it,”
Zubrod said with a laugh. “It keeps your wrists
10 skaters - enough for two full lines - and a
goalie. In a lobster format, teams are five skaters
t’s a tough economic climate across the board,
each, not 10, and two five-player teams are paired
and everyone seems to be pinching their pentogether each game to face another two five-man
nies and gluing their wallets shut.
team.
Yet supporters of the Tanner’s Kids introduc“Today, my five guys are paired with your five
tory hockey program and the Tanner Catalano
guys; tomorrow you’re playing with one of the
Foundation were still out in full force last month
teams you played against the day before,” Zubrod
for the foundation’s fourth-annual fundraising
explained. “It’s a really great time and you get to
golf tournament, held on Sept. 11 at Scottsdale’s
meet a lot of guys and play with so many different
Troon North Golf Club.
people.”
And on this day at least, more than 140
The winner of the tournament is based on how
Tanner’s Kids supporters proved that for some
many goals each five-man team scores, but Zucauses, maybe you just can’t say no.
brod said it’s about the camaraderie and finding
But how could they, honestly? With good food,
yet another excuse to hit the ice - not the competia killer round of golf, the chance to meet local
tion.
hockey heroes, including the likes
Zubrod said the hockey tournaof Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane
ment fills up fast; they usually
Doan, and nearly 200 raffle prizes
allow 80 skaters and even had a
and auction items for anyone to
significant wait list for signups this
take home - including hotel stays,
past year. But, he added, that if ice
vacation packages, golf equipment,
time and other details permit, they
hockey memorabilia and even a 12hope to expand the tournament
person suite at an upcoming Coyeven further to accommodate the
otes home game - the $125 cost for
demand.
the round of golf was nearly made
“We’ve been fortunate, we’ve
up and then some by everyone in
had a big following,” he said. “And
attendance.
I think that’s because for a lot of
“One thing we hear people say is
those guys, we make things just so
that it’s such a fun group that they
much fun.”
just can’t say no,” explained Matt
While the Tanner Catalano
Zubrod, vice president of the TanFoundation will support other hockner Catalano Foundation. “It was
ey ventures in Arizona, including
a great, great day. We had a lot of
earlier this year when the organizapeople who showed up, the weather
tion made a donation to help rebuild
was great, and we had a lot of fun.”
the Jay Lively Ice Arena in FlagFrom left, Ice Den director of facility operations Keith Blakley, Tanner Catalano Foundation vice
Zubrod estimates that the total
staff after it collapsed in a snowpresident Matt Zubrod, Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan and foundation chairman Mike
count was just short of 144 golfstorm, every other dime brought in
Maiorano strike a pose at last month’s Tanner Catalano Foundation golf event.
ers for the event. In years past, he
from the fall golf tournament and
notes, “we always had roughly around 80 golfers.
so straight, it fixes that slice or hook and goes
the spring hockey bracket go back to the founda“In all, almost 200 items were donated, so with straight down the fairway. And you can hit the
tion, and namely the Tanner’s Kids program.
144 people, pretty much everybody walked away
ball a long way.”
In just over three full years, the Tanner’s Kids
with something,” he said. “I think people appreciZubrod said that as great a return as the golf
introductory hockey program has helped outfit and
ate that.”
tournament produces each year, the organizatrain hundreds local youngsters - ages 4 through 8
Tanner Catalano, the foundation’s nametion’s schedule is anything but dark for the rest
- about the game that meant so much to Catalano.
sake who died tragically in a car accident in 2007
of the year. The other big event the group hosts?
“We’re quickly approaching 1,000 kids,” Zubrod
just shy of his 30th birthday, would undoubtedly
A spring lobster-style men’s hockey tournament
said. “It would have been hard for me to imagine
be proud of all that his friends - not to mention
held at the Ice Den in Scottsdale.
this three years ago.”
statewide supporters of his favorite pastime, the
Zubrod said it’s possible that the best part
For more information on the Tanner Catalano
sport of hockey - have accomplished in his honor.
of the tournament is that lobster format. Most
Foundation and Tanner’s Kids, visit
In all, it’s estimated that the recent golf
regular hockey teams usually consist of at around TannersKids.com. b
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17
Mission Arizona
Squirt, Pee Wee squads join forces
By Shane Dale
J
eremy Goltz is no stranger
to outside-the-box thinking - and he hopes his newest
idea will pay off as well as his
last one.
“It’s funny: Five years ago
when I first coached multiple
teams, people thought I was
crazy,” said Goltz, Mission Arizona’s founder and
coach-in-chief. “Now, I’m proud to say it’s become
a normal practice in town.”
Goltz would love for his newest experiment to
be as successful and groundbreaking.
“We’ve always been strong in the upper-specialty levels, but with our move towards younger
ages, we had a shortage of kids for our second
team at the Pee Wee level and a startup program
for our Squirts.”
So, Goltz and his staff came up with an idea:
combine the teams in certain venues “to keep
with the Mission model of pushing and challenging the kids towards the next level, and then
let them play at their own level so they can get
invaluable experience that way, as well,” he said.
And that’s what Mission decided to do for
the 2010-11 season: let the Pee Wee and Squirt
squads play together in certain games.
“I really weighed the pros and cons, and after
a lot of talks with our coaches, we decided to give
the concept a shot,” he said. “We talked about it
illes has been with the organization since its
for about a month after tryouts.
founding five years ago, and he remains as vital
“Both Squirts and Pee Wees will get a taste of
to Mission now as he was in the beginning,
their own level of play, and will also get a taste
largely due to his versatility in coaching the
of challenging themselves. This is
younger kids as effectively as the
a constant Mission model: always
older ones, according to Goltz.
pushing to try to max out poten“He’s a unique combination,
tial.”
because he can handle (everyThe Pee Wee and Squirt squads
thing from) the 18s to underwill play together in the Sonoran
standing the basics and relaying
Youth Hockey League at the B
them to a Squirt,” Goltz said.
level, as well as other local tourna“Most coaches don’t have that
ments, Goltz said.
vast capability, and we’re lucky
“The idea is to expose the
to have him. He’s been with the
Squirts to local-level (competition).
organization since its beginning
They’ll separate for a couple of the
and will do whatever it takes to
bigger tournaments to give them
make it successful.”
all an opportunity to compete and
Gavrilles joined forces with
challenge themselves at their own
Mission when Goltz coached his
levels.”
son at the Bantam level. Gavrilles
If successful, Goltz’s latest outalso plays for the Chiefs, Arizoside-the-box concept may catch on
na’s oldest men’s league team.
as well as his previous one.
“I like his versatile nature.
Coach Evan Gavrilles has been a
“We’ll know at the end of the
He’s
a back-east wise guy,” Goltz
huge asset to the Mission Arizona
year, but I feel good about the con- program since its beginning.
said. “You need to be able to
Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
cept,” he said.
relate to the kids, and Evan’s nature and demeanor do just that.
COACH GAVRILLES A ‘VERSATILE’
He can work with the Squirts on fundamentals
and, an hour later, be pushing sarcasm towards
UTILITY
Mission Arizona’s Level 5 coach Evan Gavrour 18-year-old vets.” b
MissionArizonaIce.org
NJPHL brings Firebirds opportunity, exposure
By Brian McDonough
A
lways looking out for the best developmental
opportunities and exposure for its players to
the junior and collegiate ranks, the Desert Youth
Hockey Association (DYHA) this summer jumped
at the chance to join the National Junior Prospects
Hockey League (NJPHL).
Both the Firebirds’ 18U AAA and 16U AAA
teams will compete against teams from across the
country in the first-year circuit, which consists of
five regular-season events followed by a championship weekend to wrap up the year.
In addition to NJPHL competition, the clubs will
also play their local schedules as well as select independent tournaments throughout North America,
much like the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes of the similarly
structured Tier I Elite League.
“This was a great opportunity to let our boys
showcase their talents on a national scale,” Firebirds
16U head coach Todd Collins said of the program’s
decision to join the NJPHL. “Hockey is really taking off here in Arizona and, with the new facilities
popping up in the state, it’s very important for our
association to not only have the best coaches in the
West, but also create a strong league environment
for our players to play in.”
As part of the league’s mission statement, the
NJPHL was “created and designed by coaches for
coaches in order to develop and promote hockey
players who are committed to enhancing their skills
in preparation for the next level of hockey.”
In addition to DYHA, teams in the 18U division
include the West Michigan Hounds, Utah Regula18
tors, Lake Erie Warriors, Dallas Alliance Bulldogs
and Pittsburgh Predators.
The Nashville Southern Flyers, Atlanta Fire, Fort
Wayne Comets, Queen City Steam, West Michigan,
Utah, OZ Fitness, Belle Tire, Dallas Alliance, Pittsburgh, along with the Firebirds, make up the 16U
division.
This year’s regular-season events will be held
in Detroit (last month), Indianapolis (November),
Rochester, N.Y. (December) and Boston (January)
with its championship weekend slated for February
at a location to be determined.
Alex Hicks, head coach of the Firebirds’ U18
team, is a firm believer the NJPHL will benefit his
players in more ways than one.
“I think it’ll not only allow our players to showcase their talents to a wide array of scouts, but it’ll
also greatly improve their speed and overall game
because they have to adjust to the higher level of
competition.”
And, according to Collins, the exposure his players received at the season’s first event last month in
was outstanding.
“There were plenty of scouts there,” he said. “We
had a number of junior teams collecting our team
rosters and bios, which was encouraging.”
Collins’ club finished with a perfect 4-0 record at
that Detroit showcase. The 18U squad went 0-4 but
proved competitive despite having a roster comprised of almost all first-year players.
“We have a high-character, low-maintenance
group with fantastic skill sets,” Collins said of his
team. “The scoring is very well balanced throughout
all four lines.
“The biggest strength
of our team,
though, is the
commitment
of our players to buy into
the system and
commit themselves
wholeheartedly to their
teammates.”
“For the most part, we’re very young and inexperienced at the Tier I AAA level,” Hicks said of his
club. “With that said, my boys have shown incredible work ethic and dedication over the first month
of our season to get up to speed, both physically and
mentally, to take on the challenges of higher competition.”
Sean Whyte, DYHA’s director of hockey operations and coach-in-chief, sees nothing but positives
as the fledgling NJPHL builds momentum.
“We’ve found a fantastic avenue to be able to
expose our players to countless scouts, managers
and coaches throughout the Northeastern states
in an effort to provide them the ability to move on
to the next level,” said Whyte. “This new league
is extremely competitive and will only continue to
grow because there’s solid leadership and top-quality
teams on board.”
And, says Whyte, having two highly regarded
coaches in Collins and Hicks at the controls doesn’t
hurt.
“Those guys are both very well connected in the junior and college hockey communities,” said Whyte. b
New Canyon State outfit earning high marks
By Brian McDonough
F
or Arizona native Joe Moorehead, youth
sports were an important part of his upbringing
and remained so when he became a father.
With baseball his main focus - he coached for
many years and even served as president of a local
Little League association - it was his son, Logan,
who introduced him to youth hockey.
“But now that my kids are out of Little League,
I’m applying my knowledge of youth sports and the
many facets of operating a non-profit organization
in a different direction,” said Moorehead.
That direction points straight towards Phoenix’s
Ozzie Ice, where Moorehead last summer launched
the Canyon State Hockey Academy, a secondary school dedicated to teaching all facets of the
sport. The program is headed by Tom Helton, the
organization’s hockey director and coach-in-chief.
“About a year ago, I approached Tom about
building a premier youth hockey organization that
would train its players out of Ozzie Ice,” said Moorehead. “He has an incredible reputation in town as a
student of the game and the ability to connect with
kids which inspires them to want to get better.”
And Canyon State has wasted little time gaining
traction. In this its first year, the program, a member of the Arizona Amateur Hockey Association, has
60 players competing in three divisions.
Its Bantam A team, coached by Helton, Kevin
Johnson and Dave Zak, and Pee Wee team, led
by coaches Justin McGarrahan and Rob Tew,
are part of the Sonoran League. Mark Enegren,
Helton and Kevin Johnson guide Canyon State’s
Squirt team.
With a lengthy track record as both a coach and
And early reviews of the Academy, which emadministrator, Moorehead is a firm believer that
braces USA Hockey’s American Development
youth sports mirrors adult life.
Model, have been glowing, according to Moorehead.
“Teammates become co-workers, coaches be“The response has been extremecome bosses, and the institution
ly positive,” he said. “The rapid
becomes the place of employment,”
pace of practice, the knowledge of
he explained. “If a child is a good
our coaching staff and the attitude
teammate, he’ll probably be a good
of our organization is exactly what
co-worker. If a child respects his
the parents of our community have
coaches, he’ll probably be a good
been searching for, and I hear that
employee, and if the child respects
frequently.”
the institution, he’ll most likely be
Labeled a secondary school,
a good representative of the comaccording to Moorehead, a child
pany he chooses to work for.”
goes to elementary or high school
As for the future, Moorehead
to learn math and science; a child
does see definite potential for
enrolls at Canyon State to learn
growth, but he’s taking the process
hockey.
one step at a time for the better“We work them hard, they get
ment of the Academy’s long-term
better. Then, we work them harder,”
success.
said Helton, whose organization’s
“First and foremost, we want to
tagline is “Come prepared to work! Bryce Marcil, a Squirt, is one of 60 play- work hard to maintain our comBe prepared to win!”
ers benefiting from the on- and off-ice mitment to our players and their
But Canyon State’s developmen- development at Phoenix’s Canyon
parents,” he said. “We’re also
Hockey Academy.
tal agenda isn’t all about becoming State
working toward adding a Mite
Photo/Dave Getz/A-ZPhoto.com
a better skater, passer or shooter. It
and Midget division for next year
also works diligently to instill character, discipline
through our existing players and through our perand work ethic in all of its students to prepare them formance in our community.”
for life far beyond the ice.
And Moorehead is thankful for all of the hard
“Our overall mission is to develop better hockey
work everyone has put into the program.
players, but we also have a responsibility to our
“I’ve been blessed with a wonderful group of famicommunity,” said Moorehead. “Our aim is to help
lies and a professional group of coaches,” he said. “A
our youth develop their core values, humility, stewlot of people deserve a lot of credit for making our
ardship, honor, integrity and courage.”
program so highly regarded in such short time.” b
ArizonaRubber.com
19
y
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to be eligible to win one of these
Mites skate away with
Made in the USA title
By Shane Dale
T
he Desert Youth Hockey Association’s (DYHA)
Mite Major squad got its season off to an explosive
start, winning its division of the Made in the USA tournament over Labor Day Weekend in dramatic fashion.
After opening the event with a 2-1 record, the Firebirds
capped the tourney with a 5-4, come-from-behind victory over the
Arizona Heat in the finale.
“Each and every player contributed to the effort,” said coach Zac Fryer, whose team trailed the Heat, 3-0, before staging a third-period rally. “I
think it’s an accomplishment they’ll be proud of for a long time.”
Fryer credits the goaltending tandem of Tucker Inabinet and Nate
Flores for their efforts during the title run.
“Tucker and Nate were focused and made the big saves that mattered,”
said the coach.
The defensive core also impressed, as Mark Gordon, Tommy Geik,
Ayden Werner, Blake Kenner, Matt Edestrand and Scooter Musil all
delivered solid performances.
“All six were outstanding,” said Fryer. “They were strong on the puck
throughout the tournament and I believe that was the difference between
winning and losing.”
And forwards Karsten Fisk, Ryan Koshiol, Cole Sauer, AJ Fryer,
Christopher Vo, Michael Burke, David Hymovitch, Josh Peterson
and Logan L’Heureux didn’t disappoint, either.
“For some of them, this was their first action on a full ice surface,” said
Fryer. “We got better every game offensively. The forwards played hard at
both ends of the ice.” b
FREE
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Desert Youth Hockey Association
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compliments of Sauce Hockey
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Shooting Pad, compliments
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20
DYHA.org
VOSHA Lady Coyotes
Coaches’ experience,
success benefit players
By Shane Dale
T
he VOSHA Lady Coyotes have successfully stressed
player development since their inception - largely due
to the experience of their coaching staff.
Gayle Shalloo, Jen Lipman and Cara Morey have
more than 40 combined years being involved in women’s
hockey.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have a coaching staff that has attended prep
school, Division I hockey and even played for the Canadian National Team,”
Shalloo said.
Morey, a Hensall, Ontario, native who came aboard the program this season,
played for Brown University before landing a spot on the 22U Canadian squad
in 2001. She was also a captain for the Montreal Wingstars and Brampton
Thunder of the National Women’s Hockey League, and has coaching experience
with Robert Morris University, a Division I school.
“Cara adds a new dynamic to the staff,” Shalloo said. “It’s always great to get
another female coach on board who’s lived and breathed what a lot of our players strive to reach in their hockey careers.”
Lipman graduated from the National Sports Academy in 2002 and played a
big role in helping the Lady Coyotes reach nationals for the first time in 2008,
Shalloo said.
Shalloo, herself a standout having played high school hockey at Connecticut’s Pomfret Prep before moving on to Providence College, knows how important it is to prepare her players for college hockey if they choose that route.
“They need a lot of guidance with NCAA rules, as well as role models to look
up to that have lived the dream they aspire to reach,” she said. b
LadyCoyotesHockey.com
Inline Hockey Association of Arizona
Students help high school division flourish
By Alex Dodt
I
f there’s any single trend
most worth recognizing
in roller hockey the last few
years, it’s the growth of high
school hockey. While the sport
faces troubles in the big picture, the success of the Inline Hockey Association of Arizona’s
(IHAAZ) high school division is a welcome sign.
While growth continues, some schools have been
held back because no one has taken the initiative
to start a new program. Prospective teams need to
handle paperwork, organize players and get recognition from their school.
It’s not all as hard as it sounds, though.
“The biggest misconception is that it’s too hard,”
said IHAAZ president Jim Curley. “Most new
programs are being formed by the players and all it
takes is one motivated player.”
One student taking command is Michael Montgomery at Mountain Ridge High. Montgomery, 17,
is a senior heading the effort to form a new roller
hockey program at his school.
With the assistance of a few teammates, Montgomery has sought out help from parents, ordered
jerseys, set up meetings and travel and handled the
organization of payments. To him, though, the work
is no problem for the benefits he and his new team
will reap.
“Nobody really knows about roller hockey at our
school, so I wanted to get a team started and get
enough to begin forming second teams while several
some recognition,” said Montgomery, who will be
joined on the team by his younger brother, freshman new schools are getting involved through the work of
Nick Montgomery. “Organizing it has been pretty
kids like Montgomery.
easy. If you have a motivation to do it and get a
“I think a part of the appeal is that the full season
for inline is less than a third the cost of high school
team going, it’s no problem.”
ice,” said Curley. “But I’d attribute the growth to the
Belinda Haveman has seen the process firstkids themselves; they had
hand as her son, Nate, will
so much fun last season that
be playing for Mountain
they went out and told their
Ridge this year as a freshfriends and anyone else who
man.
would listen.”
“A few of the boys have
This year, the IHAAZ
been talking about putting
this team together since
will be involving the Arizona
they graduated from eighth
State University (ASU)
roller hockey program in
grade,” said Haveman. “They
an effort to showcase the
talked to their friends once
next step in the sport for
school started and got a
high school players. There
good start on making a great
are currently eight players
team.”
in the Sun Devils’ program
As the trend of teams orThe Horizon High inline program, which was orgaganized by players continues, nized by a player, Kevin Smith, celebrated an IHAAZ who have played high school
high school championship last season.
hockey in Arizona.
the IHAAZ has continued to
“We’re going to have ASU play one or more
streamline the process for potential new schools.
exhibition games this season as a way to show the
“The IHAAZ makes it a very simple process with
people available to offer help and registrations done
kids there’s a future in roller,” said Curley. “We’re
online,” said IHAAZ board member Nick Boyaralso going to promote their college tournament here
sky, who has led the push for more teams to regislocally to give seniors an opportunity to talk with
ter. “With a motivated kid and a helpful parent, you
representatives from schools.”
can make it happen.”
With the continued work of the IHAAZ and playThe IHAAZ’s focus on the high school division has ers like Montgomery, the high school division will
grow in both size and prestige. All it takes is a little
begun to pay off with the division expected to grow
motivation. b
to 12 teams in 2011. Some schools have progressed
IHAAZ.org
ArizonaRubber.com
21
2010-11 Arizona Alumni
Select team/league rosters for the 2010-11 season were not available at press time.
Send all additions, deletions and corrections to [email protected].
NESCAC
Dylan Plimmer (Chandler) - Tufts University
PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY
American Hockey League
Dave Spina (Tempe) – Peoria Rivermen
Central Hockey League
Mike Nesdill (Scottsdale) – Arizona Sundogs
ECHL
Dusty Collins (Gilbert) – Ontario Reign
COLLEGE HOCKEY
Division I – Men
Atlantic Hockey
Jon Bobb (Chandler) - Army
Eric Ferber (Scottsdale) – Robert Morris University
Matt Grogan (Gilbert) – University of Connecticut
Duncan McKellar (Phoenix) - Canisius College
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Matt Federico (Scottsdale) – Western Michigan
Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley) – Michigan
Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Jeremy Langlios (Tempe) – Quinnipiac University
Max Mobley (Glendale) – St. Lawrence University
Hockey East
Kyle Beattie (Avondale) – University of Maine
Phil Samuelsson (Scottsdale) – Boston College
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Andrew Hamburg (Phoenix) - Colorado College
Danny Heath (Glendale) – Minnesota State-Mankato
Division III – Men
Northern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Sam Eccles (Mesa) – St. Norbert College
SUNYAC
Blake O’Connor (Phoenix) – SUNY-Geneseo
Division I – Women
Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Lyndsey Fry (Chandler) – Harvard University
Hockey East
Breanne Sundquist (Avondale) – Vermont
Erin Wente (Scottsdale) – Vermont
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Loren Carrier (Chandler) – Ohio State University
Division III - Women
ECAC West
Sydney Williams (Phoenix) - Chatham University
Courtney Orner (Peoria) – Buffalo State College
Northern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Kaley Gibson (Glendale) - St. Norbert College
SUNYAC
Allie Era (Glendale) - SUNY-Plattsburgh
JUNIOR HOCKEY
Eastern Junior Hockey League
Brad Frank (Gilbert) – Philadelphia Revolution
British Columbia Junior Hockey League
Austin Carroll (Scottsdale) - Coquitlam Express
Joey Holka (Phoenix) – Penticton Vees
Derik Johnson (Scottsdale) – Pentiction Vees
North American Hockey League
Mike Adamowicz (Chandler) – Austin Bruins
Cody Bisbing (Mesa) – Bismarck Bobcats
Steven Edgeworth (Peoria) – Topeka RoadRunners
Brandon Fehd (Gilbert) – Aberdeen Wings
Mike Krieg (Phoenix) – Alexandria Blizzard
Northern Pacific Junior Hockey League
Kirby Carlson (Phoenix) - Eugene Generals
Tyler Marek (Phoenix) - Missoula Maulers
Patrick Moodie (Glendale) - Eugene Generals
United States Hockey League
Aaron Ave (Chandler) - Omaha Lancers
Richie Coyne (Cave Creek) – Chicago Steel
Anthony Hamburg (Phoenix) – Omaha Lancers
Colten St. Clair (Gilbert) – Fargo Force
U.S. National Team Development Program
Zac Larraza (Scottsdale) – Under-18 Team
Henrik Samuelsson (Scottsdale) - Under-17 Team
Western Hockey League
JT Barnett (Scottsdale) - Kamloops Blazers
Kyle Verdino (Phoenix) - Swift Current Broncos
Western States Hockey League
Andrew Barletta (Phoenix) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Colin Bresnehan (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Brandon Conrad (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Vinny Eck (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Danny Fazio (Glendale) - Arizona Redhawks
Ryan Fehnel (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Jay Kouris (Sun City) - Arizona Redhawks
Nick Kujawa (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Mitchell Lyons (Scottsdale) - Arizona Redhawks
Bryan McFarlane (Scottsdale) - Arizona Redhawks
Quinton Neville (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Michael Pieri (Anthem) - Arizona Redhawks
Keanen Romero (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
Chris Shepard (Chandler) - Phoenix Polar Bears
James Takacs (Buckeye) - Arizona Redhawks
THE WHYTE STUFF:
Coaching is paramount in youth development
M
any people tend to base the success of a team on the number of
wins it accumulates over the course
of a season.
Kids play competitive hockey to
win - that’s a given. Unfortunately,
too many times we focus on the end
result and not enough on all of the
other accomplishments a player
might experience and celebrate.
You need a number of strong attributes to coach youth hockey - a lot
more than just knowing the game.
Characteristics of a quality coach
consist of great communication and
organizational skills, as well as being
able to handle each and every player
differently while staying consistent
with their message.
The many hats a coach wears on a
daily basis includes: teacher, disciplinarian, psychologist, friend, mentor/role model and motivator. Believe
me: It’s not easy to juggle all of these
responsibilities while keeping every
player and family happy and believing in the direction of the program.
Besides playThe Desert
ing experience, we
Youth Hockey
have coaches in our
Association
association who’ve
(DYHA) has an
been behind the
amazing cast of
bench at the junior,
travel coaches,
college and NHL
from those who’ve
levels, and the mulonly dabbled in
tiple years running
the game to those
hockey schools,
who’ve made it a
camps and clinics,
career.
as well as summer
We have some
programs, reaches
coaches who’ve
well over 200 years
dedicated almost
of experience.
every spare moLeaders in this
ment to learning
Whyte
department include coaches like
the game and becoming the best
Todd Collins, who, like myself,
coach they can be. The knowledge
has been involved in teaching youth
and experience our DYHA coaches
hockey now for over 26 years. Within
bring to the ice on a daily basis is
our staff, we also have an incredible
incredible.
network for our players to utilize
Professionally in North America
and Europe, our coaches have played when they look to continue their
in more than 4,740 games and that
playing careers. We have a number
doesn’t even include the ones in
of coaches who’re actually scouts
junior, college and professional inline and advisors for junior, college and
hockey.
professional teams.
Although winning is an important aspect of playing competitive
hockey, there are many other goals
and objectives our coaches strive to
accomplish, like playing as a team,
respecting the game, becoming good
sportsmen, maximizing work ethic
and sacrificing for the greater good,
to name a few. Once our coaches and
players start achieving those tasks,
winning games actually becomes the
byproduct.
I’m extremely proud of the coaching staff DYHA has assembled over
the last few years, and I know it’ll
only grow stronger because the program has a sound philosophy of what
type of coach its wants representing
the Firebirds. We firmly believe in
sticking together, helping each other
out and meeting regularly to ensure
we provide the best coaching for our
players at all levels.
I’d gladly put DYHA’s coaching staff
up against any other hockey program
in the country that offers learn-to-play
through 18U travel any day! b
Sean Whyte is the director of hockey operations and coach-in-chief at DYHA.
22
North American Hockey League
Jr. Coyotes grad Bisbing banks on Bismarck
By Matt Mackinder
C
ody Bisbing, like any
hockey player who has
the ability to play the game
at a high level, wants to make
hockey his career.
T This season, the 17-year-old
Mesa native feels the North
American Hockey League (NAHL) can help him
achieve his dream.
As a first-year forward with the defending
Robertson Cup champion Bismarck (N.D.) Bobcats, Bisbing has been soaking in the NAHL experience with a very simple, humble attitude.
“So far, it’s been great,” said Bisbing, noting
that he’s still getting adjusted to living away from
home, trying to find the balance between hockey,
school and a social life.
“I’m living the junior lifestyle, training and
hanging out with the team. What I like most
about Bismarck is that it’s a great hockey town
and the fans seem to really enjoy coming to the
games.”
Bisbing scored a goal in his first NAHL game
at the league’s annual Showcase Tournament last
month in Blaine, Minn. The event is a college and
pro scouts’ dream as all 26 NAHL teams played
four games in four days.
“The experience at the Showcase was great,”
he said. “There were a ton of scouts, and the
NAHL did a terrific job putting such a big tourna-
ment together.”
comes down to the stigma that they have someGetting his first snipe out of the way at the
thing we don’t. Once scouts see past that, we’ll be
Showcase was a load off his shoulders, and Bisright there.”
bing now knows that playing for the
A handful of talented players
targeted defending champs comes
from Arizona have honed their skills
with its own set of expectations.
in the NAHL on their way to Divi“There is a lot of pressure on us
sion I opportunities, most recently
as an organization to do well and
Phoenix’s Duncan McKellar, ancompete, especially having a youngother P.F. Chang’s alumn who will
er team,” noted Bisbing, who’s one
begin his college career at Buffalo’s
of five 1993 birth year players on
Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)
the Bobcats.
this month.
Mike DeAngelis, who coached
“People really appreciate someBisbing locally as a member of
one who’ll work hard and it doesn’t
the P.F. Chang’s (now Phoenix Jr.
seem to matter where you’re from
Coyotes) program, sees nothing but
anymore,” Bisbing added.
promise for the budding talent.
As for his future, Bisbing isn’t
Cody Bisbing
“Cody grew within our program
looking too far ahead.
the last few years we had him, and I’m excited to
“This season, I’m expecting to grow a lot as a
person and take it day by day,” he said. “Hopefulsee him move on with his hockey journey,” said
ly, things shake out in the right direction. I don’t
DeAngelis. “I thing he’s going to make a great,
high-level college hockey player very soon because tend to have many long-term goals, but every kid
has dreams to eventually go pro. I’m just concenhe has the skating and scoring ability and is quietly learning to elevate his competitive level every trating on where I’m at now and doing the best I
possibly can.”
time he’s out on the ice.”
Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2010-11,
The lone player from Arizona on the Bobcats’
the NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier
roster, Bisbing is one of five skating in the NAHL
II Junior A league boasting 26 teams from across
all together this season.
North America, prides itself on the social maturi“I think Arizona and the West Coast already
produces the same talented players as those other ty and skill development of student-athletes ages
16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate
(hockey hotbeds),” said Bisbing, an alternate
captain on Chang’s 18U squad last season. “It just and/or professional hockey. b
NAHL.com
ArizonaRubber.com
23
NAHL Showcase continues to garner prestige
By Brian McDonough
A
lready positioned as one of the largest and
most prestigious fall festivals in all of North
America, the North American Hockey League
(NAHL) Showcase Tournament, sponsored by
SBK Hockey, held true to form once again last
month.
Celebrated at the Schwan Super Rink in
Blaine, Minn., for the eighth straight year, the
event set new highs for attendance and scout
presence while ushering in hundreds of the
world’s best young hockey prospects.
“From fans to parents to scouts to coaches, I
heard nothing but glowing reviews and I think
that speaks volumes about the reputation of the
Showcase and everyone involved,” said NAHL
commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. “This event
has really taken on a life of its own and we can’t
wait to bring it to an even higher level next season.”
All 26 NAHL teams, which included five players from Arizona, played four regular-season
games at the tournament, which was highlighted
by a visit from six-time Stanley Cup winner
Mark Messier, who was in attendance to announce The Messier Project’s new partnership
with the NAHL as the league’s Official Helmet
Supplier.
The week also included the first tournament
of the second North American Prospects Hockey
League (NAPHL) season, in which 38 Midget Major (18U), Midget Minor (16U) and Bantam Major
(14U) teams competed at the Tier I level.
But the hockey didn’t end there. Twenty-two
teams also made up the NAHL Future Prospects
In addition to the abundance of talent, scouts
Tournament, which included
were also impressed with how
clubs at the 18U and 16U levels.
well the tournament was run.
All of it equated to wall-to“Considering the amount
wall hockey at the eight-sheet
of teams and games played, it
Super Rink, which drew plenty
always amazes me how smooth
of praise from college and NHL
the event runs, and that speaks
scouts alike.
to the organization and level of
“The talent level in the NAHL
professionalism of those inis pretty impressive; it’s amazing
volved with the NAHL,” said
how many good young playBemidji State University assisers are out there,” said Derek
tant coach Ted Belisle, whose
Plante, an assistant coach at
team has 11 former NAHL playthe University of Minnesota
ers on its WCHA roster.
Duluth of the Western Collegiate
“It’s a great venue to watch
Hockey Association (WCHA).
a lot of hockey in one place,
In the end, it was the Wichita
and it’s mind-boggling at times
Falls (Texas) Wildcats, who went
because there’s so much hockey
a perfect 4-0 at the event, laying
going on at one time,” added
claim to the Showcase TournaPlante. “I thought the Showcase
ment championship after bestwas very well organized and the
ing the also-undefeated Topeka
staff was very accommodating
RoadRunners in the tiebreaker.
to the scouting community.”
“There was high-end talent
And, for many of the particias well as developing players,
pating players, the experience
which makes for a good evaluwill pay off in short time.
ation for college recruiters,”
“Our mission as a league is
noted Tom Newton, an asto maximize the exposure of all
sistant coach with Michigan
of our players and prospective
State University of the Central
players, and there’s no better
Collegiate Hockey Association
forum to do that than at the
Phoenix’s Mike Krieg was one of five
Arizonans to compete in last month’s Showcase,” said Frankenfeld.
(CCHA). “The ability to see that
NAHL Showcase Tournament, widely
many prospects in one spot in a
“It’s a special event and one
considered one of the most highly
well-organized setting was just
we’re very proud of and look
scouted events of the entire season.
outstanding.”
forward to every fall.” b
Photo/NAHL
AWAY FROM THE RUBBER:
In-season training deserves attention
D
esigning a training program
in the offseason is usually
pretty straightforward: You examine the window of time you have,
your current training status and
what goals you want to accomplish
by the start of training camp.
Now that all of our hockey
seasons are well underway, a common question I get from athletes
of all ages is how to implement
a training program during the
hockey season. Oftentimes this
question is spurred by feedback
from a coach who feels a player
needs to improve their foot speed,
strength or on-ice conditioning, for
example.
Implementing an in-season
training program can be a little
tricky. That’s because there’s a
variety of factors that have to
be considered before working on
the exact details of an individual
workout session.
The first consideration is ice
schedule. Players typically have at
body and one that
least one practice
requires rest and
during the week
recovery as much
and then at least
- if not more so
one game on the
- than a workout
weekends. Obvisession.
ously, the freThis is not
quency of ice time
to say you can’t
can be even more
workout on the
depending on the
same day as a
level of play. In
practice, but you
the NHL, we have
have to be conpractice nearly
siderate of the
everyday we don’t
overall effect on
have a game.
your body. If you
It’s also imporspend an hour
tant to remember
Bahn
on the ice doing
that practices and
agility drills, then spend an hour
games are as much of a workout
off it doing the same thing, there’s
as time spent in the weight room.
a good chance that not only will
The goal of a workout session is
your quality of work suffer from
to challenge the body’s systems
fatigue, but you’re probably going
- muscular, cardiovascular or
to be overtraining. That, in turn,
neural, for example - to the point
where, with proper rest and nutri- will decrease your performance
tion, they’ll adapt and improve
substantially because you’re trainfor the next workout. A practice
ing more without proper rest.
or game is a major stress on the
For kids, school factors into the
schedule as well. And the same
goes for adults, whose work obligations may interfere with a regular workout schedule. For many,
both can make time for training
scarce. Workout sessions early
in the morning may be more
beneficial for those who are
too exhausted at the end of their
day.
The important thing is to look
at the big picture when you’re
working out, and that means taking into account the entire day’s
and week’s worth of stress on the
body and how that’ll not only impact the actual daily workout, but
the rest and recovery necessary to
prepare for the next workout.
The more taxing a day is on
your body, the more rest and
recovery you’ll need to prepare for
the next day. Picking your spots
for good, quality workouts will
help you reach your goals in-season while maintaining a high level
of performance during games. b
Mike Bahn is the Coyotes’ strength and conditioning coordinator.
24
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CoyotesIce.com
Elections highlight
September’s meeting
By Shane Dale
T
hree of the Arizona Amateur Hockey
Association’s (AAHA) four officers
were reelected to their respective positions during last month’s meeting at the
Ice Den in Scottsdale, while one position
was left vacant. The meeting doubled as
AAHA’s yearly and monthly meeting.
AAHA president Jon Brooks and vice
president Mary Stewart were reelected
to the same positions, said Kristy Aguirre, president of the Phoenix Polar Bears, who attended the meeting via
teleconference.
Stewart, who had also been acting as AAHA treasurer, volunteered to
relinquish that position, but was ultimately reelected, Aguirre said.
“She offered to give it up, but no one took it, so she was motioned in
again,” she said.
Aguirre had served as AAHA secretary for 2009-10, and while her term
didn’t expire until 2011, she voluntarily resigned the position.
“They tried to fill it, and no one filled it,” she said. “So that’s a vacant
board seat at this point.”
Tier declarations were also made during the meeting. This process determined which squads would be listed as Tier I and which would be listed
as Tier II at the beginning of the season, though Aquirre noted that such
declarations are subject to change.
“Sometimes, associations and their teams declare a certain way and
then declare down or up (based on their level of play),” she said.
Each tier declaration necessitates a $500 non-refundable deposit that
goes towards state playdowns that determine which teams compete in nationals, Aguirre added.
The deadline for payment, along with a name for each team, is due to
the AAHA treasurer by Oct. 31. b
ArizonaRubber.com
25
REEBOK’S HYPE: Known for their almost non-existent
break-in time and comfortable boot, Reebok skates have
lacked in only two areas: durability and stiffness. Over the
summer, Reebok aimed to change that with the introduction of their 11K model, which is said to have the same
classic Reebok boot fit and comfort with the stiffness,
support and durability of their competition.
FIT/BREAK-IN/COMFORT: Before I wore the skates,
I had them molded to help break them in quicker. I didn’t
experience any discomfort when I wore them the first time
and I didn’t blister at all. It only took me one practice to feel
like I broke them in. The boot remained tight during the first
game, and I didn’t have to re-tie them which I had to do
with my 9Ks as they got softer and loosened up.
We asked BTM owner Randy Exelby’s nephew, Kyle, to put
on the 11Ks in place of his 2009 model Reebok 9Ks and
let us know how they compared.
PROTECTION/PERFORMANCE: After wearing the
skates for several games and practices, I noticed the fatter
tongue was a good thing. I’m a defenseman who blocks a
lot of shots and uses my skates to keep pucks in the zone,
so I really feel more protected and confident because of
that thicker tongue. The boot design suits my skating style,
too, and allows me to maintain good balance when doing
tight turns and pivots. My feet also feel like they have plenty of support. Overall, I was pretty impressed with what the
11Ks delivered in terms of protection, and it certainly didn’t
compromise my performance out on the ice.
OVERVIEW: When I first saw the 11Ks, I though they
looked cool. The white graphics on the side really stood
out, but I didn’t really like the green pump; it didn’t match
the rest of the skate. I really liked the 11K and Reebok logos in the shiny-mirror-like look. The skate felt lighter and
the tongue looked bigger and fatter than the 9Ks, which I
was unsure about.
WEAR/DURABILITY:
The 11Ks did start to chip
in the boot sole after only
a few games and the sole
also began to separate
from the boot in certain
places, but that didn’t
affect my overall performance. The material on the outside on the skate started
to wear in certain places, too, and the graphics began to
wear off.
SUMMARY: I like my 11Ks more than my 9Ks and
would highly recommend them. I modified the pump by
coloring it black with a permanent marker and I think
it makes the skate look more consistent. For someone
like me who takes pride in being a good skater, I’m very
confident in the 11Ks; I think they accentuate my skating
and look sharp, too. b
The Test Team is still accepting applications. Those applicants with the BEST sample reviews will be chosen. To apply, visit
BehindTheMask.com and be certain to fill out and answer ALL of the questions asked on the application.
Inline Hockey
Arizona State holds high expectations, again
By Alex Dodt
“As a team, we accomplished a lot last year more than anyone ever expected,” said Ganz. “We
rizona State University (ASU) selected its
overcame a lot of problems and dealt with short
2010-11 Division I and B Division teams
rosters, long road trips and little funding.”
last month. Both clubs
With last year’s run to
will again compete in
the national title game bethe National Collegiate
hind them, the Sun Devils
Roller Hockey Association
hope to use that experience
(NCRHA).
to their advantage as they
Twelve players were
try to knock off Lindenchosen to the Sun Devils’
wood University, the
Division I team, which
national champion eight of
aims to improve upon last
the last nine years.
year’s second-place finish at
“That experience and
the national tournament.
leadership is really imporAll nine players from last
tant in this league; it can
year’s squad will return,
win games further into the
including the goaltending
season,” said Ganz, who
duo of Clay Taylor and
won a national title with
Stephen Back.
Lindenwood in 2007 before
“Clay more than proved
transferring to ASU. “We’ll
last season that he’s at the
be more comfortable as a
top of the league,” said Sun
team with all the returning
Devils coach Nick Boyarguys and hopefully be able
sky. “And, after joining the
to make another run at the
team midseason last year,
championship.”
Close a season ago, both ASU inline teams want
Back is growing beyond his nothing less than another shot at a national chamThree new players were
backup role to where we feel pionship.
selected to round out the Diconfident with either guy in
vision I roster: junior Nick
net.”
Bazan (Phoenix) and freshmen Michael Rivera
The 2010-11 season will be the final hurrah
(El Paso, Texas) and Andrew Dobson (Villa
for several D-I players, including leading-scorer
Park, Calif.).
Brian Ganz, who will graduate at year’s end.
“The new additions should add some speed
A
26
and depth to an already well-rounded group,”
said Boyarsky. “Bazan has been a last cut the two
years prior, so I think he’ll be hungry to contribute. Rivera and Dobson add more brains and
finishing ability to the lineup.”
Bazan led the Sun Devils’ B team in scoring
the last two seasons, and Dobson comes to ASU
from California’s high school system in which he
was a leading scorer in the varsity division. Rivera, a true freshman, is one of ASU’s top recruits.
While there are no scholarships given out by the
program, Rivera came to ASU specifically to play
roller hockey.
Last year’s B team went 24-1-0 with its only
loss coming in the final game of the year at
nationals in the quarterfinals against Central
Florida. The 2010-11 group will have a different
look, however, with only two players returning.
Ten new players were selected to round out the
roster.
“Last year, only a few guys made a big impact
on the team’s success,” said Boyarsky. “This year,
we’ve got a hard-working group of new players
and I think it’ll be a lot more of a team effort.”
Newcomers on the B team come from across
the country, including California, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, in addition to freshmen forward
Michael Tanaka, who hails from Hong Kong.
ASU opens the season Oct. 22-24 in San Jose
at the Western Region’s kickoff tournament. Both
teams will host the only home tournament of the
season in early February at the Barney Family
Sports Complex in Queen Creek. b
ArizonaRubber.com
28