Outcasts win gold medal trio at NARCh West Coast Finals By Matt Mackinder
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he Konixx Outcasts program set a record by sending 13 teams to do battle at last year’s NARCh West Coast Finals. The Arizona program out did itself this year by sending 15 teams — and was generously rewarded with nine teams that brought home medals, including three gold medals. “It was a very successful NARCh Finals event for us,” Outcasts program director Nick Boyarsky said. The 15 teams the Outcasts sent to this year’s NARCh West Coast Finals, held June 15-25 in San Jose, Calif., ranged from the 8U through Men’s Platinum divisions. Of the 15 participating teams, 10 were designated as youth teams (8U to 18U). “Within the Outcasts program, we have started designating our top non-youth level teams (21U through Pro) with the team designation Konixx Pure,” Boyarsky explained. “Our sponsor Konixx’s flagship product is the Pure Wheel line, so the team is named after that product. “The thought here is that Outcasts teams traditionally are made up of all Arizona or mostly Arizona rosters. By those older age groups, it’s a mix of Outcasts youth developed players and pickups from other places. The renaming seemed appropriate, although they are part of the same program.” Konixx Pure teams won gold medals in both Junior Platinum (21U) and Division 1 (25U) while capturing a silver medal in the Men’s Platinum Division. The Junior Platinum team edged the Pama Prospects 3-2 in an exciting overtime finals matchup while the Division 1 squad topped the Tour Roadrun-
ners from New York 5-1. The Men’s Platinum squad dropped a tough a 4-3 double overtime decision to the Pama Golden Knights in the finals. On an impressive note, six of the 10 youth Outcast teams captured medals at the 186-team tournament. The Outcasts won the Midget Gold Division title after defeating NCR Elite 2-1, while Outcast teams in the Bantam Platinum, Mite Club and Bantam Club
The Konixx Outcasts recorded a championship medal showing in the Midget Gold Division at June’s NARCh West Coast Finals in San Jose, Calif. Photo/NARCh
divisions skated to silver medals. It was close in the two Bantam finals. The Outcasts ‘00 team dropped a 2-1 Platinum matchup against North Shore Zulu from British Columbia, while the Outcasts Yellow lost 1-0 to the Labeda Jets in Club. Outcast youth teams recorded bronze medals in Pee Wee Club and Squirt Gold. The Outcasts ‘03 squad defeated AKS Red 4-1 in Pee Wee Club, while the Outcast Blue team shaded the Silicon Val-
ley Quakes by a 6-4 score in the Squirt Gold thirdplace game. Boyarsky said winning gold medals in the Division 1 and Junior Platinum divisions were a big deal for the program. “Those older groups are very tough divisions to win and with a slew of Arizona players on all the teams, it was pretty special,” Boyarsky explained. At the youth end, Boyarsky said capturing the silver medal in the very tight Bantam Platinum Division was “incredibly rewarding.” “This team has been together for three years now and have been working toward the goal of a NARCh Platinum title,” Outcasts ‘00 head coach Alex Dodt explained. “It was tough for the boys to come so close, but we’re also very proud of how far they’ve come. Competing at this level has always been very difficult for Arizona teams, but hopefully, this group will continue to do so for a long time.” Top individuals Chip Robinson (Top Goaltender) and Parker Moskal (Top Sniper) each captured awards in the Junior Platinum skills competition. Other skills winners from the Outcasts included Top Goaltenders Connor Blondel (Squirt Silver), Luke Yubeta (Pee Wee Platinum) and Aaron Florendo (Bantam Silver), Top Sniper Sean McBride (Pee Wee Silver) and Fastest Skater Michael Bloom (Bantam Platinum). Allen Maupas from the Arizona Royals won the Bantam Gold Fastest Skater award. Next up for the Outcasts program is a trip to Toronto, Ont., Canada, to compete in the NARCh East Coast Finals July 12-23.
Arizona Ghostriders rewarded as Outcasts grab runner-up finish AIHL Organization of the Year at AIHL Champions Cup in Vegas By Phillip Brents
By Phillip Brents
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ach year in conjunction with its league championship tournament, the American Inline Hockey League (AIHL) bestows its coveted Organization of the Year award on a deserving member organization for exemplary performance and achievement during the regular season. The Arizona Ghostriders elite adult hockey teams were this year’s recipient. Though the Ghostriders did not qualify for this year’s championship round, team representatives attended the May 19 awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Lady Ghostriders players Alison Era and Paige Hinrichs, along with head coach John Marr, were on hand to accept the prestigious award. The AIHL acknowledged the Ghostriders as the “most organized team throughout the season and for its off-rink mission of raising money for cancer research.” The league also recognized the organization for its historic move by entering a women’s team in the AIHL men’s division during the 2016-17 season. As the first and only women’s team to ever compete in the AIHL, the Lady Ghostriders made a challenge to all women’s teams around the nation. In a post to the team on social media, Marr lauded his players for the organization’s league-wide recognition. “By your outstanding sportsmanship, professionalism and dedication to the Ghostriders hockey mission of putting others first, each and every one of you earned this top honor from the AIHL,” Marr said. “You, the Ghostriders athletes, are what makes everything we do possible.” Team owner Brian Craven seconded Marr’s sentiments about receiving the elite award. It was through the efforts of the Ghostriders, he said, that the AIHL voted to create a new women’s division. “For the AIHL to recognize the importance of including and elevating women’s elite hockey by voting for the creation of a new women’s division for the 2017-18 season was historic,” Craven said. “And then, for the AIHL to recognize the Arizona Ghostriders as the top organization for 2017 is a validation of its commitment to the Amateur Athletic Union’s motto of ‘sports for all, forever.’” 14
Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
he Arizona Outcasts turned in a gritty playoff run that ended with a runner-up finish in the American Inline Hockey League’s (AIHL) Champions Cup Finals held May 19-21 at the Las Vegas Roller Hockey Center. It marked the second consecutive year the Outcasts finished runner-up in the AIHL’s Elite Division. “The finals in Vegas were fun,” Outcasts forward Kyle Mooney said. “It was a super fun series and fun tournament all around.” The Outcasts were one of two Elite Division teams from the Pacific South Division to advance to the AIHL’s national championship tournament, joining the Las Vegas Aces. Four teams from different geographic zones comprised the Elite Division at the AIHL nationals. The New Jersey Alliance and defending national champion Delco Demons, both from the Northeast Division, joined the Outcasts and Aces in the tournament field. The Outcasts completed a sweep of their three round-robin opponents despite fielding just a four-man team. The Arizona squad, bolstered by two more players the next day, swept the Demons by scores of 6-1 and 7-1 in the semifinals to enact a measure of revenge from last year’s Champions Cup Finals. But the Outcasts could not get past the Alliance, which came out on top in a best-of-three championship series that went the distance. The Alliance prevailed 2-1 in Game 1, but the Outcasts pulled out a 2-1 overtime win in Game 2 to even the series. The New Jersey team, braced by the addition of star goaltender Mike Maczynski, won Game 3 by a score of 4-1. “The finals were our toughest games,” Mooney said. “Game 3 three was alright, but we couldn’t find the back of the net and they got a couple early squeakers.” Paul Linder led the Outcasts in scoring at the AIHL nationals with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in eight games. Kevin Mooney (nine goals, five assists) and Kyle Mooney (six goals, eight assists) each followed with 14 points.